The Cyclones, like almost every other team in the nation, have not been immune to adversity this season.

And adversity has struck once again, as ISU center Jameel McKay remains suspended for Wednesday’s game against Texas Tech.

While he may travel with No. 14 Iowa State (17-6, 6-4 Big 12) on Wednesday down to Lubbock, Texas, McKay won’t get to take the court against Texas Tech (13-9, 3-7 Big 12).

Yet even without their big man, junior guard Matt Thomas said the Cyclones are still playing solid team basketball — even when they go on the road.

“You don’t have the support we do out here at Hilton [on the road], so you have to play as a team, and we’ve kind of taken that mindset into most of our road games this year and really stuck together as a team and played together,” Thomas said. “We’ve played some of our better games this season, I think, on the road, and that just shows how close we are as a team right now.”

Playing without McKay didn’t seem to faze the Cyclones much Saturday against Oklahoma State, where they walked out with a five-point win just hours after his suspension.

In a similar situation, Hallice Cooke was suspended in January just hours before the start of the road game against the Wildcats, yet the Cyclones still walked out with a win.

While these situations might not be the easiest to handle, Prohm said they will benefit the team in the future.

“I want our team to be right as we head into late February and March,” Prohm said. “That’s what we’re doing right now. Were going through some things right now, but I think that at the end of the day, it will help the basketball team.”

Forward Georges Niang, who will likely take over in the post for McKay, agreed that it was difficult without the center last game. Forwards Deonte Burton and Abdel Nader switched in the forward post when Niang shifted to the center spot.

While the switch forced the Cyclones to play a different style of basketball than they were used to, Niang said he didn’t mind.

“You miss Jameel blocking shots and finishing around the rim,” Niang said. “But it introduces a new lineup that we can use, and it was effective last game.”

As for the Red Raiders, the Cyclones escaped with a seven-point win at home the last time the two faced each other. However, the game felt much closer at times.

Iowa State has had trouble winning in Lubbock, Texas, too, dropping two of the last three games there.

“We’ve played them close here and we know what they’re capable of,” Niang said. “They’re a really good team. They’re always really well coached. They’re a lot tougher than years in the past. They’re hungry for wins, and we know that we have to take them extremely serious, like we take every other opponent.”

After the Red Raiders, the Cyclones have three road games remaining on their schedule: No. 21 Baylor, No. 10 West Virginia and No. 6 Kansas. Even though the three games will be one of the toughest stretches for the Cyclones all season, Prohm isn’t too concerned about them being on the road.

Sometimes, he said, it’s nice.

“Sometimes dealing with adversity away from home, rather than at home, it sometimes can be easier because your focus is just those 12 guys and on just this situation,” Prohm said. “We are under the gun a little bit now with numbers and a little adversity, but our guys have responded to that. And I expect them to respond again on Wednesday night.”