Nobody needs to tell Georges Niang what Northern Iowa, who the No. 5 Cyclones will play at the Big 4 Classic in Des Moines this weekend, can do to a top-ranked team.

He’s already witnessed the destructive powers of the Panthers. Niang was in attendance earlier this season when UNI defeated then-No. 1 North Carolina in Cedar Falls.

Niang observed the game as a friend of North Carolina’s Brice Johnson, but also wore his scouting cap as he took in the Panthers’ upset victory.

“It was impressive the way they controlled the pace of the game in the second half,” Niang said. “At the end of the first, you felt like they were sort of giving the game away, but obviously they have a great coach in Coach [Ben] Jacobson and he does a great job of controlling tempo.”

After taking down a top-ranked opponent, UNI will look to collect its second top-5 victory of the season against the Cyclones, who will be ushering in some major adjustments after Iowa State announced that Naz Mitrou-Long will sit out the remainder of the season.

Mitrou-Long had surgery on both hips this offseason and has struggled to return to full health. Mitrou-Long will hang it up for the season in hopes of getting a medical redshirt so that he can get another year of eligibility next season.

Mitrou-Long will be sitting out just as Deonte Burton becomes eligible after sitting out for a season per NCAA transfer rules. Burton’s debut won’t mitigate the loss of Mitrou-Long, but will help add versatility to the lineup and maintain ISU’s seven-man rotation.

ISU coach Steve Prohm said the timing of Burton’s return is helpful given the Mitrou-Long news, and that Matt Thomas will take Mitrou-Long’s starting spot.

Thomas and Hallice Cooke will largely expected to fill the on-court void left by Mitrou-Long’s absence, but said everyone will need to step up and fill the big shoes of Mitrou-Long.

Prohm is new to Iowa, the Big 4 Classic and the in-state rivalries, but he is familiar with UNI, a program that he has great respect for.

“Great program,” Prohm said. “[It is] a program that is about winning, about doing things the right way.”

He watched UNI during the 24-hour hoops tip-off marathon last season and was especially impressed with UNI guard Wes Washpun, a senior who is averaging 15 points, six assists and four rebounds per game this season.

Iowa State has plenty of experience with UNI, with the Cyclones dramatically defeating the Panthers in overtime during their last meeting in 2013 after being down 18 points in the second half.

“They just completely took us out of everything we wanted to do,” Niang said of their last meeting. “They’re going to slow things down on the offensive end and pack the paint on the other end.”

Niang also mentioned the game’s setting, Des Moines, a possible difficulty. ISU fans typically travel well, but Niang said UNI might benefit from more than just their own fans.

“It’s going to be a tough game and obviously being Des Moines they’re going to have some of their fans there and I’m sure Hawkeye fans are going to be cheering against us also,” Niang said. “It’s going to be a tough crowd but we’re going to be prepared for it.”

Iowa State and UNI will tip at 6 p.m. at the Wells Fargo Center in Des Moines.