The most substantial change ISU coach Fred Hoiberg has enacted this season was not determined by film study, statistical analysis or a gut feeling, but instead came down to hands on a clock.

Guard Bryce-Dejean Jones showed up late for No. 14 Iowa State’s (18-6, 8-4 Big 12) contest versus Texas Tech on Feb. 7, thereby ceding his starting spot to redshirt junior Jameel McKay. The 6-foot-9-inch forward has seized the opportunity in the three games since, averaging 15 points, more than eight rebounds and nearly three blocks per outing.

The question that remains, is how much has the ISU team benefited from the shake up?

“It is really hard to tell,” said point guard Monté Morris. “When Bryce was in there, it was kind of the same. We just have a rim protector down there starting the game [now]. I like it both ways, but we are winning right now with this lineup.”

Technically, that is true. Iowa State has recorded two victories and one loss since Hoiberg made the starting swap, but thus far, none of the results have swayed from professional prognostications. The Cyclones have beaten the teams they were expected to beat and lost to the team they were expected to lose against.

Iowa State decimated Texas Tech at home, allowing only 38 points, which hadn’t been done against a conference opponent in nearly half a century. The result, along with McKay’s three blocks and numerous other immeasurable contributions to the defense in the way of changing or forcing shots, appeared to indicate a defensive uptick.

One game later, Iowa State surrendered the most points it has allowed all season as McKay was bullied by the massive frontline of Oklahoma.

The third contest came against West Virginia at Hilton — a game the Cyclones won by 20 points. It was a vast improvement from the two-point victory Iowa State eked out in Morgantown, W. Va., but it was also the fourth time this season West Virginia had lost a conference game by a margin of 18 or more. 

Dejean-Jones’ play has fluctuated as much as the Cyclones’ results during the previous week and a half. He’s scored in double-digits twice, but is averaging fewer than 10 points per outing since his minutes were reduced to roughly 19 per game.

“I would say it’s a challenge,” said Naz Long of Dejean-Jones’ move from fifth starter to first reserve. “A positive challenge because you really find out who you are when you get called to do this certain role.”

While Dejean-Jones’ scoring numbers have sagged, he is shooting efficiently, posting 10-of-15 from the field throughout the previous three games. The Cyclones do appear a more efficient bunch offensively, as they have yet to play a game in which the team shoots below 50 percent from the field since McKay’s addition to the starting rotation.

Dejean-Jones, who has led the team in rebounding for much of the year by utilizing his usual size advantage at the guard position, has seen his rebounding numbers cut in half from six per contest to three. Yet, those numbers too have been supplemented by McKay’s presence under the hoop.

It is perhaps harder to judge the coaching move on only a three-game sample size, particularly when two of those contests have come at Hilton, where Iowa State has yet to lose this season.

Iowa State’s upcoming week features match-ups at No. 22 Oklahoma State and at Texas, and should help clear up what the team will look like moving forward with Dejean-Jones as the sixth man, which felt like a trade of offense for defense when he was shelved and McKay was unleashed, but has not necessarily turned out that way.

Dejean-Jones speaks rarely and briefly about the change in his role, but Hoiberg said that outside of the on-the-court results, he is happy with the progression he has witnessed in the mindset of the senior guard.

“It’s different for Bryce coming off the bench for the first time in a long time,” Hoiberg said. “But [against West Virginia], he was out there engaged, talking on the bench. It was great to see.”

Iowa State will complete the fourth step in its lineup experiment Feb. 18 at Oklahoma State.