Since conference play began, ISU forward Georges Niang has not been himself.

Iowa State’s leading scorer and on-the-court leader has struggled against the grinding defenses of the Big 12 and his numbers have suffered for it.

Of the regular eight-man rotation, Niang has played the second most minutes and has the highest usage percentage. That means he’s on the floor as much as anyone else and that the offense runs through him more than anyone else.

However, in four conference games to this point, Niang has been the second-least efficient player on the Iowa State roster, posting a player efficiency rating of 9.8, according to sports-reference.com.

To put that into context, advanced statistics pose a rating of 15 as the average collegiate basketball player. For further context, senior Dustin Hogue is leading the Cyclones in efficiency rating during conference play, posting a PER of 20.1, which more than doubles Niang’s.

Iowa State’s average margin of victory in its three Big 12 wins is a mere three points per contest. If the Cyclones hope to continue their winning conference ways, Niang, its most frequently used player, must find a way to get back on track.

Read what else will be key to Iowa State’s victory against Kansas State here.