LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Fred Hoiberg remembers the moment as if it happened yesterday and not last year.
The Iowa State coach was preparing to be interviewed after the Cyclones’ opening win in the NCAA Tournament when the trainer gave him the news that forward Georges Niang had broken a bone in his right foot, knocking him out of the rest of that postseason.
“It was hard to get through that interview,” Hoiberg said Wednesday. “It was emotional. Walking into the interview, I had to break the news to our guys about what had just happened. Georges probably played through more than anybody on the team.”
ISU managed to edge North Carolina only to lose in the Sweet 16 to eventual champ Connecticut.
Now they’re back ranked ninth in the country and seeded third in the South Regional playing the 14th-seeded UAB Blazers on Thursday in Louisville. Niang is healthy and just helped lead them to their second straight Big 12 Tournament championship.
Hoiberg said his Cyclones (25-8) are very hungry to show this year will be different, especially coming off a big tournament run.
“Our guys that are back from that team worked all year to get back to this opportunity to try and put your team in a position to where you can compete for a title,” Hoiberg said.
Niang broke the fifth metatarsal in his right foot in that win against North Carolina Central. As part of his recovery, the 6-foot-8 forward dropped about 25 pounds, and the junior leads the Cyclones with 15.5 points per game this season.
“It was extremely tough ...,” Niang said of the timing of his injury. “I’m just happy to be back here ready to compete with my team.
The Blazers (19-15) are the youngest team in the tournament and will be leaning on coach Jerod Haase. Even though this is his debut as a head coach here, this is his 18th appearance as either a player or assistant coach.