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NCAA Tournament: Storylines For Every Sweet 16 Team

By Nathan Giese

Mar 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) celebrates defeating the Virginia Commonwealth Rams 85-81 during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 20, 2016; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma Sooners guard Buddy Hield (24) celebrates defeating the Virginia Commonwealth Rams 85-81 during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 19, 2016; Denver , CO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Steve Prohm celebrates with Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) after Iowa State vs Arkansas Little Rock during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2016; Denver , CO, USA; Iowa State Cyclones head coach Steve Prohm celebrates with Iowa State Cyclones guard Monte Morris (11) after Iowa State vs Arkansas Little Rock during the second round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Iowa State Cyclones: Can The Starters Hold Up?

One thing that’s plagued Iowa State this season is their lack of depth. What appeared to be a strength in the preseason became a hinderance as the season progressed.

The five starters (Georges Niang, Jameel McKay, Matt Thomas, Monte Morris and Abdel Nader) account for 5,564 of Iowa State’s 6,875 total minutes this season, or 80 percent of the team’s total. Their one and seemingly only option off the bench, Deonte Burton, accounts for 468 minutes and he’s only been playing since December.

In all, these six players account for 87 percent of all minutes. That’s a lot of minutes for very few guys. Miles tend to wear on players as the season goes along, and now that the Cyclones are entering their 35th game, it’s merely a matter of when their legs will give out.

It may not be this weekend and, heck, maybe they’re able to make it to Houston and win the whole things, but the concern of tired legs and these six players’ bodies giving out is real, especially for senior Georges Niang, who has had a lot of miles put on him throughout his career.

Can Iowa State continue to overcome their lack of depth? Or will their six players eventually wilt under the heavy work load?

Next: Big Men Lead Bulldogs?