Basketball

WILLIAMS: What the Darrell Bowie commitment means

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What’s the No. 1 beef that analysts have had with the current version of Iowa State basketball?

Depth, people. Depth.

It made me sick watching Max Bielfeldt score eight points in 16 minutes for Indiana at Iowa earlier this week. Biefeldt, a graduate transfer who wanted to commit to Iowa State last offseason, didn’t because of the uncertainty at the top of the program at the time. 

I’m pretty sure that #HoibergWatch kept Iowa State from landing the 6-foot-8, 240-pound former Michigan Wolverine.

Max Bielfeldt wouldn’t have won Iowa State a regular season Big 12 championship this season but imagine the luxury that getting 15 minutes a game from him would have been for Steve Prohm

This is why Iowa State’s Thursday night commitment from Darrell Bowie, a grad transfer out of Northern Illinois, was important. 

He isn’t the next Georges Niang.

Bowie averaged 9.8 points and 5.4 rebounds per game as a junior (it’s worth noting that he was averaging 14 per before injuring his shoulder). That’s in the MAC and important to keep in mind. But he’s a 6-foot-7, 220-pound fifth-year senior who is licking to come in and play in the sport’s best conference. 

It’s a fantastic acquisition for Prohm and his staff and remember, Bowie doesn’t have to be Will Clyburn to be a success at Iowa State. He simply needs to be Max Bielfeldt.

Scholarships 

I love you Fanatics because of how educated you are. Nothing gets by you guys.

Obviously, with the Bowie commitment, Iowa State is technically over on its scholarship allotment for next year. 

Don’t worry about it.

Statistically these days, one out of every three college basketball players will transfer during their five-year careers at this level.

It happens.

And don’t read into Thursday night’s commitment that Monte Morris has told the staff that he is going pro. I can report with 100 percent certainty that is not the case. 

@cyclonefanatic