Farewell, Georges Niang
‘At the end of the day, we all know it’s a Cyclone State’
On July 4, 2011, the Iowa State Cyclone fan base was celebrating something other then Independence Day. Whether they knew it or not, Fred Hoiberg and his staff landed a recruit that would change the face of Iowa State basketball.
That player was named Georges Niang. No, don’t pronounce the “s.” It is pronounced George.
What exactly has Georges Niang meant to Iowa State basketball?
Well, where to start.
I could start with his ability to score with a variety of moves you would see a 50-year-old at your local YMCA use. How he uses hook shots and slow spin moves to become the third leading scorer in Iowa State history.
I could talk about how Georges Niang thrives to provoke Iowa fans with his quotes and play on the court. He infamously blew a kiss to the Iowa student section after he scored and the game was beginning to become out of reach for the Hawkeyes. After a Cy-Hawk rivalry game, he finished a post-game interview with “At the end of the day, we all know it’s a Cyclone State.” This subtle shade throw perfectly encapsulates who Georges Niang is: A great player and a better trash talker.
Or the Cy-Hawk game this year, Niang had an even better quote. He got a black eye during the game and was questioned about it after the game and he sad “They ruined my face, but I ruined their night.” More smack talk to fuel the Cyclone and Hawkeye rivalry.
I could even talk about how Georges Niang got an entire fan base to wear band aids over their right eye brow to support him. In the 2014 Big 12 tournament, Niang took an elbow about the eye and it started gushing blood. He came back with a Band-Aid and that prompted the fan base to do the same.
No words can do what Georges Niang means to Cyclone basketball justice. His emotion filled Senior Night speech brought tears to eyes of Cyclone fans everywhere.
Georges Niang revived Cyclone Nation. He made basketball exciting for his 4 years he was here. That’s why Cyclone Nation loves this guy. Cyclone Nation is going to miss this guy.
February 29, 2016 marks the last game Georges Niang played in Hilton Coliseum. Cheers to a Big 12 tournament championship and a long run throughout March Madness.
With your unmatchable personality, unorthodox style of play, and quotes Cyclone Nation says farwell, Georges Niang.