Peterson: Xavier Foster got valuable playing time in Iowa State's loss at No. 3 Iowa

IOWA CITY, Ia. — I repeat: If you can find a just a few glimpses of decent during Iowa State’s December and January men’s basketball games, then that’s good. It’s actually the only thing that matters, because Friday night at Carver-Hawkeye Arena proved Steve Prohm’s team has considerable improvement to make, if games against the Big 12’s many standout teams are to be at least marginally competitive.

Take the first half of the Cyclones’ 105-77 loss against the third-ranked Hawkeyes. Just 6 ½ minutes in, Prohm summoned freshman Xavier Foster from the bench. The 7-footer was part of the two-big lineup used more than usual, and the rookie showed some of those positive flashes to which I was referring.  

He got an offensive rebound. He stepped out and nailed a pullup three-pointer. His 14 minutes for the game included eight points, four rebounds, a blocked shot, and two-for-two from the arc while earning the right to play as many minutes during Tuesday’s Big 12 opener against a Kansas State team that’s needs a lot of work, too.

It usually takes big players longer to develop, but for moments Friday night, Foster showed parts of what we expected him to eventually become.

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"The first half, his first time in there, he was really good,” Prohm said. “I thought he was really good. They were in man a lot, and we ran our middle ball screen action. We were able to get a couple good possessions out of that.

“We need to get him out there on the floor and find ways to get them out there just to kind of grow some confidence and see how he can help us this year. But I did think he showed some flashes at times."

Let’s look at Iowa State’s seventh loss in its last nine games at Carver-Hawkeye Arena with a positive spin, and yes, that’s possible. As lopsided as was the final score, there were probably even more good tape cutups from Friday’s game than the first two Iowa State games combined.

Now if Prohm’s team could just sometime figure out the defensive side. There continued to be way too many baskets in the paint, too many open looks from the perimeter, and too many straight-line drives to the basket.

Hawkeye super star Luka Garza was unstoppable, except when his coach benched him after getting two quick first-half fouls. At one point during the final half, he 21 points in a row en route to a game-best 34 for his 5-0 team. The senior All-American was on fire, both under the basket and behind the three-point arc. He couldn’t miss.

Against him, Iowa State gets a defensive pass. Rarely will he be contained this season, so maybe the Cyclones’ early offensive aggressiveness forcing him into early foul trouble is one of those positives about which I was referring.

Clean up the defensive miscues, and who, knows, maybe Iowa State can start the Big 12 with a 1-0 record. It’s not like Top 10s Baylor, Kansas or West Virginia are coming to Ames next week.

The opponent playing at Hilton Coliseum on Tuesday night is Kansas State. You think the Cyclones have struggled with a new roster? You haven’t seen anything yet.  Wait until the Wildcats hit town next week.

Javan Johnson and Rasir Bolton played all right. Tyler Harris had moments, too. They hustled. They shot well. They didn’t back down from a team with national championship as a goal. At times, they pushed the tempo.

I’m interested to see how Iowa State does when/if it gets a true point guard sometime. That was supposed to be Ole Miss transfer Blake Hinson, but he’s not playing this season due to a medical condition.

Bolton has been playing the position, but he’s more second guard than lead guard. He’ll continue to play there, however, because freshman Jaden Walker, while his future may be promising, he’s still just a freshman.

Wondering what kind of spark off-guard Tre Jackson will provide when returning from his left knee injury? You're not alone.  He hasn’t played yet, and it sounds like Prohm doesn’t know when he’ll return. But the Cyclones dearly need him, that’s for sure.

Despite the final score, it wasn’t a horrible night to be an Iowa State player — at least during the game’s initial 17 minutes. Foster was limited to just second-half duty during the previous two games, but Friday showed immediate aggressiveness while playing much earlier.

The 7-footer has Cyclones future written all over his lanky frame, and while his statistical line says one thing, his hustle and aggressiveness against a team with a very good inside presence was all right while the Cyclones were hanging with the Hawkeyes during the first half.

And with Conditt not playing well right now, Iowa State will take all the good Foster it can get.

"He played a good game all around," Johnson said. "He's young. We’re going to stay patient with him. He’s got a lot of potential. We saw that tonight."

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been writing for the Des Moines Register for parts of six decades. Reach him at rpeterson@dmreg.com, 515-284-8132, and on Twitter at @RandyPete.