Minnesota native Nate Heise steps up to help lead Iowa State to Sweet Sixteen after top player injured

When Iowa State’s greatest player acquired injured within the first spherical of the NCAA event, Nate Heise stepped up.

“Whenever my number needs to be called, I feel like I’m up for that challenge,” Heise mentioned after ISU’s second-round win over Kentucky. “Today was obviously the biggest game of the year and wouldn’t wanna be in any other spot. I’m just thankful for the belief that he has in me, my teammates have in me. I love playing with them, so I just wanna keep doing that as long as I can.”

Nate Heise is often the primary man off the bench, however the product of Lake City, Minnesota, rose to the event, making an even bigger affect because the Cyclones superior to Friday’s Sweet 16 sport versus Tennessee.

“Nate Heise is someone that’s a fierce competitor,” mentioned Iowa State head coach TJ Otzeleberger. “Defensively, he has tremendous pride. Getting stops, team defense, getting traffic rebounds, making plays. You can feel that complete every possession.”

It’s been a memorable season. In February, Nate Heise’s sister, Taylor Heiseone of many top ladies’s hockey gamers on this planet, gained gold on the Olympics with Team USA. On the identical day as Taylor Heise’s semifinal win, Nate Heise hit the game-winning shot in Iowa State’s upset over No. 2 Houston, along with his household all in Italy.

“It’ll be fun because I think they went to sleep before this game started,” Nate Heise mentioned after that sport. “They’ll wake up to some fun texts, I think. Obviously, it was cool earlier when she scored a goal. Our game was closer.”

In the primary spherical of March Madness, Nate Heise’s 22 factors had been essentially the most of his two-year Iowa State profession. The Otzelberger retains the inexperienced mild on.

“It’s really just taking the open shot. Driving when I can. And if I get the rebound, bringing it up,” mentioned Nate Heise. “There’s really no limits to what he says I can or can’t do.”