Iowa State's Morris: I'm 'definitely' nation's best point guard

Frank Mason III, Lonzo Ball, and Markelle Fultz generated more buzz throughout the season, but Monte Morris believes the nation's best point guard plays at Iowa State.

"Definitely," Morris responded Friday when asked if he's the best player in the country at his position.

Morris posted 19 points with eight assists and eight rebounds in Iowa State's opening-round victory over Nevada on Thursday, and is averaging 16.4 points, 6.1 assists, and 4.9 boards for the season.

The star senior wasn't named as a finalist for the Cousy Award, given annually the country's top point guard, but recently led Iowa State to its third Big 12 championship in four years.

"If you don't believe in yourself or feel like you're the best, why are you playing this game?" Morris added. "I put in the work, and overtime this summer with the guys, and every guy on our roster (feels) like we're the best on the court at times. So we just got to carry that swagger so we can play with it."

Morris' teammate Naz Mitrou-Long concurred:

"I definitely feel like he's the best point guard in the country," he told reporters while sitting next to Morris at the podium. "And the reason I feel that is because you want a point guard who doesn't turn over the ball, who controls the tempo, who scores when you need him to score, locks up when you need him to lock up and makes everybody better. Not only is that, he's as humble as can be. If he was a cocky individual, I would be honest, I would say I didn't like him, but he's not."

Morris and the fifth-seeded Cyclones are back in action Saturday against fourth-seeded Purdue in Round 2 of the NCAA tournament.