Deonte Burton's Iowa State debut 'bittersweet'
On one hand, Deonte Burton was happy to finally get to play in a basketball game again.
On the other hand, the result wasn't what Burton was hoping for.
Burton had mixed feelings when it came to making his Iowa State debut during the fifth-ranked Cyclones’ 81-79 loss to Northern Iowa in the Big Four Classic at Wells Fargo Arena Saturday.
“It feels good but it feels bad because of how everything happened tonight,” Burton said after the game. “It was a bittersweet feeling.”
Fans had been eagerly awaiting the debut of Burton, who transferred from Marquette to Iowa State at the end of the first semester last season. Burton averaged 6.9 points in 32 games with the Golden Eagles during the 2013-2014 season.
The following season he averaged 6.4 points and 1.4 rebounds in eight games with Marquette before transferring. The decision cost Burton the entire second half of last season and the first nine games of this season.
Excitement has been building for the star since word got out during last season’s Big Four Classic that the dunking machine was coming to Ames. Burton become a fan-favorite over the summer with monster dunk after monster dunk in the YMCA’s Capital City League in West Des Moines.
Peterson: It might take a while for Burton to match his hype
The wait for him finally ended when he checked in off the bench in the first half. In his first game, Burton logged 15 minutes and scored seven points, grabbed three rebounds and handed out one assist.
He shot 3-of-7 from the field, including 1-for-3 from 3-point range, and at one point scored five straight Iowa State points to help pull the Cyclones to within 26-24 of Northern Iowa in the first half.
“Thought he made some tough plays,” said Iowa State coach Steve Prohm. “Missed a couple of things around the rim that he can make but I thought he did a good job for not playing in over a year, 15 months.”
Burton said his conditioning was mixed.
“Once the game got going, I wasn’t as tired but I still felt sluggish and a step late, so I’m just trying to get back to game speed,” Burton said.
Iowa State falters late against UNI
Just four days before the Northern Iowa game, Iowa State announced that guard Nazareth Mitrou-Long would miss the remainder of the season to rest his ailing hips. That meant more time could be coming for Burton.
“You’ve got to figure out the rotation now because taking Naz out and putting him in, you’re not going with the same position,” Prohm said. “You’re going with different positions and so you’ve got to figure out the best way.”
Burton said he has to find a way to replace the type of energy Mitrou-Long brought the Cyclones.
“I felt my role was going to be pretty much the same if Naz was here or Naz wasn’t because the team is really good,” Burton said. “Naz brings a different type of energy so I think the biggest change for me is trying to contribute the same type of energy that Naz brings.”
Peterson: Cyclones' defensive woes a lackluster trend
Prohm spoke with Burton about what he expected from the transfer. In the days leading up to the Northern Iowa game, Prohm talked with reporters about how it would take some time to get Burton settled into things.
“He just told me, everything isn’t going to happen how fast I want it to happen and just be consistent with everything that we need,” Burton said. “With one game, it might be rebounding. The next game it might be scoring. The next game it might be defense. Just to be a versatile player.”
Burton showed off some of that versatility during the Northern Iowa game, playing the three and the four, both spots he’s worked at during practice. Burton said he thinks he can offer Iowa State a mismatch at both spots.
One game into his Iowa State career, Prohm liked what he saw.
“Deonte was good,” said Prohm.