When Iowa State’s finest player acquired injured within the first spherical of the NCAA match, Nate Heise stepped up.
“Whenever my number needs to be called, I feel like I’m up for that challenge,” mentioned Heise 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 a much bigger impression because the Cyclones superior to Friday’s Sweet 16 recreation versus Tennessee.
“Nate Heise is someone that’s a fierce competitor,” mentioned Iowa State head coach T.J. Otzeleberger. “Defensively, he has tremendous pride. getting stops, team defense, getting traffic rebounds, making plays. You can feel that complete every possession.”
Dilip Vishwanat/NCAA Photos by way of Getty Images 
It’s been a memorable season. In February, Nate Heise’s sister, Taylor Heise, one of many top ladies’s hockey gamers on the planet, received 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, together 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 recreation. “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 have been essentially the most of his two-year Iowa State profession. The Otzelberger retains the inexperienced gentle 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.”
