When this thread started, most were joking about Niang's injury, and some still are. Or downplaying the significance and saying we will just have to play harder, come together, and overcome. Let's not fool ourselves. Niang's offensive production and versatility completely changes how teams defend us. With him, we spread the floor to extremes, giving Kane, Niang himself, and anyone else, room to operate - drive, shoot, pass, everything. That spacing? It's gone now. Big that punishes inside and out? Gone too. Opposing defenses will be able to lock us down, more like the traditional teams they've played all year. The rest of our team will have a tougher time getting good looks compounded by the pressure to produce more because Niang isn't there chipping in. This is completely different than when Niang has an off night with poor production (relative to his typically very high output) and some other guy(s) step up a bit. Niang and his freakish inside/outside skills won't be on the floor at all!
With 5 minutes or so left in this game, before Niang got injured, ISU was affirming the prediction of many. That we have a legit shot at the Final Four and a significant chance to win it all. When was the last time we could say that about ISU? 2000? With the snap of Niang's fifth metatarsal, those chances vanished. Niang isn't someone you replace in two days or a week, no matter the determination, will, grit, etc. Without Niang, our high hopes are no longer reasonable. We might squeak past NC with a bit of luck, but if we get into the Sweet 16 with the other top tier teams, we're screwed.
Some of you want to make stupid band aid or vertical leap jokes. Clever. The best team we've had in the last 14 years just saw their chances to win it all for the first time in school history go from decent to none. For those trying to surmise ways in which we'd have a chance, that's fine, and respectable in a way. But you're deceiving yourselves. I am going to get acquainted with this bitter, unavoidable reality now.
