What's the plan for Emily Ryan? How Iowa State women's basketball plans to use her moving forward
AMES – Iowa State point guard Emily Ryan’s return to the court on Sunday was a big step in getting the star back to full strength.
But it’s far from the final one.
Cyclones coach Bill Fennelly said Ryan will be on a minutes restriction again when Iowa State hosts in-state rival Northern Iowa (1-7) on Wednesday at 6:30 p.m., at Hilton Coliseum.
“The goal is to hopefully, slowly, increase her minutes,” Fennelly said.
Ryan, a star point guard for the Cyclones, has been sorely missed after sitting out the first nine games of the season with what the team called a “health-related issue.”
She was expected to play a large role this season as the team's most experienced player following the offseason's massive roster makeover with five players hitting the transfer portal.
Ryan was already one of the team’s most important players in the past, averaging 10.8 points and 6.5 assists while starting 93 of the 95 games she played in the previous three seasons.
But Iowa State hasn’t been able to fully utilize her. On Tuesday, Fennelly said Ryan's 'health-related issue' that forced her to miss the start of the season was a lower leg injury.
The injury kept Ryan from playing in any of Iowa State’s games overseas during the summer. Fennelly said it continued to impact her through the first nine games of the campaign.
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“It was just one of those things that we just slow-played it the best we could and hopefully we’re coming out of the other end of it right now,” Fennelly said.
Not having Ryan, a preseason All-Big 12 pick, on the floor, has been a huge loss for Iowa State. The Cyclones have leaned on their group of five freshmen to manage the majority of the minutes.
Ryan helped coach the Cyclones from the sidelines during games and practices. But it wasn’t the same as having her on the floor.
“I think Emily brings just a calming presence to our team,” said Iowa State freshman post player Audi Crooks. “We’re young. We make a lot of dumb mistakes. So, she just kind of helps move things over.”
Ryan’s return could mean big things for the Cyclones, who have shown signs of their potential during a 6-4 start to the season. Her impact was quickly felt on the court during her return last Sunday.
Ryan, playing under a minutes restriction during a 105-68 win over Troy, scored five points, grabbed four rebounds and handed out two assists. She logged just nine minutes.
“She impacts the game a lot but I think probably what she does the most is she makes other players better around her," Fennelly said, "and they can be a little more comfortable in what their role is and they don’t have to try and do things that they’re probably not prepared to do just yet.”
While she can have a huge impact right away, Fennelly said they’ll continue to ease Ryan back into things before fully unleashing her. Fennelly said he expects Ryan to play in the 10 to 15-minute range Wednesday.
Her return, for how many minutes it may be on a given night, has already provided a big boost.
“Having her back is going to be great for everything,” said Iowa State freshman Jalynn Bristow.
Tommy Birch, the Register's sports enterprise and features reporter, has been working at the newspaper since 2008. He's the 2018 and 2020 Iowa Sportswriter of the Year. Reach him at tbirch@dmreg.com or 515-284-8468.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: What's next for Iowa State women's basketball Emily Ryan?
