Iowa State Basketball Preview
October 20, 2011
Last Season Review
Not much was expected out of Iowa State last year. Almost all of us figured they could be last within the Big 12 conference with just two players back from the 2009-10 season, but the Cyclones ended up being sort of a surprise. Typically, it is really tough for folks to get energized about a .500 season, nonetheless it was the first time Iowa State did not possess a losing record since the 2005-6 season.
In Fred Hoiberg’s first season Iowa State fully transformed their identity. Heading from a slow it down and grind it out team to one which ran much more and spread the floor. That change of pace helped the Cyclones rank fifth in the conference and 39th in the nation in offense at 74.8 points for every contest.
Iowa State also shot the three-ball extremely effectively last year, nailing 275 (8.6 each game) shots from behind the arc. That was good enough to lead the conference and rank 13th within the country.
2011-12 Overview
Only two starters return for Iowa State this year, but the real key is the addition of four transfers. Last year this group was called the top scout team within the nation and helped keep each practice competitive. Now Chris Allen, Chris Babb, Royce White, and Anthony Booker will likely be prepared to prove themselves on the floor.
Last season Iowa State wasn’t extremely deep, so they performed a far more conservative half-court defense. With a lot more talent on this year’s squad you can bet they will be much more aggressive in making use of pressure to force turnovers.
Backcourt
Iowa State is likely to have to seek out a way to replace Dainte Garrett’s production. He was a quality point guard who notched his name all through Iowa State’s history books for both assists and points.
There’s still a lot of talent in the Cyclone backcourt. Scott Christopherson is a extremely talented shooter who has made 131 career 3-pointers already. He nailed 86 last season, ending up second in the conference and 33rd in the nation at 2.8 per game. His 44.1 three-point percentage was good for 11th around the country and he has buried a trey in 34 straight contests. Christopherson doesn’t turn the ball over, works hard, and should not need to log countless minutes this year due to the team’s bench.
You are going to probably see Iowa State using a good deal of 3-guard sets as a result of possessing so much talent in the backcourt. Transfers Chris Allen, Chris Babb, and Tyrus McGee are sound shooters. Allen and Babb ended up Big 10 starters and the two averaged just under ten points for each game back in 2009-10. McGee is coming through from Cowley Community College.
Chris Allen brings three seasons of experience from his time at Michigan State. He’s played in 14 tournament games and two Final Fours. He can not simply shoot from the outside, but can also be a defensive stopper.
Chris Babb drained 69 3-point baskets in his final year at Penn State and averaged 10.2 ppg in Big 10 action.
Tyrus McGee drained 115 three-point shots last season at a 48.7% clip. He was a NJCAA First-Team All-American and might play both at the two and at point.
Two additional players to watch out for are Bubu Palo and Tavon Sledge. Palo played all 32 games last season and proved capable of playing the one position. Sledge could be the one with the most potential. He’s incredibly quick and was ranked as the 3rd best player in New York City after averaging 25.3 points and 5.2 dimes in his senior season.
Frontcourt
Mevlin Ejim and Jordan Railey each ought to see action as returning letterman although Royce White, Anthony Booker, and Percy Gibson will all make an impact as newcomers.
Ejim experienced an incredibly productive freshman season last year for Iowa State. The Canadian put up 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds for every game. He was only the 12th freshman in school history to average double figures. Despite his quality production, Hoiberg thinks Ejim might be even far better this season. Ejim is far more of a small forward, but was compelled to move to the paint last year because of the Cyclone’s lack of depth.
Royce White was an extremely highly touted recruit two years ago, but failed to participate in a game for the Minnesota Golden Gophers after which he sat out last year soon after transferring to Iowa State. White is powerful and can be an outstanding passer. He’ll be beginning at power forward and may very well be the star of this team.
Percy Gibson was one of the top big guys in Michigan last year, putting up 21.2 points and 12 boards for each game. Booker was a top-50 player coming out of high school, but only averaged 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds when he was a freshman for Southern Illinois.
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