Moving Forward: Iowa State Cyclones

by Andy Edwards on Jan 22, 2010 8:53 AM CST in Kansas Jayhawk Basketball

Another conference victory (albeit a close one) and onward we push in the Quest for Six. Hilton Coliseum has never been an easy place for Kansas to play - or anyone in the Big 12, for that matter. But, for all of the talk of "Hilton Magic," the Jayhawks are 6-1 in their last seven trips to Ames.

An ever-changing roster. Since the end of last season - suspended: guard Chris Colvin, dismissed: guard Mike Taylor and forward L.A. Pomlee, injured long-term: guard Charles Boozer and forward Jamie Vanderbeken, transferred or left team: forward Wesley Johnson (Syracuse) and guard Lucca Staiger (Germany professional league)

So, that leaves what? All-Big 12 candidate Craig Brackins and one other guy I've heard of - Marquis Gilstrap, a senior forward. In a situation that can only be described as bizarre, head coach Greg McDermott obviously is working with a short roster. While the transfer of Johnson was a shock, this week's development with Staiger seems to be even more abrupt. And, that is the case, according to the boss over at Clone Chronicles - the Cyclones SB Nation site.

How Good is Brackins? Well, last year he averaged 31 points per game in two matchups against Kansas, including a 42 point show last year worthy of the all-conference hype, and more. He used his long, lean 6'10" frame to have his way with then-young freshmen Marcus and Markieff Morris. He simply could not be stopped. Inside (8-14), outside (3-5) and from the line (17-21) - he kept the Cyclones in the game singlehandedly. Predictably, his numbers are down a bit this year, with the departure of Johnson leaving him the sole reliable scoring option. Defenses have likely double and triple-teamed him to the point of frustration and reduced his impact greatly. Still, though, he has managed to average over sixteen points a game. He's still only a junior, by the way. He seems like one of those guys that has been around for about eight years, yet still has another year of eligibility, if he wants it.

Record: 12-6 (1-2)

Best Win(s): Bradley, @Nebraska

Worst Loss(es): Northern Iowa (lone Big 12 home loss in non-con)

Informative Iowa State Links

KenPom Page

Texas @ Iowa State Recap

Iowa State @ Nebraska Recap

Iowa State @ Texas Tech Recap

To be honest, I don't expect much trouble from the Cyclones come Saturday - thus the limited amount of insight. The fact is that they have a severely depleted roster, and with the exception of Brackins, not one player that would crack the ten-man Kansas rotation - and that is said with no disrespect intended to their players.

			FG			3PT			FT			Rebounds			Misc
	G	M	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	M	A	Pct	Off	Def	Tot	Ast	TO	Stl	Blk	PF	PPG
Craig Brackins	18	34.2	5.8	13.1	44.5	0.9	2.1	45.9	3.6	4.8	73.6	2.0	6.2	8.2	2.7	2.0	0.7	1.3	1.8	16.2
Marquis Gilstrap	18	29.6	5.2	11.1	47.2	1.2	2.8	42.0	3.3	5.2	64.5	2.6	6.4	9.1	1.3	2.4	0.6	1.0	2.1	14.9
Lucca Staiger	17	26.5	3.0	7.1	42.5	2.8	6.6	42.5	0.5	0.7	75.0	0.2	1.6	1.8	1.5	1.4	0.5	0.1	1.6	9.4
Diante Garrett	18	29.1	3.3	7.5	44.4	0.4	1.1	36.8	1.4	2.1	67.6	0.3	2.1	2.4	5.2	2.4	1.4	0.3	1.9	8.4
LaRon Dendy	13	16.0	2.9	5.2	55.9	0.0	0.2	0.0	1.8	4.1	45.3	1.9	1.8	3.7	0.4	0.7	0.6	1.5	1.8	7.7
Scott Christopherson	18	21.7	2.4	5.1	47.8	1.2	2.4	50.0	0.8	1.1	78.9	0.1	1.9	1.9	1.0	1.0	0.4	0.1	1.4	6.9
Justin Hamilton	17	17.8	2.1	2.9	73.5	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.7	1.2	57.1	1.6	2.1	3.7	0.4	0.8	0.2	1.0	1.8	4.9
Jamie Vanderbeken	10	13.2	1.5	2.5	60.0	0.8	1.6	50.0	0.3	0.9	33.3	0.6	2.2	2.8	0.4	0.5	0.1	0.9	1.4	4.1
Charles Boozer	16	9.7	1.1	2.8	40.0	0.3	1.3	23.8	0.9	1.5	62.5	0.7	0.8	1.5	0.4	0.4	0.4	0.1	0.6	3.5
Chris Colvin	15	12.9	1.1	3.1	37.0	0.1	0.4	16.7	0.7	1.5	43.5	0.4	0.8	1.2	2.1	2.2	0.7	0.1	1.3	3.0
Dominique Buckley	13	6.6	0.7	1.7	40.9	0.5	0.9	50.0	0.2	0.3	50.0	0.1	0.5	0.6	1.1	0.5	0.2	0.0	0.7	2.0
Alex Dorr	10	2.8	0.3	0.5	60.0	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.3	0.4	75.0	0.3	0.2	0.5	0.1	0.1	0.0	0.0	0.2	0.9
L.A. Pomlee	8	4.0	0.4	0.6	60.0	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1	0.6	20.0	0.5	0.6	1.1	0.1	0.3	0.1	0.1	0.8	0.9

More Iowa State preview coverage to come tomorrow.

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I feel better than I normally do about this game

There’s just something about Hilton. But, given the roster depletion, that McMorris is playing really well, that we have ThRob as an extra body for Brackins and that X has discovered defense (this excites me more than just about anything), I feel more confident about this game than I normally do.

Now I just hope I’m not so underwater with work that I actually have time to watch it.

by PDXJayhawk on Jan 22, 2010 9:08 AM CST reply actions

One quick correction...

Predictably, his numbers are down a bit this year, with the departure of Johnson leaving him the sole reliable scoring option

Wesley Johnson transferred prior to last year. Brackins was their only option then and I’d say his numbers have dropped because of the addition of Gilstrap transferring in.

The loss of Staiger really does hurt pretty bad, because he was by far their best way to spread the floor and open up lanes for Garrett. I didn’t see them play tech the other night, but I imagine it made more of a difference than losing a guy like Staiger normally would.

That said, I’m always afraid when we go to Hilton. Like you said, we keep winning there, but we’ve seen some great teams go in there and just completely forget how to play for some reason. It’s almost like the worse they are, the more I’m afraid of playing them there.

by hiphopopotamus on Jan 22, 2010 9:18 AM CST reply actions

Hilton Magic...

Freddy Hoiberg, Julius Michalik, Victor Alexander, Justus Thigpen….I wish Iowa State was good again

Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything but they make you smile when pushed down the stairs.

by Owen on Jan 22, 2010 9:24 AM CST reply actions 1 recs

I wish it still existed...

I grew up an ISU fan, living half hour N of Ames, plus, both parents went there. Still root for them second to KS. It pains me to see how poorly Hilton is considered anymore. It really is a shell of what it used to be. Maybe if they could get some better teams again, the students would come back to life. That place use to really rock.

by play4'ships on Jan 23, 2010 12:10 AM CST up reply actions

Brackins should have gone pro after last season

He had the necessary hype (got a lot of pub on ESPN with the 30 and 40 plus games, etc). Coming back this year likely cost him a phat stack of paper. Yes that is phat with a ph.

Really if our big men can neutralize their forwards, our guards should be what gives us a hopefully solid win on the ro-ad

by Andrew Clark on Jan 22, 2010 9:28 AM CST reply actions

Also, Marcus looks skinny in that picture

Them boys beefed up noice

by Andrew Clark on Jan 22, 2010 10:28 AM CST reply actions

Bold Prediction

McMorris outscores Brackins in this game.

Operation 39-1 is a go. Proceed to target.

by Bensa on Jan 22, 2010 10:44 AM CST reply actions

I like this prediction a lot

by Andrew Clark on Jan 22, 2010 10:55 AM CST up reply actions

the thing to look for, for me,

is whether the team comes out focused despite the lesser opponent and the depleted roster. specifically, did the team learn it’s lesson from Tennessee that lesser teams can still beat you if they have a good day? i’d like to see a kill-or-be-killed attitude from the get-go, but i’m not sure this squad has it in them.

Conversation b/t Special baseball operations consultant Zapp Brannigan and GM Dayton Moore: "...but paper covers rock and rock crushes scissors...we have a conundrum. Get me some paper, a rock, and some scissors."

by SagehenMacGyver47 on Jan 22, 2010 2:03 PM CST reply actions

Seems like ISU always has some random big white guy that plays really well against us. I’m too lazy right now to look into the numbers, but for some reason they seem to have career-type days against us, especially in Ames.

I’m not as confident in this game as the rest of you are, btw. Every road game this year will be a battle. And this is no exception.

"Here are our top priorities: recruit, beat Missouri, recruit, win the North, recruit, win the Big 12, and in most cases if you win the Big 12 then you're playing for a National Championship. And then we're going to recruit."

by KennyGregoryRockThaCradle on Jan 22, 2010 3:36 PM CST reply actions