2011-12 Iowa State College Basketball Season Predictions
October 25, 2011
2010 Recap
Not much was expected out of Iowa State last season. Virtually all people figured they could be at the bottom of the Big 12 conference with just two players back from the season before, however the Cyclones were sort of a surprise. Usually, it’s difficult for individuals to become energized about a .500 season, nevertheless it was the first time Iowa State did not possess a losing record since the 2005-6 season.
In Fred Hoiberg’s initial season, Iowa State entirely adjusted their identity. Heading from a slow it along and grind it out team to one that ran far more and spread the court. That modification of pace helped the Cyclones rank fifth inside the conference and 39th within the country in offense at 74.8 points for every contest.
Iowa State also shot the 3-ball incredibly effectively last season, hitting 275 (8.6 each game) of their shots from behind the line. That was plenty to lead the Big 12 and rank 13th around the country.
2011-12 Overview
Only two starters return for Iowa State this season, but the real key could be the addition of four transfers. Last year this group was named the best scout team around the nation and helped keep every single practice competitive. Now Chris Allen, Chris Babb, Royce White, and Anthony Booker might be prepared to prove themselves on the court.
Last year Iowa State wasn’t really deep, so they performed a lot more conservative half-court defense. With much more talent on this season’s roster you can wager they will probably be far more aggressive in making use of pressure to drive turnovers. Take a look at the entire 2011-12 Iowa State basketball schedule here.
Backcourt
The Cyclones are planning to have to find a way to replace Dainte Garrett’s production. He was a quality point guard who blotted his name all over Iowa State’s history books for both assists and points.
There is still lots of talent in the Cyclone backcourt. Scott Christopherson is really a really talented shooter who has nailed 131 career 3-pointers already. He nailed 86 last season, ending up second within the conference and 33rd around the nation at 2.8 each contest. His 44.1 3-point percentage was good for 11th around the country and he has buried a 3-pointer in 34 straight games. Christopherson doesn’t turn the ball over, works hard, and should not need to log so many minutes this year due to the team’s depth.
You will most likely see Iowa State using a lot of three-guard sets due to having so much talent in the backcourt. Transfers Chris Allen, Chris Babb, and Tyrus McGee are reliable shooters. Allen and Babb ended up Big 10 starters and both averaged just below 10 points per game back in 2009-10. McGee is coming over from Cowley Community College.
Chris Allen brings three years of experience from his time at Michigan State. He’s performed in 14 tournament games and two Final Fours. He can not merely shoot from the outside, but is also a defensive stopper.
Chris Babb drained 69 three-point baskets in his final year at Penn State and averaged 10.2 ppg in Big Ten play.
Tyrus McGee nailed 115 3-point baskets last season at a 48.7% clip. He was a NJCAA First-Team All-American and can play both at the two and at point.
Two extra players to keep an eye on are Bubu Palo and Tavon Sledge. Palo played all 32 games last season and proved capable of playing the point spot. Sledge is the person with the most potential. He is incredibly quick and was ranked as the 3rd best player in New York City after averaging 25.3 points and 5.2 assists in his senior season.
Frontcourt
Mevlin Ejim and Jordan Railey each ought to see time as returning letterman while Royce White, Anthony Booker, and Percy Gibson will all make an impression as newcomers.
Ejim had a very productive freshman season last season for Iowa State. The Canadian put up 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He was only the 12th freshman in Cyclone history to record double figures. Despite his quality production, Hoiberg thinks Ejim will likely be even better this year. Ejim is much more of a small forward, but was forced to play down low last year because of the team’s lack of depth.
Royce White was an incredibly highly touted recruit two years in the past, but did not perform a game with the Minnesota Golden Gophers and then he sat out last season right after transferring to Iowa State. White is powerful and can be an fantastic passer. He’ll be beginning at power forward and may be the star of this team.
Percy Gibson was one of the top rated big guys in Michigan last season, putting up 21.2 points and 12 boards every game. Booker was a top-50 player coming out of high school, but only averaged 6.4 points and 4.1 boards when he was a freshman for Southern Illinois.
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