SB Nation - Blake Griffin

Big 12 All Decade Team

Evan Pfaff — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 16:15:09 -0000

More photos » by Orlin Wagner - AP

With almost a full year yet to play, Kansas center Cole Aldrich muscled his way onto the Big12Hoops.com First Team All Big 12 Decade Team (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

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In the first full calendar decade of the Big 12 conference, one thing was apparent: there were two schools that produced a good majority of the talent. And while the best individual players may not have come from Kansas or Texas, a look at the Big12Hoops.com All Decade team reveals that a majority were either Jayhawks or Longhorns.

Don't see your favorite? The Honorable Mention list is after The Jump

First Team All Big 12

PG – Jamaal Tinsley, Iowa St
SG – Tony Allen, Oklahoma St
SF – Kevin Durant, Texas
PF – Blake Griffin, Oklahoma
C – Cole Aldrich, Kansas

Second Team All Big 12

PG – Kirk Hinrich, Kansas
SG – Acie Law, Texas A&M
SF – Michael Beasely, Kansas St
PF – Marcus Fizer, Iowa St
C – Chris Mihm, Texas

Third Team All Big 12

PG – TJ Ford, Texas
SG – Andre Emmett, Texas Tech
SF – PJ Tucker, Texas
PF – Drew Gooden, Kansas
C – Nick Collison, Kansas

[UPDATE: Lots of good suggestions and opinions in the comments section. Lemme give a little insight into how I compiled this list.

I started with a list of Big 12 Players of the Year. My rationale was that if someone was good enough to be the best in the league, even for one year, he warranted entry into this exclusive club. 9 of the 10 Big 12 Players of the Year made the top three teams. The only one who didn’t was Wayne Simien, and that is because he played a PF position that, if you look at the past decade, was just STACKED. Blake Griffin, Marcus Fizer, Drew Gooden. Really you could put Simien in there, but who gets bumped off?

As for PG, Tinsley over TJ Ford and Kirk Hinirich has also garnered a lot of attention. Tinsley’s place as the 2000-01 POY got him on the first team. But you really cant go wrong with any of them.

Lastly, there is this question on what to do with Durant and Beasley. Each only played one year, but they dominated the league (and the country). Durant was a Naismith winner as the best player in the country and Beasley was a finalist for the award. Both were league POYs. Because they didn’t play a full 4 years, they didn’t accumulate career stats that some others players did, but my list was based on selecting the best players, during their time in the Big 12, at each position.]

All Big 12 - Honorable Mention

Baylor Bears
LaceDarius Dunn
Lawrence Roberts

Colorado Buffaloes
Reggie Roby
David Harrison

Iowa St Cyclones
Craig Brackins

Kansas Jayhawks
Wayne Simien
Aaron Miles

Kansas St. Wildcats
Cartier Martin

Missouri Tigers
DeMarre Carroll
Clarence Gilbert
Arthur Johnson
Kareem Rush

Nebraska Cornhuskers
Aleks Maric

Oklahoma Sooners
Taj Gray
Hollis Price

Oklahoma St Cowboys
Byron Eaton
Joey Graham

Texas Longhorns
DJ Augustine
LaMarcus Aldridge

Texas Tech Red Raiders
Jarrius Jackson

Texas A&M Aggies
Bernard King

Recap of "Five Questions For..."

Evan Pfaff — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:15:21 -0000

For the past 12 days we have asked “Five Questions For…” each Big 12 school. In case you missed one, after the jump you can read the questions we have for all the hoops programs in the conference.

Have more questions, or comments on the questions? Leave a comment.

Missouri

1) How can Mizzou replace the loss of DeMarre Carroll, Leo Lyons and Matt Lawrence?

2) Can Mizzou sustain the momentum that led them to a Big 12 tournament championship and Elite Eight run last season?

3) Now that Coach Mike Anderson has a squad made up entirely of his recruits, can the "Fastest 40 Minutes in Basketball" be even better?

4) Who will step up in the frontcourt for Mizzou? Steve Moore, Laurence Bowers, Keith Ramsey, Justin Safford?

5) Will this be the year Mizzou beats Illinois for the first time in 10 years in the "Busch Bragging Rights" game?

Kansas

1) Can the Jayhawks meet preseason expectations of being ranked #1 nationally in a lot of publications?

2) Can Kansas put their offseason troubles behind them?

3) Exactly how good is freshman Xavier Henry?

4) Will Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins both perform at All Big 12 levels?

5) Can anyone tell the Morris twins apart?

Colorado

1) Now that Jeff Bzdelik is in his third year, can he bring a winning season to Boulder?

2) If not, how much longer will the CU AD go on with the Bzdelik experiment?

3) Can Cory Higgins perform up to his 08-09 level, when he placed fifth in the conference in scoring?

4) Who else steps up for the Buffaloes?

5) Will the Buffaloes improve upon last season's 1-15 conference record?

Iowa State

1) Can Craig Brackins get any help, or will it again be a one man show?

2) Can the Cyclones crack the top half of the Big 12 North division?

3) Is there still "Hilton Magic" in Ames?

4) One publication listed Greg McDermott as being on the "hot seat." What does he need to do to get off it?

5) After 4 straight conference seasons with a losing record, can the Cyclones better the .500 mark this year?

Kansas State

1) Frank Martin brings the 20^th ranked recruiting class to Manhattan. How can the 5 freshmen gel with the veterans?

2) Is Denis Clemente the most fun player to watch in the conference?

3) Can 6-10 UConn transfer Curtis Kelly shore up the frontline for the Wildcats?

4) Is K-State a legitimate program again after nearly a decade of meritocracy (sans the Bill Walker, Michael Beasley year)?

5) What can we expect from freshman Wally Judge?

Nebraska

1) Last year NU was the smallest team in college basketball. This year they brought in some size, will that help?

2) Will Doc Sadler's JUCO coaching experience help the three incoming JUCO transfers adjust to division 1 basketball?

3) Nebraska hasn't had a winning record this decade. Will they go 10 for 10 in losing seasons?

4) How will the team cope with two transfers leaving Lincoln?

5) Who wins more conference games, NU football or NU basketball?

Oklahoma

1) How does Oklahoma replace Blake Griffin?

2) Can Willie Warren be "the man"?

3) Can 6-8, 300 lb freshman Tiny Gallon play big in his first year in the Big 12?

4) Does Oklahoma mind being second fiddle in the Big 12 South?

5) Will inexperience in the frontcourt hurt Oklahoma's chances of making a deep run in the NCAA tournament?

Texas

1) Who will play the majority of the year, the Dexter Pittman who dominated the end of last season or the Dexter Pittman who was essentially non-existent for the first half?

2) Is freshman Avery Bradley as good as advertised?

3) Can the team get back to its first Final Four since 2003?

4) Did Damion James make the right move in returning for his senior season?

5) Between Dogus Balbay, Jai Lucas and J'Covan Brown, who will win the battle for starting PG spot?

Oklahoma State

1) Will Travis Ford's first full recruiting class bring a Big 12 championship to Stillwater?

2) With the loss of Byron Eaton, yet 4 of the top 6 scorers returning, can the Cowboys continue to put lots of points on the board?

3) How much better can James Anderson get?

4) Obi Muonelo played out of position last year. Will the right placement on the floor help the senior better his 12.7 ppg average from last year?

5) OK State will be bigger this year... but also slower. Will that hinder their ability to run with some of the Big 12 teams?

Texas Tech

1) Junior guard Mike Singletary lit up Texas A&M for a near conference tournament record 43 points last season. Will he continue to put the ball in the basket this season?

2) Will Pat Knight's second full season be an improvement over his first?

3) Is Pat Knight on the hot seat?

4) Do the Red Raiders have the personnel to match Knight's emphasis on defense this year?

5) Will all the new JUCO players pan out for the Red Raiders?

Texas A&M

1) How can the Aggies replace Josh Carter?

2) Some publications think the Aggies will finish in the top 4 in the conference. Can this team meet those expectations?

3) Mark Turgeon is in his third year in College Station. Now that he has a roster made up of mostly his guys, can the Aggies crack the upper 1/3 of the conference?

4) Will the four freshman have the impact Turgeon is hoping for?

5) The Aggies have made a school record 4 consecutive NCAA tournaments. Will the streak continue this year?

Baylor

1) Can the Bears rebound from the loss of 50% of their scoring and 2/3 of their assists due to graduation?

2) Coach Scott Drew can recruit, but can he coach those guys to a third straight post season tournament?

3) Can Michigan transfer Ekpe Udoh be the defensive force Bears fans are expecting from the 6-10 center?

4) Did highly ranked recruit Nolan Dennis make the right decision in rescinding his verbal from Memphis and commit to Baylor?

5) Who will be the go-to guy this year, LaceDarius Dunn, Tweety Carter or one of the freshman?

Big 12ers on NBA Opening Night Rosters

Evan Pfaff — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 23:50:33 -0000

More photos » by Bill Kostroun - AP

NBA commissioner David Stern has 35 Big 12 alumni in his Association. (AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

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Since our posting about Big 12ers on NBA Training Camp Rosters, a few have made some moves... so with the NBA tipping off tonight, after the Jump is a recap of all Big 12 alumni currently on NBA rosters.

Since the last post the number of Big 12 alumni on NBA rosters has slipped from 40 to 35.

Kansas has put the most people in the Association with 9. Iowa State the least with no current players.

The school by school count: Baylor (1), Colorado (1), Kansas (9), Kansas State (2), Missouri (3), Nebraska (1), Oklahoma (3), Oklahoma State (4), Texas (7), Texas A&M (3), Texas Tech (1).

There are two sets of Big 12 brothers in the league, Blake and Taylor Griffin and Kareem and Brandon Rush.

And the team to watch if you follow Big 12 Hoops? The LA Clippers, who have 4 on their roster.

Feel free to comment if any moves happen.

Atlanta Hawks

Maurice Evans - Texas

Boston Celtics

Tony Allen - Oklahoma State

Paul Pierce - Kansas

Bill Walker - Kansas State

Charlotte Bobcats

DJ Augustin - Texas

Stephen Graham - Oklahoma State

Chicago Bulls

Kirk Hinrich - Kansas

Cleveland Cavs

Daniel Gibson - Texas

Darnell Jackson - Kansas

Dallas Mavericks

Drew Gooden - Kansas

Denver Nuggets

Chauncey Billups - Colorado

Joey Graham - Oklahoma State

Detroit Pistons

NONE

Golden State Warriors

Acie Law - Texas A&M

Mikki Moore - Nebraska

Houston Rockets

NONE

Indiana Pacers

TJ Ford - Texas

Brandon Rush - Kansas

LA Clippers

Blake Griffin - Oklahoma

Kareem Rush - Missouri

DeAndrea Jordan - Texas A&M

Brian Skinner - Baylor

LA Lakers

NONE

Miami Heat

Michael Beasley - Kansas State

Mario Chalmers - Kansas

Memphis Grizzlies

Darrell Arthur - Kansas

DeMarre Carroll - Missouri

Milwaukee Bucks

NONE

Minnesota Timberwolves

NONE

New Jersey Nets

Tony Battie - Texas Tech

Keyon Dooling - Missouri

Eduardo Najera - Oklahoma

New Orleans Hornets

Julian Wright - Kansas

New York Knicks

NONE

Oklahoma City Thunder

Nick Collison - Kansas

Kevin Durant - Texas

Orlando Magic

NONE

Philadelphia 76ers

Royal Ivey - Texas

Phoenix Suns

Taylor Griffin - Oklahoma

Portland Trailblazers

LaMarcus Aldridge - Texas

Sacramento Kings

Desmond Mason - Oklahoma State

San Antonio Spurs

NONE

Toronto Raptors

Antoine Wright - Texas A&M

Utah jazz

NONE

Washington Wizards

NONE

Poll

Which Big 12 rookie are you most excited to see this year?

Blake Griffin - LA Clippers

12 votes

DeMarre Carroll - Memphis Grizzlies

29 votes

41 votes | Poll has closed

Five Questions For... Oklahoma basketball

Evan Pfaff — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 14:15:19 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

How good can Willie Warren be as "The Man"? (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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In a recurring piece leading up to the start of the basketball season, we will examine the top 5 questions surrounding each Big 12 basketball team.

Today, the top 5 questions for the Oklahoma Sooners.

1) How does Oklahoma replace Blake Griffin?

2) Can Willie Warren be "the man"?

3) Can 6-8, 300 lb freshman Tiny Gallon play big in his first year in the Big 12?

4) Does Oklahoma mind being second fiddle in the Big 12 South?

5) Will inexperience in the frontcourt hurt Oklahoma's chances of making a deep run in the NCAA tournament?

Check back tomorrow when we will ask Five Question For... Texas basketball.
Also check out Five Questions For... Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Iowa State, Kansas State, Nebraska

Follow Evan on Twitter at http://twitter.com/MizzouHoops

Poll

What is the most pressing question for OU this year?

Your obligatory Big 12 Primer

SFBE.NF — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 03:22:38 -0000

It's not a groundbreaking fact, but still worth noting: when you look at the last three #1 and #2 NBA Draft picks, three have come from the Big 12. Yes, that's Kevin Durant, Michael Beasley and Blake Griffin. This year, there may not be a top pick in waiting, but the conference boasts 8-10 players that could all go in the first round next summer. Lucky for Kansas they have three of those players and one of them (Xavier Henry) will have to fight just to see 20 minutes of floor time each game.

The most intriguing player in the conference though is Iowa State's Craig Brackins, someone who sort of became a household name at the unlikeliest of times. Stuck in Ames, Iowa, the forward's 20 and 10 output didn't seem to garner the attention that it deserved. Instead, it took a spot on Team USA for the World University Games in June and dissuasion from his mother to go pro that put him in a position to polish his game, potentially win this year's Big 12 POY award, and assure himself of a top 5 draft position.

Texas might have their best team in history. You know about Damion James and you know about Avery Bradley. But don't forget about Jai Lucas. Texas has a real point guard now who can also score when needed.

Also don't forget about James Anderson, Dennis Clemente, LaceDarius Dunn, JT Tiller and Mike Singletary. Get it? There's a ton of talent in this league.

Our breakdown is after the jump.

Tourney teams (in order of conference finish)

Kansas
Texas
Oklahoma State
Oklahoma
Kansas State
Texas A&M

All Conference Team

Sherron Collins, Kansas
Damion James, Texas
James Anderson, Oklahoma State (sorry Willie)
Craig Brackins, Iowa State
Cole Aldrich, Kansas

Most overrated - Jayhawk drama, Willie Warren

Most underrated - Longhorn 3pt and free-throw woes, the recruiting pipeline between Manhattan, Kansas and the Baltimore/Washington, D.C. area

Notable non-conference match-ups:

11/17 - Kansas vs. Memphis (in St. Louis)
12/8 - Kansas State @ Xavier
12/19 - Texas vs. North Carolina (in Cowboys Stadium)
12/22 - Michigan State @ Texas
1/6 - Iowa State vs. Duke (in Chicago)

Five story lines to keep tabs on:

Brady Morningstar. Will he mesh with his star-studded team when he becomes reinstated for the second semester?
Craig Brackins. Can he hold up for an entire season and carry the Cyclones on his back?
Final Four candidates Kansas and Texas both go about 9-10 deep - can Bill Self and Rick Barnes effectively manage this amount of talent?
Jeff Capel. Can he make proper the adjustments to gaping holes in the Sooner frontcourt?
LaceDarius Dunn. Does he record more than two assists (his 08-09 total) this season?

Three Big 12ers, 2 Teams are NEXT

big12hoops — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 21:34:53 -0000

ESPN.com is starting a new series where they will call out the "players, teams, coaches and games that will leave their mark on the 2009-10 season."

In the first installment Andy Katz identifies 3 players and 2 teams from the Big 12 who are NEXT.

Avery Bradley, 6-3, Fr., G, Texas: Bradley seems to be the perfect fit for Texas coach Rick Barnes. He can get to the hole, he can shoot and he can defend. Barnes has made Texas a guards' destination of late, with T.J. Ford, A.J. Abrams and D.J. Augustin all having stellar careers in Austin. Barnes' ability to manage a game in his guards' best interest has been a key to his success. Bradley should slide into a team that is capable of challenging for the Big 12 title as well as a national title. For some reason he hasn't had as much pop nationally as a few others in the class, but soon enough he will get his due.

Craig Brackins, 6-10, Jr., PF, Iowa State: Brackins gets the game, both on and off the court. He understood he needed to polish his skills and was well aware that just putting up 40-plus points on Kansas wasn't enough to run for the first-round cash. Brackins wants more. He wants to enter the NBA as a contributor, not just a name with potential. You could see his work ethic during the USA Basketball trials in Colorado Springs, Colo., this past summer. He knew he wasn't guaranteed to make the World University Games team. He was there to work. He has a shot to take Iowa State to the postseason, more likely the NIT or CBI than NCAA, but that would still be an accomplishment if he can lead in that manner. The Big 12 has produced some monster talent recently and he's next in line to compete for the national honor.

Willie Warren, 6-4, So., G, Oklahoma: What is it about the Sooners lately? Oklahoma could legitimately produce consecutive national player of the year candidates from players who entered college without as much hype as some of the recent recipients. Blake Griffin was a stud, but he grew into an intimidating force within a year. Warren knew he had a chance to make his mark if he stayed. He's an exceptional creator with the basketball, a strong guard, who can make plays on every possession. Jeff Capel has done a fantastic job of managing elite-level talent in his brief career in Norman. Warren sensed that staying put instead of chasing the money was the right thing to do. Now the focus is on him, and he'll have plenty of momentum toward the NBA after this season.

Kansas vs. Texas: This is the NEXT rivalry if it's not one of the top two already. To the casual fan nothing will compare to Duke and North Carolina, and nothing should. But look deeper at the game and Kansas and Texas are putting together quite a run. The schools are 1-2 in the conference and will likely remain that way for the foreseeable future. One of the best things about Duke and Carolina is that the rivalry also extends nationally, as both are usually in contention for a title. That's also now true of these two programs. Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, Missouri and Kansas State will have turns trying to unseat either program, but the depth of talent KU and Texas are hauling in is unmatched. They are the marquee programs television wants to see on a nightly basis. Now, if the Big 12 could scrap its scheduling formula and mix it up a bit so this game was played twice a season, that would be something to savor. Can you imagine Duke and North Carolina only once in the ACC? That game has to be twice. So does this one.

Read the entire article

KNOW THY ENEMY: Iowa State Cyclones

BracketCat — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 17:00:25 -0000

I'm starting to see pumpkins everywhere, and you know what pumpkins always remind me of? Basketballs.

That's right, hoops season is just around the corner. Practice begins Oct. 16 in most places, which means it's time to start previewing the Big 12. Now, I haven't packed it in on the football season yet, by any means. But let's be honest: We all knew coming into 2009-2010 that football was just gonna be the appetizer. We're going to have a nationally ranked squad this year, and it's getting close enough to tipoff that I think the time has come to begin getting officially psyched up.

But to keep this on a semi-football-related plane, at least for the duration of the season, I will endeavor to keep these loosely linked to our football opponent of the week past. Which means it's time to venture up to Ames and see what Farmageddon on the hardwood might look like this year...

Normally these will publish at noon on Mondays, but as usual, the first one always is the most time-consuming because all the formatting has to be done from scratch. Anyhow, click the jump for the most comprehensive preview of the Cyclone hoopsters you'll find this side of Clone Chronicles.

The Coach

Greg McDermott
Fourth Season

44-51 (14-34) at Iowa State
265-178 (85-89) overall

McDermott's Cyclone teams consistently have ranked in the upper half of the Big 12 in scoring defense and in three-point shooting in his three seasons in Ames. In just three seasons, McDermott has coached four players who have earned all-conference recognition, including Craig Brackins, who was the first Cyclone since 2001 to earn first-team All-Big 12 honors, in 2009.

The Departures

Starters

Bryan Petersen (30.1 minutes per game, 6.6 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game)

Reserves

Wes Eikmeier (11.3 minutes per game, 0.8 point per game, 2.9 rebounds per game)
Sean Haluska (15.7 minutes per game, 1.0 point per game, 2.5 rebounds per game)
Cameron Lee (3.2 minutes per game, 0.7 point per game, 0.4 rebound per game)
Clinton Mann (2.4 minutes per game, 0.4 point per game, 0.7 rebound per game)
Alex Thompson (14.1 minutes per game, 2.6 points per game, 2.4 rebounds per game)

The Veterans

		#1 Dominique Buckley Sophomore Guard 6-2 \| 205 Detroit, Mich. Buckley played in 25 games as a reserve point guard, averaging 1.3 points and 0.8 assists. He logged a career-high 19 minutes vs. Texas A&M, and tallied five points vs. SIU-Edwardsville and Colorado. Buckley also handed out three assists vs. Iowa, Jacksonville State and SIU-Edwardsville.

		#4 Charles Boozer Junior Guard 6-3 \| 195 Raleigh, N.C. Boozer competed in 23 games, giving Iowa State a lift from the bench. He averaged 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds; shot 37.2 percent from the field, 29.6 percent from 3-point range and 75 percent from the free-throw line; tallied a career-high 11 points vs. Missouri; and grabbed a career-high seven rebounds while logging a career-high 19 minutes vs. Kansas State. (And no, your eyes do not deceive you. Charles is Carlos Boozer's younger brother.)

		#5 Lucca Staiger Junior Guard 6-5 \| 225 Blaustein, Germany Big 12 Rookie of the Week (12/15/08 and 01/12/09) Staiger started 27 games last season, averaging 8.2 points and 2.2 rebounds. He was Iowa State's top long-range shooter, making a team-high 74 treys in 192 attempts. His 74 3-pointers rank seventh on ISU's single-season 3-pointers made list. Staiger averaged 2.3 3-pointers made per game to rank sixth in the Big 12 and seventh on ISU's single-season list. He made a 3-pointer in 26 of 32 games and had 14 games with three or more treys. Staiger had a streak of 16 consecutive games with a 3-pointer, tying for the third-longest stretch in school history. He scored 14 points behind a 4-of-8 effort from downtown vs. Oregon State and poured in a career-high 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting from 3-point range vs. Drake. His eight treys in that game tie for second on ISU's single-game record chart. Staiger tied a Big 12 mark by making seven treys in the first half vs. Drake, tallied 15 points in his Big 12 debut at Texas, drilled six 3-pointers en route to 18 points vs. Nebraska, posted 14 points behind a 4-of-10 effort from long range at Oklahoma State, and was 5-of-9 from downtown and scored 17 points at Nebraska. His 74 treys already rank 18th in school history.

		#10 Diante Garrett Junior Guard 6-4 \| 185 Milwaukee, Wis. World Vision Classic All-Tournament (2008) NSCA All-American (2008) Garrett was one of the Big 12's top playmakers, ranking third in the league and 36th nationally in assists. He totaled 161 assists to rank 14th on Iowa State's single-season assist chart. One of two players to start all 32 games, Garrett was second on the team in scoring and averaged 3.3 rebounds. He led the team in steals with 30, shot 70.7 percent from the free-throw line, ranked 10th in the Big 12 in assist/turnover ratio, handed out five or more assists in 17 of 32 games, led or tied ISU in assists in 22 of 32 games, recorded two double-doubles and four double-digit assist games, and posted a career-high 26 points at Hawai'i, going 10-for-10 from the free-throw line and marking the 16th time in school history where a Cyclone was perfect from the charity stripe with at least 10 attempts. Garrett dished out a career-high 11 assists vs. Loyola Marymount and Missouri, posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists against Oklahoma, notched 17 points vs. Texas Tech and made a career-high three treys vs. UW-Milwaukee, en route to 17 points. He currently ranks 18th on ISU's career assist chart.

		#21 Craig Brackins Junior Forward 6-10 \| 230 Palmdale, Calif. First Team All-Big 12 (2009) First Team USBWA All-District VI (2009) First Team NABC All-District 8 (2009) Basketball Times First Team All-Midlands (2009) AP Honorable Mention All-American (2009) Collegehoopsnet.com HM All-American (2009) Kansas City Star All-Big 12 Improved (2009) Big 12 Player of the Week (2009 - three times) MVP of World Vision Classic (2008) Brackins recorded one of the greatest seasons in Iowa State history, earning first-team all-Big 12 and first-team all-District honors from the NABC, USBWA and Basketball Times. He was named honorable mention All-American by the AP, was the first Cyclone to earn first-team all-Big 12 honors since Curtis Stinson in 2006 and was named Big 12 Player of the Week three times. Brackins averaged 20.2 points, ranking second in the Big 12 and 22nd nationally, and 9.5 rebounds to rank third in the Big 12 and 26th nationally. Along with Blake Griffin and Luke Harangody, he was one of three players in the country to rank in the top 30 nationally in both scoring and rebounding. In Big 12 games, Brackins averaged a double-double, scoring 20 or more points in 11 of 16 conference games. He scored a league-high 348 points in Big 12 games, the 10th-best single-season scoring total in league history; posted 19 20-point games and three 30-point outings; tallied 12 20-point/10-rebound games; led ISU in scoring in 21 of the last 23 games and paced the Cyclones in rebounding in the final 18 games; tallied 15 double-doubles to rank fourth in the Big 12; and ended the season ranking in ISU's single season top 11 in four categories: field goals, points, rebounds and double-doubles. Brackins is only the third player in school history to record 600 points and 300 rebounds in a season. His 645 points as a sophomore ranks second on ISU's class list behind Jeff Grayer, who tallied 684 points in his sophomore campaign. He became the 27th member of the 1,000-point club and just the fifth Cyclone in school history to record 1,000 points in their first two seasons. Brackins scored 18 or more points in a half eight times and tallied a double-double by halftime three times. He scored a career-high 42 points vs. Kansas, making 11 of 19 shots from the floor, 3 of 5 from beyond the arc and 17 of 21 from the charity stripe. The 42 points tie for the sixth-best effort by a Big 12 player in league history and are the fourth-best scoring effort in ISU history. His 17 free throws made tie for third best in ISU history. Brackins registered 38 points, including 23 in the second half, on 15-of-23 shooting from the floor at Houston. His 15 field goals made are tied for third-best all-time by a Big 12 player. He scored 32 points in an overtime victory at Northern Iowa and grabbed a career-high 17 boards vs. Jacksonville State.

		#23 Jamie Vanderbeken Senior Forward 6-11 \| 245 Belleville, Ontario Kansas City Star's Big 12 All-Newcomer Team (2009) Iowa State's top reserve in the post, averaging 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in 31 games, Vanderbeken led ISU in 3-point percentage, making 35 of 86 shots from beyond the arc. He averaged 6.3 points in Big 12 play, was second on the team in blocks with 21, made 23 of his 35 treys in the last 14 games, had four games with three or more treys, tallied a double-double in his debut with 14 points and 10 boards vs. UC Davis, was 5 of 7 from the field and scored 12 points vs. Oklahoma, tallied 14 points at Kansas State, posted career highs in points and 3-pointers at Kansas, and was 4 of 5 from 3-point range en route to 12 points vs. Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship.

		#41 Justin Hamilton Sophomore Center 6-11 \| 255 Alpine, Utah Hamilton had a solid freshman campaign, averaging 4.2 points and 2.9 rebounds. He started 18 games, played in 32 contests and led the Cyclones in field-goal percentage, hitting 57 of 100 shots from the floor. His 57-percent clip from the floor ranks 15th on Iowa State's single-season record chart and second on ISU's freshman list. Hamilton tallied 17 blocks last season. In his first career start, he scored eight points and grabbed a career-high 12 boards in a win at Houston. Hamilton posted a career-high 16 points vs. SIU-Edwardsville and scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field at Missouri. He recorded eight points and 10 rebounds at Texas, and posted a career-high three blocks vs. Colorado.

The Redshirts

#11 Scott Christopherson
Sophomore Guard
6-3 | 205
LaCrosse, Wis.

Christopherson sat out the 2008-09 season as a redshirt after transferring from Marquette, where he appeared in 18 games as a freshman, all as a reserve. He missed the first five games of the regular season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee, but netted a career-high six points on 2-of-3 shooting from the floor vs. Savannah State.

Christopherson averaged 1.3 points and 0.7 rebounds per game at Marquette, and shot 42.1 percent from the field and 40 percent from 3-point range.

#34 L.A. Pomlee
Freshman Forward
6-8 | 235
Davenport, Iowa

Pomlee sat out the 2008-2009 season as a redshirt. He was ranked as the 38th-best power forward in the class of 2008 by Scout.com, was a first-team Class 4A all-state selection by both the Iowa Newspaper Association and The Des Moines Register as a senior, and also was a Quad City Times all-Metro pick.

Pomlee averaged 15.4 points and led the Mississippi Athletic Conference in both rebounding and field-goal percentage as a senior. His Central team went undefeated in the conference and 23-3 overall, and advanced to the state championship game, falling to Iowa City High 64-54 in the Class 4A state title game, in which he scored 14 points and grabbed 12 boards.

Pomlee missed his entire junior season after developing a blood clot in his leg, but was a third-team all-state selection in his sophomore campaign after averaging 14.2 points and 10.1 rebounds. He chose Iowa State over West Virginia and Wisconsin.

The Newcomers

		#2 Chris Colvin Freshman Guard 6-2 \| 195 Chicago, Ill. One of the best guards in the Class of 2009, Colvin was ranked as the 99th-best player in the nation and the 15th-best point guard nationally in the Rivals.com rankings. Scout.com ranked him as the 10th-best point guard in 2009 and he was ranked at No. 77 in the ESPNU final ratings. Colvin was named second-team Class 4A all-state a senior by the AP, and averaged 12.3 ppg and 6.2 assists on one of the best and most balanced prep teams in the nation. His Whitney Young team defeated Waukegan 69-66 in the state championship game to finish the season at 26-9 and win the 2009 Illinois Class 4A state title. He had seven points and a team-high six assists in the state championship game, and scored 14, 20, 12 and 17 points in the four previous postseason tournament games. Colvin averaged 14.1 ppg as a junior, earning all-state honors, and started three years at Whitney Young. He was named as one of the best players at the 2008 Reebok All-American Camp and chose Iowa State over Baylor, Florida State, Illinois, Kentucky, Marquette, Providence, USC and Washington State.

		#3 Marquis Gilstrap Senior Forward 6-6 \| 210 Covington, Ga. Gilstrap emerged as one of the best junior college players in the nation in his one season at Gulf Coast, averaging 22.6 points and 10.1 rebounds for one of the biggest surprise teams in junior college. He earned honorable mention All- America honors by the NJCAA, was rated as the 26th-best player in the class of 2009 by ESPN.com, and ranked 10th nationally in scoring and 20th in the nation in rebounding in the final NJCAA statistical rankings. Gilstrap shot 48.3 percent from the field, 40.9 percent from 3-point range and 74.8 percent from the free-throw line at Gulf Coast, was named Panhandle Conference Player of the Year and first-team team all-Panhandle Conference, and was a first-team All-FCCAA honoree. He led his team to a 24-9 overall record and a spot in the state final, where GCCC lost to No. 1-ranked Chipola JC 68-65 to miss out at a chance for the national tournament. Gilstrap also scored 27 points to help his squad defeat No. 3 Miami Dade in the first round of the state playoffs, and averaged 24.6 points and 10.3 rebounds to earn FCCAA All-Tournament team honors. He had seven 30+ scoring games and participated in the 2009 NJCAA All-Star Basketball Classic.

		#12 Alex Dorr Freshman Forward 6-7 \| 215 Norwalk, Iowa Dorr joins the Cyclones as a recruited walk-on. He averaged 20.2 points and 9.3 rebounds while earning Class 3A first-team all-state honors from both the Iowa Newspaper Association and The Des Moines Register as a senior. Dorr led Norwalk to its first-ever state championship game in 2009. The team finished the season with a 24-3 record. He scored 23 points and grabbed nine boards vs. Dubuque Wahlert in the first round of the state tournament, and averaged 18.9 points and 11.2 rebounds as a junior, earning second-team all-state honors.

		#15 Antwon Oliver Freshman Guard 6-5 \| 175 Racine, Wis. Oliver earned honorable mention all-state and third-team all-area honors as a senior, and developed into one of the best players in Wisconsin in his last year, leading his Horlick team to the Division 1 state championship game. He was ranked as the 13th-best player in the state of Wisconsin and averaged 16.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and hit 45 treys as a senior. Horlick went 24-2 and lost in the state final to Madison Memorial, 56-41. Oliver led his team with 13 points in the state championship game and was invited to play in the 2009 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Boy's All-Star game. He averaged 12.5 points as a junior and 5.1 points as a sophomore.

		#22 LaRon Dendy Junior Forward 6-9 \| 225 Greenville, S.C. Dendy played two years at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, and was rated as the 57th-best player in the preseason 2008-09 Juco Junction rankings. He averaged 8.5 points and 6.3 rebounds as a freshman, earning honorable mention All-Region XI honors, but suffered a stress fracture in his sophomore season and saw limited action, averaging 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds and shooting 63.3 percent from the field in nine games. Ranked as one of the top post players in the Class of 2007, Dendy was rated as the 63rd-best player in the nation and the 17th-best power forward in the Rivals.com Class of 2007, and was the seventh-best player in the Southeast Region in 2007. He originally committed to Clemson, but opted to go to junior college.

		#25 Bubu Palo Freshman Guard 6-1 \| 175 Ames, Iowa Palo is a recruited walk-on. He was the starting point guard on Ames' 2009 Class 4A state championship team, which finished the season with a perfect 26-0 mark. Palo started his last two seasons at point guard, averaged 9.1 points as a senior to earn second-team All-CIML honors, had a 3.34 assist/turnover ratio and shot 52.0 percent from the field. He scored 11 points in Ames' state championship game win over Linn-Mar and was an honorable mention all-conference pick as a junior.

My thanks to the Iowa State sports information department for the photos and most of the information for the bios.

The Analysis

It's possible that my judgment has been colored by staring at these stats and bios for too long, but at least on paper, the Cyclones appear to have a much improved team. Thanks largely to the return of future NBA player Craig Brackins, Iowa State returns 77.9 percent of its scoring and 72.5 percent of its rebounding from a team that set school marks for 3-pointers made (236) and fewest turnovers (12.1 per game) in a season.

There were few notable departures, as most of the graduated seniors were little-used reserves. The biggest loss is starting wing Bryan Petersen, although there is reason to believe there will be little drop-off at that position. Also gone from last year's team is Sean Haluska, who chipped in quite a few minutes off the bench.

But the Cyclones return their other four starters, and add some significant pieces to challenge them for playing time. In the frontcourt, I expect Diante Garrett to retain his starting spot and continue growing as one of the premier point guards in the league, but Chris Colvin will push him to the max. Colvin is one of the most highly touted recruits Iowa State has signed (other than Brackins, of course) and turned down programs such as Marquette and USC to go to Ames. He could be the latest in a long line of talented Chicago point guards who have made in impact in the Big 12.

All Lucca Staiger did was come in and set a bunch of Iowa State records shooting the three-ball. Pretty impressive, considering he battled a lingering injury for at least part of the season. He will be complemented by Scott Christopherson, a transfer from Marquette who sat out last year per NCAA rules. The guard spots are bolstered by sophomore Dominique Buckley and veteran journeyman Charles Boozer.

Antwon Oliver is a promising prospect fresh out of high school, but will have a tough time finding minutes in such a deep, experienced backfield. Look for him to redshirt, along with preferred walk-ons Bubu Palo and Alex Dorr.

The frontcourt begins and ends with Brackins. One of the best players in the Big 12, he needs no introduction to the rest of the conference, but what he does need is help, especially with Petersen leaving. Well, help is on the way in the form of Marquis Gilstrap, a Top-50 juco player who has just one season to make an impact. At 6-6 and 210, Gilstrap has good size to hold down the 3 spot. Another exciting player for Cyclone fans to watch is juco transfer LaRon Dendy, a former Clemson commit who was in the Rivals Top 75 for 2007.

Justin Hamilton and Jamie Vanderbeken will man the post. Hamilton is considered the returning starter, but Vanderbeken pulled a few starts as well. It's really irrelevant, as both will rotate a lot in the paint in order to spell each other. Vanderbeken has an added dimension in that he is an excellent 3-point shooter, a talent that makes it hard for teams to pack it in against him and Brackins.

A wild-card player is L.A. Pomlee, who redshirted last season. He has a pretty good pedigree, given that he was a Scout Top 50 player and passed up a chance to play for Bob Huggins at West Virginia. Pomlee might make his biggest impact as a 4 whenever the Cyclones go with a small lineup, a formation that usually sees Brackins rotate into the post.

So, what we have here is a team with one of the best players in the conference, four returning starters and several more experienced veterans, and it loses very few impact players, but adds one of the best prep players in the country, as well as two talented juco players and a Big East transfer. That sounds like a recipe for dramatic improvement, which Greg McDermott better deliver, or the pressure might start to turn up on him. It's Year 4, and Iowa State needs to show some serious signs of breaking out of the basement now that the administration has built him a new practice facility.

But this year will be the most stacked the Big 12 ever has been, and the Cyclones still have a major weakness in their frontcourt: Other than Brackins, they don't have any truly athletic posts. When you look at a team like Kansas or Texas, you see multiple big, athletic matchup nightmares. Iowa State doesn't really have more than one or two of those guys. Hamilton and Vanderbeken are traditional centers who aren't nearly as talented as Cole Aldrich. The season could swing on whether Gilstrap can overcome past injuries and step up to be the third scoring threat the Clones need to keep defenses honest and free up Brackins to do some serious damage.

Projected Starting Lineup


Diante Garrett	Lucca Staiger	Marquis Gilstrap	Craig Brackins	Justin Hamilton
1	2	3	4	5

Projected Top Reserves


Chris Colvin	Scott Christopherson	LaRon Dendy	L.A. Pomlee	Jamie Vanderbeken
1	2	3	4	5

The Final Verdict

Although ISU has a pretty good backcourt, I think they're going to resemble the 2008-2009 Wildcats in a lot of ways when they hit the meat of league play. They'll be improved, but with Kansas, Kansas State and Missouri to contend with in the North, breaking into the top half of the conference might be too much to ask. An NIT berth would be a solid season for this squad, although it seems like a lame ending for a great player such as Brackins.

Predicted finish: 9th

Best-case scenario: 7th

#14? Someone Needs to Talk to Jeff Goodman

everydayezag — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:48:13 -0000

I have a daily routine for checking out and keeping updated on the latest college basketball news across the country. This routine includes checking out articles by Jeff Goodman (foxsports), Andy Katz (ESPN), and Gary Parrish (CBS), multiple times per day. While I respect the opinions and thoughts of each, I came away truly baffled by an article that Zach B posted a link to today. In his ranking of the top 20 backcourts in the country, Jeff Goodman had the Gonzaga backcourt ranked #14 in the country. Originally, I figured that is not a horrible ranking, even though I believe that the Zags have a loaded backcourt. However, after looking over the list and the numerous backcourt combinations that Goodman had ranked ahead of Gonzaga, I could hardly contain my shock and frustration. Before I continue on this rant, here is what Goodman had to say about the Gonzaga backcourt.

14. Gonzaga

Backcourt: Matt Bouldin, Steven Gray, Demetri Goodson
Analysis: Bouldin is one of the most underrated guards in the nation and will finally get his due this season. Gray is a big-time shooter, and Goodson gives the Zags a quick, tough point guard.

My first gasp came when I saw the Kentucky Wildcats coming in ranked at #4.

4. Kentucky

Backcourt: John Wall, Eric Bledsoe, Darnell Dodson, DeAndre Liggins
Analysis: Both Wall and Bledsoe are terrific athletes and are more than capable of running a team. Neither is regarded as a great shooter, but they may not need to make perimeter shots with their ability to get to the basket. Dodson is the guy who can really make shots from deep.

Look, I understand the great accomplishments and praise that Eric Beldsoe and John Wall have garnered at the high school level, but lets remember this all occurred at the high school level. Neither is a good shooter, and neither has played against elite competition and smart coaches on a game-by-game basis. So who else does Goodman include to justify this ranking for Kentucky? Should I be shaking because of the 4.2 points that DeAndre Liggins averaged last year (keep in mind that Meech averaged 3.8 points per game, and I don't think he ever took a shot from farther then two feet out)? Or is Darnell Dodson the one that makes this such an elite backcourt? This is the same Darnell Dodson that has been playing JC ball the past two years, and faces many of the same challenges that Bledsoe and Wall will face as they try and get accustomed to the DI pace and quality of play.

While I was certainly surprised and taken off guard by seeing Kentucky that high, my jaw dropped to the floor when I saw UCLA at #9.

9. UCLA

Backcourt: Malcolm Lee, Jerime Anderson, Michael Roll
Analysis: The Bruins' guard tandem of Lee and Anderson may be inexperienced, but they have more than enough talent. Add in the oft-injured Roll, who likes to shoot the ball from long distance, and it's a formidable backcourt.

I automatically assumed that any backcourt that includes Michael Roll as a member couldn't be in the top 10. If I'm not mistaken, this is the same Michael Roll who has never averaged seven points a game, and will be a senior this year. This is the same Michael Roll that has never been healthy and has continually showed a lack of toughness and production throughout his career. Once I moved on from that, I suddenly remembered that Jerime Anderson was the new starting point guard. Just so I could refresh my memory on how poor Jerime Anderson was last year, I chose to look at the stats from his freshman campaign. Last season, Anderson had 42 assists to go along with 36 turnovers (Meech- 54 assists; 34 turnovers). Yet somehow, Goodman assumes that Anderson is going to morph into a starting level PAC 10 point guard. Even with Malcolm Lee, there has been nowhere near the production to match the talent. Lee is a highly skilled guard, but can't shoot the ball at all. He is a nice slasher, but until he develops a consistent jumper, defenders will back off and take away his ability to slash to the hoop.

My final issue with Goodman came on his Gonzaga explanation. First off, if you're going to include all these freshman who have only excelled at the AAU level, how do you not include Mangisto Arop as part of the Gonzaga backcourt? Was his play at the FIBA tournaments against the best in the world not enough to get him some ink? Secondly, when are national writers going to stop labeling Steven Gray as a shooter? As anyone who watched Gonzaga play last year would know, Gray is at his best when he is slashing to the hoop. He has an incredible spring to his step when he is at the rim, and his ability to shoot the ball from deep is a great asset to his ability to get to the rim. If Steven can put it together this year, and I understand that is a BIG if, there aren't many guards in the country I would take over him.

With my venting done and over with, here is how I would rank the top 20 backcourts in the country using the list that Goodman had.

1) Kansas- Assuming they don't start beating each other up and stop getting in fights with the football team, this is the most loaded backcourt in the country.

2) Texas- This group has athleticism, shooting ability, and a great amount of toughness. There are so many different combinations that Rick Barnes can put on the court.

3) Michigan St.- Kalin Lucas is so quick with the ball, and Tom Izzo has great depth and stability to provide depth and talent around Lucas.

4) Ohio St.- Evan Turner is one of the most underrated players in the country, and can play every position in the backcourt at a high level for the Buckeyes.

5) Oklahoma- Willie Warren is arguably the top guard in the country, and his star should shine even brighter with Blake Griffin gone. Mason-Griffin has the luxury that he doesn't have to be "the man" from day one, like the guys at Kentucky do.

6) Connecticut- Everyone should be ready to watch the next great Big East point guard, as this will be Kemba Walker's team for the foreseeable future.

7) Cal- I feel I have continued to underrate the Cal backcourt by dropping them to #7 on this list. Christopher and Randle will be household names come March.

8) Villanova- Scotty Reynolds is about as tough as it gets (although I hate his shot selection), and he is surrounded by great shooters like Corey Fisher and Corey Stokes.

9) Gonzaga- Matt Bouldin has improved every single year he has been on campus at Gonzaga. Steven Gray has shown the potential to dominate at this level, and this year he will be afforded every opportunity to be star. Demetri Goodson just might be ok playing in the spotlight after his performance against WKU last season.

10) Washington- Not many teams can bring a tenacious defender like Venoy Overton off the bench. Overton needs to lose some of the attitude problems he has on the court, but it's a nice option to have a trio like Gaddy, Overton, and Isiah Thomas.

11-20

11) Maryland

12) Ole Miss

13) Kentucky

14) Purdue

15) Xavier

16) Georgetown

17) Missouri

18) UCLA

19) Seton Hall

20) Louisville

Q&A with Capel

markallanpeterson — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 01:35:22 -0000

More photos » by Jeff Roberson - AP

Oklahoma head coach Jeff Capel gets set to take a shot during practice for a men's NCAA tournament regional semifinal college basketball game in Memphis, Tenn., Thursday, March 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)

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Q: Thirty-win seasons don't occur every year. What will you always remember about last season?
A: "Now that the season's been over with for a while, you have a chance to digest everything. I certainly appreciate everything more now than I did as we were going through it. We had a really good team. To win 30 games and get to within one game of the Final Four, it was special. We had some special individual performances by Blake (Griffin) that obviously stand out, but Willie Warren had an amazing freshman year for us, too. Taylor Griffin and Austin Johnson had really, really good senior years. The things I'll remember? I'll remember our team celebrating after we won the NIT Season Tip-Off. I'll remember how this group came together in the midst of some adverse times toward the end of our conference season and was able to pull it back together as we headed into the NCAA Tournament. We were playing some of our best basketball at that time, so I'm really proud of that."

I think Willie has a chance to be really good. I've heard and I've read that he played really well at LeBron's camp. I've even heard he may have been the best college player there. The thing that I'm most pleased with is that everyone I've talked to mentioned how much he's grown and matured.

The strength of the team seems to lie in the backcourt. What excites you about your guards?
"That's where we have some experience. Tony Crocker is the most experienced, and then we have Cade Davis and Willie Warren. Those three played integral roles for us last year. Crock started every game and Willie started all but two, and Cade played really well for us. We need those three to step up as leaders. We'll see how Ray Willis has matured as a player and how he's grown. He'll certainly have an opportunity. I think we've added some really good guards in Tommy Mason-Griffin and Steven Pledger. So we feel really good about our perimeter because of the mix of veterans and new talented guys who can hopefully provide more firepower."

Would you rather have a great frontcourt or a great backcourt?
"I'd like to have both. You often hear that you win with guards, and I agree with that. But last year we showed that you can win with a really good frontcourt. I do think guards control the game more, especially offensively. If you have guards who can also get after it defensively, I'd prefer to have the stronger backcourt. I think we have some guys with the ability to do those things. We're going to have to teach them how to do them -- especially getting after it on the defensive end. But as a former guard, I'd probably have to choose the backcourt."

Will the makeup of this team allow you to get up and down the court a little bit faster?
"It could, possibly. I thought we played at a pretty good tempo last year. Until I'm actually able to get out on the floor with them, it's hard to say. Will we ever be a run-and-gun team? I don't know if that's really my style. I want to run and get easy opportunities, but will we ever be a team that runs and shoots the first eight or 10 seconds down the floor? I don't know.

"But I certainly think that we have a chance to have a really strong backcourt. We'll be able to put three guys on the floor who can dribble, pass and shoot; players who can create. Willie Warren can create. We think that's something that Tommy Mason-Griffin brings us that we haven't had at point guard -- a guy who can really generate opportunities off the bounce. Hopefully Tony Crocker has been working on his ball handling. If so, that can allow us to use him that way. Same thing with Cade Davis. He's never going to break you down off the dribble, but he can use one or two dribbles to help him get to a spot and get his shot off. Ray Willis is a kid who has an opportunity to be good off the bounce, it's just a matter of whether he's gotten strong enough to survive getting bumped. So our pace probably could quicken a little bit, but I won't know until practice starts."

Do you foresee Willie Warren stepping forward during his sophomore season like Blake Griffin did and becoming a national-player-of-the-year candidate?
"I think Willie has a chance to be really good. I've heard and I've read that he played really well at LeBron's camp. I've even heard he may have been the best college player there. The thing that I'm most pleased with is that everyone I've talked to mentioned how much he's grown and matured. That's part of the process and one of the great things that happens to a young man in college -- you grow up. I think all of the experiences of being around Blake last year and watching how he handled everything have helped Willie. They've developed a good friendship and Blake has helped tutor Willie and has talked to him about some things. Willie's a smart guy and I've heard some really good things about him this summer. We all know what he can do as a player, but we need a leader on this team. If he's been approaching this summer the right way then he has a chance to step up and earn the right to be a leader."

In what areas do you most want to see Willie improve?
"I'd like to see him be more aggressive at times, and I think he'll be that way. I thought at times last year he deferred. This year I don't think we'll have that problem. I'd like to see him get better defensively. The thing Willie's going to have to understand -- and I've talked to him about this -- is that he's going to be a marked man now. And so his preparation has to be that much better than it was last year. Last year he was the second guy on the other team's scouting report. This year he'll be the first guy.

"I'd like to see him rebound better. With his size, strength and athleticism, he should be getting four or five boards a game. If he does that we can immediately start our break -- there doesn't have to be an outlet pass. So those are the areas we'll look for improvement from him."

The team returns only 29 percent of its rebounding from last season. Is that a concern?
"It's a major concern; probably as big as any I have. I think we have some guys who can score. But rebounding is the major concern. Between Blake and Taylor last year, you're talking over 20 rebounds a game. It's going to present a huge opportunity for players to step up, and it's a way that they can earn playing time. So many people focus on scoring. Well, we're going to need some guys to really step up and man the boards for us. Our two returning big men -- Ryan Wright and Orlando Allen -- or some of our new guys like Tiny Gallon or Andrew Fitzgerald have a chance to do that. A guy like Tony Crocker has to be a better rebounder for us. Willie Warren has to rebound better. We're going to have to gang rebound this year."

Last year was the first time that OU has had two McDonald's All-Americans on the same team. Now there are three on the squad for 2009-10. What has allowed you to have so much success on the recruiting trail?
"The first thing is I have a really, really good staff. All three of my assistants will be -- or should be -- head coaches soon. Their experience, their knowledge and their connections have enabled us to get in on some good players. The second thing is what the University of Oklahoma has to offer as far as a university, a community, an athletics department and a basketball program. If you look at our basketball program over the past 25 years, it's been a top-15 national program. That's a testament to everyone who's played and coached here. It also helps when you're able to get a guy like Blake Griffin. He's the guy who's kind of made it cool to come here during my time. Then a guy like Willie Warren becomes interested to play with Blake. When Willie got here you have to think that that opened the eyes of guys like Tommy Mason-Griffin and Tiny Gallon. We were able to get them here on campus and they fell in love with what they saw. So I think it's a combination of all of those things."

What tactics will you use to relieve some of the pressure off Tiny Gallon in stepping in for Blake Griffin?
"Well I hope there won't be a lot of pressure, but realistically, from the outside, there will be expectations for Tiny. I've told him that there will never be another Blake Griffin -- not at the University of Oklahoma, not in college basketball. Blake is one of those true, unique talents that come along just every so often. I think people will understand that even more once Blake starts doing some things at the next level. But, in his own right, Tiny's very, very talented. The big thing is getting him to understand that who he is is pretty good. He doesn't need to emulate anyone else, he just needs to be the best Tiny Gallon he can be."

What does Jozsef Szendrei bring to the table as your new strength and conditioning coach?
"He's been great. One of the things that I like about Yo-Yo is that he wore the Oklahoma jersey. That's important. Sometimes -- and I know this from playing at a school with great tradition -- it means a little bit more to the guys who've worn the jersey. When I was going through the hiring process, I didn't think there was a candidate who'd have more pride in his job than Yo-Yo. He has a lot of ownership in this program because he wore that uniform with pride. On top of that, he's very knowledgeable about what he does and he has a passion for it. He wants to do anything he can to help the OU men's basketball program.

"He understands his role and is probably one of the most positive people I've ever met in my life. I've known him since I got to OU and I don't think I've ever seen him in a bad mood. You can't help but get a jolt of energy from him when you're around him. That was something I was really looking for when I started the hiring process."

How do you break down the Big 12 this year?
"I talked to some Big 12 coaches out on the road recruiting and I know a lot of us feel like our league is going to be even better than it was last year. And last year, I think from top to bottom we were right there with any other league. I think Kansas will be better than it was last year, and it was really good. Texas has the chance to be better and it was a very good basketball team. I think Iowa State will probably be a better basketball team. They have one of the premier players in the country returning in Craig Brackins.

"Then you look at Texas A&M -- it's going to be a better team with three starters back and two freshmen who played really well last year in Dash Harris and David Loubeau. Oklahoma State has another one of the premier players in the country in James Anderson. I think Colorado will be better and I think Kansas State will be improved and right in the thick of things.

"We lost a lot and so did Missouri. But Missouri's style of play and the guys that do return -- especially in the backcourt -- will keep it in the midst of the race. Doc Sadler at Nebraska is one of the best coaches in the country. He's got some good players back and some more that are new or sat out last year. I think it's going to be a really, really good year. We have some tremendous players coming back and I think we signed more top-100 national recruits than any other league. I think that says a lot."

Does the Big 12 have the chance to be the best league in the country?
"I think it can be. In fact, I thought we were last year. The only conference you could maybe say was better last year was the Big East. And everyone I've talked to thinks we'll be better than we were last year, so I do think we could be the best league in the country. We'll have two preseason top-five teams. Kansas will be ranked No. 1 and Texas will be in the top five. Then there are some more who will be preseason top-25 teams. When you look at the depth of our league and the quality of players, coaches and venues, it's hard to win -- especially on the road. I think we're going to be the best conference in the country this year."

(courtesy SoonerSports.com and Oklahoma SID)

LINK

Last Day of the NBA Summer League Raises Question Marks for Former Zags

Zach B — Sun, 19 Jul 2009 17:46:53 -0000

Micah Downs is just one former Zag hoping to find a place on an NBA roster next season.

View full size photo »

Today is the last day of the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas and for many former college stars, it is probably their last time playing basketball in the United States. For those who were drafted, they obviously have a good shot to make their respective team but a good amount of the players in Las Vegas are vying to fill a very limited amount of spots on NBA rosters. Their journey from that point will probably be long and arduous and could possibly land them in the D-League. Four former Zags from the 2008-09 season took part in the summer league this year. One proved his vast amount of doubters wrong with his consistently excellent play, two were up and down but made some good impressions, and one has barely gotten off the bench long enough to do anything.

continue reading this post after the poll...

For Austin Daye, the summer league experience couldn't have gone any better. Not only was Daye one of the best performers at the summer league, but he had his moment where he could tell all of his doubters to shut up. Daye played 34 minutes a game, shot a solid 47% from the field, and averaged about nine rebounds and 17 points again. Everyone that was in attendance in Las Vegas came away very impressed with Daye, commenting that he could not only withstand contact but often times he initiated it and it never really bothered him. His one major struggle was in the turnover department where he struggled from time to time but that it is too be expected and was probably a result of nerves combined with the different style of game. The most exciting part for Daye is that he is on a team that should be a power in the future. Along with him, DaJuan Summers and Jonas Jerebko are both rookies that impressed in the summer league. It's safe to say that Daye will have more of an immediate impact in the NBA than most people initially thought.

The fun part about the Detroit Pistons summer league team was that Austin Daye was joined by Jeremy Pargo. Pargo played for the Orlando Magic in the Orlando summer league a few weeks ago but joined the Pistons in Vegas. Jeremy did a lot to improve his position in Las Vegas. The former Gonzaga court general averaged 10 points a game in only 18 minutes per game. He shot 50% from the field and really impressed the Pistons fans and it isn't completely crazy to think that Jeremy could find a spot on their roster. The Pistons were auditioning guards for a third-string spot on the roster and many think it became a battle between Jeremy and former Virginia Cavalier Sean Singletary. They both had very similar stat lines for Detroit and I feel like Jeremy has more NBA ready size. You have to wonder if Detroit passes on Jeremy because they have a player kind of similar to him in Will Bynum.

Micah Downs also made some waves in the summer league and did a lot of things right the past few days to give himself a fighting chance. What we grew to love about Micah Downs at Gonzaga was his versatility and his strong desire to do whatever it takes to get a win. Here is something from the wonderful Twitterworld that I found about Micah from an ESPN.com "Tweeter".

Thabeet just got beat by Downs on a rebound under PHX hoop. Micah freaking Downs...Micah Downs is on my all Make Good team for Summer League. PHX has a lot of multi-taskers out there.

Micah had a game to remember a few days ago against the D-League Select team where he shot 8-11 and finished with 19 points. Micah still has one more game this evening before his summer league is over but thus far he has filled up the stat sheet. He's averaged a little over seven points a game, about three rebounds, and has had a few steals. He hasn't made a whole lot of mistakes either, with only four turnovers in four games. Downs, like Pargo, has the chance to make a roster with his performance but we will have to wait and see. The Suns have some options for him with their roster and if they pass, he could catch one elsewhere. Micah has his last game tonight against the Clippers at 7:30 PST.

The most perplexing summer league belonged to Josh Heytvelt. Josh was a guy that was labeled as a draft day snub but signed on with the Washington Wizards summer league team. Josh seemingly had the inside track to being signed to a roster when this was all said and done. He possesses great NBA size and versatility but his summer league tenure has been odd to say the least. Josh has only played seven minutes a game, attempted nine shots, and made three of them. His average stat line in four games has been 1.5 PPG and 2.0 RPG. He hasn't made a lot of mistakes defensively and actually was impressive against Blake Griffin when they matched up with the Clippers. I posted a FanPost over on the Wizards SB Nation site Bullets Forever asking about Josh and they seemed pretty iffy about him at this point as well. The Washington roster is kind of loaded with young, mediocre post men in Andray Blatche and JaVale McGee so it is hard to tell if Josh will stick. I really can't imagine him not finding a place on someones roster but in a league with a lot of good young players, it is pretty easy for players to get lost. Hopefully Josh gets more minutes in the Wizards final summer league game today against the New York Knicks at 1 PM PST.

Let us know what you think, who you are rooting for and what former Zags you think have the best shot at making a roster in the comments below!

Poll

Now that the summer league is nearly complete, which former Zag do you think has the best shot to make an NBA roster?

Jeremy Pargo (10 PPG, 3 APG)

111 votes

Micah Downs (7 PPG, 50% from 3 point range)

124 votes

Josh Heytvelt (7 MPG, 1.5 PPG, 2 RPG)

27 votes

262 votes | Poll has closed

		#1 Dominique Buckley Sophomore Guard 6-2 \| 205 Detroit, Mich. Buckley played in 25 games as a reserve point guard, averaging 1.3 points and 0.8 assists. He logged a career-high 19 minutes vs. Texas A&M, and tallied five points vs. SIU-Edwardsville and Colorado. Buckley also handed out three assists vs. Iowa, Jacksonville State and SIU-Edwardsville.

		#4 Charles Boozer Junior Guard 6-3 \| 195 Raleigh, N.C. Boozer competed in 23 games, giving Iowa State a lift from the bench. He averaged 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds; shot 37.2 percent from the field, 29.6 percent from 3-point range and 75 percent from the free-throw line; tallied a career-high 11 points vs. Missouri; and grabbed a career-high seven rebounds while logging a career-high 19 minutes vs. Kansas State. (And no, your eyes do not deceive you. Charles is Carlos Boozer's younger brother.)

		#5 Lucca Staiger Junior Guard 6-5 \| 225 Blaustein, Germany Big 12 Rookie of the Week (12/15/08 and 01/12/09) Staiger started 27 games last season, averaging 8.2 points and 2.2 rebounds. He was Iowa State's top long-range shooter, making a team-high 74 treys in 192 attempts. His 74 3-pointers rank seventh on ISU's single-season 3-pointers made list. Staiger averaged 2.3 3-pointers made per game to rank sixth in the Big 12 and seventh on ISU's single-season list. He made a 3-pointer in 26 of 32 games and had 14 games with three or more treys. Staiger had a streak of 16 consecutive games with a 3-pointer, tying for the third-longest stretch in school history. He scored 14 points behind a 4-of-8 effort from downtown vs. Oregon State and poured in a career-high 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting from 3-point range vs. Drake. His eight treys in that game tie for second on ISU's single-game record chart. Staiger tied a Big 12 mark by making seven treys in the first half vs. Drake, tallied 15 points in his Big 12 debut at Texas, drilled six 3-pointers en route to 18 points vs. Nebraska, posted 14 points behind a 4-of-10 effort from long range at Oklahoma State, and was 5-of-9 from downtown and scored 17 points at Nebraska. His 74 treys already rank 18th in school history.

		#10 Diante Garrett Junior Guard 6-4 \| 185 Milwaukee, Wis. World Vision Classic All-Tournament (2008) NSCA All-American (2008) Garrett was one of the Big 12's top playmakers, ranking third in the league and 36th nationally in assists. He totaled 161 assists to rank 14th on Iowa State's single-season assist chart. One of two players to start all 32 games, Garrett was second on the team in scoring and averaged 3.3 rebounds. He led the team in steals with 30, shot 70.7 percent from the free-throw line, ranked 10th in the Big 12 in assist/turnover ratio, handed out five or more assists in 17 of 32 games, led or tied ISU in assists in 22 of 32 games, recorded two double-doubles and four double-digit assist games, and posted a career-high 26 points at Hawai'i, going 10-for-10 from the free-throw line and marking the 16th time in school history where a Cyclone was perfect from the charity stripe with at least 10 attempts. Garrett dished out a career-high 11 assists vs. Loyola Marymount and Missouri, posted a double-double with 17 points and 10 assists against Oklahoma, notched 17 points vs. Texas Tech and made a career-high three treys vs. UW-Milwaukee, en route to 17 points. He currently ranks 18th on ISU's career assist chart.

		#21 Craig Brackins Junior Forward 6-10 \| 230 Palmdale, Calif. First Team All-Big 12 (2009) First Team USBWA All-District VI (2009) First Team NABC All-District 8 (2009) Basketball Times First Team All-Midlands (2009) AP Honorable Mention All-American (2009) Collegehoopsnet.com HM All-American (2009) Kansas City Star All-Big 12 Improved (2009) Big 12 Player of the Week (2009 - three times) MVP of World Vision Classic (2008) Brackins recorded one of the greatest seasons in Iowa State history, earning first-team all-Big 12 and first-team all-District honors from the NABC, USBWA and Basketball Times. He was named honorable mention All-American by the AP, was the first Cyclone to earn first-team all-Big 12 honors since Curtis Stinson in 2006 and was named Big 12 Player of the Week three times. Brackins averaged 20.2 points, ranking second in the Big 12 and 22nd nationally, and 9.5 rebounds to rank third in the Big 12 and 26th nationally. Along with Blake Griffin and Luke Harangody, he was one of three players in the country to rank in the top 30 nationally in both scoring and rebounding. In Big 12 games, Brackins averaged a double-double, scoring 20 or more points in 11 of 16 conference games. He scored a league-high 348 points in Big 12 games, the 10th-best single-season scoring total in league history; posted 19 20-point games and three 30-point outings; tallied 12 20-point/10-rebound games; led ISU in scoring in 21 of the last 23 games and paced the Cyclones in rebounding in the final 18 games; tallied 15 double-doubles to rank fourth in the Big 12; and ended the season ranking in ISU's single season top 11 in four categories: field goals, points, rebounds and double-doubles. Brackins is only the third player in school history to record 600 points and 300 rebounds in a season. His 645 points as a sophomore ranks second on ISU's class list behind Jeff Grayer, who tallied 684 points in his sophomore campaign. He became the 27th member of the 1,000-point club and just the fifth Cyclone in school history to record 1,000 points in their first two seasons. Brackins scored 18 or more points in a half eight times and tallied a double-double by halftime three times. He scored a career-high 42 points vs. Kansas, making 11 of 19 shots from the floor, 3 of 5 from beyond the arc and 17 of 21 from the charity stripe. The 42 points tie for the sixth-best effort by a Big 12 player in league history and are the fourth-best scoring effort in ISU history. His 17 free throws made tie for third best in ISU history. Brackins registered 38 points, including 23 in the second half, on 15-of-23 shooting from the floor at Houston. His 15 field goals made are tied for third-best all-time by a Big 12 player. He scored 32 points in an overtime victory at Northern Iowa and grabbed a career-high 17 boards vs. Jacksonville State.

		#23 Jamie Vanderbeken Senior Forward 6-11 \| 245 Belleville, Ontario Kansas City Star's Big 12 All-Newcomer Team (2009) Iowa State's top reserve in the post, averaging 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds in 31 games, Vanderbeken led ISU in 3-point percentage, making 35 of 86 shots from beyond the arc. He averaged 6.3 points in Big 12 play, was second on the team in blocks with 21, made 23 of his 35 treys in the last 14 games, had four games with three or more treys, tallied a double-double in his debut with 14 points and 10 boards vs. UC Davis, was 5 of 7 from the field and scored 12 points vs. Oklahoma, tallied 14 points at Kansas State, posted career highs in points and 3-pointers at Kansas, and was 4 of 5 from 3-point range en route to 12 points vs. Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship.

		#41 Justin Hamilton Sophomore Center 6-11 \| 255 Alpine, Utah Hamilton had a solid freshman campaign, averaging 4.2 points and 2.9 rebounds. He started 18 games, played in 32 contests and led the Cyclones in field-goal percentage, hitting 57 of 100 shots from the floor. His 57-percent clip from the floor ranks 15th on Iowa State's single-season record chart and second on ISU's freshman list. Hamilton tallied 17 blocks last season. In his first career start, he scored eight points and grabbed a career-high 12 boards in a win at Houston. Hamilton posted a career-high 16 points vs. SIU-Edwardsville and scored 13 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field at Missouri. He recorded eight points and 10 rebounds at Texas, and posted a career-high three blocks vs. Colorado.

		#2 Chris Colvin Freshman Guard 6-2 \| 195 Chicago, Ill. One of the best guards in the Class of 2009, Colvin was ranked as the 99th-best player in the nation and the 15th-best point guard nationally in the Rivals.com rankings. Scout.com ranked him as the 10th-best point guard in 2009 and he was ranked at No. 77 in the ESPNU final ratings. Colvin was named second-team Class 4A all-state a senior by the AP, and averaged 12.3 ppg and 6.2 assists on one of the best and most balanced prep teams in the nation. His Whitney Young team defeated Waukegan 69-66 in the state championship game to finish the season at 26-9 and win the 2009 Illinois Class 4A state title. He had seven points and a team-high six assists in the state championship game, and scored 14, 20, 12 and 17 points in the four previous postseason tournament games. Colvin averaged 14.1 ppg as a junior, earning all-state honors, and started three years at Whitney Young. He was named as one of the best players at the 2008 Reebok All-American Camp and chose Iowa State over Baylor, Florida State, Illinois, Kentucky, Marquette, Providence, USC and Washington State.

		#3 Marquis Gilstrap Senior Forward 6-6 \| 210 Covington, Ga. Gilstrap emerged as one of the best junior college players in the nation in his one season at Gulf Coast, averaging 22.6 points and 10.1 rebounds for one of the biggest surprise teams in junior college. He earned honorable mention All- America honors by the NJCAA, was rated as the 26th-best player in the class of 2009 by ESPN.com, and ranked 10th nationally in scoring and 20th in the nation in rebounding in the final NJCAA statistical rankings. Gilstrap shot 48.3 percent from the field, 40.9 percent from 3-point range and 74.8 percent from the free-throw line at Gulf Coast, was named Panhandle Conference Player of the Year and first-team team all-Panhandle Conference, and was a first-team All-FCCAA honoree. He led his team to a 24-9 overall record and a spot in the state final, where GCCC lost to No. 1-ranked Chipola JC 68-65 to miss out at a chance for the national tournament. Gilstrap also scored 27 points to help his squad defeat No. 3 Miami Dade in the first round of the state playoffs, and averaged 24.6 points and 10.3 rebounds to earn FCCAA All-Tournament team honors. He had seven 30+ scoring games and participated in the 2009 NJCAA All-Star Basketball Classic.

		#12 Alex Dorr Freshman Forward 6-7 \| 215 Norwalk, Iowa Dorr joins the Cyclones as a recruited walk-on. He averaged 20.2 points and 9.3 rebounds while earning Class 3A first-team all-state honors from both the Iowa Newspaper Association and The Des Moines Register as a senior. Dorr led Norwalk to its first-ever state championship game in 2009. The team finished the season with a 24-3 record. He scored 23 points and grabbed nine boards vs. Dubuque Wahlert in the first round of the state tournament, and averaged 18.9 points and 11.2 rebounds as a junior, earning second-team all-state honors.

		#15 Antwon Oliver Freshman Guard 6-5 \| 175 Racine, Wis. Oliver earned honorable mention all-state and third-team all-area honors as a senior, and developed into one of the best players in Wisconsin in his last year, leading his Horlick team to the Division 1 state championship game. He was ranked as the 13th-best player in the state of Wisconsin and averaged 16.3 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.0 assists and hit 45 treys as a senior. Horlick went 24-2 and lost in the state final to Madison Memorial, 56-41. Oliver led his team with 13 points in the state championship game and was invited to play in the 2009 Wisconsin Basketball Coaches Association Boy's All-Star game. He averaged 12.5 points as a junior and 5.1 points as a sophomore.

		#22 LaRon Dendy Junior Forward 6-9 \| 225 Greenville, S.C. Dendy played two years at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa, Iowa, and was rated as the 57th-best player in the preseason 2008-09 Juco Junction rankings. He averaged 8.5 points and 6.3 rebounds as a freshman, earning honorable mention All-Region XI honors, but suffered a stress fracture in his sophomore season and saw limited action, averaging 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds and shooting 63.3 percent from the field in nine games. Ranked as one of the top post players in the Class of 2007, Dendy was rated as the 63rd-best player in the nation and the 17th-best power forward in the Rivals.com Class of 2007, and was the seventh-best player in the Southeast Region in 2007. He originally committed to Clemson, but opted to go to junior college.

		#25 Bubu Palo Freshman Guard 6-1 \| 175 Ames, Iowa Palo is a recruited walk-on. He was the starting point guard on Ames' 2009 Class 4A state championship team, which finished the season with a perfect 26-0 mark. Palo started his last two seasons at point guard, averaged 9.1 points as a senior to earn second-team All-CIML honors, had a 3.34 assist/turnover ratio and shot 52.0 percent from the field. He scored 11 points in Ames' state championship game win over Linn-Mar and was an honorable mention all-conference pick as a junior.