By Chris Williams, CycloneFanatic.com PublisherFollow Chris on Twitter @ChrisMWilliams
Happy Tuesday Cyclone Nation.
We’re officially in the offseason so that means that starting today, I’ll begin posting these Cyclone Roundup blogs more often on the site. What are they exactly? Good question.
Basically, if it’s news that affects Iowa State athletics in any way, shape or form, I’ll touch on it here while posting some of what I believe are interesting links as well. Capiche?
ALBERT GARY: Iowa State wide receiver Albert Gary’s legal process took another step forward on Monday. Gary, a junior, entered a guilty plea after being charged with robbery last June. According to this report by Andrew Logue of the Des Moines Register, Gary will face probation, pay fines and spend an undetermined amount of time at the Curt Forbes Residential Center in Ames.
Iowa State head football coach Paul Rhoads has declined comment until the legal process has run its course.
HOOPS RECRUITING: What is going on inside the head of Wisconsin basketball coach Bo Ryan right now?
Last week, former Iowa Mr. Basketball Jarrod Uthoff announced that he would be transferring away from the school. Ryan restricted the entire Big Ten Conference (this is normal) along with Marquette (this is too) and Iowa State (this is not) from contacting Uthoff.
Now, the entire ACC is barred from contacting Uthoff, a Cedar Rapids Jefferson forward who redshirted last season.
— Here’s a tweet that was published yesterday by coast2coasthoops.com:
Iowa State and Drexel saw 2013 South Shore (NY) guards Terrence Samuel and Shamiek Sheppard workout today.
— According to nbebasketball.com, Iowa State has offered a 6-foot-8 New Jersey prospect named Isaiah Watkins.
Watkins, who claims dozens of other additional offers, is a 2013 prospect.
— Texas Tech added a JUCO point guard to its roster yesterday. That’s Trency Jackson, who is Tech’s eighth member of its 2012 recruiting class.
BRACKETOLGY: In yesterday’s Monday Musings, I took a jab at the national basketball columnists who put out their early 2012-13 top 25’s over the last couple of weeks. ESPN’s Joe Lunardi took this a step further yesterday when he released his first "Bracketology" for next season, yes on April 16. I’ll give Lunardi a little bit of credit though. At least he waited to see at least some of the NBA Draft drama play out before making his way too early predictions.
By the way, Lunardi has Iowa State as a 9-seed in next year’s NCAA Tournament playing Miami (Fla.) in the first round.
TROPHY: Have you voted on the new Cy-Hawk Trophy yet?
JOHN WALTERS: I’m not sure how I missed this the last two days but I found this letter to the Des Moines Register written by former ABC5 sports reporter and current ESPN broadcaster Zubin Mehenti to be very appropriate. Mehenti praises Iowa State for hiring John Walters to a full-time role with its new endeavor, Cyclones.tv that will launch later this year.
I was glad to see Mehenti point out my good friend Dave Zawilinski in his letter as well. Not only is this a great move for Iowa State and Walters, I really feel like ABC5 and Des Moines hit a home run with the promotion of Dave, who has more passion for the entire sports world that anybody I’ve ever met. That’s not an over exaggeration either. Dave is a walking sports encyclopedia and a talented journalist too. Selfishly, I’m glad that Des Moines gets to keep him around.
LOTS O’ LINKS
— Iowa State University honored 138 student-athletes for their academic achievements at a banquet last night. *** Cyclones.com
— Here are some props to Iowa State golfer Nate McCoy who was named Golfweek’s National College Player of the Week yesterday. *** Cyclones.com
— More commentary on Iowa State’s quarterback competition. This from Ames Tribune sports editor Bobby La Gesse. *** Ames Tribune
— Here’s a nice read on West Virginia’s long road to the Big 12 by David Ubben. *** ESPN.com
— More from Ubben, who asks if West Virginia’s Geno Smith is the best quarterback in the new look Big 12? *** ESPN.com
— Berry Tramel has an idea as to who could be the Big 12’s next commissioner. *** The Oklahoman
— Michael Baldwin gives us a post-sping update on the Oklahoma Sooners. *** The Oklahoman
— Charlie Weis is hell bent on improving Kansas’ defensive line before next season. *** The Lawrence Journal-World
