McDermott Era Opens With Win Over UCR

Jeremy · 11-10-2006, 11:46 PM

McDermott Era Opens With Win Over UCR
Media Relations

AMES, Iowa—Iowa State’s Mike Taylor scored 22 points to help head coach Greg McDermott win his Cyclone coaching debut, 69-61 over UC Riverside in the first round of the American Family Insurance BTI Cyclone Challenge Friday night in Hilton Coliseum.

Iowa State opened up an early 13-3 lead, making 5-of-its-first-6 shots from the floor and forcing six turnovers. Taylor, playing in his first game this season, connected on three field goals and Cory Johnson added a pair in ISU’s quick start.

UCR fought back late in the opening stanza, going on a 14-4 run to tie the game at 28-28. The Cyclones got a little sloppy, turning the ball over 12 times in the first half to help the Highlanders creep to a 33-30 halftime lead.

ISU regained the lead by going on a 15-6 run at the beginning of the second half. Taylor was once again instrumental, hitting a trey and adding two free-throws, as ISU was in the bonus with 14 minutes left in the game. The Cyclones mounted a 51-41 advantage with 9:23 left after two-straight buckets by true freshman Wesley Johnson. Johnson, who is the fifth consecutive Cyclone rookie to start a season opener, scored nine of his 10 points after intermission.

Iowa State recorded seven steals and forced 23 turnovers. Including its two exhibition wins, ISU has forced a total of 65 turnovers in three games (21.6 tpg). B.J. Visman led UCR with 17 points and nine rebounds. Rahshon Clark added nine points and nine rebounds in the winning cause.

ISU plays tomorrow night in the second round of the Cyclone Challenge against Louisiana-Monroe, who defeated Eastern Illinois, 70-60 in the first game.

Psyclone Brian · 11-11-2006, 12:18 AM

I tell ya, everyone in the conference litterally clobbered their opponent tonight. Except ISU. With half of the conference having new coaches, I kind of wonder if we'll be able to defeat anyone rather soundly this year.

cmoore_23 · 11-11-2006, 12:19 AM

early on it is going to be mostly D so we are not going to be putting up big #'s once coach thinks it is time, i think this team will put up more #'s and possibly get bigger wins

JokersWild · 11-11-2006, 07:15 AM

Yeah, just take as many wins early on as you can get with a new team like this, then they should improve and get some nice wins.

PlymouthCy · 11-11-2006, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by Psyclone Brian

I tell ya, everyone in the conference litterally clobbered their opponent tonight. Except ISU. With half of the conference having new coaches, I kind of wonder if we'll be able to defeat anyone rather soundly this year.

Do we have to listen to this already? It is going to be a learning curve for this team and the team will improve. Don't complete write off the season after one game. We have 31 games to go.

83Clone · 11-11-2006, 07:42 AM

Originally Posted by PlymouthCy

Do we have to listen to this already? It is going to be a learning curve for this team and the team will improve. Don't complete write off the season after one game. We have 31 games to go.

I don't mean to pile on here, but I have to agree. The team we see in January will not resemble the team we saw last night. For that matter, the team we saw in the second half was not the same team we saw in the first half. THEY ADJUSTED, and McD COACHED them through their mistakes.

Apparently they're going to call palming the ball this year, so Taylor will adjust-quickly. None of these guys have ever played together before, so they are going to have to learn where each other will be in certain situations. It will come.

Will we win the Big XII??? Highly unlikely, but I am a believer that McD will get more out of these kids than even they think is possible.

And add Brackins, et al to the roster next year and beyond-get ready for the good times to return to Hilton

zdorr40 · 11-11-2006, 08:45 AM

Originally Posted by 83Clone

And add Brackins, et al to the roster next year and beyond-get ready for the good times to return to Hilton

I can't wait. Do we graduate anybody this year besides Gray? Imagine how good we could be next year's lineup:

PG McIntosh/Garrett
SG Taylor/Staigger
SF Clark/W Johnson
PF Brackins/C Johnson
C Hubalek/Marsden

This makes me wonder if GMcD will perhaps go the JUCO route for a BIG with a Homan type body. IMO adding a banger would result in a tremendous, tremendous lineup, no doubt about it.

Bob · 11-11-2006, 09:30 AM

I agree i would love a bigger body in the post, but hey dont forget about Alex Thompson. Hes better than Hubalek and Marsden.

cgwarrior33 · 11-11-2006, 09:38 AM

Yes. I have heard that Thompson is really excelling under McD. Giving him this year to put wieght on and help toughen up our other bigs will be huge. I think AT can finish his career out nicely here at ISU. I know I would not have minded having Haluska, but we may just get the better end of this "trade."

ce1 · 11-11-2006, 10:31 AM

Originally Posted by zdorr40

I can't wait. Do we graduate anybody this year besides Gray? Imagine how good we could be next year's lineup:

PG McIntosh/Garrett
SG Taylor/Staigger
SF Clark/W Johnson
PF Brackins/C Johnson
C Hubalek/Marsden

This makes me wonder if GMcD will perhaps go the JUCO route for a BIG with a Homan type body. IMO adding a banger would result in a tremendous, tremendous lineup, no doubt about it.

There's Alex Thompson, then ISU is in the final running for Jared Berggren, a 6-10 220 lb junior center from Princeton, MN, for the 2008 class. Jared has narrowed hist list to four schools, in no particular order: Minnesota, Purdue, Wisconsin, and ISU.

cmoore_23 · 11-11-2006, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by 83Clone

Apparently they're going to call palming the ball this year, so Taylor will adjust-quickly. None of these guys have ever played together before, so they are going to have to learn where each other will be in certain situations. It will come.

they always call it in the first 3 games or so including the exibitions but after that they kinda ignore it..