What an awful article...

[CYEATHAWK]

That kid from Ames.. Hoiblock? or something. Probably won't amount to much.

It's not Hoiblock, the kids name is Iceberg....... Ed Iceberg.

[bawbie]

I think I'll answer there questions, because I'm absolutely sure I know more about ISU basketball that all three of those guys combined.

1. Royce White is one of what seems like a billion new faces for ISU (actually it is only eight at last count). Can a team that really hasn't played together make waves in college basketball?

Absolutely. It happens every single year. Actually, this question is just moronic. Very very few big time basketball programs bring back the same team. Turnover is the name of the game in college basketball. Furthermore, this team did play together last year, as the scout team. And they had extra practices on the Italy trip. So, absolutely yes, a team that hasn't played together can make waves in college basketball (and you don't need to go back to the Fab Five to prove that point).

2. ISU rolled through a summer tour of Italy, going 4-0 and winning by an average of 58 points per game. Does your outlook on ISU change because of the success overseas, or do you dismiss the record because of the seemingly inferior opponents they played?

Absolutely not. They basically played DIII level talent in Italy. The record and margin of victory mean nothing. The extra practices are huge, and the spread out scoring and unselfish play are great, but the numbers mean nothing.

3. Melvin Ejim averaged 10.3 ppg and 6.7 rpg as a freshman. Will he suffer through a sophomore slump, or will his game improve in his second season?

Personally, I think he had his "sophomore slump" toward the end of last year. He's going to have so much more talent around him this year, he'll look like a different player. He won't have to guard the 5, and be the only post presence in the game.



He'll be in a more natural role this year, which is defensive stopper and garbage man. I would guess that he averages a couple points less than last year, but improves all the rate states (FG%, etc), rebounding and steals.

4. Korie Lucious and Chris Allen were both let go from Michigan State and ended up in Ames. Add in White and you have three talented players dismissed from Big Ten schools. If you were rebuilding a program like Fred Hoiberg is doing at ISU, would you take in these talented, but controversial transfers?

Of course, they forgot Chris Babb, and don't realize Lucious isn't playing this year.



And yes. I don't believe any of the transfers are actually controversial. Sure, some of them have had issues in the past, but from everything I've read, Hoiberg and co. did their homework, looked into these guys, had a very serious conversation with each of them, and only took transfers that they thought would fit with their team and their system. The behavior, work ethic and leadership provided by the guys sitting out last year goes to show how good of a job the coaching staff did vetting these guys.

5. At season's end, who will be the Clones' leading scorer: Ejim, White, Scott Christopherson, someone else?

This is a no brainer, it'll be Chris Allen. He's going to be running the DG role from the offense last year, and thats where the scoring comes from.



I don't give Ejim or Scotty much of a chance of leading the team in scoring. The other options are White, if they can get him to be selfish with the ball, or McGee, if he takes the DG scoring point role away from Allen and moves Allen over to the 2-guard permanently.

[IP Guy]

This is a no brainer, it'll be Chris Allen. He's going to be running the DG role from the offense last year, and thats where the scoring comes from.

I agree. Just my opinion, but he has all the scoring skills you want at the 1/2. He has an explosive first step, low dribble / good handles, ability to change direction on the drive, ability to adjust in the air, multiple solid moves on the finish, ability to hit the pull up (both mid-range and three point) jumper, and the ability to hit the stand still / jab step long range jumper. He also has decent court vision too (not as good as White, but still solid). Frankly, with Allen, I think it is all going to be a matter of: (1) whether he is on; and (2) if so, is the opponent doubling him to force the ball out of his hands?

[bawbie]

I agree. Just my opinion, but he has all the scoring skills you want at the 1/2. He has an explosive first step, low dribble / good handles, ability to change direction on the drive, ability to adjust in the air, multiple solid moves on the finish, ability to hit the pull up (both mid-range and three point) jumper, and the ability to hit the stand still / jab step long range jumper. He also has decent court vision too (not as good as White, but still solid). Frankly, with Allen, I think it is all going to be a matter of: (1) whether he is on; and (2) if so, is the opponent doubling him to force the ball out of his hands?

I agree completely. I also think the bold part could be a very very dangerous thing to do. Just imagine him getting the ball to Royce with 2 guys on Allen, and a properly spaced floor. It'd be like stealing candy from a kid.

[ruxCYtable]

I'll never forget one year picking up a pre-season mag and its write-up listed Tony Rampton as our top returning player. I think there was a guy named Fizer on the roster then. We've had a few down years, but I can't recall a time where Tony Rampton was our top returning player.

[keepngoal]

Wasn't Tony our only returning player that year?

[Cyclonefarmer]

Is that Erkel kid from "Family Matters" expecting to play or RS? What's his name ...Erkel Vine..Erkel Morning Glory...maybe its Ivy...something like that.



(My apologies to Herkle Ivy and Jaleel White)

[JUKEBOX]

Five Questions For... Iowa State Cyclones - Big 12 Hoops

Bored at 4 a.m. and found this. I don't know where to start. You would think given the website they would be a little more knowledgeable.

MP: I'm going with Christopherson. He can flat out shoot the basketball. Though I'm tempted to take Lucious, who should see a very big role change and showed a lot of promise for a talented Michigan State team. White certainly have the most talent of any of the players on the roster, but he hasn't played D-I level basketball in a long time

He should have stopped after his first two sentences.

When there's a bad article, don't post it. It gets more clicks.

[sngorman]

What a crappy blog, someone needs to tell them to get a new logo Nebraska and Colorado are no longer in the league....

[NATEizKING]

When there's a bad article, don't post it. It gets more clicks.

Bored at 4a.m.

[CyLoboClone]

hahaha at the new guy.^