Blum's all-time Cyclone lineup

[HFCS]

I guess I'm guilty of recency bias. Fizer was dominant, although you could also argue that Royce was the best player in the tournament in his one year, and that group included Anthony Davis and Andre Drummond.

I wouldn't argue that Royce had the highest ceiling of a player I've seen at ISU, but Kane, Ejim, and Niang have all recently had better individual seasons. I'd probably add Morris in there too, if not last year likely next year.

If we're voting like an NBA all star game where you just want to see a show I think Tinsley and Royce are the easy top picks.

 

[cyatheart]

Big Vic was unstoppable his last two years, just unstoppable, played on horrific teams as well. Hard to not include dedric somewhere

 

[isucy86]

One other thing about Barry Stevens, he played before the 3 point line was added. Guys like Hoiberg and Willoughby were great shooters, but Barry was special. He was silky smooth, around 6'5" and a really good clutch player.

With these types of rankings, IMO there can be a bias of flash over steady and over rating a small sample size.

Royce White was a really nice player and had a great NCAA Tournament because Hoiberg took advantage of his unique talents as a point forward. That said, Niang did the same thing for 3 years at a high level, plus Georges had a jump shot.

Fizer vs. White isn't even a discussion. Fizer was a man among boys. He didn't have Niang type range on his jumper, but was very good 15-18 feet in. He wasn't as good a passer as Royce, but give Marcus the ball at the free throw line and he was unstoppable off the dribble. If there is any doubt, look where the NBA drafted Marcus and it wasn't just because Floyd was with the Bulls.

I would take Tinsley as my PG, but it isn't a blowout over Hornacek or Morris. Tinsley had a crazy handle and great hands on defense, but Morris is all around a great PG. His assist to turnover numbers are incredible. Hornecek wasn't flashy, but a great assist guy and by far the best jump shooter of the 3

 

[WalkingCY]

PG - Tinsley
SG - Hornacek
SF - Grayer
F - Niang
PF - Fizer

6. Ejim
7. Stevens
8. Hoiberg
9. Cato
10. Morris
11. Willoughby
12. R. White
13. Abdul Aziz
14. Big Vic
15. Stevie Johnson

Grey Squad
* Loren Meyer
* Stinson
*Kenny Pratt
*Nurse
*Kantrail Horton
*Kane
*Thigpen
*Gary Thompson
*Jacy Holloway

Guys at the Rec that they give a shot:
*Homan
*Shirley
*Julo
*Sam Mack
*Lafester Rhodes
*Ron Bayless
*Rancik
*R. Clark
*T. Woods



This team would never lose.

 

[cyclones500]

PG - Tinsley
SG - Hornacek
SF - Grayer
F - Niang
PF - Fizer

6. Ejim
7. Stevens
8. Hoiberg
9. Cato
10. Morris
11. Willoughby
12. R. White
13. Abdul Aziz
14. Big Vic
15. Stevie Johnson

Grey Squad
* Loren Meyer
* Stinson
*Kenny Pratt
*Nurse
*Kantrail Horton
*Kane
*Thigpen
*Gary Thompson
*Jacy Holloway

Guys at the Rec that they give a shot:
*Homan
*Shirley
*Julo
*Sam Mack
*Lafester Rhodes
*Ron Bayless
*Rancik
*R. Clark
*T. Woods

This team would never lose.

If we're going completist to that extent, I think you need Sullivan and Ron Harris somewhere. ... I put any/all there instead of Sam Mack (which was mostly "potential" under the ISU circumstances) and probably Rancik.

 

[BeachAve]

Bubu Palo
Greg Hester
Ron Falencek
Lee Love
Aaron Agnew

 

[HFCS]

I would take Tinsley as my PG, but it isn't a blowout over Hornacek or Morris. Tinsley had a crazy handle and great hands on defense, but Morris is all around a great PG. His assist to turnover numbers are incredible. Hornecek wasn't flashy, but a great assist guy and by far the best jump shooter of the 3

I agree with you here. Tinsley was amazing but Morris does some things better. They are very different guards. Tinsley could single handedly win games on both ends in completely unpredictable yet dominant ways. Morris is the guy who doesn't really do anything to lose games while producing at a high level in a very predictable way.

I barely missed watching Hornacek play as a Cyclone but caught most of his NBA career so it's hard for me to think of him as anything but a very good shooting guard who can spell the point guard at times.

 

[WalkingCY]

I agree with you here. Tinsley was amazing but Morris does some things better. They are very different guards. Tinsley could single handedly win games on both ends in completely unpredictable yet dominant ways. Morris is the guy who doesn't really do anything to lose games while producing at a high level in a very predictable way.

I barely missed watching Hornacek play as a Cyclone but caught most of his NBA career so it's hard for me to think of him as anything but a very good shooting guard who can spell the point guard at times.

Agree here on Hornacek. I missed watching him play as a Clone too. But, the footage I've seen, the guy was absolutely "baller." Smooth jump shot and would fill in at point in a pinch too. His NBA career was solid, which all equals the BEST SG in our history IMO.

Grayer is the BEST player ever in ISU history as the pre-school/kindergarten kid I was at that time just worshiped him. He will always be my #1. But more likely if Tinsley or Fizer played all 4 years, one of those guys should be considered the GOAT at ISU.

As for popularity among the fanbase? No doubt it Fred and Georges. Just classic players that will be talked about for years and years to come.

 

[cyclones500]

Hornacek was an excellent passer, great court awareness. I also remember him stopping an opponent's 3-on-1 break on several occasions.

 

[bosco]

Is this the best 5 players or best team? If it's the best team then you got to look at how is built.

Cato could be the best C ISU has had in the last 30 years but he wouldn't be a good fit with Niang. Cato was a monster on the boards and defense but was limited offensively. With Niang he would get in the way since he would be clogging up the post. Fizer would be the one to have with Niang since he could work in space and had a good enough outside shot to be away from the basket.

I like Morris but Tinsley was just a beast and the only person that could stop him from getting to the rim was himself.

The are a few options at SG but you gotta go with Horny. Guy was always 2 steps ahead of everyone.

Grayer might be the best all around player to come out of ISU. He was a great defensive player and could of had a decent NBA career if he didn't get injured.

Pg: Tinsley
Sg: horny
Sf: grayer
Pf: Niang
C: fizer

Off the bench: Babb, Ejim.

 

[CtownCyclone]

Bubu Palo
Greg Hester
Ron Falencek
Lee Love
Aaron Agnew

Skoglund off the bench?

 

[loupsolitaire]

This would be my starting five. It's obviously oriented for a big man offense. I don't care. We could beat virtually any other starting five in Iowa State's history.

PG - Tinsley
SG - Hoiberg
SF - Niang
PF - Fizer
C - Cato

Considered: C. Stinson (PG), M. Ejim (SF), W. Johnson until I remembered he left for Syracuse, J.Grayer (SG), M.Morris (PG), V.Alexander (PF), B. Stevens (SG), and J. Hornacek (SG)