Welcome to The Sports Bank’s fourth annual college basketball season preview series where we break 111 teams in the 111 days leading up to the opening tip-off of the 2013-2014 season. We will rank the 84 power conference teams (including the new Big East and American Athletic Conferences) and top 27 mid-majors in reverse power ranking order. We’ll break down rosters, transfers, incoming freshmen, non-conference schedules, and pick a player to watch for each team.
Even though the Iowa State Cyclones lose four of their top six scorers from a year ago, Fred Hoiberg should have his alma mater in the upper half of the Big 12 and once again in the NCAA Tournament picture.
IOWA STATE CYCLONES
Last Season: T-4th, 11-7 in Big 12, 23-12 overall
Predicted Big 12 Finish: 4th
Projected Depth Chart
F/C: Georges Niang (So)/Percy Gibson (So)
F: Melvin Ejim (Sr)/Daniel Edozie (Jr)
G/F: Dustin Hogue (Jr)/Sherron Dorsey-Walker (Fr)
G: Naz Long (So)/Matt Thomas (Fr)
PG: DaAndre Kane (Sr)/K.J. Bluford (Jr)/Monte Morris (Fr)
Gone: G/F-Will Clyburn, SG-Chris Babb, PG-Korie Lucious, SG-Tyus McGee, F/C-Anthony Booker, PG-Bubu Palo, SF- Nkereuwen Okoro (transfer-Rutgers)
2013-2014 Outlook:
The strength for Iowa State shifts to the frontcourt where returning starters Georges Niang and Melvin Ejim will be relied upon heavily. Niang had an outstanding freshman campaign in which he was named to the All-Big 12 Rookie Team. At 6-7, Niang is very much an undersized center but uses his basketball IQ, physical frame, and three-point shooting to cause match-up problems for opposing teams.
Ejim is extremely athletic and attacks the glass on both ends of the floor. He is also a versatile offensive weapon since he can knock down open jumpers with range out to the three-point line. Percy Gibson and JUCO transfer Daniel Edozie add needed size and strength inside.
The backcourt and wing experiences major turnover from last season since Iowa State’s top five guards are gone. Fortunately for Hoiberg, he added a huge transfer in Marshall’s DeAndre Kane. The 6-4 combo guard was one of just two players in Division One to average at least 15 points, 7 assists, and 4 rebounds per game last year and is immediately eligible since he is now a graduate student.
Besides Kane, the rest of the guard rotation is a total crapshoot. JUCO transfer Dustin Hogue is expected to start at small forward and should make an impact on the defensive end. Naz Long was seldom used a year ago as a freshman but should see an increase in minutes. Both he and Kane can play either guard position which gives Hoiberg options and flexibility.
Another JUCO transfer, K.J. Bluford might step into Tyus McGee’s role as the sixth man who can provide instant offense off the bench. Sharpshooting freshman Matt Thomas should factor into the equation as well with redshirt freshman Sherron Dorsey-Walker Monte Morris competing for whatever playing time is left over.
Like he usually does every off-season, Hoiberg picked up another talented transfer in Northern Illinois’ Abdel Nader. The 6-6 forward led the Huskies in scoring last year and while he must sit out this season per NCAA transfer rules, will help fill the void that Melvin Ejim leaves behind next season.
While there is plenty of transition on the Iowa State Cyclones’ roster, especially in the backcourt, it would be surprising to see this team finish in the bottom half of the Big 12 standings. Expect Hoiberg to once again have his team playing at a fast pace and knocking on the door of a third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Player to Watch: DeAndre Kane
Kane nearly committed to his hometown Pitt team this off-season but instead chose to come to Ames. He should fit in perfectly with Iowa State’s up-tempo attack as his versatility on the offensive end gives Hoiberg the lead guard the roster lacked prior to arrival.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/17 vs. Michigan
11/20 at BYU
12/2 vs. Auburn (Big 12/SEC Challenge)
12/7 vs. Northern Iowa (in Des Moines)
12/13 vs. Iowa
12/22 vs. George Mason (Diamond Head Classic)
12/23 vs. Oregon State/Akron (Diamond Head Classic)
12/25 vs. St. Mary’s/South Carolina/Boise State/Hawaii (Diamond Head Classic)
OTHER 111 IN 111’S:
#45 Providence
#46 Cincinnati
#47 UNLV
#48 Purdue
#49 LSU
#50 Illinois
#51 Xavier
#52 Boston College
#53 Ole Miss
#54 Missouri
#55 Washington
#56 Saint Mary’s
#57 Maryland
#58 Butler
#59 Minnesota
#60 Florida Gulf Coast
#61 Akron
#62 Temple
#63 Alabama
#64 Florida State
#65 Arkansas
#66 N.C. State
#67 Kansas State
#68 Davidson
#69 Dayton
#70 Miami FL
#71 SMU
#72 Texas A&M
#73 Long Beach State
#74 UMass
#75 Northwestern
#76 Indiana State
#77 Georgia Tech
#78 Oklahoma
#79 Richmond
#80 Manhattan
#81 Belmont
#82 Texas
#83 Houston
#84 Washington State
#85 Iona
#86 Oregon State
#87 Louisiana Tech
#88 Towson
#89 Wake Forest
#90 Central Florida
#91 Rutgers
#92 Drexel
#93 USC
#94 Charleston
#95 Seton Hall
#96 Vanderbilt
#97 George Mason
#98 Clemson
#99 Penn State
#100 Nebraska
#101 West Virginia
#102 South Florida
#103 Mississippi State
#104 DePaul
#105 South Carolina
#106 Texas Tech
#107 TCU
#108 Virginia Tech
#109 Georgia
#110 Utah
#111 Auburn
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Honolulu to Milwaukee. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet , AND the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft. (Yup, nearly 3peat champ… #humblebrag.)
You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.