Iowa State Cyclones
2018-2019 Overall Rank: #123
Conference Rank: #10 Big 12
After six straight NCAA Tournament appearances, Iowa State fell fast last season. They finished with a 13-18 overall record and managed just four wins in the tough Big 12. With four starters returning and some depth added among the large group of newcomers, the Cyclones should be more competitive in 2018-2019. But there is still a long way to go to get towards the top of the Big 12 pecking order.
2017-18 Record: 13-18, 4-14
2017-18 Postseason: None
Coach: Steve Prohm
Coach Record: 60-41 at Iowa State, 164-70 overall
Key Departed Players:
Donovan Jackson, Guard, 15.0 ppg
Jeff Beverly, Forward, 4.7 ppg
Hans Brase, Forward, 2.4 ppg
Jakolby Long, Guard, 1.9 ppg
Key Returning Players:
Lindell Wigginton, Sophomore, Guard, 16.7 ppg
Cameron Lard, Sophomore, Forward, 12.6 ppg
Solomon Young, Junior, Forward, 7.2 ppg
Nick Weller-Babb, Senior, Guard, 11.3 ppg
Zoran Talley Jr, Senior, Forward, 7.5 ppg
Terrence Lewis, Sophomore, Guard, 3.4 ppg
Key New Players:
George Conditt IV, Freshman, Forward
Zion Griffin, Freshman, Forward
Tyrese Haliburton, Freshman, Guard
Talen Horton-Tucker, Freshman, Guard
Michael Jacobson, Junior, Forward, Transfer from Nebraska
Marial Shayok, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Virginia
Eric Steyer, RS Freshman, Guard
Prentiss, Nixon, Senior, Guard, Transfer from Colorado State. Not eligible
Projection:
Lindell Wigginton and Cameron Lard were thrown into the mix as freshmen and both performed quite well. Wiggington entered Ames with high expectations and lived up to them by averaging a team high 16.7 points. He also knocked down 40.1 percent of his 172 shots from beyond the arc. Lard, a 6-9 forward, added 12.6 points and a team high 8.1 rebounds. Nick Weiler-Babb is the senior leader of this group and one of the most versatile players in the Big 12. The 6-5 guard averaged 11.3 points, 7.0 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 1.3 steals. He really stepped up his game last year when given more minutes and he should be only better in 2018-2019. The frontcourt has depth with Solomon Young, Zoran Talley and Nebraska transfer Michael Jacobson. Replacing Donvan Jackson and his 15.0 points per game on the perimeter is where Iowa State could have a problem. Sophomore Terrence Lewis is an option, but he never really found his shooting touch as a freshman. Virginia transfer Marial Shayok averaged 8.9 points in his last season with the Cavaliers in 2016-2017. Iowa State should be better this year and they should be able to have a .500 record overall and reach a postseason tournament of some sort, but moving up the Big 12 standings will be extremely difficult.
Projected Postseason Tournament: CBI/CIT
By the Numbers:
Scoring Offense: 72.8 (202nd in nation, 8th in conference)
Scoring Defense: 75.5 (260, 9)
Field-Goal Percentage: 43.7 (225, 8)
Field-Goal Defense: 44.2 (199, 8)
Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 7.5 (177, 6)
Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 35.8 (128, 5)
Free-Throw Percentage: 70.0 (236, 9)
Rebound Margin: -0.8 (230, 9)
Assists Per Game: 13.6 (168, 9)
Turnovers Per Game: 11.9 (89, 5)
Madness 2019 Men's Basketball Draft Rankings:
#34 Lindell Wiggington
Madness 2018 Men’s Basketball Recruit Rankings:
#50 Talen Horton-Tucker
#54 Joe Wieskamp
#98 Zion Griffin
