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| Wednesday, October 31 Updated: November 1, 11:11 AM ET Team preview: Iowa State Cyclones ESPN.com |
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Larry Eustachy, who last March received a raise in salary to $1.1 million per year, will earn that money this season. He must replace four starters who combined to average 48.2 points and 21.6 rebounds per game -- a quartet includes point guard Jamaal Tinsley, the Big 12 player of the year. Yet despite the loss of Tinsley and guard Kantrail Horton, the strength of this team could be on the perimeter. Sophomore guard Jake Sullivan (11.4 ppg, 44.9 pecent 3-point shooting) was the Big 12 freshman of the year. Sophomore small forward Shane Power wasn't as consistent as Sullivan, but he hit 44.4 percent of his 3s and buried Kansas with an 18-point performance. It would be nice if freshman Ricky Morgan could eventually take over at point guard for Tinsley -- a tall order. That would allow Sullivan and Power to spot up for jumpers. For the time being, though, it appears Sullivan will start out at point guard. The frontline has far more question marks. A year ago, Martin Rancik (13.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg) and Paul Shirley (10.0 ppg, 6.9 rpg) surprised many analysts by providing the Cyclones with scoring and rebounding every night. Senior forward Tyray Pearson (8.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg) will be expected to pick some of the slack. So, too, will freshmen forwards Jared Homan and Adam Schaper. Junior forward Tommie King, a transfer from Western Nebraska Community College, left the team last week for what Eustachy termed "personal reasons." It is unclear when, or if, he will return. What we like: Sullivan and Power played well as freshmen. So there is no reason to think they will falter under the pressure this season. Both are excellent shooters and Pearson has the potential to do enough damage inside so that either Sullivan or Power should be open on the perimeter. And although this team doesn't have the dominant performer it has had in each of the last two seasons, Eustachy will maximize the talent on hand. What we don't like: Sullivan insists he can run the offense, but he has to prove he can, and the Cyclones might be better off with him as the shooting guard. While there is talent on the baseline, it is young talent, except for Pearson. The experience and poise Rancik and Shirley brought to the team in big games will be missed. The bottom line: Eustachy has compiled a record of 57-11 over the past two seasons and might have won a national title two seasons ago had the Cyclones not had to face Michigan State in Auburn Hills in the regional final. But the past two teams clearly had more talent and more experience. In many ways, Eustachy is starting anew. There won't be a conference title this season but the Cyclones still should be able to win enough games to sneak into the NCAA Tournament.
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