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Iowa State Cyclones (2001: 25-6)

The following team preview is provided by Blue Ribbon. For the nation's most comprehensive look at this and all Division I teams, be sure to order the 2001-02 Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook, on sale now at 1-800-775-2518.

Program overview

Twice in the last year, Iowa State increased Larry Eustachy's compensation package, and with an annual income of $1.1 million he ranks among the nation's richest coaches. But Eustachy is also one of the most deserving.

It had been five decades since the Cyclones won a Big 12 championship, and now they've won two in a row. In neither year was a title expected, adding to the fans' joy.

For two years, Iowa State supplanted Kansas as the Big 12 kingpin, and its success over the Jayhawks was directly responsible for last season's title. The Cyclones defeated Kansas for a second straight year at Allen Field House, the only opponent to win there, which gave Iowa State its one-game margin over Kansas.

Eustachy's winning streak over the Jayhawks is five, the longest string of success ever against a Roy Williams -coached team. Iowa State withstood the Jayhawks' best shot twice last season.

How have Iowa State and Eustachy done it? Predecessor Tim Floyd laid the foundation, and his ability to cash in on a family friendship and lure Marcus Fizer from Louisiana gave the program its pivotal figure.

Iowa State rode Fizer to the Elite Eight in 2000.

What nobody fully understood as Iowa State made that run was the importance of point guard Jamaal Tinsley, the Eustachy recruiting find. Tinsley was the most unstoppable player in the Big 12 for most of last season and gave Iowa State its second All-American in two years.

The players bought into Eustachy, as much as task master as there is college basketball. He runs a tight ship and at times a loud practice. His methods have gotten results.

At least they did until the end of last season.

The Cyclones' golden two-year run ended suddenly and painfully. Second-seeded Iowa State got on the wrong end of an NCAA Tournament magic moment when it lost in the first round to Hampton.

A week earlier, Iowa State had become the first Big 12 top-seeded team to lose its first league tournament game. It had played unevenly in victories over Nebraska and Texas Tech and was blown out at Texas in the final regular-season games.

The wheels came off and all Iowa State fans could do was live in the recent past. They'll always have the conference championship, and that's worth savoring. But to have followed its glorious 2000 postseason run with last year's effort left a bitter aftertaste. You just never know when those opportunities will present themselves again.

It doesn't appear to be the case this year. Four starters, including Tinsley, are gone. Kantrail Horton, Martin Rancik and Paul Shirley all were double-figure scorers and worthy of all-conference consideration. Eustachy faces a rebuilding season. But there are a few experienced players that will spur the regeneration.

Backcourt

Guard Jake Sullivan (11.4 ppg, .480 FG, .449 3PT, .879 FT), a 6-1 sophomore, was voted Big 12 Freshman of the Year. All the stories you heard about the guy are true. He took thousands of shots -- on his driveway -- during the winter months in Oakdale, Minn., pausing only to get warm and dry his wet gloves in the oven. He slams down Oreos and ice cream before games.

Sullivan was a relative unknown when he committed to Iowa State before his senior season. Then he starred at a Nike camp and everybody was on his trail. But Sullivan stuck to his word and emerged as one of the nation's top shooters. He buried six-of-eight behind the line in a victory over Kansas that all but sealed the league championship.

"You name the best teams in the country,'' Eustachy said. "They'd all take him.''

But Iowa State has him, and Eustachy toyed with the idea of moving the Sullivan to the point. That won't happen. Sullivan is too dangerous on the wing. He's ISU's leading returning scorer, and last year, he ranked third in the Big 12 in three-point percentage.

Sullivan's wing partner is 6-5 sophomore Shane Power (4.7 ppg, .382 FG, .444 3PT, .721 FT), who also can be a deadly shooter. Power also came up big against Kansas, sinking five-of-six shots and notching a season-best 18 points. He also make a season-high three steals in that game. Power is the team's top perimeter defender, but Iowa State will seek more offense from him this season.

The third and final returning veteran is senior forward Tyray Pearson (8.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg, .645 FG, .691 FT). Pearson came to Iowa State as a junior college All-American, but his offensive game wasn't polished and he was often plagued by foul trouble. The 6-7 Pearson figured to start entering last season but couldn't push Horton or Rancik out of the lineup. He'll be counted on to be one of the team's top rebounders and post defenders.

None of Iowa State's other returning players logged much court time last season. The most intriguing is 7-1 sophomore center Andrew Skoglund (1.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg, .333 FG), who appeared in nine games. To have an expanded role, Skoglund needs to flex more muscle.

Junior Omar Bynum (2.2 ppg, 1.3 rpg, .563 FG) is in line for more playing time at power forward. The 6-7 Bynum played in 12 games in his first year out of junior college and showed good leaping ability. Outside shooting is his weakness.

Others with playing experience are walk-ons -- 6-2 junior Brad Davis (0.9 ppg in five games), 6-2 junior Justin Fries (0.7 ppg in six games), 6-3 junior Brandon Nicol (1.0 ppg in five games) and 6-4 junior forward Clint Varley (0.8 ppg in six games).

The point guard will be 6-0 freshman

Ricky Morgan, a cat-quick playmaker from Pontiac, Mich. Morgan led Northern High to state's large class state championship averaging 15 points and 8.9 assists.

Morgan is in the mold of Tinsley, who would have preferred to have averaged more assists than points. Eustachy is putting plenty of faith in Morgan. The Cyclones did not sign another point guard.

Frontcourt

Iowa State landed one of the top junior college talents in 6-7 junior small forward Tommie King, who averaged 20.6 points and 5.6 rebounds for Western Nebraska last season. He also shot .476 from the field and .390 from behind the arc.

Another newcomer looking to start is 6-5 sophomore small forward Marcus Jefferson, who started his career at Providence two years ago. Jefferson averaged 3.5 points and 2.6 rebounds in 17 minutes a game for the Friars. He practiced with Iowa State last season.

Jared Homan is a 6-9 freshman center who, in another year, would probably watch much of the season unfold from the bench. But Iowa State lists only Homan and Skoglund as the centers, which means Homan will play plenty. He averaged 22.8 points, 12 rebounds and 6.1 blocks for St. Mary's High in Resmen, Iowa, and was a first-team all-state selection. He's the kind of player Cyclones fans will adore -- a lifelong Iowa State fans whose dream was to wear the cardinal and gold.

Iowa State will get more front line help from 6-9 freshman forward Adam Schaper, who averaged 21.1 points and 11.2 rebounds for Kankakee Valley High School in Wheatland, Ind. Schaper is a solid offensive player away from the basket, but the concern is his weight. He's about 210 pounds.

Bottom line

Iowa State recently has been the most difficult program in the Big 12 to predict. When you'd think the Cyclones would suffer, they thrived. When you'd thought they contend, they floundered.

The thinking this time is a down year. With four lost starters, a freshman point guard and at least one other newcomer in the starting lineup, Iowa State can't win the league title for a third straight year.

Can it?

If that happens, hand Eustachy national coach-of-the-year honors as soon as the season ends. But underestimate Iowa State at your peril. The Cyclones have made prognosticators look foolish for years. So think of them as an NCAA Tournament team until proven otherwise. They've been good enough under Eustachy and Floyd to deserve the benefit of the doubt.