Iowa State Proves to be Fizer's Kind of Place

AMES, Iowa (AP) - Those who knew Marcus Fizer back in Arcadia, La., were mystified. Here he was a McDonald's All-American, a younger version of Karl Malone, and he was going to play his college basketball at Iowa State.

He could have gone just about anywhere he wanted. Kansas. Georgetown. Kentucky. What has Iowa State ever done? What was he thinking?

"People still say it," Fizer said.

Well, look at him now. Fizer is a leading candidate for player of the year in the Big 12, he's the top scorer in the league and his 14th-ranked team is contending for the championship.

Oh how easy it would be for Fizer to say, "Take that," but it's not his way. For all the power and skill he displays on the court, the 6-foot-8, 265-pound junior has a quiet, sensitive side that keeps his ego in check.

"I'm not one to brag, I'm not one to say I told you so," Fizer said. "I'm not the one to point fingers and say, `Look what I'm doing now.' I lead more by example and I showed people in a silent way what I can do."

What he has done this season is become a more complete, unselfish player.

Fizer, the first McDonald's All-American to play at Iowa State, had to be selfish last season because he was the only consistent offensive threat the Cyclones had as they fought their way to a 15-15 record.

He led the league in scoring with his 18-point average, but he shot only 45 percent and had twice as many turnovers as assists. His frustration showed at times as teams constantly double- and triple-teamed him.

This season, Fizer is shooting less and scoring more. He's making 63 percent of his shots and averaging 21 points. His defense is better and his turnovers are down.

"He's a different guy, more mature," Iowa State coach Larry Eustachy said. "He dictates the game. Last year, the game really dictated him. If it went well early, fine. If not, he struggled. I've always told him and all the players to play the way I'd like to play if I could get in your body."

Already powerfully built, Fizer worked in the weight room with renewed vigor last summer, fueled by the disappointment of not making a U.S. all-star team. He lost weight and added muscle.

"He's got a lot more pop to him. He's playing above the rim a lot more," Eustachy said. "You combine changing his body, being a year older, a year wiser ... he's really trying to impact winning. It's all because of him. He wanted to become better."

Fizer has scored 25 or more points seven times this season. He scored 26 on 12-for-19 shooting against No. 1 Cincinnati, had 28 against league foes Kansas State and Missouri and made 9-of-10 shots in a rout of Nebraska before Eustachy mercifully sat him down for the final 11 minutes.

Kansas coach Roy Williams said Fizer is the hardest player in the league to guard. The best way to do it? "If I can lock him in their locker room, that would be by my first choice," Williams said.

After Fizer drilled 11-of-16 shots against Missouri, the Tigers' Clarence Gilbert gushed, "He's the best player in the country."

Fizer found his way to Iowa State after meeting former coach Tim Floyd's wife, Beverly. She had a grandmother in a nursing home in Fizer's hometown, and among her caregivers was Sheila Frazier, Fizer's aunt.

Once he started following Iowa State, Fizer decided it was the type of school he wanted. It had a demanding coach and it was a place where he could make a difference.

"I remember I was in high school and I was shooting around in the gym and my coach came in and told me somebody from Kansas and somebody from Kentucky called," Fizer said. "And the first thing I told him was, I don't want to go to those schools. I want to play against those schools.

"I hadn't made my decision at that point where I was going, but I had made a decision about the schools I wasn't going to. I wanted to play against those guys that are always recruited at those schools to find out how good I am."

He's finding out, though it hasn't always been easy. He had to get used to living in a new place and playing for coach who preached discipline and defense. Once Fizer had made that adjustment, Floyd left for the Chicago Bulls after Fizer's freshman season and Eustachy came in. Fizer had to start all over.

"It took me a while because I was kind of heartbroken about coach Floyd leaving," he said. "I was kind of rebellious when I first came back my sophomore year. But as the season progressed and began to go on, I began to see that fighting it wasn't doing anything but hurting myself."

Eventually, Fizer came to an understanding with his new coach.

"Each and every day I would go to practice with the mentality that this guy's being paid to do something that he's been doing all his life," Fizer said. "Evidently, he knows more about it than me because I'm not in the coaching job. He's only trying to help me, not hurt me."

Both are on the same page now. Eustachy will give his take on a game and Fizer will spout almost the same thing a few minutes later. After Iowa State beat Iowa and its highly regarded coach, Steve Alford, Fizer held up a sign that proclaimed, "Larry Eustachy No. 1."

"It's quite a blessing to have the kind of leadership we have going on here," Fizer said. "If I would have gone somewhere else and been one of those players that pretty much ran the coaching staff, I wouldn't be the player I am today. I thank God I was able to stay here and be man enough to be in a tough program like this."

Iowa State Proves to be Fizer's Kind of Place

Players Mentioned

Marcus Fizer

Marcus Fizer

Sponsors

Iowa State University Athletics

Iowa State Proves to be Fizer's Kind of Place

Related News

Players Mentioned

Marcus Fizer

Marcus Fizer

Related Videos

Sponsors