ISU Starts Big 12 Play At Missouri

Iowa State (9-5, 0-0) at Missouri (11-2, 0-0)

Jan. 6, 2007 ? 5 p.m. ? Columbia, Mo. ? Mizzou Arena (15,061)

Radio: Cyclone Radio Network; John Walters (pxp) and Eric Heft (color)

Television: Cyclone Television Network; Bill Doleman (pxp) and Mark Adams (color)

Television Affiliates: WOI (Ames/Des Moines), KCRG (Cedar Rapids/Waterloo), KCAU (Sioux City), KYOU (Ottumwa), Mediacom (Mason City), Cox Cable (Omaha/Council Bluffs)

The Iowa State-Missouri game will be available on the ESPN Fullcourt package

Gameday Quick Facts

Iowa State (9-5, 0-0) begins Big 12 Conference play on Saturday, traveling to Missouri (11-2, 0-0)...ISU is 37-60 all-time in conference openers and 8-31 in conference openers on the road...ISU is 5-5 in Big 12 openers and 1-3 in Big 12 road openers...ISU's only road opener win in the Big 12 was a 68-65 victory in Columbia on Jan. 4, 1997...ISU freshman guard Dodie Dunson celebrates his 20th birthday on Saturday.

Cyclone-Tiger Quick Facts

Missouri leads the all-time series against Iowa State at 139-82 and has an 80-20 advantage in games played in Columbia...ISU has won five of the last eight games in the series, including the last three contests...ISU is 1-1 in the Mizzou Arena, winning last year, 82-58...the Cyclones were close to having a 2-0 mark in the new arena, but blew a 12-point lead with less than six minutes remaining in the game during the 2004-05 season...ISU head coach Greg McDermott and Missouri head coach Mike Anderson are two of the Big 12's six new coaches this season...they have never met each other in their previous coaching stops and McDermott has never faced Missouri in his career...ISU junior guard Mike Taylor and Missouri junior guard Stefhon Hannah were backcourt teammates last season at Chipola JC in Florida...the pair helped Chipola record a 60-7 mark in their two seasons together...ISU assistant coach T.J. Otzelberger was an assistant at Chipola during the 2004-05 season, coaching both Hannah and Taylor...the Indians were 33-4 and advanced to the NJCAA national tournament that season (2004-05)...Oklahoma State star Mario Boggan was a sophomore on that team, while Taylor and Hannah were freshmen.

Cyclone Update

Iowa State closed out its non-conference season with a 67-54 win over North Dakota State on Sunday...the game was arguably ISU's best on the defensive end this season, holding the Bison, who had won at nationally-ranked Marquette earlier this year, to 30.2 percent from the field...it was the second-lowest opponent field goal percentage of the season for the Cyclones (Louisiana-Monroe, 27.3 percent)...ISU's three previous opponents had all shot above 50 percent against the Cyclones...ISU picked things up offensively in the second half, scoring 43 points on 15-of-28 shooting from the field (53.6 percent) after scoring 24 points on a 10-of-31 effort (32.3 percent) from the floor in the first half...the Cyclones received a major boost from the bench from junior Jiri Hubalek, who used his size advantage over the smaller Bison to record a career-high 19 points and 11 boards, his third career double-double...Hubalek was 6-of-13 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the charity stripe...Hubalek and Mike Taylor's second-half performances helped break open a close game...Taylor tallied all 17 of his points in the second half, going 6-of-8 from the field after intermission...Taylor also grabbed a career-high eight rebounds and dished out five assists...the Cyclones continued their dominance on the boards, outrebounding the Bison, 46-34...ISU, which ranks fourth in the Big 12 in rebounding margin (+5.3), has outrebounded six of its last seven opponents by a +8.1 margin...part of ISU's improvement on the boards is the play of true freshman Wesley Johnson...Johnson grabbed 11 caroms against North Dakota State, racking up his seventh double-digit rebounding game of the season...Johnson ranks second in the Big 12 in rebounding behind freshman Kevin Durant at 8.4 rpg...Johnson, who ranks 50 nationally in rebounding, currently has the fourth-best rebounding average among NCAA freshmen...Johnson and Durant have the most double-doubles in the Big 12 with six...Rahshon Clark finished the game with 12 points and four blocks, which ties a career high for swats in a game...Clark has 66 career blocks to rank 10th in school history.

Missouri (11-2, 0-0)

Missouri (11-2, 0-0) has made a resurgence in Mike Anderson's first season in Columbia...the Tigers are one of the top scoring teams in the nation, averaging 80.6 ppg...Anderson has installed his fullcourt pressing, defensive-minded scheme to perfection, as the Tigers are averaging a Big 12-best 12.2 steals per game, which ranks third nationally...the Tigers also rank 15th nationally in 3-point percentage (41.8 percent)...Missouri's only two losses are a 79-62 defeat at Purdure and a 73-70 loss to Illinois in St. Louis...the Tigers are fresh off an 83-75 victory over Mississippi State Tuesday, as Anderson tallied his 100th victory as a head coach...Stefhon Hannah led the Tigers with 27 points, hitting 10-of-20 from the field...Hannah has been one of the team's biggest surprises, leading the team in scoring at 16.0 ppg...Hannah, who was teammates last season with ISU guard Mike Taylor at Chipola JC in Florida, leads the conference in steals at 4.0 spg...the junior has hit 42.6 percent of his 3-pointers this season, making 26-of-61 from beyond the arc...sophomore Matt Lawrence has emerged as a star for the Tigers after playing sparingly as a freshman last season...Lawrence, a native of St. Louis, Mo., is averaging 13.3 ppg and currently ranks second in the Big 12 in 3-point field goal percentage at 53.8 percent...Kalen Grimes is MU's top post presence, averaging 9.5 points and a team-high 6.5 rebounds...Grimes leads the team and ranks in the top-10 in the Big 12 in blocks at 1.5 bpg...Missouri's fullcourt press has accumulated many turnovers against its opponents....the Tigers rank first in the Big 12 in turnover margin at +5.8...Mike Anderson spent four seasons at UAB as the head coach prior to taking over at Missouri, compiling an 89-41 mark and leading them to three NCAA Tournament appearances...he was an assistant at Arkansas for 17 seasons for Nolan Richardson, appearing in two NCAA Championship games.

Iowa State Team Quick Facts

? Iowa State has just four returning scholarship players from last season.

? 65.3 percent of the minutes played (1829) in ISU's 14 games were by newcomers on the roster.

? 67.4 percent of ISU's points this season (639) are from players who did not play a minute last year.

? ISU's 6-0 start tied for the fifth-best start in school history...only nine teams had won its first six games.

? ISU head coach Greg McDermott is one of two coaches in ISU history to win his first six games at the helm.

? ISU head coach Greg McDermott is the first native Iowan to coach the Cyclone men's basketball team since Clayton Sutherland (1948-54)...McDermott is from Cascade; Sutherland was from Nashua.

? McDermott entered the season with the 41st-best winning percentage among active Division I coaches.

? Wesley Johnson broke Will Blalock's school-record for standing vertical leap at 34 inches...Blalock's record was at 33 1/2 inches...Johnson also had a 41-inch step vertical leap to break the school record.

? ISU head coach Greg McDermott is in his first season with the Cyclones, but he is already the seventh-longest tenured coach in the Big 12...of the six new coaches in the league (Mike Anderson, Missouri; Bob Huggins, Kansas State; Doc Sadler, Nebraska; Jeff Capel, Oklahoma; Sean Sutton, Oklahoma State; Greg McDermott, Iowa State), McDermott was the first to be hired.

? ESPN.com picked Hilton Coliseum as the "Hot Arena" in the Big 12...coaches in the league noted that, "regardless of talent, the Cyclones have a home court like no other."

? ISU junior college transfers Corey McIntosh and Mike Taylor have witnessed a ton of success in their collegiate playing career...McIntosh tallied a 59-9 record in his two seasons in JC ball, while Taylor recorded a 62-8 mark in his two seasons at Chipola JC...the pair posted a combined 121-17 record in their two years in junior college.

? ISU held Louisiana-Monroe to 27.3 percent from the field, the first time a Cyclone opponent was held under 30 percent shooting since Dec. 31, 2002 (Arkansas-Pine Bluff).

? 11 different Cyclones have made a 3-pointer this season.

? ISU tied the school record by making 13 treys (13-25, 52.0 percent) against Southeast Missouri State.

? ISU has recorded four games with 10 or more 3-pointers this year.

? ISU ranks fifth in the Big 12 in 3-pointers per game (7.1 3FG).

? ISU tallied a season-high nine blocks vs. Northern Iowa, the most since blocking 10 against Drake (11-23-04).

? ISU has made a 3-pointer in 46 consecutive games.

? ISU ranks fourth in the Big 12 in rebounding margin (+5.3).

? ISU has outrebounded six of its last seven opponents, 261-204, a +8.1 average margin.

? ISU has shot more free-throws than its opponents in 10 of 14 games this year.

? ISU has outshot its opponents from the free-throw line, 209-107 in home games...but is getting outshot at the charity stripe, 75-34 in away games.

? ISU is 7-0 when ahead at the half.

? Only six teams (Northern Iowa, Drake, Iowa, Bradley, Ohio State, Southeast Missouri State) have scored 70 or more points against ISU this season...22 teams scored 70 or more points against the Cyclones last season.

? ISU ranks in the 12th nationally in least amount of fouls per game (14.7)...only two teams (Northern Iowa & Iowa) have committed less fouls than ISU in a game this year.

? ISU is 27-of-65 (41.5 percent) from 3-point range in its last three games.

Getting To The Line

In the preseason, Greg McDermott talked about the importance of getting to the free-throw line to increase your chances to win...so far, so good for ISU, as the Cyclones have been able to capitalize at the free-throw line...ISU has attempted more free-throw attempts than its opponent in 10 of 14 games this season, holding a 261-199 (+4.4) advantage at the charity stripe...what a difference from last season when the Cyclones were outshot at the foul line, 735-548 (-6.2)...Minnesota, Northern Iowa, Iowa and Ohio State - ISU's four road games - are the only teams to shoot more free throws than ISU.

Don't Foul!

Keeping fouls at a minimum has allowed ISU to have an advantage at the free-throw line this season...the Cyclones currently rank in the 12th nationally in fewest fouls per game at 14.7...the Cyclones have had just one player foul out of a game this season compared to last year when a Cyclone fouled out 22 times...in 28 halves this season, the Cyclones have allowed their opponents to have just seven double-bonus situations (10 fouls) at the free-throw line...only three teams this season (Northern Iowa, Iowa, Ohio State) have tallied less fouls than ISU.

Hitting The Boards

Iowa State has made a vast improvement in rebounding compared to last year when the Cyclones were outrebounded 19 times...ISU currently has a +5.3 margin (37.8-32.5) over its opponents in rebounding to rank fourth in the league...the Cyclones have only been outrebounded four times this season (UC Riverside, Eastern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Ohio State)...ISU has outboarded six of its last seven opponents for a +8.1 average margin...ISU has not finished a season with a positive rebounding margin since 2003-04.

3-Point Attack

Iowa State currently ranks fifth in the Big 12 in 3-pointers made per game at 7.01...four times this season the Cyclones have made 10 or more 3-pointers in a game, including a school-record-tying 13 against Southeast Missouri State...the Cyclones are on pace to break the school mark of 3-pointers made in a season set by last year's team with 201...the 2005-06 squad tallied 10 or more 3-pointers in a game six times...ISU is 27-of-65 (41.5 percent) from 3-point range in its last three games.

Clark Is The Leader

Junior Rahshon Clark is the undisputed leader of the Cyclone team...now in his third-year as a starter and first year as team captain, Clark is ISU's most experienced and most seasoned player...he brings to the table incredible athleticism and jumping ability...the junior has drastically improved his rebounding, ranking second on the team at 7.8 rpg, which ranks eighth in the Big 12...his long arms and quick jumping ability allows him to outrebound bigger and stronger opponents...Clark has tallied eight or more rebounds in 10 of 14 games this season, including four double-digit rebounding efforts (12-Eastern Illinois, 11-Minnesota, 10-Northern Iowa, 11-Iowa)...he has two double-doubles on the season.

Taylor Made

Mike Taylor's high-energy style of play and outstanding shooting has excited ISU fans so far in the young season...he can stretch the defense with his range and explode to the hoop with his quickness...he tallied one of the greatest second halves in ISU history vs. Minnesota, recording 25 of his career-high 33 points after intermission...he tallied a career-high six 3-pointers, all in the second half vs. the Gophers...he followed that game with 22 points in the first half vs. Lake Superior State, drilling his first six treys...dating back to the Minnesota game, he had a streak of nine consecutive 3-pointers made...he leads the team in scoring (16.0), 3-pointers (35) and assists (65)...Taylor ranks ninth in the Big 12 in scoring (16.0 ppg) and seventh in assists (4.64).

Wesley Johnson- A Diamond In The Rough

True freshman Wesley Johnson has done a fantastic job early in his rookie season at ISU...Johnson has started all 14 games, averaging 12.1 ppg and 8.4 rpg...Johnson had fallen through the recruiting cracks after his prep school shut down in his senior season, thus not playing basketball in his final year...ISU assistant coach Jean Prioleau had recruited him when he was an assistant at Wichita State...when Prioleau was hired at ISU and the Cyclones needed players late in the March 2006 signing period, Prioleau contacted Johnson and convinced him to come to ISU...Johnson leads the team and the Big 12 with six double-doubles this season...he also leads ISU in blocks with 19, recording a career-high three vs. Norfolk State and Northern Iowa...he ranks 11th in the league in blocked shots (1.36 bpg)...he has recorded a block in 11 of 14 games this season...despite his lack of size, Wesley's incredible leaping ability allows him to be an effective offensive rebounder...53 of his 118 rebounds have come on the offensive end, averaging 3.8 offensive rebounds per game, which ranks second in the Big 12...he has scored in double figures in 11 of 14 games this season...he is averaging 10.4 rpg in his last seven games, recording double-digits in five of his last seven games...he is 8-of-16 (50 percent) from 3-point range in the last five games.

Johnson Among Best Freshmen Rebounders

Wesley Johnson currently ranks second in the Big 12 and 50th nationally in rebounding at 8.4 rpg...his rebounding average ranks fourth among all NCAA Division I freshmen...here is a look at the top freshmen rebounders this season:

NCAA Freshmen Rebounding Leaders (as of 1-1-07)

1. Kevin Durant, Texas 9.9

2. Taj Gibson, USC 9.3

3. Ryan Anderson, California 8.9

4. Wesley Johnson, Iowa State 8.4

Johnson Racking Up Double-Doubles

Wesley Johnson already has six double-doubles in 14 games in his rookie season to lead the Big 12 Conference...Johnson is on pace to have the most double-doubles by an ISU freshman in school history...the school record is currently held by Dean Uthoff, who had 10 double-doubles in his rookie season in 1976-77...Uthoff is ISU's and the Big Eight's all-time leading rebounder...here is a look at the most ISU freshman double-doubles in school history since freshmen became eligible by the NCAA in the mid-1970s:

Johnson Earns Big 12 Player Of The Week Honors

Iowa State freshman forward Wesley Johnson posted a pair of double-doubles to help him earn Big 12 Player of the Week honors for games played from Dec. 11-17...Johnson was just the third freshman in Big 12 history to win player of the week honors, following Mario Chalmers of Kansas (Feb. 13, 2006) and Oklahoma's Drew Lavender (Dec. 15, 2003)...Johnson averaged 16.5 points and 10.5 rebounds as the Cyclones recorded a 1-1 record...the Corsicana, Texas, native had consecutive double-doubles, beginning with 15 points and 11 boards in a 70-59 victory over Savannah State...he followed with a career-high 18 points and 10 rebounds in a 76-66 loss to Bradley...Johnson shot 52.9 percent (9-of-17) in two outings, including 3-of-5 (.600) from 3-point range.

Hubalek Breaks Out

Junior center Jiri Hubalek broke out with a career-high 19 points and 11 boards against North Dakota State...he finished the game 6-of-13 from the floor and 7-of-8 from the free-throw line...it was his third career double-double and first of the season...it was a pleasant sign for the Cyclones, who need Hubalek's low-block scoring to have any chance to be successful in the Big 12...Hubalek got off to a slow start to the season, missing the first six games because of a NCAA rules violation...he has slowly started to come around as the Big 12 season approaches...Hubalek is averaging 14.0 ppg and is shooting 10-of-18 from the field (55.5 percent) in his last two games.

70 Is The Magic Number

Keeping the opposition from getting into a high-scoring game increases ISU's chances of winning...ISU is 8-0 this season when its opponents score under 70 points...ISU has given up 70 points six times to its opponents so far this, going 1-5 in those games.

Players Mentioned

Will Blalock

Rahshon Clark

Rahshon Clark

Rahshon Clark

Dodie Dunson

Jiri Hubalek

Jiri Hubalek

Jiri Hubalek

Wesley Johnson

Wesley Johnson

Corey McIntosh

Mike Taylor

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