Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Utah on February 24, 2026 , Win , 75, to, 59
Final
Men's Basketball
75
Utah
59
Iowa State University Athletics
Cyclones Return From Big 12 Media Day
10.17.2007 | Men's Basketball
McDermott's staff took care of the needs of size and strength in their recruiting and with an aggressive conditioning program in the summer.
“We were really slight in the guard court, both from a height standpoint and from a strength standpoint last year,” McDermott said. “We were taken advantage of in many situations in the Big 12 because we just weren't big and strong enough. We addressed that in our recruiting.”
“The other area was across the front line,” McDermott added. “Wesley Johnson was playing power forward at 190. Jiri (Hubalek) is now stronger and Wesley is 205 and much stronger. You just have to be big and strong to have a chance to compete with the physical nature of this league, and we didn't have that a year ago, and I think we're better in that regard this season.”
McDermott has high hopes for the senior Hubalek. Hubalek, who averaged 11.2 points and 6.8 rebounds last season, made an incredible transformation from a face the basket player to a low post threat in 2006-07. Hubalek has worked hard in the offseason to gain strength and increase his weight, adding 35 pounds since he entered school in the fall of 2005.
“Once Jiri bought into what I asked him to do he started playing better and his numbers got better,” McDermott said. “And then we addressed in the offseason the fact that he just wasn't strong enough. To Jiri's credit, he's put on 25 pounds of muscle and he changed his diet. We had him working with a nutritionist just to change some of the things he was putting in his body so that he could maybe put on some weight.”
Cyclone fans will get their first chance to see the squad in action on Nov. 1 in an exhibition game vs.
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballF
/ Men's BasketballWednesday, April 22
Saturday, March 28
Thursday, March 26
Thursday, March 26
