Iowa State Hosts Colorado

Iowa State (13-13, 4-8) vs. Colorado (6-16, 2-10)

Feb. 21, 2007 ? 7 p.m. ? Ames, Iowa ? Hilton Coliseum (14,356)

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

Television: Cyclone Television Network; Dave Armstrong (pxp), Paul Splittorff (color)

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

Gameday Quick Facts

Iowa State (13-13, 4-8) plays host to Colorado (6-16, 2-10) on Wednesday...ISU is 3-3 at home vs. Big 12 opponents this season...the Cyclones' worst home mark in conference play since the Big 12 was formed (1996-97) was a 4-4 record during the 2001-02 season...former Cyclone All-American Zaid Abdul-Aziz will be a special guest in Cyclone Alley Wednesday night...Abdul-Aziz, who enjoyed a 10-year NBA career after graduation from ISU in 1968, has just completed a book, Darkness to Sunlight:The Life-Changing Journey of Zaid Abdul-Aziz...he is an automatic qualifier of ISU's All-Century Team that will be announced next season.

Cyclone-Buffalo Quick Facts

Iowa State leads the all-time series vs. Colorado at 72-65...the series is extremely lopsided favoring the home team...the Cyclones have a 43-18 advantage in game played in Ames and a 32-5 edge in games at Hilton Coliseum...ISU has won 14 of the last 15 games played in Ames, including last season's 96-79 win where Curtis Stinson recorded just the third triple-double in school history...it was the last time ISU won a game vs. a ranked opponent...the Buffs were ranked No. 25 at the time...CU freshman Xavier Silas and ISU freshman Dodie Dunson were teammates last season at Brewster Academy in Wolfeboro, N.H...ISU's Jiri Hubalek, Wesley Johnson and Rahshon Clark all have their career high rebounding games vs. Colorado (Hubalek, 12- March 4, 2006; Johnson, 14- Jan. 17, 2007; Clark, 14- Feb. 5, 2006).

Cyclone Update

Iowa State (13-13, 4-8) could not get anything going offensively Saturday night, falling to Kansas State, 65-47 in Manhattan...the Cyclones shot 34.7 percent from the field while scoring a season-low 47 points...it was the lowest points scored by a Cyclone team since scoring 43 points at Texas Tech on Feb. 2, 2002...the Cyclones were down by just two points at the half (22-20), keeping the Wildcats at a 36.0 percent clip in the opening period...KSU heated up after intermission and went on a 17-4 run to take control of the game...Mike Taylor led ISU with 17 points, five boards and six assists...Taylor, who has now scored in double figures in 16-straight games, made a pair of treys in the game to increase his season total to 66...he now ranks seventh on ISU's single-season 3-pointers made list...Taylor has made a 3-pointer in 22 consecutive games, breaking the former school mark by Dedric Willoughby (21, 1996-97) for most games in a row with a trey...the junior ranks eighth in the league in scoring (16.7) and sixth in the conference in 3-pointers made per game (2.53)...Jiri Hubalek tallied 13 points and five rebounds in the game...Hubalek, who had 10 points in the first half, is averaging 13.2 points and 7.7 rebounds in his last 14 games...Hubalek is hitting 50 percent of his shots from the floor in league games, tying for third in the conference...Wesley Johnson added eight points and two boards in his first game coming off the bench this season...Johnson now has 214 boards on the season, the second-best freshman rebounding total in school history...Johnson is second in the league in rebounding at 8.2 rpg, but has just two caroms in his last two games...the Cyclones were outrebounded by the Wildcats, 38-24, just the fourth time in 12 league games where ISU did not win the battle of the boards...ISU ranks sixth in the league in rebounding margin (+3.0)...the Cyclones continued their hot shooting at the free-throw line, making 11-of-14 at the charity stripe...ISU is 59-of-72 at the free-throw line (81.9 percent) in its last five games to improve its season percentage to over 70 percent (70.2 percent)...the Cyclones have not shot above 70 percent as a team from the charity stripe since the 2001-02 season (74.8 percent).

Colorado (6-16, 2-10)

Colorado (6-16, 2-10) is fresh off a 95-74 loss to Texas Tech on Saturday...Richard Roby led CU with 17 points, going 7-of-12 from the floor...Colorado earned its first Big 12 win of the season against Iowa State on Jan. 17...Colorado shot 50 percent in the second half behind an outstanding effort from freshman Xavier Silas...Silas scored all 19 of his points after intermission on 6-of-9 shooting from the floor, including a 4-of-5 effort from 3-point range...CU has played the least amount of games in the Big 12 (22)...the Buffs went 25 days in between games from Dec. 9 to Jan. 3 because of cancellations due to severe weather...CU is led by Roby, who is averaging 16.5 points and 5.1 rebounds while coming off the bench in the last two games...Roby, a first-team preseason all-Big 12 pick, is second on the team in steals (27) and third in 3-pointers (30)...Roby is third in the Big 12 with three 30-point games this season (Pepperdine-32, Texas-30, Kansas-30)...Silas is having a strong rookie season for the Buffs...he is averaging 11.9 ppg and 4.0 rpg...he has been much more productive since the conference season began, averaging 13.8 points in league games...Silas has scored in double-figures in eight of his last 10 games...Silas is the son of former ABA legend James Silas...James, who was a member of the San Antonio Spurs in the 1970s, earned the moniker, "Captain Late," because of his ability to make the big plays in the closing minutes of a basketball game...Dominique Coleman is the team's top rebounder, averaging 6.3 rpg and scoring 10.8 ppg...Jermyl Jackson-Wilson is averaging 8.1 ppg and 5.9 rpg...Jackson-Wilson, who is in his first season with CU after transferring from Ohio State, had eight points and six rebounds in the first meeting between the two teams...CU is shooting 41.3 percent as a team and is allowing its opponents to a 47.5 percent clip from the floor...ISU and Colorado rank No. 12 (41.1 percent) and No. 11 (41.3 percent) in the Big 12, respectively in field goal percentage... the Buffs are giving up 80.9 points per game and are 1-8 in road games this year.

Iowa State Team Quick Facts

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

? Of the 13 players that were alloted scholarships and were scheduled to return after the 2005-06 season, only five are currently on the roster (Hubalek, Clark, Marsden, Gray, Cory Johnson).

? 62.9 percent of the minutes played (3285) this season are by newcomers on the roster.

? 64.9 percent of ISU's points this season (1086) 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."

? Fans voted Iowa State and Hilton Coliseum as the nation's No. 1 team in regards to school spirit in a poll duing ESPN's "student spirit" week.

? Iowa State's student spirit group for men's basketball is called "Cyclone Alley"...a record number of over 3,000 students are members of Cyclone Alley, where the students sit behind both ends of the baskets.

? 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).

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

? ISU tied the school record by making 13 treys (13-25, 52.0 percent) vs. SEMO, including 11 in the first half.

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

? ISU ranks fifth in the Big 12 in 3-pointers per game (6.58 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 58 consecutive games.

? ISU ranks sixth in the Big 12 in rebounding margin (+3.0).

? ISU has outrebounded 14 of its last 19 opponents.

? ISU has been outrebounded just four times in Big 12 play (Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas State).

? ISU has outshot its opponents from the free-throw line, 316-210 in home games...but is getting outshot at the charity stripe, 200-115 in away games.

? Only 10 teams (Northern Iowa, Drake, Iowa, Bradley, Ohio State, Southeast Missouri State, Colorado, Texas A&M, Missouri, Texas) have scored 70 or more points against ISU this season...22 teams scored 70 or more points against ISU last season.

? ISU ranks 22nd nationally in least amount of fouls per game (16.1)...only seven teams (Northern Iowa, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas) have committed less fouls than ISU in a game this year.

? ISU has made seven or more 3-pointers in a game this year 12 times.

? ISU is 10-0 when outshooting its opponent.

? Only two Big 12 opponents have shot above 46.0 percent from the field against ISU this season (Missouri. Texas).

? In ISU's 12 Big 12 games, the Cyclones are averaging 9.7 turnovers (116) in the first half and 5.7 turnovers (69) in the second half.

? ISU is 2-3 when having the lead at the half in Big 12 games...ISU is 2-5 when its opponents have the lead at the half in Big 12 games.

? ISU is last in the Big 12 in FG percentage (41.1 percent) and is shooting just 39.2 percent in league games.

? In league games only, ISU's top three players (Mike Taylor, Wesley Johnson, Jiri Hubalek) have combined for 70.8 percent (513/724) of its scoring and 66.1 percent (436/659) of its field goal attempts.

? ISU is shooting 81.9 percent from the free-throw line in its last five games (59-72 FT).

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 22nd nationally in fewest fouls per game at 16.0...the Cyclones have had just four players foul out of a game this season compared to last year when a Cyclone fouled out 22 times...in 52 halves this season, the Cyclones have allowed their opponents to just 14 double-bonus situations (10 fouls) at the free-throw line...only seven teams this season (Northern Iowa, Iowa, Ohio State, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas) have tallied less fouls than ISU.

ISU's Big Three

The majority of ISU's production comes from its Big Three, Mike Taylor, Wesley Johnson and Jiri Hubalek...the trio are all averaging over double figures in scoring and are responsible for 70.8 percent (513/724) of its scoring production and 66.1 percent (436/659) of its field goal attempts in Big 12 action...the triumvirate are also responsible for 56.3 percent (237/421) of ISU's rebounding in league play...since conference play began, one of the three has led the team in scoring in all but one game (Dodie Dunson, Missouri)...all three are averaging over 12.2 ppg in league action...the next-best scoring average is 6.2 ppg by Rahshon Clark.

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 +3.0 margin (36.5-33.5) over its opponents in rebounding to rank sixth in the league...the Cyclones have only been outrebounded eight times this season (UC Riverside, Eastern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Ohio State, Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas State) and just four times in league play (Kansas, Colorado, Missouri, Kansas State)...ISU has outboarded 14 of its last 19 opponents...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 6.58 3FG per game...six 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...ISU currently has 171...the 2005-06 squad tallied 10 or more 3-pointers in a game six times...ISU has made seven or more 3-pointers in a game 12 times this season.

Second Half Comebacks

Iowa State has won two road games this season (Minnesota and Missouri), both in dramatic fashion, rallying from double-digit second half deficits...in the Minnesota game, ISU rallied from a 10-point deficit at the 16:58 mark in the second period...Mike Taylor scored 25 points after intermission to aid the comeback...against Missouri, the Cyclones were down by 16 points (44-28 with 15:14 left in the game) before staging their second-best second-half comeback in school history...it ranks second to ISU's come-from-behind win against No. 2 Oklahoma State (84-83 ot) on Feb. 15, 1992...ISU was down by 18 points in the second half in that game...freshmen Dodie Dunson and Wesley Johnson were the keys to the comeback against Mizzou...Dunson scored 16 and Johnson tallied 12 points in the second half...Johnson scored four points in the final :11 seconds, including the game-winner with a putback with :01.6 left on the clock.

Improved Free-Throw Shooting Helping Cyclones

Iowa State has shot 70.2 percent from the line this season, but its efficiency from the charity stripe in recent games has been superb...ISU has shot 81.9 from the foul line (59-72 FT) in its last five games...ISU has not shot over 70 percent from the line during a season since 2001-02 (74.8)...here is a look at ISU's five starters and their free-throw percentages during that span.

70 Is The Magic Number

Keeping the opposition from getting into a high-scoring game increases ISU's chances of winning...ISU is 12-4 this season when its opponents score under 70 points...ISU has given up 70 points 10 times to its opponents this season, going 1-9 in those games.

Clark Is The Leader

Junior Rahshon Clark, now in his third-year as a starter and first year as team captain, is ISU's most experienced and most seasoned player...he brings to the table incredible athleticism and jumping ability...the junior has improved his rebounding, ranking third on the team at 6.1 rpg, which ranks 13th 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 10 times 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 this 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 recorded 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 (16.7), 3-pointers (66), assists (117) and steals (30)...he also has a team-high nine 20-point games...Taylor ranks eighth in the Big 12 in scoring (16.7 ppg) and sixth in assists (4.50)...three times this season Taylor has made six 3-pointers in a game, all tying for eighth on ISU's single game record list...Taylor's 66 3-pointers ranks seventh in school history...he is currently riding a 22-game streak of making at least one 3-pointer, the longest streak in school history.

Taylor's 3-Point Streak

Mike Taylor has made a 3-pointer in an impressive 22 consecutive games...out of 26 games this season, Taylor has been shut out from beyond the arc just once...Taylor made a 3-pointer in his 22nd consecutive game at Kansas State, eclipsing the old school mark held by Dedric Willoughby (21, 1996-97).

ISU Consecutive Game 3-Pointers Made List

1. 22 Mike Taylor, 2007-2. 21 Dedric Willoughby, 1996-97

3. 16 Tim Barnes, 2003

4. 15 Fred Hoiberg, 1992-95

15 Jake Sullivan, 2001-04

Mike "The Microwave" Taylor

Mike Taylor has displayed the ability to heat up quickly with his shooting so far this season...Taylor has scored 20 or more points in a half four times this season...here is a look at his outstanding half performances this season:

Wesley Johnson- One Of The Nation's Best Freshman

True freshman Wesley Johnson is quietly putting together one of the best rookie seasons in the nation...if it wasn't for the amazing play of Texas freshman Kevin Durant, he would be considered the frontrunner for Big 12 Freshman of the Year...Johnson has started 25 of 26 games, averaging 12.2 ppg and 8.2 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 ranks second in the Big 12 (behind Durant) with 11 double-doubles this season...he ranks second in the Big 12 (again behind Durant) in rebounding at 8.2 rpg...despite his lack of size, Wesley's incredible leaping ability allows him to be an effective offensive rebounder...88 of his 214 rebounds have come on the offensive end, averaging 3.38 offensive rebounds per game, which is tops in the league...none of his offensive rebounds was bigger than his putback on a miss in the last second to help ISU defeat Missouri, 66-65 in the Big 12 Conference opener...he posted a career-high 14 rebounds vs. Colorado, tying for the fourth-best single-game freshman rebounding effort in school history...he has scored in double figures in 19 of 26 games this season...he has recorded double-digits on the boards in 11 of his last 19 games...in Big 12 games only, he is averaging 12.2 ppg and 8.0 rpg...he ranks second all-time on ISU's freshman rebounding list with 214 boards...he was named Big 12 Player of the Week (Dec. 18) and Big 12 Rookie of the Week (Jan. 8) this season.

Johnson Racking Up Double-Doubles

Wesley Johnson already has 11 double-doubles in 26 games in his rookie season to rank second in the Big 12 Conference...Johnson passed Dean Uthoff for the most double-doubles by an ISU freshman when he recorded 14 points and 10 boards vs. Baylor...Uthoff 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 Felt Right At Home In Texas

Wesley Johnson, a native of Corsicana, Texas, enjoyed his two visits back to his home state...the rookie posted two strong performances at Texas A&M and Texas where his parents and family were able to watch...Johnson was a combined 15-of-23 from the field (65.2 percent) and averaged 17.0 ppg in the two games...he was 7-of-11 from the floor at Texas A&M and 8-for-12 from the field at Texas...he scored 17 points in both games.

Hubalek Breaks Out

Junior Center Jiri Hubalek's improved play has given ISU a much needed lift in the post...Hubalek got off to a slow start to the season, missing the first six games because of a NCAA rules violation...head coach Greg McDermott has asked Hubalek to be more of a presence in the post, and he has responded with outstanding efforts in the last 14 games, where he is shooting 73-of-144 (50.7 percent) from the field and averaging 13.2 points and 7.7 rebounds...in conference games only, Hubalek is averaging 13.1 points and 7.9 rebounds, ranking seventh in the Big 12 in rebounding...he is tied for third in the league (conf. games only) in field goal percentage at 50 percent...he is averaging 19.0 points in his last three games.

Players Mentioned

Will Blalock

Rahshon Clark

Rahshon Clark

Rahshon Clark

Dodie Dunson

Jiri Hubalek

Jiri Hubalek

Jiri Hubalek

Cory Johnson

Cory Johnson

Wesley Johnson

Wesley Johnson

Curtis Stinson

Mike Taylor

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