Cyclones Whirl Into The Windy City

AMES, Iowa-Iowa State, still unbeaten at 5-0, travels to Chicago, Ill., to participate in the 2009 Chicago Invitational, Nov. 27-28 at the UIC Pavilion. ISU will battle Saint Louis, also unbeaten at 4-0, in the third round of the tournament (the first two rounds were competed at on-campus sites) on Friday, Nov. 27 at 5 p.m. There is no television slated for the tournament except for games involving Northwestern. If ISU plays Northwestern on Saturday, the game will be broadcasted by the Big Ten Network.

2009 Chicago Invitational, Nov. 27-28
Who: Iowa State (5-0, 0-0) vs. Saint Louis (4-0, 0-0)
When: Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 ? 5 p.m.
Where: Chicago, Ill. ? UIC Pavilion (8,000)
Radio: Cyclone Radio Network/Learfield
Talent: John Walters (pxp); Eric Heft (color)
Television: None
Online Audio: Clone Zone

Cyclone Notebook
- Iowa State, still unbeaten at 5-0, travels to Chicago, Ill., to participate in the 2009 Chicago Invitational, Nov. 27-28 at the UIC Pavilion.
- ISU will battle Saint Louis, also unbeaten at 4-0, in the third round of the tournament (the first two rounds were competed at on-campus sites) on Friday, Nov. 27 at 5 p.m.
- The winner of the Iowa State/Saint Louis game will play the winner of the Notre Dame/Northwestern game on Nov. 28 at 7 p.m...the losers of the third round matchups will compete at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 28.
- There is no television slated for the tournament except for games involving Northwestern...if ISU plays Northwestern on Saturday, the game will be broadcasted by the Big Ten Network.
- ISU is 3-3 all-time in games played in Chicago and 0-1 in games played at the UIC Pavilion...the Cyclones fell to Illinois-Chicago at the UIC Pavilion on 1-3-90, 76-75.
- ISU's only wins in Chicago were three victories against the University of Chicago from 1917-27...the Cyclones lost twice to Illinois in the 1980s at the Rosemont Horizon.
- ISU head coach Greg McDermott was 0-4 in the UIC Pavilion as a player at UNI.

Last Time Out
- Iowa State is still undefeated after a 84-53 win over Tennessee State Tuesday night in the second round of the Chicago Invitational.
- The 31-point margin of victory marked just the third time in school history where the Cyclones won five-straight games by 20 or more points.
- The Cyclones started out hot, making their first 10 shots in building a comfortable lead in the early moments.
- ISU finished the game shooting 61.5 percent from the field, the first time the Cyclones shot above 60 percent in a game since tallying a school-record 74.4 percent outing vs. Georgia on March 17, 2004.
- ISU, which ranks 10th nationally in field goal percentage (53.8 pct.), has shot 50 percent or above in four of five games this year...the Cyclones only shot 50 percent or above just eight times in the last three seasons.
- ISU is now 12-0 in the Greg McDermott era when shooting above 50 percent.
- The Cyclones were led by the reigning Big 12 rookie of the week Marquis Gilstrap, who tallied his second double-double of the season with 18 points and 10 boards...Gilstrap, who was 7-of-9 from the field in the TSU win, has made 15-of-20 shots (75.0 percent) in his last two games.
- Craig Brackins, Diante Garrett and Scott Christopherson were all in double figures scoring, tallying 12, 11 and 10 points, respectively.
- Brackins has now been in double figures in 38 of his last 40 games and 53 times in his outstanding career.
- Garrett handed out seven assists, tallying five or more assists in all five games this year...Garrett moved to No. 12 on ISU's career assist list with 290 dimes.
- Christopherson, ISU's super sub from off the bench, has been in double figures in all five games this year, the only Cyclone to do so...with his 2-of-2 effort from 3-point range he keeps his streak alive of recording two or more treys in each game.
- ISU manhandled TSU on the boards, 39-28.
- The Cyclones have outrebounded all five opponents this season by a +14.2 margin.
- ISU is now 27-2 when scoring 70+ points and 29-2 when holding opponents to under 60 points in the Greg McDermott era.
- ISU made 46.2 percent from 3-point range (6-13 3FG)...ISU has shot 46 percent or better from 3-point range in all five games this year...the Cyclones currently rank second nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (52.9 percent).

Cyclone-Billiken Facts
- Iowa State and St. Louis have met eight times with ISU holding a 5-3 series edge.
- Friday's game will be the third time in a row where the two teams have met at a neutral site...the Cyclones defeated SLU and future NBA first-round draft pick Larry Hughes, 62-57 in Bayamon, Puerto Rico on Dec. 25, 1997.
- ISU won the last meeting in Las Vegas, downing the Billikens 77-72 on Nov. 23, 2001...Jake Sullivan led all players with 22 points, making 13-of-13 shots from the free-throw line to help the Cyclones go 28-of-31 at the charity stripe.
- ISU head coach Greg McDermott is 0-1 vs. Rick Majerus-coached teams...in 2002, McDermott was the head coach at Northern Iowa and his Panthers lost to Majerus' Utah team in Salt Lake City, 75-53.
- Majerus will be facing the Cyclones as a head coach with his third team...Majerus is 2-0 lifetime against Iowa State, defeating the Cyclones in Ames in the 1984 NIT as the head coach at Marquette, 73-53...Majerus later transformed Utah into a national power and was victorious over the Cyclones in the 1996 NCAA Tournament, 73-67 in Dallas, Texas as the Utes head man.
- Billiken assistant coach Porter Moser and ISU assistant coach Daniyal Robinson were both assistants at UALR...Robinson later joined Moser's staff at Illinois State.

A Closer Look At Saint Louis
- Saint Louis brings a perfect record into the Chicago Invitational at 4-0...the Billikens have a win over a Big 12 opponent, shutting down Nebraska, 69-55 at home.
- The Billikens are fresh off a victory over Mississippi Valley State, 75-39...the Billikens outscored the Delta Devils, 44-15 in the second half.
- Willie Reed had 17 points on 8-of-9 shooting to pace SLU in the MVSU win.
- SLU has no seniors and just one junior on its roster.
- The Billikens have showcased a stingy defense, allowing just 50.2 ppg and holding their opponents to 34.9 percent shooting from the field, including 22.4 percent from 3-point range.
- SLU's catalyst on offense is sophomore Kwamain Mitchell, who is averaging 12.3 ppg and shooting 55.6 percent from the field...Mitchell had 20 points on 7-of-10 shooting from the floor in the Nebraska win.
- Reed, a 6-9 sophomore from Kansas City, is averaging 12.0 points and leading the team in rebounding at 9.3 rpg...Reed had 15 points and 12 boards in the Southeast Missouri State win.

Iowa State-Notre Dame Facts
- Iowa State has played Notre Dame just one time in school history...UND defeated ISU, 87-77 in South Bend on Dec. 3, 1979 in Lynn Nance's final season with ISU.
- ISU is 5-15 all-time against Big East schools...the last time the Cyclones faced a Big East team was on Dec. 21, 2005, a 83-74 win over South Florida in Honolulu, Hawaii.
- ISU forward Craig Brackins and Notre Dame forward Luke Harangody are considered two of the best post players in college basketball...the duo have been named preseason All-Americans by the majority of the preseason magazines...Harangody and Brackins were just two of three players in 2008-09 to rank in the top-30 nationally in both scoring and rebounding...national player of the year and NBA No. 1 draft pick Blake Griffin (Oklahoma) was the other.

Iowa State-Northwestern Facts
- Iowa State and Northwestern have faced each other just one time, with the Cyclones winning 64-54 on Dec. 19, 1949 in Ames...Don Ferguson led the Cyclones in scoring with 18 points.
- ISU is 48-94 all-time against Big Ten teams...ISU has played seven Big Ten teams in the four-year Greg McDermott era, holding a 3-4 mark (Iowa, 1-2; Minnesota, 1-1; Ohio State, 0-1; Purdue, 1-0).
- NU head coach Bill Carmody was an assistant at Princeton when the Tigers fell to ISU, 50-47 (Dec. 21, 1995) in Hilton Coliseum.
- NU assistant coach Mitch Henderson was a player for Princeton in the loss to the Cyclones in 1995, scoring no points in 22 minutes.

Iowa State Team Quick Facts
- ISU has outscored its opponents 117-56 in the final 10 minutes of the first half.
- ISU's largest deficit this season is four points (14-10, 1st half vs. Miss. Valley St.).
- ISU has scored 70 points or more in all five games this season, averaging 86.0 ppg...ISU is 27-2 in the Greg McDermott era when scoring 70 points or more.
- ISU ranks 21st nationally and third in the Big 12 in scoring offense (86.0 ppg).
- ISU's scoring offense is currently at a 21.1 ppg increase from last season...ISU averaged 64.9 ppg last year (86.0-64.9).
- ISU has scored 80 or more points in four of five games...the Cyclones only reached 80 points once last season.
- The Cyclones scored 90 points or more in consecutive games (at Drake; vs. Mississippi Valley State) for the first time since the 2000-01 season.
- ISU defeated Mississippi Valley State, 96-55...the 96 points is the most in the Greg McDermott era...the most points scored by a Greg McDermott-coached team vs. a Division I opponent was 99 against Iowa State when he was head coach at UNI (2004).
- ISU has won five consecutive games by 20+ points for just the third time in school history and for the first time since 2000.
- ISU ranked second to last nationally in steals last season (4.0 spg)...this year, ISU has increased its pressure defense and is averaging 8.0 spg.
- ISU is third in the Big 12 and 10th nationally in field goal percentage (53.8 percent).
- ISU has shot 50 percent or above in four of five games for a 53.8 percent season tally...ISU is 12-0 when shooting 50 percent or above in the McDermott era.
- In the first three seasons of the Greg McDermott era, ISU only shot above 50 percent eight times...ISU has done it four out of five games this season.
- ISU is second nationally in 3-point field goal percentage at 52.9 percent (46-87 3FG).
- Seven Cyclones have attempted more than one 3-pointer on the season, with six of them hitting at a 50 percent or above clip.
- ISU leads the Big 12 and ranks 19th nationally in 3-pointers made per game at 9.2 3FG...ISU has made 30 treys (30-54 3FG, 55.6 percent) in the last three games.
- The Cyclones have handed out 20 or more assists in three of five games, ranking second in the Big 12 in assists at 20.4 apg.
- ISU has outrebounded all five opponents this year by a +14.2 margin.
- ISU is 29-2 in the McDermott era when its opponents score under 60 points.

Iowa State Player Quick Facts
Craig Brackins
- Preseason All-American...Wooden and Naismith Award candidate.
- Named Big 12 Player of the Week four times in his career.
- Has 26 20-point games and four 30-point games in his career.
- Has 16 20-point/10-rebound games and 20 double-doubles in his career.
- Ranks 22nd on ISU's career scoring chart with 1,097 points.
- Ranks ninth on ISU's career blocked shot chart (71).
- Scored in double figures in 38 of his last 40 games.
- Blocked a career-high six shots vs. Chicago State.
- Posted back-to-back 20-point/10-rebound games vs. Drake and Mississippi Valley State to earn Big 12 Player of the Week honors.
- Leads team with two double-doubles and has two 20-point/10-rebound outings this year.
- Is 25-of-39 from the field (64.1 percent) in his last three games.
- Ranks fifth in the Big 12 in scoring (17.2 ppg) and 11th in rebounding (7.6 rpg).

Diante Garrett
- Has the team's longest current starting streak at 37-straight games.
- Handed out five or more assists 29 times in his career and in every game this season.
- Ranks 12th on ISU's all-time career assist chart with 290.
- Has a 4.2 assist/turnover ratio so far this season (38/9) to rank 5th in Big 12.
- Leads the Big 12 in and ranks fifth nationally in assists at 7.6 apg.
- Has five double-digit assist games in his career.
- Tied his career high with 11 assists at Drake, tying the Knapp Center record.

Lucca Staiger
- Has made two or more treys 27 times in his career.
- Made a 3-pointer in every game this year.
- Averaging 11.2 ppg.
- Ranks second in Big 12 and sixth nationally in 3-pointers per game (3.6 3fg).
- Hitting 50 percent (18-36 3FG) from 3-point range.
- Ranks 11th on ISU's career 3-pointers made list with 92.
- His 40.3 percentage from 3-point range ranks third all-time in school history.
- Broke the school record for 3-pointers made in a game with 10 at Drake...that mark ties for second on the Big 12's single game chart.
- Tallied a career-high 32 points at Drake.
- Owns two of the top three ISU single-game 3-pointers made marks (10 vs. Drake; 8 vs. Drake).

Scott Christopherson
- Averaging 11.4 ppg.
- Ranks second in the Big 12 and sixth nationally in 3-point field goal percentage (11-17) at 64.7 percent.
- Scored in double figures from off the bench in his first five games.
- Only player on team to score in double figures in every game.
- Made 58.8 percent of his shots from the field (20-of-34 FG).
- Recorded two or more 3-pointers in every game this year.

Marquis Gilstrap
- Started all five games, averaging 9.0 rebounds to rank fifth in the Big 12.
- Averaging 14.0 ppg to rank second on the team.
- Recorded his first double-double with 11 points and 15 rebounds vs. Chicago State...the 15 boards was the most by a Cyclone since Brackins had 16 vs. SIU-E.
- Posted a career-high 21 points vs. Mississippi Valley State (8-11 FG; 3-4 3FG).
- Tied for the team lead in double-doubles with two.
- Made 15-of-20 shots (75.0 percent) in the last two games.
- Earned Big 12 Rookie of the Week honors on Nov. 23.

Jamie Vanderbeken
- Has made 75.0 percent of his shots this year (9-12 FG).
- Is a career 42.4 percent shooter from beyond the arc (39-92 3FG)...he needs 11 treys to meet the school's minimum for career 3-point percentage.
- Made 4-of-6 from beyond the arc this year.
- Sat out much of the preseason after a suffering a stress fracture in tryouts for the Great Britain team that participated in the 2009 European Championships.

LaRon Dendy
- Scored 16 points and grabbed seven boards in his Cyclone debut vs. Idaho St.
- Missed the last four games because of a knee sprain...is expected to return for the Chicago Invitational (Nov. 27-28).

Players Mentioned

Craig Brackins

Craig Brackins

Scott Christopherson

Scott Christopherson

LaRon Dendy

Diante Garrett

Diante Garrett

Marquis Gilstrap

Lucca Staiger

Lucca Staiger

Jamie Vanderbeken

Jamie Vanderbeken

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