Completed Event: Men's Basketball at Utah on February 24, 2026 , Win , 75, to, 59
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Iowa State University Athletics
McDermott Looks Ahead To 2009-10
07.06.2009 | Men's Basketball
AMES, Iowa-Continuity within a program is proving to be more and more difficult in today's college basketball world. Most successful teams are able to develop players through time and experience. Success certainly doesn't happen overnight.
Now entering his fourth year as the head coach at Iowa State, Greg McDermott can comfortably say he has a team that fits that mold. For the first time in his tenure, the Cyclones will return at least four players who are entering their third season as a Cyclone. In all, ISU returns seven players who played in 23 or more games a year ago, including four of five starters. McDermott knows the positive impact experience can have.
“I almost forgot what it is like to have experience returning,” McDermott chuckled. “It is invaluable especially when you have five or six newcomers that you are adding to your program. To have players return who have been in your program a couple of years is a luxury, because they set an example for the newcomers with their work ethic and attitude.”
Perhaps the biggest news out of the ISU men's basketball camp occurred in late April. Craig Brackins, who emerged as one of the best players in the Big 12 after averaging 20.2 points, 9.5 rebounds and earning first-team all-league honors last season, decided to return to Iowa State for his junior campaign. A honorable mention All-America pick, Brackins' NBA stock skyrocketed after ranking in the top-30 nationally in both scoring and rebounding in 2008-09. Despite his name appearing in the first round of virtually all of the NBA mock drafts, the power forward will be staying put in Ames. His mere presence in the lineup will give the Cyclones instant credibility next season.
“It was a big boost for our program,” McDermott said. “Anytime you have someone that is virtually guaranteed to be a first-round NBA draft pick decide to return to school, It's not only going to help our current team but it is a boost in our recruiting as well. Besides the fact that Craig returned for unselfish reasons, selfishly there were some things he could get better at and at the end of the day he felt that he could best improve those areas at Iowa State.”
The Cyclones were 15-17 overall and finished 10th in the Big 12 at 4-12 last season, as ISU started three sophomores and one freshman the majority of the year. With the return of four starters (Brackins, Diante Garrett, Lucca Staiger, Justin Hamilton) and a strong recruiting class to boot, McDermott thinks this could be his best team.
“We need to get ourselves in the top half of the Big 12 and I think we can do that,” McDermott said. “With the non-conference schedule that we are playing, postseason play will take care of itself. We have to get back to the point with this program where we are in the postseason discussion year in and year out. We have had a lot of things happen over the course of the last few years that have not allowed us to do that. I want these guys to experience selection Sunday and be part of that mix and I feel we are headed in that direction.”
ISU has the luxury of returning 77.9 percent of its scoring and 72.5 percent of its rebounding from a team that set school marks for 3-pointers made (236) and fewest turnovers (12.1 tpg) in a season. ISU also ranked second in the Big 12 and 41st nationally in assist/turnover ratio and was fourth in the league in scoring defense (65.6 ppg).
ISU improved its field-goal percentage to 43.2 percent from 41.6 percent in the 2007-08 season. However, McDermott knows ISU needs to be more efficient on the offensive end. With an experienced and improved athletic team in 2009-10, he feels he has his best chance to utilize a more up-tempo style to create better opportunities for easy baskets.
“Tempo is dictated by a lot of things,” McDermott said. “Number one you have to be able to rebound and we were a very average rebounding team a year ago. Outside of Craig (Brackins), who did a great job on the boards, we were very small in other positions and didn't rebound very well. If rebounding is a concern it is really hard to get out and run. I think we have added some guys that can really help us in rebounding. Another way to get your team more up-tempo is to create turnovers with your defense. That really comes down to having some length, quickness and speed to take those chances and have them pay off by forcing turnovers and creating opportunities on the offensive end. We really enhanced our ability to create baskets with our defense with the guys that we have returning and with the addition of some very good athletes in the recruiting class.”
The Backcourt
ISU has experience in its backcourt with the return of starters Diante Garrett (6-4, 185, Jr.) and Lucca Staiger (6-5, 225, Jr.). Two-year starter Bryan Petersen and reserve Sean Haluska both graduated, but the Cyclones will have quality depth at the guard position in 2009-10.
Garrett, a junior from Milwaukee, Wis., started all 32 games at point guard for the Cyclones last season, averaging 9.8 points and 3.3 rebounds. Garrett was one of the top playmakers in the Big 12, ranking third in the league and 36th nationally in assists at 5.0 apg. He dished out 10 or more assists in a game four times last season. The rangy Garrett is ISU's top dribble penetrator and he showed signs of brilliance last season, including a 17-point, 10-assist performance vs. nationally-ranked Oklahoma. He needs to develop his outside shooting, but his two-year experience running the show will be a huge plus for the Cyclones.
“I am hopeful that he can make the same jump between his sophomore and junior year as he did his freshman to sophomore year,” says McDermott. “His defense improved significantly and his ability to make decisions with the basketball and not turn it over as much was improved. So I hope he continues to make progress in those areas. There might be an opportunity to move him off the ball so he doesn't have to feel like he has the weight of the team on his shoulders every possession.”
Staiger did not disappoint Cyclone fans in his first season on the court. The Blaustein, Germany native was forced to sit out his freshman season when he was not certified by the NCAA. His sophomore year started slow when he suffered a knee injury, but he bounced back to average 8.2 points in 27 starts. Staiger is no doubt one of the best pure shooters in the Big 12. He made 74 treys to rank seventh on ISU's single-season record chart and posted a streak of 16-consecutive games with a 3-pointer during the year. His size and ability to stretch the defense will benefit ISU.
“Lucca (Staiger) missed so much last year because of his surgery,” McDermott said. “The four weeks of practice at the beginning of the season is the most important developmental practice you have all season and he missed all of that. Until we have Lucca for an entire season injury-free, we won't see what he is totally capable of. He does have a good understanding of the game. He picks things up pretty quick and he will gain valuable experience playing for the German junior national and national team this summer.”
Two other reserves will return to bolster the backcourt. Dominique Buckley (6-2, 205, So.) and Charles Boozer (6-3, 195, Jr.) ignited the Cyclones from the bench last year. Buckley, a native of Detroit, Mich., averaged 1.3 points and handed out 23 dimes as a backup point guard, but his minutes increased as the season progressed. Boozer gave ISU energy with his effort last season. The Raleigh, N.C., native averaged 2.5 points and 1.6 rebounds as a sophomore. Both have a chance to improve their playing time in 2009-10.
“Charles (Boozer) was our energy guy last year,” said McDermott. “He was able to provide a spark off the bench with his hustle and his ability to rebound, and made great strides on the defensive side of the floor. Unfortunately for him, he did not shoot very well last year and that is something that he has been very consistent with since he arrived on campus. So hopefully he will get back to shooting the basketball in a way he is capable of shooting it.”
“Dominique (Buckley) had a very atypical freshman year,” says McDermott. “Freshmen usually will start off fast, hit a wall and can't recover from it. Dominique started out good, had some struggles in the middle of the season, and to his credit, pulled himself out of it. He was not only playing his best basketball at the end of the season, he was having great practices in the last month of the season. It was obvious that he learned a lot on both ends of the floor and because of that he gained the confidence of the coaching staff to put him in games at the end of the season. I have been equally impressed with his work ethic in the off-season.”
McDermott is also excited about three newcomers that will figure prominently in the backcourt rotation in Scott Christopherson (6-3, 205, So.), Chris Colvin (6-2, 195, Fr.) and Antwon Oliver (6-5, 175, Fr.).
Christopherson, who sat out last season after transferring from Marquette, has a great chance to play quality minutes at the two-guard next season. A native of LaCrosse, Wis., Christopherson was the 2007 Wisconsin Player of the Year and played one season at Marquette (2007-08) before transferring to ISU after head coach Tom Crean took the Indiana job. He is a solid shooter and has the ability to put the ball on the floor and drive.
“ISU fans will see a toughness in Scott's (Christopherson) game,” McDermott said. “He has a very good understanding of the game, he shoots the ball extremely well and he can also get to the basket and score through contact. That is something our guards a year ago struggled to do. Scott possesses a tenacity on the defensive end and a strong desire to be successful in whatever he does. I think he will be able to carry that over and be a positive addition to our roster this season.”
Colvin is one of McDermott's prize recruits in this year's class. The Chicago, Ill., native is considered one of the best point guards in the nation in the Class of 2009. He ranked 77th on the final ESPNU national rankings and was rated as the 10th-best point guard nationally by Scout.com. Colvin, who was an Illinois all-stater, led his Whitney Young team to the Illinois Class 4A (large school) state title. Colvin is at his best driving to the hoop and creating opportunities for his teammates.
“Chris (Colvin) will have an opportunity like every freshman does to earn playing time,” McDermott said. “It will all come down to how quickly he can learn the game at this level. There is a lot of parts of the game that comes naturally to Chris. He has excellent court vision and has the ability to deliver the basketball to a place where his teammate can make a play. Now it is just a matter of learning how to run this team and learning how to play on the defensive end at this level.”
Oliver, a native of Racine, Wis., was a late signee for the Cyclones. He needs to add muscle before seeing substantial minutes, but is a solid shooter with incredible leaping ability. He averaged 16.3 points for Wisconsin's 2009 Division I state runner-up squad.
“Antwon (Oliver) just screams potential,” McDermott said. “He is quick off the floor, he shoots the basketball well and he seems to have a good understanding of the game. Like Chris (Colvin), he comes from a very successful basketball program. Antwon's challenge is to build his body to compete day in and day out in the Big 12 and we will get to work on that this summer.”
The Frontcourt
The Cyclone frontcourt looks to be solid with the return of Brackins (6-10, 230, Jr.), Justin Hamilton (6-11, 255, So.) and Jamie Vanderbeken (6-11, 230, Sr.). The trio logged 50 starts last season. ISU, which lost just one post player from a year ago in reserve Alex Thompson, will also gain two highly touted junior college frontcourt players in Marquis Gilstrap (6-6, 210, Sr.) and LaRon Dendy (6-9, 225, Jr.). Both are expected to make significant contributions in 2009-10. L.A. Pomlee (6-8, 235, Fr.), who sat out last season as a redshirt, will also fight for minutes in the middle in his first season of eligibility.
Brackins will be the Cyclones go-to player once again in 2009-10. The Palmdale, Calif., native was one of the most improved players in the nation last season when he averaged 20.2 points and 9.5 rebounds to earn First-Team All-Big 12 honors. Despite being the main focus of opposing defenses, he finished the year with 19 20+ scoring outings and 15 double-doubles. He is the fourth-leading returning scorer in the nation.
The power forward broke out on the national scene when he poured in a career-high 42 points vs. Kansas, the fourth-best single-game scoring effort in ISU history. He became just the third player in school history to record 600 points (645) and 300 rebounds (303) in a season in 2008-09. His outstanding year helped him earn a spot on the 2009 World University Games USA roster this summer. McDermott feels the sky is the limit for the versatile Brackins.
“Craig's (Brackins) confidence has developed over time and has gone to another level as a result of what he has experienced the last couple of months,” McDermott said. “It also happened because he is working extremely hard at the game right now. He is getting stronger, his perimeter game is improving and he has always had the knack of scoring from 10 feet and in. He is very driven and very focused on some personal goals that he has for himself next season. He wants to be in a place a year from now where his body is ready for the NBA and we will do everything we can to make that happen for him.”
Hamilton, a native of Alpine, Utah, was a pleasant surprise as a rookie for the Cyclones last season, averaging 4.2 points and 2.9 rebounds in 18 starts. The burly center shot 57.0 percent from the field to rank second all-time on ISU's rookie field goal percentage chart. Vanderbeken also found a niche with the Cyclones in his first season at ISU after transferring from Tyler JC. An outstanding shooter for a big man, Vanderbeken made 40.7 percent of his shots from downtown (35-86 3FG) and averaged 5.5 points and 3.0 rebounds. His outside shooting helped free up the middle for Brackins to operate.
“Justin's (Hamilton) game has grown leaps and bounds, and that is very exciting,” McDermott said. “What is even more exciting is that he is not even close to his potential. He has tons of room to grow. His work ethic, demeanor and approach are all that you can hope for and more. Now his challenge is to prepare himself for more athletic teams so that he can impact those games as well. The work that he has put in this off-season is moving in that direction.”
“Jamie (Vanderbeken) is one of the better shooters on our team and that is something unique for someone who is 6-11,” McDermott said. “He is now working on being more than a shooter. He has made progress on the defensive end and he was usually in the game in the final minutes, not only because of his shooting, but because he has good floor vision and he made good decisions with the basketball. I would expect a very good senior season out of him.”
Of all of the incoming recruits for the Cyclones, Gilstrap is possibly the most anticipated even though injuries forced him to miss two seasons. A virtually unknown commodity a year ago, the Covington, Ga., native come out of nowhere to average 22.6 points and 10.1 rebounds for Gulf Coast Community College last season. The Panhandle Conference Player of the Year was ranked as the 26th-best player in the Class of 2009 (high school and junior college players) by ESPN.com. The versatile Gilstrap, who only has one year of eligibility remaining, will provide the Cyclones with an athletic wing that is so desperately needed to compete in the Big 12 Conference.
“Marquis' (Gilstrap) size on the wing is an advantage itself then you add to that his skill level and it is reason for optimism,” McDermott said. “One thing that we have to be careful with is that he has only played one year of college basketball the last four years so he is going to have to get used to the intensity, the speed and quickness of this level. He is very eager to learn and he is very coachable young man. He can impact the game in a lot of ways by scoring and rebounding.”
Dendy is another junior college big man who has the possibility to crack the starting rotation at the four- and five-spot. A native of Greenville, S.C., Dendy was ranked as the 63rd-best player in the nation by Rivals.com in the Class of 2007. He spent the last two years at Indian Hills C.C. on one of the nation's best junior college teams. Dendy is a skilled post who can make a difference down low with his defense and shot-blocking ability.
“LaRon (Dendy) is a tremendous athlete who plays the game with great passion and intensity,” McDermott said. “I think that will be contagious to his teammates as they get to know him better and know what he is all about. He doesn't necessarily care if he scores. He cares if he wins and that really drew us to LaRon. He, along with Marquis (Gilstrap), will give us another body on the frontline to help us make plays on the defensive end that can turn into easy offense.”
Pomlee, a native of Davenport, Iowa, had the chance to observe and improve while sitting out as a redshirt last season. He has a strong build and is capable of holding his own in the paint. He is already proven as a defender and rebounder and is developing his offensive skillset.
“L.A. (Pomlee) was making great progress until he had his high ankle sprain the third week of February that really slowed him down at the end of the season and last spring,” McDermott said. “He is just finally getting back to the point now where he was when he got hurt. He has really transformed his body. He lost a lot of the baby fat and turned it into muscle. He is very hungry to learn and is a good shot blocker and rebounder. His offense continues to get better every day. I really like the five guys we have competing for playing time on the frontline.”
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