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Iowa State University Athletics
Hoiberg Looking To Make A Move In Year Two
07.17.2011 | Men's Basketball
AMES, Iowa - Fred Hoiberg's Iowa State team will have a different look and feel in his second season as the leader of his alma mater in 2011-12.
Not much was expected from Hoiberg and the Cyclones last year. Hoiberg inherited a team unanimously picked to finish last in the Big 12 with just two returnees from the season before. The rookie coach wasted little time implementing his system and instilling his philosophies, as the Cyclones raced out to a 13-2 start, the second-best beginning by a first-year Cyclone coach with two losses.
Hoiberg's Cyclones surprised many in his rookie campaign, finishing the year with a 16-16 mark, the first .500 or above record by an Iowa State team since 2005-06. Basketball Times recognized Hoiberg's work in his first season by naming him the 2011 National Rookie Coach of the Year.
The biggest proof of Hoiberg's immediate impact at Iowa State was the incredible turnaround of point guard Diante Garrett. Garrett rose from obscurity under Hoiberg's tutelage, improving his scoring average from 9.2 ppg to 17.3 ppg as a senior. Garrett led the Big 12 in assists (6.1 apg) and earned All-Big 12 Second-Team accolades.
Garrett's loss will be hard to fill, but don't count out the Cyclones in 2011-12.
Only two starters return for Hoiberg's team, but without question, there is an increased hint of optimism surrounding Cyclone Nation. Hoiberg proved he can coach by keeping the undermanned Cyclones competitive in every game last year. Hoiberg also wasted little time upgrading the talent in the Sukup Basketball Complex, adding a slew of heralded transfers (Chris Allen- Michigan State, Chris Babb- Penn State, Royce White-Minnesota, Anthony Booker- Southern Illinois) to the roster. The four transfers were called by many as "the best scout team in America" last season and the quartet is ready to get back on the court.
Throw into the equation a solid first recruiting class for Hoiberg, and the Cyclones have been garnering attention from the national media as a possible "break through" team in 2011-12.
"When I got this job, the first thing I wanted to do was bring in as much talent as possible," Hoiberg said. "I know if we want to compete in a league like the Big 12, you have to have the athletes and you have to have the talent to be able to compete on a nightly basis. And we found that talent through the transfers."
Hoiberg remembers when Iowa State competed annually for postseason berths. He played in three NCAA Tournaments as a player with the Cyclones from 1992-95 and he wants to get the Cyclones dancing for the first time since 2005.
"The three years I got to compete in the NCAA Tournament were three of the most memorable years of my life," said Hoiberg. "I want our players to experience that and I think our fans deserve that. I think they deserve to see this team in the NCAA Tournament, where anything can happen. It's my job to put our players in the right spots on the floor, to get the most out of them and put ourselves in a position where we're playing in the NCAA Tournament year after year."
Changing the Cyclones' style play was a top priority for Hoiberg last season. Hoiberg got the Cyclones out and running more often, utilizing spacing and timing into the offense. His team responded by ranking fifth in the Big 12 and 39th nationally in scoring (74.8 ppg) last season, scoring 80 or more points 11 times.
Despite losing the Big 12's assist leader in Garrett, Hoiberg still feels he will have a squad which can play fast in 2011-12.
"I wanted to bring an up-tempo style to Iowa State. It's what the fans want to see. I know that from playing here and from watching Johnny Orr teams play as a kid," Hoiberg said. "We tried to do that last year and I think we were successful. Offensively, we were pretty good. We were fifth in the conference in scoring in a high-profile league. We really got out and ran, pushed it and were able to get easy baskets."
Hoiberg knows the value of outside shooting more than most coaches. Hoiberg ranks third on Iowa State's career 3-pointers made list (183) and he led the NBA in 3-point percentage in his final season (48.3 percent; 2004-05) in the league. His first Cyclone team shattered the school mark for 3-pointers in a season with 275, leading the Big 12 and ranking 13th nationally in 3-pointers per game (8.6).
It appears the Cyclones will have the personnel to continue their sharpshooting from the perimeter in 2011-12.
"I love shooters. We're going to recruit shooters and we're going to shoot a lot of threes," Hoiberg said. "In my mind, we're going to have four of the best shooters in the conference next year in Scott (Christopherson), Tyrus (McGee), Chris Allen and Chris Babb. With those guys, you've got four knockdown shooters."
Hoiberg would be the first to admit Iowa State needs to improve defensively in the upcoming season. Many times last year the Cyclones had players competing out of position, and with their lack of depth, was forced to defend conservatively.
Shoring up the defense will be a priority and Hoiberg feels his team will be better suited to a more aggressive defensive scheme.
"We need to get better defensively and I think we will be better with our added depth," said Hoiberg. "Instead of playing six or seven guys, we'll be able to play nine or 10. We'll be fresher to finish off games and we'll be able to pressure more defensively. Hopefully, that will result in more wins."
Hoiberg and his staff will have the chance to get a head start on the season with a foreign trip to Italy in August. It will be a perfect opportunity to see where all the new pieces of the puzzle will fit.
"This trip will definitely give us a head start," Hoiberg said. "I think a lot of questions will be answered heading into October. We will see who will step up and emerge as a leader after losing some leadership from last year's team. The big thing is the 10 extra days of practice. We will be able to start putting in our philosophies and getting our team to learn how we are going to play a little sooner."
The Backcourt
Iowa State returns two players in the backcourt with experience in Scott Christopherson (6-3, 195, Sr.) and Bubu Palo (6-1, 175, So.) and added a number of options with a trio of upper-classmen transfers who are ready to make their mark as Cyclones.
One of Hoiberg's most important tasks is finding a replacement for Garrett, who was one of the most dependable point guards in the nation last season. He ended his career second all-time in career assists at Iowa State (611) - fifth-most in Big 12 history - and 16th on Iowa State's career scoring list (1,364).
There is still a load of talent in the backcourt, however, and the return of Christopherson certainly helps. Guard play will definitely be a strength for the Cyclones with the addition of a number of capable upperclassmen transfers.
"I envision us getting out and shooting a lot of transition threes, which I love to do before the defense gets set," Hoiberg said. "We have a group of guards who can shoot the basketball and guys that can make plays."
Christopherson, a senior from LaCrosse, Wis., emerged as one of the best outside shooters in the nation in 2010-11, averaging 13.7 points while earning honorable mention all-Big 12 honors.
Christopherson is a rare commodity as a high-volume 3-point shooter with an outstanding percentage. Last season he made 86 treys, ranking second in the Big 12 and 33rd nationally in 3-pointers per game (2.8), and connected on 44.1 percent of his shots from beyond the arc, the 11th-best clip in the nation. Eight times he made four or more 3-pointers in a game and is currently on a school-record streak of 34 consecutive games with a made 3-pointer.
His 131 career 3-pointers already ranks fifth in Iowa State history and he is one of the hardest workers on the team.
"Scott is going to be one of our leaders this year. This is his last go-around and he wants to go out with a bang," Hoiberg said. "He wants to have a great senior season, and I think he will. Scott is not just a shooter. He was one of our better all-around players last year. His assist-to-turnover ratio was the best on the team by the end of the year and he's got a nice little floater. Scott had to play 38 or 39 minutes a game during the conference season last year. We will be able to give him some rest this season, which I think will help him."
Christopherson is not the only experienced perimeter shooter on the Cyclone roster. Transfers Chris Allen (6-3, 205, Sr.), Chris Babb (6-5, 220, Jr.) and Tyrus McGee (6-2, 190, Jr.) are more than capable of filling it up from downtown as the Cyclones will likely institute a three-guard attack.
Allen and Babb were starters in the Big Ten and are proven scorers, averaging 8.2 points and 9.3 points, respectively, in 2009-10. Along with McGee, who played two seasons at Cowley C.C., the Cyclones will have four experienced marksmen from long range. The quartet have made a combined 564 3-pointers at the collegiate level.
Allen will provide immediate experience to the backcourt after starring at Michigan State for three seasons. The athletic guard has played in 14 NCAA Tournament games in his career, including two Final Fours. In his final season at MSU in 2009-10, Allen started 27 games, drilling a team-high 53 3-pointers. He finished his Spartan career with 141 3-pointers, the 10th-best career total at the time, and 817 points.
A native of Lawrenceville, Ga., Allen emerged as a defensive stopper late in his Spartan career and has the ability to create his own shot. Hoiberg thinks Allen has the potential to be one of the top guards in the Big 12.
"Chris (Allen) was the 29th-ranked player in the nation coming out high school and was the leading 3-point shooter on two Final Four teams at Michigan State," Hoiberg said. "He is a legitimate scorer and brings that winning mentality that you have to have."
Babb started 23 games in his final season at Penn State, making 69 3-pointers, the second-best total on the team. In Babb's final seven games in 2009-10, he made 48.8 percent (21-43 3FG) of his shots from downtown.
The Arlington, Texas native, is an outstanding shooter, and at 6-5 and 220 pounds, has the size to play multiple positions.
"Chris (Babb) was a double-digit scorer in Big 10 games (10.2 ppg) and made almost 70 three-pointers during his sophomore year at Penn State," said Hoiberg. "He is very athletic and a tremendous shooter. He's a guy that really got the ball rolling for us as our first transfer."
McGee is one of four newcomers eligible for next season and will be considered a candidate for the point guard slot. An incredible shooter, McGee played point guard last season at Cowley C.C., while earning NJCAA First-Team All-America honors. The Stringtown, Okla., native made an astounding 115 3-pointers for a 48.7 percent clip (115-236 3FG) while winning Jayhawk East Player of the Year honors.
Hoiberg was active in the recruitment of McGee and the sharpshooter blew up in his final season. He made a school-record 195 3-pointers in his two-year career and scored 1,194 points, third-most in school history. Though McGee is naturally more suited for the two-guard, he will definitely see time at the point.
"Tyrus is a throwback player. He's tough as nails," Hoiberg said. "I went and scouted him at a junior college event in Tulsa last year and I knew he was someone we had to get in on. And we did. We brought him in on an official visit and he had a great time and bonded with our players. He was a guy that we pinpointed and we were fortunate enough to get him."
Two more options at point guard will come from Palo and Tavon Sledge (5-9, 175, Fr.). Palo, a recruited walk-on from Ames, showed he was capable of handling the one-spot in his first season of eligibility a year ago. Palo was one of just four players on the team to play in all 32 games, starting three games and averaging 3.4 points and dishing out 33 assists.
A wild card for the season will be the development of Sledge. Sledge, who hails from Spring Valley, N.Y., may be the fastest player with the ball Iowa State has ever seen. At 5-9, the jet-quick point guard was ranked as the third-best player out of New York City after averaging 25.3 points and 5.2 assists and earning first-team all-state honors.
Sledge erupted nationally when he tallied a career-high 46 points in the state quarterfinals. He will fit in perfectly in how Hoiberg wants to play and is likely the Cyclones' future at point guard.
"I think Tavon has a chance to be a really good playmaker for us," Hoiberg said. "He's as fast as anyone I have ever seen with the ball and I think he's going to be a guy the fans will fall in love with."
The Frontcourt
The Iowa State frontcourt will yet again go through a major overhaul in Hoiberg's second season. The Cyclones lost starter Jamie Vanderbeken, who started 29 games and averaged 11.1 points, to graduation as well as Calvin Godfrey, who was dismissed from the team after the season. Godfrey started five games and averaged 5.7 points and 5.4 rebounds.
The Cyclones do return, however, Melvin Ejim (6-6, 215, So.) at a wing and Jordan Railey (6-11, 245, So.) at center. ISU will have two transfers - Royce White (6-8, 250, So.) and Anthony Booker (6-9, 245, Jr.) - and one rookie - Percy Gibson (6-9, 240, Fr.) - who are ready to make an impact.
Ejim quietly had a very productive rookie season last year, averaging 10.3 points and 6.7 rebounds while starting 30 games. The Toronto, Ontario native became just the 12th Cyclone freshman in school history to average double figures in scoring and was named to a few Big 12 all-freshman teams.
Ejim was forced to play out of position last year with Iowa State's lack of depth in the middle. He did manage to grab 214 rebounds, the third-best rookie total in Cyclone history, and averaged 2.9 offensive rebounds per game, ranking third in the league.
The athletic Ejim will be a key component in Iowa State's frontcourt and will be the primary threat at small forward.
"Melvin had a great freshman year for us and we asked him to play in spots that weren't most comfortable for him last year," Hoiberg said. "We are looking forward to seeing him improve and be an important part of our future."
Most Cyclone fans are anticipating the debut of White more than any other newcomer on the roster. White has not played in an organized basketball game in over two years. The bruising power forward was one of the most coveted recruits in the nation in the Class of 2009 before enrolling at Minnesota. He didn't play a game with the Gophers and sat out the 2010-11 season at Iowa State after losing an appeal to gain his eligibility.
White, who was ranked as the 19th-best player in the Class of 2009 according to Rivals.com, is almost a shoe-in for a starting spot in the interior for the Cyclones. White is exceptionally strong, maxing out at 340 pounds on the bench press, and is an excellent passer for a big man. Rebounding and lack of strength in the post was one of Iowa State's weaknesses last year. White's mere presence should help the Cyclones improve in those categories.
"Royce will be a big help in the paint," said Hoiberg. "He will force double teams in there against a lot of teams because of how strong he is. He can bench press 340 pounds and 185 pounds 22 times. He's a strong, physical kid with huge hands."
Booker, Railey and Gibson will also battle for playing time in the post. The St. Louis, Mo., native averaged 6.4 points and 4.1 rebounds in 2009-10 for the Salukis. Hoiberg is hoping a fresh start will help the athletic Booker come into his own this season.
"Anthony is a guy who was a top-50 player coming out of high school," Hoiberg said. "He will give us a physical presence in the paint and I'm excited to see him on the court."
Railey, a native of Beaverton, Ore., played sparingly in his rookie season for the Cyclones, averaging 2.0 points and 1.5 rebounds. At 6-11, Railey is the biggest player on the roster and showed much progress in his freshman campaign. Gibson, a native of Detroit, Mich., was a huge May pick-up for the Cyclones. Gibson originally signed with Dayton, but was released from his letter of intent after a coaching change. Gibson emerged as the best post player in Michigan last year, averaging 21.2 points and 12.0 rebounds while being named to the Detroit Free Press' Six-Player Dream Team.
"To be able to get a player of Percy's caliber that late in the game was huge for us," Hoiberg said. "It gives us much-needed depth on the front line. He's good right now, but he has the chance to be great. He's got a good frame and he will get stronger as he gets here. He's a guy that should have an immediate impact on our team from day one."
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