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Iowa State highlight reel

Pivotal Player: Jamaal Tinsley


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 Post-game news conference from Iowa State's win over Central Connecticut.
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 Watch a pre-tournament news conference of the Iowa State Cyclones.
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Iowa State Cyclones
RECORD: 32-5 COACH: Larry Eustachy | SEASON RESULTS | SEASON STATS
OUTLOOK
  • First round: Defeated Central Connecticut, 88-78
  • Second round: Defeated Auburn, 79-60
  • Sweet 16: Defeated UCLA, 80-56
  • Elite Eight: Lost to Michigan State, 75-64

    Iowa State is led by Marcus Fizer, the Big 12 Player of the Year, who is as good as any player around. The Cyclones are a surprising team because they aren't very deep. When they come on the floor, Fizer is 6-foot-8 and everyone else is basically shorter than 6-4.

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  • Paul Shirley, a 6-foot-9 reserve who is the Cyclones' tallest player, broke his foot in a late-season game against Texas. I don't know if he will be ready for the NCAA Tournament. If he's not, it hurts them.

    Defensively, Iowa State is solid. The Cyclones are well-coached and play tough man-to-man defense. They will play three guards who are all physically strong and defend well on the perimeter.

    Offensively, the Cyclones are patient. Jamaal Tinsley is as good with the basketball as any point guard in the country. He controls and does a nice job with the tempo. Most teams have a hard time keeping him out of the paint. He doesn't score much, but he can penetrate and either get the ball to Fizer and pass it out to Michael Nurse or Kantrail Horton. Both are terrific 3-point shooters. Stevie Johnson is a complementary 6-4 player who plays around the basket and shot 67 percent from the field for the year. He's a player no one notices, but he does all the little things.

    Depth and size could be a problem because Fizer can't afford to get into foul trouble. Teams will pound on him and wear him down. They could have problems against teams with size. But I think they should definitely be a Sweet 16 team. -- Jon Sundvold, ESPN

    ROSTER
    No Name Position Height Weight Class Rebounds Assists Points
    -Brad DavisG---0.70.30.9
    -Brandon NicolF---0.20.50.6
    -Clint VarleyG---1.10.10.6
    -Jason FriesF---0.50.10.9
    3Richard EvansGF6-5190JR2.20.22.1
    4Kantrail HortonG6-1225JR4.32.79.1
    5Marcus FizerF6-7265JR7.51.023.3
    11Jamaal TinsleyG6-3175JR5.26.710.8
    12Brandon HawkinsG6-3185FR2.20.93.2
    15Martin RancikF6-8230JR3.90.45.4
    21Thomas WatkinsG6-2220JR0.50.23.0
    23Stevie JohnsonF6-4225SR6.01.29.0
    34Kyle BrummG6-1185FR0.50.00.0
    45Paul ShirleyF6-9230JR4.60.47.8
    53Michael NurseG6-2175SR2.72.212.5


    PROBABLE STARTERS
    F -- Marcus Fizer (6-8, Jr., 23.2 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.2 apg)
    F -- Kantrail Horton (6-1, Jr., 9.1, 4.2, 2.4)
    C -- Stevie Johnson (6-4, Sr., 8.8, 5.9, 1.3)
    G -- Jamaal Tinsley (6-3, Jr., 10.1, 5.0, 6.6)
    G -- Michael Nurse (6-1, Sr., 12.0, 2.5, 2.3)
     
    TOP RESERVES
    G -- Brandon Hawkins (6-3, Fr., 3.3, 2.2, 0.9)
    F -- Paul Shirley (6-9, Jr., 8.1, 4.5, 0.4)
    F -- Martin Rancik (6-8, Jr., 5.9, 4.0, 0.4)

    NOTABLE
    Seed, Region and Bid: 2, Midwest, Automatic
    Total NCAA Tournament Bids: 11
    NCAA Tournament Record: 8-10 (.444)
    Final Four Appearances: 0
    NCAA Tournament Championships: 0
    Best NCAA Tournament Finish: Regionals finals (1944)
    Final ESPN/USA Today ranking: 7
    Final Asscoiated Press ranking: 6
    Final Ratings Percentage Index: 6
    Final Sagarin Computer Ranking: 8

    RECORD VS. RANKED TEAMS (5-2)
    Nov. 28 -- Lost to No. 1 Cincinnati, 75-60
    Jan. 22 -- Lost to No. 16 Oklahoma, 80-75
    Jan. 29 -- Beat No. 11 Kansas, 74-66
    Feb. 16 -- Beat No. 21 Kansas, 64-62
    Feb. 22 -- Beat No. 15 Texas, 89-77
    Feb. 26 -- Beat No. 9 Oklahoma St, 72-61
    Mar. 11 -- Beat No. 14 Oklahoma St, 68-64
    (Opponents ranking reflects ranking on game day)

    TOURNAMENT HISTORY
    Overall Record: 8-10 (.444)
    Final Four Appearances: 0

    1997--Sixth seed in Midwest Region
    Defeated Illinois State in first round, 69-57
    Defeated Cincinnati in second round, 67-66
    Lost to UCLA in regional semifinal, 74-73 (2 ot)

    1996--Fifth seed in Midwest Region
    Defeated California in first round, 74-64
    Lost to Utah in second round, 73-67

    1995--Seventh seed in Southeast Region
    Defeated Florida in first round, 64-61
    Lost to North Carolina in second round, 73-51

    1993--Eighth seed in West Region
    Lost to UCLA in first round, 81-70

    1992--Tenth seed in East Region
    Defeated North Carolina-Charlotte in first round, 76-74
    Lost to Kentucky in second round, 106-98

    1989--Tenth seed in Southeast Region
    Lost to UCLA in first round, 84-74

    1988--Twelfth seed in East Region
    Lost to Georgia Tech in first round, 70-58

    1986--Seventh seed in Midwest Region
    Defeated Miami (Ohio) in first round, 81-79 (OT)
    Defeated Michigan in second round, 72-69
    Lost to North Carolina State in regional semifinal, 70-66

    1985--Thirteenth seed in Midwest Region
    Lost to Ohio State in first round, 75-64

    1944--Western Regionals
    Defeated Pepperdine in regional semifinal, 44-39
    Lost to Utah in regional final, 40-31

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