Greg McDermott has to win this year....

[thebigabd]

He has an All-American, the nations 4th leading returning scorer, NBA lottery pick, and conference POTY candidate in Craig Brackins returning. Brackins is a beast and has some talent around him this year.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZdelSuiYJk[/ame]

They have a 6'7'' 215 SG/SF (Marquis Gilstrap) who is the preseason newcomer of the year in the Big 12 added to the roster. He averaged 22 and 10 for a loaded juco team and ESPN rated him as the #26 overall player in the 2009 class. He can take it the rim, shoot it from anywhere, rebound, etc... Total package on the wing.

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI9G7eMDnUI[/ame]

They return a 3 year starter at point guard in Diante Garrett, and also add a top 100 player (Chris Colvin) at that position. They are a legit 2-deep at the point guard spot now.

ISU got great news when Lucca Staiger (6'5'' 225) decided to come back to ISU instead of playing professionally in Germany. He hit 74 3pt shots last year and could be the best pure 3pt shooter in the Big 12 this year. What a compliment to Gilstrap and Brackins this guy will be....

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGKuyfduZb4[/ame]

They also add Laron Dendy, who was the #63 player in the country coming out of high school. He was originally going to Clemson but ended up in juco. He is 6'9'' 230 and should really help Brackins in the paint.

He HAS to win this year. The talent situation simply wont get much better than this in Ames, so if he cant get into the NCAA Tournament this year he may be let go.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Think that I just penciled in ISU as a darkhorse pick for 4th in the B12.

 

[BigTime]

Think that I just penciled in ISU as a darkhorse pick for 4th in the B12.

I expect them to do well, and have them 3rd in the north ahead of Mizzou.

 

[DenverSooner]

They also have great crowd support.

That sounds like a pretty good team. The good news for OU is the Sooners catch them in Norman. It is a big advantage to draw some of the better north teams at home rather than on the road. OU actually has a vary favorable north schedule. KU is going to be a tough game at home or no the road (it is obviously tougher on the road) and then OU goes to Boulder and Lincoln. Hopefully the North will rank in this order: 1. KU; 2. ISU; 3. Missouri; 4. KSU; 5. Nebraska; 6. Boulder. I think that may be realistic although bigabd would probably know better than me. Texas has to go to Amers, Manhatten and Columbia. That could be important for seeding come Big XII tournament time and the NCAA Tournament.

 

[coolm]

I agree with Denver. Our North schedule is actually pretty favorable this year. It didn't matter where we got KU, but the rest we get where we need them.

 

[sys]

mcdermott has a ridiculous contract (long/huge buyout), he's recruiting better, and isu doesn't have any extra money. so he's safe this year, no matter how they do.

i do agree that they may surprise some people though. they are far more talented than the cu/nu type schools, but get lumped in with them all the time.