Iowa State hoping for better year on the court

AMES (AP) — Since there wasn’t much to cheer about last season at Hilton Coliseum, Iowa State’s student section found time to champion what they believed to be a worthy cause. “Free Lucca!” That’s what folks sitting courtside often heard screamed into their ears before tip-off at home games in 2007-08. Inevitably, the kid who has inspired the chant — German shooting guard Lucca Staiger — would pop out of his seat and, with a sheepish grin, acknowledge his supporters with a humble wave. Cyclones fans will get their wish this year. Lucca is free. Staiger was forced to sit out the 2007-08 season and forgo a year of eligibility after the NCAA ruled that several of his teammates on a German club team received stipends deemed to be above actual and necessary expenses. The move didn’t sit well with Iowa State, which exhausted the appeals process in an attempt to restore Staiger’s eligibility. Coach Greg McDermott believes his absence played a role in the Cyclones’ 14-18 finish. Staiger can finally take his seat on the Iowa State bench. Just don’t expect him to spend much time there. The Cyclones — now three seasons removed from an NCAA tournament appearance — have lost the core of a team that, quite frankly, didn’t do a whole lot anyway. Center Jiri Hubalek and forward Rahshon Clark have graduated and rising star Wesley Johnson bolted for Syracuse, leaving McDermott short-handed once again. That’s why Staiger, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard who opened many eyes in practices a year ago, will need to live up to advance billing for the Cyclones to have any hope of escaping the Big 12 cellar. Staiger likely won’t be ready for the start of the season because of inflammation in his knee. He’s expected to return to practice in mid-November, and doctors say it shouldn’t hamper him going forward. “Lucca has a great understanding of the game,” McDermott said. “He can make shots and he makes others around him better.” It only takes one glance at Iowa State’s roster to understand why Cyclones fans are pinning so many of their hopes on Staiger. There’s not a single Iowa State player — Staiger included — that’s a known quantity. Forward Craig Brackins is undoubtedly Iowa State’s top player, at least entering the season. The sophomore played like a highly touted freshman last season, sprinkling in dazzling performances with the occasional disappearing act. The Cyclones will need the 6-foot-10 Brackins to realize his potential and become a go-to-guy in the paint. He averaged 11.4 points and five rebounds while starting all 32 games a year ago. “Be more consistent — it’s just something that I really have to do,” Brackins said. Senior Alex Thompson, who has started just three games and averaged 1.9 points per game in a career that began at rival Iowa in 2004, will start at center. McDermott has brought in four new post players, led by junior college transfer Jamie Vanderbeken, to fill out the ranks. There are three candidates to play point guard: senior Bryan Petersen, sophomore Diante Garrett and freshman Dominique Buckley. Petersen started every game last season and shot an impressive 38.4 percent from 3-point range, but he didn’t exactly set the Big 12 on fire. Garrett wasn’t much of a threat from the perimeter and he was turnover-prone as a freshman, but the coaching staff is high on his promise. The same goes for Buckley, who will get a chance to earn extended minutes. Some would argue that Iowa State’s hopes for a comeback season ended in May, when Johnson stunned McDermott by announcing his plans to transfer. Johnson’s departure was a major blow to the Cyclones’ chances this season and to McDermott’s rebuilding efforts, which have stalled because of turbulent roster turnover. But in Staiger, Iowa State at least has hope. “Our fans need to be careful in what they expect out of him. This is a young guy that’s been through a lot, that’s never played on this stage before, and he’s become kind of a folk hero because our fans appreciate how much he loved Iowa State.” McDermott said. “There’s some expectations there, simply because they want him to do well, because they want the kid to get a break.”