Thursday, November 12, 1998
The University Daily Kansan
Section B·Page 3
BIG 12 CONFERENCE Preseason Basketball Preview Cyclone's new coach steps up to challenge
By Kevin C. Wilson Associate sports editor
The new Iowa State men's basketball coach Larry Eustachy insists that he is not intimidated by replacing the Cyclone's successful former coach, Tim Floyd.
After guiding Iowa State to a disappointing 12-18 record last season, Floyd left Ames to become the head coach of the Chicago Bulls. But before last year's subpar season, Floyd had helped lead the Cyclone's to three straight NCAA Tournament's and had advanced past the first round in all three.
Eustachy said that he remained optimistic despite the daunting expectations that face him in his first season.
I have no anxiety — except that I don't want to fail," Eustachy said. "The pressure of this career enters other people's minds much more than mine. I enjoy it, to be honest, so as far as expectations go, I don't mind it."
Eustachy arrived in Ames after compiling an impressive 98-53 record in five sea
sons at Utah State. He was named the 1998 Big West Conference Coach of the Year after leading the Aggies to a 25-8 record and had amassed 20 wins or more in three of his five seasons at Utah State. In his
eight years as a head coach, three at Idaho, Eustachy has never had a losing record, but he admits that this season might be the first.
"The measuring stick cannot be wins and losses," Eustachy said. "Particularly with the foundation we are trying to lay with this team. You can play your best games and
Floyd: Left Iowa State to become the Bulls head coach.
not win. We will play good quality basketball with eight or nine players who give us the best chance to win."
Iowa State returns four starters, 77.1 per
cent of their scoring and 85.4 percent of their rebounding from last year's team. In addition to the eight returning letter winners, Eustachy has six newcomers to choose from this season and said that everyone has a chance to play.
"I tried not to prejudice this team," Eustachy said. "I just wanted to be as open-minded as possible. I wanted them all to know that when practice started, they were all on an even level."
As much as Eustachy might want his team to believe in the equal opportunity, some Cyclones already have made names for themselves in the Big 12.
Sophomore forward Marcus Fizer, last season's Big 12 Freshman of the Year, appears ready to dominate the conference this season after averaging a team-high 14.9 points and grabbing 6.7 rebounds per game. The 6-foot-8 forward was a third-season All-Big 12 selection by the league's coaches and was named Iowa State's most valuable player last season.
Apparently the coaches believe his game will continue to blossom because they
named him to the preseason All-Big 12 first team.
Senior Klay Edwards joins Fizer in the front court and provides the Cyclones with tenacious rebounding, timely scoring and most of all consistency. Edwards ranked sixth in the Big 12 in rebounding with 7.7 per game and was the teams' second leading scorer, with 9.3 points per game. The 6-9 center also has played in every Iowa State game for the past three seasons.
Other Cyclones expected to contribute to the Iowa State attack this season include forwards Paul Shirley and Stevie Johnson. Shirley, a 6-10 junior, ranked third on the team in scoring with 8.1 points per game and managed to pull down 6.0 rebounds per game last season. Johnson, a 6-5 junior, contributed 7.2 points and 3.7 rebounds per game last season.
Sophomore point guard Lee Love said that despite adjusting to a new coach everyone was dedicated to making this season a success.
"Coach Eustachy is very demanding," Love said. "We have been working hard and challenging one another everyday."
Iowa State will look to youngsters for success
By Sam Mellinger
Kansan sportswriter
Normally, when a team's roster features more newcomers than returners, rebuilding is the focus of the season.
But not at Iowa State this season, where the women's basketball team's returning talent is enough to include the Cyclones in both the USA Today/ESPN poll (No. 25) and the Associated Press poll (tied for No. 22).
Picked to finish fourth in the preseason Big 12 Coaches Poll and third in the preseason Big 12 Media Poll, the Cyclones have seven newcomers — one junior college transfer and six freshmen. But that doesn't mean the team doesn't expect to have success immediately.
"I don't want to use having a lot of freshmen as an excuse to not play well," said fourth-year coach Bill Fennelly. "We believe in them, we brought them in for a reason."
Who can blame Fennelyl for his confidence in the rookies? Two newcomers — Stacy Frese and Megan Taylor — teamed up in the backcourt last season for Iowa State and were named Big 12 Newcomer and Freshman of the Year last year, respectively.
"We have two of the best guards not only in this conference, but in the country," said Fennelly. "I wouldn't trade either of them for anybody."
Fresse played last season after transferring from rival Iowa and made an immediate impact at Iowa State. A first team All-Big 12 selection last season, Freese led the conference in assists (5.8 per game) and three-point field goal accuracy (45.7 percent). She was also the Cyclones' leading scorer after averaging 15.9 points per game last season.
for a three."
"I'm not athletically gifted to where I can go out and take a game over," the 5-foot-8 Frese said. "Usually I make a pass or get a layup and then get it kicked out
Though Fresse led the team in points last season, the point guard swears she does
n't look to score. That responsibility figures to be Taylor's. Taylor led the Cyclones in shots last season and averaged 13.9 points per game.
"I think I can draw a lot of defenders," she said. "I don't think I'm going to necessarily have to score more, I can help the team in other ways."
Fennelly;Has a lot of confidence in his young team.
newcoletors are 4 foot or taller with 6-foot-4 Angie Welle being the tallest. The Cyclones will need all the height they can get as many Big 12 teams have added size this season. Baylor (6-foot-6
All seven newcomers are 6-foot or taller,
with 6-foot-4 Angie Welle being the tallest.
tara Eackles), Colorado (6-foot-4 Britt Hartshorn), Kansas (6-foot-6 Kristin Geoffroy), Kansas State (6-foot-6 Olga Firsova), Nebraska (6-foot-5 Casey Leonhardt and 6-foot-4 Lisa Reitsma), and Texas (6-foot-4 Rashunda Johnson and 6-foot-4 Tina Cullen) all boost size in their newcomers.
Freshman Tracy Gahan has been particularly impressive in early season practices, and Fennelly said that the 6-foot-1 Gahan may start this season for the Cyclones.
"I'mn't that the way it goes?" Fennelly said. "We get all excited because we get someone 6-2, 6-3, and K-State gets someone 6-6."
"She's got a beautiful jump shot," Pennylly said. "If you were going to make an instructional video on shooting, you'd want to tape Tracy Gahan's jump shot."
Fennelly also said Welle and the 6-foot-3 Alyssa Shriver were possible starters.
The Cyclones play Kansas Jan. 9 in Ames, Iowa, and Feb. 16 in Lawrence.
'Hawks seek win against ranked Texas
By Laura Bokenkroger
Kansan sportswriter
The rematch between the Kansas volleyball team and No.12 Texas begins at 7:30 tonight in Allen Field House — and the Jayhawks have their work cut out for them.
been swept in every match but one.
kanked opponents have been troublesome for Kansas all season. The Jayhawks are 0-8 against teams ranked in the Top 25 and have
Coach Ray Bechard said that his team was looking for a breakthrough win.
"We've won all the matches we were expected to win." Bechard said. "Wejust
have to beat a team that is highly regarded." Bechard said that his team would have to focus on its own strengths against a team such as Texas.
"We tell our team that physically, they'll make plays we can't control," Bechard said. "Physically, Texas and Nebraska are in a league of their own. But it's got to be a situation where we try to keep their net impact from dominating the match. We need to play a little quicker, and make their bigger players rush a little bit. We have to get the ball into the seams."
The Longhorns are 19-3 overall, and 13-1 in the Big 12 Conference. The only conference loss that Texas has suffered occurred Oct. 16 against undefeated Nebraska.
Earlier this season, the Longhorns swept the Jayhawks in three games 15-4, 15-3 and 15-7. No one from Kansas reached double figures in kills, but both Erin Aldrich and Katie Austin collected 1 kills aplace to pace Texas.
Bechard said that the Jayhawks had two of their best practices of the season this week, after two disappointing sweeps last weekend.
"(Last) Saturday was a disappointment," Bechard said. "But we came in Monday and had one of the best practices we've had all season. So I don't think we're just coasting at all."
All Campus, All Classified When: Nov.18
Deadline: Nov.12
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How: Place a classified ad
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