It's the middle of July, and I'm in the middle of beating the Cyclones' potential starting football lineup into a bloody pulp by the time late August gets here, so let's take a look at who will be suiting up in the brand spanking new unis this winter. I'm going to take a look at what I imagine will be the starting lineup at the beginning of the season - it'll probably look a bit different at the end.

Projected Starting Lineup

G Diante Garrett
G Bryan Petersen
G Lucca Staiger
F Craig Brackins
F Jamie Vanderbeken

Projected Bench

G Dominique Buckley
G Sean Haluska
G Wes Eikmeier
G Cameron Lee
G Charles Boozer
F Alex Thompson
F LA Pomlee
F Justin Hamilton
F Clinton Mann (redshirt?)

As freshman typically struggle to pick up Greg McDermott's complicated offensive sets, it doesn't make much sense to throw any of them in the starting lineup immediately. The one exception could be newcomer Jamie Vanderbeken, who should be an early favorite to start at the forward position. There is a distinct possibility, however, that Alex Thompson could start early in the year due to his familiarity with the system.

If ISU is truly moving to a dribble-drive offense as rumored, it should be set up for Diante Garrett to run the point. He displayed flashes last year, and didn't struggle the same way that Bryan Petersen did bringing the ball up in traffic. A greater focus on shooting for Petersen should aid his game, as he is one of the best spot up shooters that the Cyclones return.

Lucca Staiger, if he's everything that he's being pumped up to be, will most certainly jump into the starting lineup. He has a sweet outside shot, but, more importantly, he has a body that should be physically ready for Big 12 play. Craig Brackins is an obvious choice as the team's best returning player (as a sophomore, yay), while Vanderbeken should earn the last starting spot based on supposed talent alone.

Whoever doesn't start out of the Vanderbeken/Thompson duo will need to be heavily relied on in the post, with ISU losing most of their rebounding depth from last season. LA Pomlee will likely see time in a role similar to that of Rahshon Clark last year (granted, much small in the way of minutes) as Pomlee, an incredibly raw talent, has a knack for being around the ball. Don't count on him for points, though. Justin Hamilton reportedly ate a small Iowa town this summer, and has a body nearing 250 pounds - useful to bang in the Big 12, but can his game match his size? Clinton Mann is also a question mark after bruising his chest up in Cap City play - he could very well redshirt if the injury is serious.

The guard court will bring back some experience in the form of Sean Haluska, Cameron Lee and Charles Boozer. I was wary of Haluska early on last year. I didn't feel he was as good as people were proclaiming he'd be, but he wasn't as bad as his performance seemed to show. If he can try to start scoring a little earlier this season, he will see meaningful minutes as a guard sub. Lee was the team's defensive stopper, but, since he can't score, he's still not going to play a lot. Boozer's role this year will depend largely on what we can get out of the incoming freshmen. Dominique Buckley is a talented point guard prospect, but, much like the other freshman, will likely need some adjustment time to pick up the offense. Wes Eikmeier is supposed to be a stone cold shooter, but lacks size and may not be able to play defense at the necessary level. He's another redshirt possibility (but replaces Cory Johnson as the Clone Chronicles "Midwestern kid to root for").

This year's team is full of question marks. Much of the success (or disappointment) will hinge on the growth of Diante Garrett at the point guard position. For ISU to become a concern for other teams in the conference, guys will need to step up, and frankly, make some luck.

I still don't think that we're an NIT team, but an above average season could result in postseason possibilities.

QB: Austen Arnaud (So.)
RB: Alexander Robinson (So.)
TE: Derrick Catlett (Jr.)
WR: Marquis Hamilton (Jr.)
WR: RJ Sumrall (Sr.)
WR: Sedrick Johnson (Fr.)
LT: Matt Hulbert (So.)
LG: Reggie Stephens (Jr.)
C: Alex Alvarez (So.)
RG: Ben Lamaak (So.)
RT: Doug Dedrick (Sr.)

WE: Rashawn Parker (Jr.)
DT: Bailey Johnson (So.)
NG: Nate Frere (Jr.)
DE: Kurtis Taylor (Sr.)
SLB: Michael Bibbs (Sr.)
MLB: Jesse Smith (Jr.)
WLB: Josh Raven (Jr.)

Josh Raven edged out Fred Garrin by just a couple of votes to claim the weakside linebacker position. It's pretty safe to say that through the first 18 parts of this experience, things have gone by the books.

For the cornerback position, rather than breaking things down by left and right cornerback, I'm going to run two polls to determine our winners for the two cornerback spots.

Chris Singleton enters his senior campaign as the returning rightside cornerback and ISU's leading pick man, with four interceptions last season. His 108 career tackles are by far the most out of any of the returning cornerbacks. Allen Bell, YouTube star, came in as a sophomore and made an immediate impact, racking up 54 tackles, as well as one of the most impressive interception returns I've ever seen. Devin McDowell finished last year with 16 tackles after being pressed into action as a freshman. His interception return for a touchdown against Missouri kept the Cyclones in the game. Zac Sandvig had trouble holding on to punts, as well as keeping his knee healthy. Leonard Johnson, Judah Linder and Ter'Ran Benton come in as true freshman with a chance to make an immediate impact. Johnson committed to ISU over South Florida and West Virginia, while Benton chose the Clones over Iowa and Nebraska. The future does seem bright at cornerback.

The top cornerback spot could be an interesting battle. Singleton and Bell both had some outstanding and some not-so-outstanding moments last year, but both have the potential to be All-Big 12 players.

So, radio host Jon Miller scurried onto the CycloneFanatic message boards that the Iowa State-Iowa football game would be an 11 a.m. start....on the Big Ten Network.

Of course, this means if you're like most Iowans, you have Mediacom cable, and not the Big Ten Network. So, the 2008 installment of the Cy-Hawk Series will have the unique quality of not being available for viewing to the vast majority of the state. If you're not lucky enough to get tickets to the game, you may be stuck trying to pull in the game on the radio at 11 in the morning.

It's a bit of a surprise that the game didn't get picked up for national or at least regional telecast by the ESPNs of the world. Hell, even ESPN Classic would have been a better option.

A good three quarters of Iowa has Mediacom as its cable subscription service. So, essentially, you're shutting out 75% of the state from seeing the game...one that could have major implications on the season for both teams - not to mention a matchup that's been one of the better ones to watch in past years.

Why does God hate Iowa State fans so?

QB: Austen Arnaud (So.)
RB: Alexander Robinson (So.)
TE: Derrick Catlett (Jr.)
WR: Marquis Hamilton (Jr.)
WR: RJ Sumrall (Sr.)
WR: Sedrick Johnson (Fr.)
LT: Matt Hulbert (So.)
LG: Reggie Stephens (Jr.)
C: Alex Alvarez (So.)
RG: Ben Lamaak (So.)
RT: Doug Dedrick (Sr.)

WE: Rashawn Parker (Jr.)
DT: Bailey Johnson (So.)
NG: Nate Frere (Jr.)
DE: Kurtis Taylor (Sr.)
SLB: Michael Bibbs (Sr.)
MLB: Jesse Smith (Jr.)

Alvin Bowen's long gone, and he's not coming back. Enter Josh Raven and Fred Garrin. Raven and Garrin are the two main contenders for the WILL linebacker position, and, as of now, it's anybody's guess who will start. Not surprisingly, neither one got much time on the field last year with Ace on the field, but, both made their mark on special teams. Raven racked up 21 tackles on the year, while Garrin picked up 19. 

Both guys are shorter than Bowen, but have similar builds. Neither one will be expected to replace Bowen's production, but a strong year out of either will be a good sign for the Cyclones.

Raven figures to be the early favorite, but this is one position battle that one would assume would last into the fall.

I have admittedly not been the strongest advocate for the Greg McDermott tenure at Iowa State. I thought it was a questionable hire at the time, and he's done little to convince me that he's anything more than what we saw - a good coach at the mid-major level. We've seen coaching skill, but little in the way of tangible results that show actual win/loss progression on the court.

So, for the life of me, I'm trying to figure out why I'm somewhat excited to see what happens on the court.

You see, we've not been setting the world on fire. Two straight 15 win seasons seem to show a program muddled in mediocrity. Constant transfers and defections do little to increase hope - especially when we've lost our two most talented players in Mike Taylor and Wesley Johnson.

But, I suppose there's reason to be interested in this team this season.

We've seen rumblings and grumblings that the Cyclones may be intending to use a dribble drive offense that's predicated on penetration and shooting. We've got a point guard with slick handles that can get into the lane, and we theoretically should be stocked with shooters.

But I think there is one fact that sticks out, staggering as it might be. We have no players with more than ONE YEAR of time on the court at Iowa State. Alex Thompson is beginning his third year at ISU, but just the second on the court. There's new blood in the program, and hopefully it leads to stability.

The style it looks like we're hoping to play seems quite a bit like that 2000 squad that came out of nowhere to finish the season ranked #3. A dominant post player (Craig Brackins/Marcus Fizer) will be the guy that we lean on, but it'll still come down to quality guard play (Diante Garrett, Lucca Staiger, Bryan Petersen/Jamaal Tinsley, Michael Nurse, Kantrail Horton) and guys who can get boards (who knows?/Stevie Johnson) to make it work. I'm not contending we can come out of nowhere, but it's interesting to note that this team is in a similar build to that squad.

It'll largely come down to Diante Garrett if this team is to show progress. He couldn't put an iron-grasp on the point guard spot, despite being one of the most talented players on the team. If he can continue to show progress, and possibly thrive in a dribble-drive offense, he's got a chance to make a huge impact. 

It's tough to see how the seven new guys to hit the court will fit in. There will likely be at least one redshirt out of the group. I see Lucca Staiger in the starting lineup, but the other guys are all question marks. Dominique Buckley will more than likely see time at the point, but, as we've seen, it's asking an awful lot for a true freshman to run a team. Wes Eikmeier is supposedly as sweet of a shooter as Staiger, but it's yet to be seen how complete his game could be. LA Pomlee and Clinton Mann are both players that are known for doing the dirty work, but both have health concerns. Justin Hamilton is a complete question mark, while Jamie Vanderbeken is Canadian - always a question mark.

The fact that this next season is such a question mark, with so many new faces, should and is part of its appeal. I still think an NIT berth would be a success, but I'm not going to condemn something I haven't seen. The Big 12 is always going to be tough. There's no way around it. It's ridiculous if anyone is expecting a team with more than 15-16 wins based on past performance. The fact remains, however, that there's still a chance that men's basketball could be pretty entertaining to watch this winter.

QB: Austen Arnaud (So.)
RB: Alexander Robinson (So.)
TE: Derrick Catlett (Jr.)
WR: Marquis Hamilton (Jr.)
WR: RJ Sumrall (Sr.)
WR: Sedrick Johnson (Fr.)
LT: Matt Hulbert (So.)
LG: Reggie Stephens (Jr.)
C: Alex Alvarez (So.)
RG: Ben Lamaak (So.)
RT: Doug Dedrick (Sr.)

WE: Rashawn Parker (Jr.)
DT: Bailey Johnson (So.)
NG: Nate Frere (Jr.)
DE: Kurtis Taylor (Sr.)
SLB: Michael Bibbs (Sr.)

Michael Bibbs survived a hot start, evidently pushed by Cameron Bell's family, grabbing the starting spot at the SAM linebacker position.

Middle linebacker should, much like the defensive end position, be over before it starts. Jesse Smith returns as the starter - Smith, a former walkon, was a strong performer last year, racking up 79 tackles, including some big stops against teams like Oklahoma.

Derec Schmidgall has been a strong performer in both spring games...

History was made last night as former Iowa State Cyclone Mike Taylor became the first draft pick out of the NBDL (Idaho Stampede) when the Portland Trailblazers picked him with the 55th pick. He was later traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.

I'm interested to find out if people think he'll stick in the NBA. He turned the ball over a bit much at ISU, and I'm not sure if he's going to be physically strong enough, but he shoots just well enough and has just good enough ballhandling skills that he could have a shot to stick.

Of course, he very well may end up back in the NBDL as well. It is nice, however, to see another Cyclone gone pro, even if Taylor didn't do it in the traditional fashion.

It's official, per the Des Moines Register.

Hopefully this means we can end the ongoing Wesley Johnson saga. He's an Orange, or an Orangeman or something now. He's not a Cyclone once he decided to transfer in such a strange manner.

I'll cheer for him at Syracuse, as I have a much easier time understanding a college kid having a tough time deciding on his present and his future than a gaggle of disgruntled Cyclone fans wishing ill to a player who represented the team with class and gave his all on the court while on the team, which seemed to be more than at least a couple of guys could claim.

Jim Boeheim and the Orange faithful will get a guy who still, when healthy, was one of the top players in the Big 12 conference. Despite an itchy trigger finger, he's still oozing with athletic ability.

People will be silly to think we won't miss him, much like Mike Taylor. His lackluster year (by his standards) can be attributed to his  bum hoof.

I hope that Cyclone fans can now forget about taking every opportunity to badmouth Wes, like on the Register's comment section, or at CycloneFanatic. It just looks like sour grapes. If Brock Jacobson left in this manner, no one would have given one or two shits.

Let's close the book.

It's the dead period of summer, so The Ralphie Report decided to spice things up a bit. They've looked far and wide around the Big 12 blogosphere and picked out a representative for each Big 12 school that they could find. Each individual blogger was then asked to pick a given number of representatives at each position.

Defensive Back (3): S James Smith, CB Chris Singleton, CB Allen Bell

The position that has most of the the standout talent is the defensive backfield. Bell, Singleton and Smith are all potential gamebreakers. Both Singleton and Bell forced turnovers last year, and I still hold on to an undying belief that James Smith is gonna be big.

Defensive Line (3): DE Rashawn Parker, DE Kurtis Taylor, DT Bailey Johnson

Parker and Taylor were the two obvious choices. Parker adjusted quickly as a freshman, late hit at Texas notwithstanding, while Taylor will be the leader on the line. Johnson was the returning lineman who made the biggest impact last year.

Kicker (1): Grant Mahoney

Mahoney seems to be the more accurate of he and Guyer. I suppose I didn't have to pick someone.

Linebacker (2) Jesse Smith, Josh Raven

Jesse Smith was the obvious choice. Raven is my sleeper pick out of the linebacking corps, simple as that.

Offensive Line (3): Ben Lammak, Doug Dedrick, Kelechi Osemele

Lamaak was a revelation on a much improved offensive line last year, while Dedrick anchored the line at left tackle. K.O. is a big boy that should step into the starting lineup and could be a four year starter.

Punter (1): Mike Brandtner

One badass punter.

Quarterback (1): Austen Arnaud

I think he'll be the starter (or at least get the most playing time) this year.

Runningback (2): Alexander Robinson, JJ Bass

I expected Robinson to be the commander-in-chief of a runningback corps by committee. He came out of nowhere to become a big play threat. Bass may very well be the most talented of the group.

Tight End (1): Derrick Catlett

Will need to overcome a knee injury in the spring, but rapidly developed the blocking part of his game last year. Still room to improve.

Wide Reciever (2): RJ Sumrall, Marquis Hamilton

These two will lead the experienced and talented corps. Both have real big play ability - Marquis had my favorite play of the year, triple juking Aqib Talib for a big gain.

I don't expect any of our players to make the first team, simply put, but I suppose someone could surprise me....

QB: Austen Arnaud (So.)
RB: Alexander Robinson (So.)
TE: Derrick Catlett (Jr.)
WR: Marquis Hamilton (Jr.)
WR: RJ Sumrall (Sr.)
WR: Sedrick Johnson (Fr.)
LT: Matt Hulbert (So.)
LG: Reggie Stephens (Jr.)
C: Alex Alvarez (So.)
RG: Ben Lamaak (So.)
RT: Doug Dedrick (Sr.)

WE: Rashawn Parker (Jr.)
DT: Bailey Johnson (So.)
NG: Nate Frere (Jr.)
DE: Kurtis Taylor (Sr.)

No surprise as Kurtis Taylor handily defeats Nick Frere for the final defensive line spot.

The strongside linebacker position is one that could have a fair bit of competition. Michael Bibbs racked up 19 tackles in 10 games last year as a JUCO transfer. Backup Cameron Bell received numerous early accolades as a runningback, but ended up at linebacker. Both Bibbs and Bell are roughly the same size, with Bibbs a senior, and Bell a sophomore.  The difference is that Bibbs has much more ingame action than Bell.