More photos » by Charlie Neibergall - AP

Iowa State's Craig Brackins will lead the Cyclones to Berkeley, California, to take on the Golden Bears in the 2009 Big 12/Pac 10 Hardwood Series. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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I really love Berkeley, California. So it's going to be tough to pass on the road trip to see the Cyclones men's basketball team -- with Craig Brackins! -- play the California Golden Bears in the 2009 Big 12/Pac 10 Hardwood Series on Saturday, December 5.

Should be a helluva game with ISU returning four starters and adding juco forwards Marcus Gilstrap and LaRon Dendy and freshman point guard Chris Colvin while only losing one starter (point guard Brian Peterson). Not to overstate the talent coming in. They'll need time to develop and gel with the team. But they should be an upgrade in athleticism (no offense, Petey).

Cal (22-11) made the NCAA Tournament last season, losing in the first round to Maryland. They'll return a strong backcourt with seniors Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher.

The New England Patriots drafted former Cyclone linebacker Tyrone McKenzie in the third round of the NFL Draft. 

ESPN's draft analysis says:

McKenzie reads his keys, locates the ball quickly and tackles well. He also shows good range and awareness in zone coverage. The biggest concern we have with him is that he doesn't have great top-end speed, so he's going to have a problems matching up with tight ends and backs in man coverage. He also lacks great ball skills.

McKenzie spent the 2006 season at Iowa State before transferring to South Florida. During his short stint at ISU, McKenzie was a second team All-Big 12 selection. He ranked eighth in the nation with 10.75 tackles a game and 129 tackles for the season.

The New England Patriots swapped Ellis Hobbs for a couple of fifth-round draft picks Sunday. Hobbs will join former teammate Asante Samuel in the Eagles' secondary.

ESPN says:

A four-year veteran, Hobbs started all 16 games in each of the past two seasons. In 2008, he had 47 tackles, three interceptions, and 11 passes defensed. The former Iowa State standout has played in 63 games, with 49 starts, and has 198 tackles, 2.5 sacks, nine interceptions and 36 passes defensed.

More photos » by Charlie Neibergall - AP

2 months ago: Iowa State basketball player Craig Brackins smiles as he talks about his decision to return to school next year and not enter the NBA draft during a news conference, Friday, April 24, 2009, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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As announced yesterday afternoon, Brackins has decided to return to ISU for his Junior season. You can view the press conference here

I was surprised about the announcement, especially since ESPN had him recently projected as a late lottery pick. It appeared to me that this year's class was relativley weak in that Brackins could be picked higher than originally expected.

After listening to some of Brackins comments, it appears that he wants to build a winner at ISU. It sounded like he just wasn't ready to leave college and deal with the business side of professional basketball.

I say good for him. You have to do what your heart is telling you, and I applaud him for that, as I'm sure there was a lot of pressure to leave.

So now that he's staying, what does that mean for the Cyclones next year? I have to say that with Brackins' talent, the development of our current players, and our incoming recruits, this is a NCAA team. Anything short of that, McDermott should be dusting off his resume.

Having Brackins stay an extra year will help with the stability of this program, and hopefully ISU can get back to respectability, as I think they will. Having a talented team, and a Big 12 POY candidate, will help with landing recruits. If high school prospects see that you can be successful at ISU, we'll once again become a legit place to play college basketball.

This 2009-2010 season is going to be one of the most pivotal in a long time. Success here, will likely lead to success in the future. Failure and we'll face yet another long road of rebuilding.

Finally, the talent should be in Ames! This is a great opportunity. One of the best in a long time! Let's get 'em next year!

For the details go here:

Basically he wants to help the team win, and didn't feel like he was ready for the business side of professional basketball.

Good for him, and I can tell you that Greg McDermott is sighing in relief!

With Brackins coming back, along with #2 JUCO Gillstrap coming to ISU, this should be a NCAA-bound team.

More details and analysis later!

This is why I love Paul Rhoads. After getting handed the stat sheet post spring game, Rhoads said:

"I can take those down to the spare bathroom at the house and put those to good use."

Might be a little scratchy.

We're seeing more and more stories on Craig Brackins. No one knows whether he'll declare for the NBA Draft or return for his junior year at Iowa State. The Des Moines Register looks at the risks and rewards of going pro.

The main factors: the weak economy limiting the number of players brought in for workouts, the new combine and rules that say if a player withdraws from the draft and declares for the next year's draft, the player forgoes his college eligibility.

Ryan Blake, assistant director of scouting for the NBA, told the Register:

"It's really going to be difficult for a player this year to gauge where he's going,'' Blake said. "If that player leaves, he must get the highest assurance he's going in the first round because that's guaranteed money. In the second round, there are really not that many spots open. You're fighting against other free-agent second-round guys, international free-agent guys. So your percentages really go down.

"The other decision is you've got 50 or 60 guys declare (early). Only 30 are first-round picks. We've had many instances where guys leave early, don't get drafted and are not seen again.''

Over at Cyclone Fanatic, someone posted this tidbit from NBA Insider Chad Ford:

Craig Brackins, F, Iowa State
"In workouts people are going to say he's Danny Granger. He's a really long 3 who, when he gets a credible jumper like Granger, could end up being a big-time scorer in our league."

Ford's latest mock draft has Brackins going at No. 13, most likely to the Indiana Pacers.

Brackins has a lot to consider since players a couple of Big 12 players considered as lottery picks -- Kansas' Cole Aldrich and Oklahoma's Willie Warren -- decided to stay in school.

Brackins isn't at Danny Granger's level yet, but if he even comes close, he'll be Iowa State's greatest pro basketball player.

Cael gives his side of the story on his blog

I guess what I do not understand is that if you love ISU so much, think that Jamie Pollard is a great AD, then why do you leave? He said he got less than a 10% pay increase from last year, it clearly isn't about money (if he's telling the truth).

Also, he talks about ISU having a good chance next year at winning the National Tournament. What he doesn't mention is how is he going to try to get as many of them to transfer to PSU as possible.

Something just doesn't feel right. Perhaps Cael is taking the high road in his blog, but I guess we'll never know the whole story. I get that the East Coast has better wrestlers, and that Penn State has better facilities, I really do, but you're Cael Sanderson. He was able to recruit nationally and all high school wrestlers know the name. If his goal is to win a championship, and the current team has the ability to do so, then it seems silly to leave.

If a school cannot keep it's most popular alum, the head coach of one of the teams in the nation, and paying more than any other coach in the sport, then what more can it really do?

More photos » by Charlie Neibergall - AP

2 months ago: Iowa State quarterback Austen Arnaud, left, breaks from defender Roosevelt Maggitt, right, during Iowa State's annual spring football game, Saturday, April 18, 2009, in Ames, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

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The Cyclones have a long way to go. I'm hopeful but tempering expectations (last spring was rough, too). I didn't take notes, but here are my quick thoughts.

• First team offense got off to a really slow start. Too many dropped balls. Some open, easy catches were dropped. But Sedrick Johnson had a good day - nine catches for 100 yards.
• Jesse Smith and Kennard Banks both intercepted the ball. Smith returned his pick for a touchdown.
• Backup quarterback Jerome Tiller looked really good, breaking a long run for a TD.
• Despite a hamstring injury, receiver Darius Darks played.
• Jeremiah Schwartz lived up to his billing as a bruising back. Bo Williams busted a nice run.
• Grant Mahoney hit all three field goal attempts. Zach Guyer had a rough day.
  
• The PA announcer kept calling defensive end Roosevelt Maggitt and linebacker Josh Raven's names. Raven seemed to be in on a lot of tackles.
  
• A little worried about how easily the defense was getting to Arnaud, who had a less than spectacular day.

Update: Arnaud quietly completed 22-of-35 and ended the game with 250 yards and touchdown. Maybe I hung too much on the early pair of interceptions.

Check out the AP's recap here.

I'm planning on checking out the spring game. I'll try to have a report up later. The Des Moines Register has five things to watch for. I just want to see offensive coordinator Tom Herman's spread in action.