The ISU men’s basketball team may have been on the court once already in 2011, but the real season starts at 1 p.m. Saturday in Hilton Coliseum against Lehigh.

After a year of waiting due to NCAA transfer rules, the much-hyped group of Chris Babb, Chris Allen and Royce White will take the floor for their first real game as Cyclones.

“I think the exhibition game was me getting my jitters out,” said White, a forward. “A lot more people are coming to [this game to] support me as far as family, so come Saturday, the emotions will still be high.”

Second-year coach Fred Hoiberg was happy the Cyclones got the exhibition game out of the way to get all his new players — both the high-profile transfers and other newcomers — experience playing in front of a crowd.

“I think it was a good opportunity to play in front of the fans, especially for the guys who sat out last year, to get that first experience,” Hoiberg said. “This one counts. Hopefully we come out and play our best.”

The Cyclones will face off against Mountain Hawks of Lehigh University. Hoiberg said the Hawks (0-1) will be a tough opening opponent, citing their 78-73 loss to St. John’s on Wednesday night as an example.

Lehigh led St. John’s 43-33 at halftime in the contest, before eventually fading. The Hawks were led by C.J. McCollum, who went for 19 points and nine rebounds, and Gabe Knutson — a teammate to White in the Capital City League over the summer — who ended up with 16 points and six rebounds on 6-of-9 shooting.

Hoiberg talked about the threat of facing a team that can shoot — Lehigh shot 41.6 percent from the field and 30.8 percent from 3-point range — before practice Thursday.

“Any time you play a team that can shoot the ball like that, it’s a scary situation,” Hoiberg said. “They were up by 16 in the second half, so I’m sure in their minds, they left one on the table [against St. John’s]. So we know they’re going to come in here ready to roll.”

Saturday also marks the second time Cyclone nation will see Scott Christopherson running the point for Iowa State. The senior said he’s looking forward to getting another chance to get more comfortable with his new role.

He also told the group of reporters in attendance before Thursday’s practice that at the end of the day, it’s still basketball, regardless of where on the court he’s playing.

“The progress I’ve made from the first day of practice to now has been night and day,” Christopherson said. “The more and more I’m [playing point guard], the less thinking I’m doing. I don’t think being a point guard is that big of a deal. It’s not like I’m learning calculus here. At the end of the day you’re still just playing basketball.”

Hoiberg and his staff will be focused on the point guard by committee during the game. Prior to it, however, they’ll have to make a decision on senior guard Chris Allen, who sat out the second half of the exhibition game with a hip pointer suffered in practice.

Hoiberg said Allen is a game-time decision, and that the injury can be very painful, having suffered one himself during his playing days. He went on to say it’s a nagging type of injury that can take time to heal.

Allen, however, was upbeat when talking to reporters about his status for Saturday.

“[The hip] is getting there,” Allen said. “[Thursday was] my first day practicing. Most likely I’ll play [Saturday]. It’s not hurting as bad as it was this past Sunday [in the exhibition]. I’m starting to get my flexibility and my strength back, so it’s coming along.”

The Cyclones tip off against the Mountain Hawks at 1 p.m. Saturday in Hilton Coliseum.