After a collective sigh of relief at the news of Craig Brackins returning for another year of Cyclone basketball, Iowa State fans and speculators began chatting up the prospects of next year’s men’s basketball team getting to the postseason.

Brackins represents 30-percent of the team’s points and rebounds committing for another campaign. Expectations are rising, and with all the personnel changes over the past few years, continuity and expectations are welcome sights to coach Greg McDermott.

“Expectations are good, obviously Craig’s excited about his teammates approach to next season, he’s played with all of our incoming guys, and I think he’s excited about the potential that they bring to our program,” McDermott said.

“The pieces are gradually falling together, and obviously he’s a big piece to that puzzle and him coming back is a big plus for us.”

Losing guards Bryan Petersen and Sean Haluska, and local forward Alex Thompson to graduation, and reserves Wes Eikmeier and Clint Mann to transfer, McDermott responded on the recruiting trail to get the Cyclones competitive in the Big 12. The seniors brought expected leadership on a young team, but none averaged more than seven points per contest. Eikmeier and Mann struggled to find a niche within the program, and while Eikmeier got over 11 minutes per contest because of his three-point efficiency, he struggled to shine from outside at Hilton.

The departure of five players in a three week span, and the potential of Brackins to leave, left Cyclone fans shaking, looking at the possibility of another inexperienced and unathletic team hitting the floor, but even with Brackins return, there were parts ready to be thrown into the system.

Marquette transfer and former Mr. Basketball in Wisconsin, Scott Christopherson (6’3, 205 lbs.) will step in from the outside, and redshirt freshman L.A. Pomlee (6’8, 235 lbs.) will attempt to shore up depth at forward after sitting on the bench this past season.

Landing junior college transfers Marquis Gilstrap (6’6, 210 lbs.) and LaRon Dendy (6’9, 225 lbs.) bring length, athleticism, and some on-the-floor experience that has been missing during the conference schedule.

Gilstrap was a 20-and-10 player at Gulf Coast C.C. in Florida, and was named conference player of the year. He’ll have one year of eligibility left when he arrives in Ames, so McDermott is looking for an immediate contribution from the prolific scorer.

Dendy struggled to see the floor in his sophomore season at Indian Hills C.C., averaging only 8.1 points and 4.1 rebounds per contest in Ottumwa, after constant issues with a stress fracture. If he manages to stay healthy, Dendy’s length and finishing ability (63-percent FG) could find him some early minutes to assist Brackins in the post.

The two incoming freshmen bring different talents and challenges to the squad, with point guard Chris Colvin (6’2, 195 lbs.) expected to contribute early as a backup guard splitting minutes with Diante Garrett and Dominique Buckley, and forward Alex Dorr (6’7, 215 lbs.) bringing his left-handed jumper and 20 points per game up from Norwalk, Iowa.

Colvin brings quickness that the Cyclones lacked against conference competition last year, and his senior year Illinois 4A state championship should provide a winning attitude that coaches always like to see.Dorr is a preferred walk-on for the upcoming year, and with the new found depth at forward for the Cyclones, will likely be redshirted for his freshman season.

The starting lineup is anything but set in stone, as McDermott will likely take the entirety of the offseason putting together what he feels is the best product out on the floor. The Big 12/Pac 10 series will put the Cyclones up against the Cal Bears on December 5, and while the full schedule hasn’t been released, expect a more competitve start to the season than the 2008-2009 campaign provided.

With a potential lineup of effort players, good shooters, increased size, and new and returning stars, the future looks positive for ISU basketball. Potential and fulfillment are very different things in the Big 12 conference, however, and McDermott will need a team stocked entirely with his pickups to bring W’s to a stagnate Ames crowd.