Let the journey begin.

The Greg McDermott era gets its official start this weekend, as the ISU men’s basketball team host the American Family Insurance BTI Cyclone Challenge.

Iowa State will play three games in three days, taking on UC-Riverside, Louisiana-Monroe and Eastern Illinois.

Friday and Saturday’s games will start at 8 p.m. and Sunday’s matchup has a 2:30 p.m. tip-off.

After two exhibition victories, McDermott knows his team still has plenty to work on.

“We’re doing too many little mistakes,” McDermott said.

“It’s going to take some time. As much as it hurts me to sit over there and watch it, I have to remain patient and continue to teach and continue to coach. That’s the only way we’re going to move forward.”

Iowa State won both its exhibition games, but didn’t shoot the ball particularly well in either of them. All those things will come, said Rahshon Clark, junior forward for the Cyclones.

“We’re a young team, trying to get the new feel of things,” Clark said. “It’s going to take a lot more time and a lot more work.

“There’s always room for improvement.”

The Cyclones may get Mike Taylor back on the court to start the regular season.

Taylor was suspended for academic reasons, but McDermott said his work in the classroom has improved to the point that there is a good chance he will be available against UC-Riverside.