The ISU men’s basketball program continues to add drama to my life. In the past month, the program has been the equivalent of a seventh-grade lunchroom.

All was supposed to be done. The dust had settled, and the only casualties were Curtis Stinson and Will Blalock – or so we thought. Blalock, acting like the classic seventh-grade tease, continues to flirt with Iowa State, giving the impression one week that he is returning and the next week that he is leaving. I have no problem with Blalock’s decision either way. I just wish he would decide, so I can focus on more pressing matters, such as “Boy Meets World” reruns.

Shawn Taggart and Farnold Degand, for whatever reason, waited until the end of April to inform ISU coach Greg McDermott they were packing their bags. Not good timing.

It’s like that girl who told me the day before our middle school winter dance that she didn’t want to be my date. (Back in the day, a date meant having one awkward dance to R. Kelly’s “I Believe I can Fly” or a random Savage Garden song. It was a huge deal, however.)

Well, that left me a little underhanded. I didn’t have time to secure another date and, likewise, Iowa State doesn’t have any time to find suitable replacements.

It has been suggested that losing these guys would be addition by subtraction. I don’t buy that. Taggart, in my view, was the most valuable player on the team going into next year. Degand was the third most valuable. Nobody realized how good each would have been. They had the potential of a Jessica Alba/Elisha Cuthbert hot tub scene and enough talent to compete for an NCAA bid.

Taggart and Degand were going to have significant roles on next year’s team. Taggart was going to be the centerpiece of the McDermonator’s master plan. He had a ton of skill, but just lacked the discipline and attitude. With McDermott’s track record with less talented bigs, Taggart seemed as if he could become an All-Big 12 player quickly. His defense was questionable, but he was trying to guard dudes twice his weight. With some added beef and seasoning, he would have been darn good. Iowa State now has to be content with Ross Marsden, Jessan Gray and Jiri Hubalek. All are fine players, but they can’t hold down the post for 40 minutes. Hubalek fouls more than a drunk at a house party and Gray looks best on the perimeter.

Degand was going to be a very good player. He had all of the physical tools and learned from two great guards this year. I’ve seen him in practice, and he was the best guard on the floor at times. Instead he will lose another year of eligibility by transferring elsewhere.

This team will no doubt struggle offensively next year. The staff has done a great job of plugging holes by gaining commitments from guard recruits Dodie Dunson, Michael Taylor and Corey McIntosh, but it remains to be seen if anyone can fill in on the inside.

Jamie Pollard may have found his general. But even the best general needs some troops.

– Brent Blum is a junior in journalism and mass communication from Urbandale.