Cyclones hold awards banquet

Ron Demarse

After highlighting the Cyclones record-setting regular season and their improbable charge into the NCAA’s Elite Eight, Marcus Fizer did the same this weekend.

Predictably, the talented junior was honored repeatedly at the team’s annual award’s banquet Saturday evening.

Fizer won the team’s outstanding offensive player and outstanding rebounder awards outright.

He averaged 22.8 points per game, including 24.8 in conference play, to lead all of his teammates in scoring by more than 10 points per game.

He also pulled down an average of 7.7 rebounds per contest, finishing the regular season with more than half a dozen double-doubles.

The biggest award of the night, however, was shared between Fizer and junior point guard Jamaal Tinsley. Both were given the team’s most valuable player award.

Relying almost entirely on Fizer last season, the Cyclones were just 15-15 and 6-10 against Big 12 competition.

The addition of the electric Tinsley for 1999-2000 is considered by many the spark that led to the team’s record-setting run.

In addition to scoring 11 points each game, Tinsley managed 6.6 assists and 2.6 steals per contest as point guard.

Perhaps most impressive of all, the diminutive 6-3 guard also blocked a shot a game.

The hounding defense of guards Michael Nurse and Kantrail Horton earned each a share of the team’s outstanding defensive player award.

The duo was the Cyclones top three-point tandem this season, but its work on the other end of the court was certainly of equal importance.

Although the entire team was known for its defense, many credit Nurse and Horton for holding opposing teams to just 41 percent shooting and almost 70 fewer offensive rebounds than Iowa State on the year.

Senior Stevie Johnson picked up the final major award of the night in being named the team’s most improved player.

Johnson was second to only Fizer with 6.1 rebounds per game and also managed 9.1 points, peaking down the stretch, as Iowa State moved into Big 12 Tournament and NCAA Tournament play.

The only major question remaining, as the Cyclones wrap up the greatest season in school history, concerns the status of Fizer with regard to next season.

While the junior forward would not comment on the possibility of his forgoing his final year of eligibility, Fizer is expected to make an announcement this afternoon.

Head coach Larry Eustachy has indicated his belief that his star is ready for the NBA, but Fizer has made no comment on the subject to date.