Coming off a season in which the Cyclones finished with as many wins as losses (15), the Iowa State men’s basketball team is counting on a number of key returnees and a solid recruiting class to make them a better team in ’99.

The Cyclones return first-team All-Big 12 forward Marcus Fizer, who last year led the conference in scoring with an average of 18 points per game.

The junior from Arcadia, La., was also very solid on the boards, as he corralled 7.6 rebounds per game.

Fizer is a candidate for the John Wooden Award, annually given to the best player in the nation.

The only McDonald’s All-American to play at Iowa State, Fizer has a lot of expectations to deal with.

“We need Marcus to be a better player. I thought last year he was very solid, but we need him to be a better rebounder. He can be great, it’s just a matter of how hard he wants to work,” Eustachy said.

Joining Fizer as a returning starter is Martin Rancik, who last year improved steadily as the year went on and ended up averaging 10.3 points per game, ranking second on the team to Fizer.

However, Rancik broke a finger on the first day of practice and will be out four to six weeks to start out the season.

“Obviously, he will be missed. Anytime you have a starter that’s out, it’s going to hurt. We just have to move on and not dwell on it and play basketball,” Eustachy said.

The Cyclones will also count on a solid year from senior Stevie Johnson, who has been a key contributor to ISU since his arrival in 1996.

The second all-time leading scorer in Mississippi prep history has seen his average rise each of his three years, and as one of only two seniors on the squad, he will have an expanded role this season.

“I feel that this year, I am totally comfortable with coach Eustachy’s system, and I’m ready to lead this team,” Johnson said.

The starting point guard of a year ago, Michael Nurse, will see a different role this year.

“We’re going to move Michael to off-guard at least to start. We feel he’s better suited to that role,” Eustachy said.

Nurse, who had trouble avoiding large trucks a year ago, was named to the Big 12 All-Newcomer team.

He averaged 10.3 points and brought a swagger to the team that was missing before the cocky guard from Teaneck, N.J., came to town.

Paul Shirley will also be there to help the Cyclones after taking a redshirt year to gain strength.

The 6-9, 230-pound forward from Meridian, Kan., averaged 8.1 points per game two years ago, and established himself as a crowd favorite with his tremendous hustle.

Eustachy thinks that the year off helped Shirley.

“Paul was hurt for a lot of last year, but he was able to get to the weight room and get a lot stronger. The off-year will help him a lot more next year, when he’s got that extra year of eligibility,” Eustachy said.

The rest of the unit is peppered with newcomers, and most of them are found in the backcourt.

Kantrail Horton transferred last season and practiced with the team all of second semester. Although he was eligible to play, Eustachy chose to keep him on the bench.

“We realize that what this program does not need is a quick fix. We are in this for the long haul,” Eustachy said.

That’s not to say that he wasn’t tempted to play the 6-1, 225-pound point guard from Covington, Ga.

“That’s why he was in street clothes on the bench. If he would’ve been in uniform, I’d have thrown him in there,” Eustachy said.

He also says that Horton would be considered the favorite to start at the point.

The Cyclones also welcome Thomas Watkins, a junior college transfer from Mesa (Ariz.) Community College. He averaged 17.4 points last year and shot 48.2 percent from three-point territory, adding a dimension that the Cyclones sorely lacked a year ago.

“I think we’ve already made more shots in three days than we did all of last year, so that’s a positive. If I had to choose, I’d say Watkins was the best shooter,” Eustachy said.

Another JC transfer expected to get minutes will be Jamaal Tinsley, who averaged almost 22 points for Mount San Jacinto (Calif.) Community College.

Another junior college transfer is Richard Evans, who at 6-5 could play down low or help out on the perimeter.

“We are going to start him out down low since we lack depth down there, but he could be moved outside,” Eustachy said.

Brandon Hawkins is the only freshman with a scholarship. The 6-3, 185-pound guard from Fontana, Calif., averaged 17 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals per game for his high school squad, and Eustachy describes him as “impressive” so far.

Rounding out the squad will be five walk-on freshman.

The Cyclones will begin play on Nov. 10 with an exhibition game, while regular season play starts Nov. 19 at Drake.