On Tuesday afternoon, Coach Tim Floyd said he has coached teams in better positions than this year’s squad is presently.

“It’s been better than it is right now,” he told reporters during the Big 12 teleconference call. “We haven’t played very well.”

Floyd said one indication that the team isn’t strong is the different ways they have found to lose games.

In the team’s final exhibition game, ISU shot 56 percent from the field, but the World Basketball Opportunities defeated the Cyclones 83-78. The Cyclones’ shooting percentage in the game was the highest ever recorded in an ISU defeat.

In a drastic turn of events, in their regular season-opener against Northern Iowa, the Cyclones held the Panthers to 31 percent shooting, but lost by the final of 54-48. That also was a record. This time it was the lowest field goal percentage ever registered by a team who defeated ISU.

“It’s a team struggling to find its identity right now,” Floyd said.

He is looking for continued improvement from his team during the next week as ISU hosts the Cyclone Challenge this weekend. Floyd expects the tournament to be a tough one for his young squad.

“Every team looks like the Lakers to us at this point,” he said.

He also is eyeing more consistency in his players. At times, the young players have struggled on the perimeter, had lapses in rebounding and have had too many turnovers.

So far, the play of freshman forward Marcus Fizer has impressed Floyd. “He has a knack for getting the ball in the basket,” he said of his budding star.

Another freshman, Martin Rancik, received his first collegiate start Tuesday night and Floyd said he expects him to “give us hope for the future.”

Rancik, at 6’9″ and 225 pounds, has many strengths, Floyd said. Namely, Rancik is a versatile forward. He plays both on the perimeter and on the inside, and is very intense, Floyd said.

Floyd gave his troops a day off last Sunday after a tough Thanksgiving week. He said he hopes the short rest pays dividends for the Cyclones during their stretch, which includes three games in six days.

“We feel like we need to get our legs back,” he said. “Hopefully, we’ll respond.”

ISU hosts Texas Southern on Friday at 8 p.m. and will face either Coppin State or Southwest Texas at the same time on Saturday night.