Most people expect to crawl before they walk, but that’s not the way the Iowa State’s men’s basketball team thinks. They are ready to make another run for the NCAA Tournament.

They get their chance on Sunday afternoon against the Yugoslavian Select team in an exhibition game starting at 4 p.m.

The team’s baby faces understand the recent ISU success and are looking to the veterans to show them how to climb the tourney ladder.

Senior guard Matt Knoll and his veteran teammates have been asked to explain what it is like to make it to the tourney.

“We told them it was the greatest thing you’ll ever do, [and] as long you work hard you might get your chance,” Knoll said.

Last year, they were the ones being taught.

This year the tables have turned as ISU’s seven returning players will be expected to fill the big brother role.

Junior Klay Edwards, the team’s leading man on the glass, said this year’s group gets along much like the previous Cyclone squads, “like a family.”

He said the new players are eager to learn and ready to listen.

And Coach Tim Floyd is the man they will be listening to. That is, if these new guys are smart. After all, Floyd arranged the building blocks well enough two years ago to produce a Big Eight Championship.

Sophomore Stevie Johnson, who netted 4.1 points per game last season, returns as the team’s leading scorer. He also returns as a role model.

“I’ve been trying to take more of a leadership role. I think I’m ready for that challenge,” he said.

After losing 80 percent of its scoring and 70 percent of its rebounding from last year’s Sweet Sixteen team, the unproven Cyclones will be put to the test early.

Senior forward Brad Johnson refuses to call this season a rebuilding year.

“I don’t want anybody to look at us as a down team that Coach Floyd had. I want us to be right up there with all the other teams he’s had. I want us to be right in the same conversation as all of the other teams that have been here,” he said.

The Cyclone squad is picked to finish fifth or sixth in the Big 12 by most experts.

But at media day, Floyd said he hopes his players are shooting to finish first.

He said that’s what he’s doing.

“I know that from a coaching-staff standpoint we are not going to lower the bar for this team.

“They’re not going to hear that they’re not supposed to win games because they’re freshmen, or because they’re inexperienced or because our returning players don’t have starting experience,” he said. “I don’t think any of those things should matter.”

Two things that may matter are injuries to highly-touted newcomers.

Martin Rancik, a 6’9″ freshman forward, suffered a stress fracture in his upper right leg during practice and will miss at least three weeks of the season.

Chris Ridens, a 6’10” forward, is expected to be sidelined until December with a broken bone in his right foot.

If Floyd can teach his young recruiting class the A’s, B’s, C’s and most importantly, the D’s of basketball, this team could once again receive an invitation to the NCAA’s “big dance.”