One hundred wins ago, ISU coach Fred Hoiberg had never coached a game in his life. One hundred wins ago, Hoiberg was one of the most beloved ISU basketball players in school history, taking a job that risked throwing that all away.

On the one-year anniversary of ISU coaching legend Johnny Orr’s passing, coach Fred Hoiberg notched his 100th victory in 148 games as head man of the Cyclones — the fastest in school history. It didn’t take one hundred wins to realize that the risky hire of Hoiberg had paid off, but the milestone puts him among the ISU coaching greats as one of only five to reach the century mark.

It’s a special feat, no questions asked. But did it matter to Hoiberg?

“Not really,” Hoiberg said. “It’s a game that I wanted to go out and win and get some momentum heading into league play. Hopefully we’ll get 101 next time out.”

The reserved demeanor of Hoiberg is nothing new, but perhaps the excitement was dampened by a game that was practically decided as soon as the ball was tipped. In fact, the commemorative “100th win” posters were already made and it was announced that fans could go pick them up 3:30 before the game was over.

Holding the Delta Devils to 33 points, the Cyclones suffocated the team on the perimeter and forced 17 turnovers in the 50-point win. 

“I think we definitely took a step in the right direction,” said forward Georges Niang. “I felt like we really put 40 minutes together and really kept our foot on the gas.”

The team broke even more milestones in their 10th win of the season, recording Hilton Coliseum’s 500th win. With 25 assists for the second straight game, the Cyclones improved on their third best assist average in the nation.

And how about Jameel McKay? In his second game as a Cyclone, he dropped 10 points on 5-of-5 shooting and recorded six rebounds and three blocks in 17 minutes. But the storylines didn’t end there.

Naz Long came out of the gates in shooting like he was ready to break records, scoring 24 points on seven three-pointers before being pulled with more than nine minutes left. Long moved to 13th all-time in career three-pointers.

In what was supposed to be Hoiberg’s night, Long stole the show. Hoiberg certainly didn’t care and Long didn’t either.

“No regrets,” Long joked. “[My shot] felt good and it was falling and these guys were finding me, so I knew I would have it going.”

With the hours of 2014 winding down, the Cyclones stuffed as many milestones as they could into the game, but face a tough challenge to start 2015 at the Barclays Center in New York.

The South Carolina Gamecocks, coached by former Kansas State coach Frank Martin, await the Cyclones in the final non-conference game of the season. At an NBA arena in the city that handed them their Sweet 16 loss a season ago, the Cyclones are ready to start the new year with revenge.

“It motivates us,” Long said of playing at the Barclays Center. “It didn’t go as well as we wanted to last time. We’re looking to bounce back off of our last New York trip and it will be a fun time.”