Monday, November 23rd, 2015

Well, I'm glad to say that basketball season is finally in full swing.  I'm ready for football to be over, especially now that news broke yesterday that Paul Rhoads will be fired at the end of the season.  But, anyways...

#4 IOWA STATE 83, CHATTANOOGA 63

Yes, that's right.  Iowa State is now ranked #4 in the nation in college basketball!  It's kind of crazy to me that they are so highly ranked. This is the highest that they have been ranked since the 1996-97 season, and as far as I know it's tied for the highest that they have ever been ranked.  I know they have a pretty good team this year (I would safely say top 15), but it's hard to say if they deserve that high of a ranking quite yet.

Naz Long was the player of the game for Iowa State tonight as he led the team with 24 points, including 6 three-pointers.  He was joined in double figures for Iowa State by Georges Niang (19), and Monte Morris (14).  As a team, the Cyclones connected on 14 of 29 three point attempts for a very good 48%.

Eben joined me again today for the game.  It's always nice to watch the game with family :)

Cyclones win, 83-63!

Tuesday, November 17th, 2015

Normally I try to blog about basketball games that I went to on the same night as the actual game to fit with the theme of my blog "note-o-the day".  I am making an exception now for yesterday's game between the Iowa State Cyclones and Chicago State Cougars.  I ended up taking Nolan to the game with me, along with Eben.  It was fun having three generations of Saltons in attendance for the same basketball game.  The game didn't start until 7:00, and we ended up staying for the whole thing.  By the time we got back home, I brushed Nolan's teeth, changed him, and read him a book, it was 10:00 (two hours past his normal bedtime).  The little man did pretty well considering I kept him up so late.  This marks the fifth men's basketball game that Nolan has witnessed at Hilton Coliseum, and it was the second consecutive game.

As for the game itself, it was a blowout win for the seventh-ranked Cyclones.  Jameel McKay was the player of the game for Iowa State as he scored 25 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.  Included in his 25 points were a total of 10 dunks, mostly on alley-oops.  He was joined in double figures by teammates Abdel Nader (17), Monte Morris (14), Naz Long (14), Georges Niang (11), and Hallice Cooke (10).  This was the home opener for the Cyclones, and it was coach Steve Prohm's first regular season game in Ames.

One thing that I will remember about this game was the two technical fouls that Chicago State had.  Both happened immediately after they had made a three point basket... apparently for taunting or swearing at Iowa State.  I would have thought that they would learn their lesson after it happened once, but apparently not.

Three generations of Saltons with the scoreboard :)

It's nice to see dad smiling.

Go STATE!

Friday, November 6th, 2015

A little while ago Nolan and I just went to watch the Iowa State exhibition game vs. Grand Valley State at Hilton Coliseum.  We ended up leaving part way through the second half because it was getting past Nolan's bed time, but the game wasn't exactly close anyways... the Cyclones ended up winning by a score of 106-60.  Nolan was able to behave himself pretty well in the stadium.  Every time the ISU fight song came on he would clap along with everyone else.  He mainly just sat on my lap and looked at the crowd and all of the stimulating things to see.  He would point out Cy the mascot to me every once in a while.

I believe that this is the fourth ISU men's basketball game that Nolan has seen in person.  The first was vs. UMKC in 2013, his second game was the Melvin Ejim game vs. TCU, and his third game was the UMKC game in 2014.

Naz Long scored 20 points for Iowa State which included 6 for 7 from three point range.  He led a group of seven Cyclones that each scored in double figures.  I've been looking forward to Cyclone basketball all year as they should be a good team this season with seniors Georges Niang, Abdel Nader, Jameel McKay, and Naz Long to lead the way.  Iowa State enters the year ranked #7 by the AP and the USA today coache's polls.

Nolan sitting like a good boy in his seat waiting for the game to start,

Our view from section 216.