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Brackins saw superstar Anderson emerge in international play
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2010-02-16
Iowa State forward Craig Brackins thought he was rooming with a shooter.
That’s all he saw Oklahoma State guard James Anderson do the last two seasons. But when he bunked with Anderson for the American World University Game team tryouts last summer, he saw a different kind of player.
“He’s a complete player,” Brackins said.
While winning a bronze medal, Brackins found out Anderson is a do-it-all guard. The rest of the Big 12 Conference found out this winter as Anderson has taken his game to a whole new level.
He leads the conference in scoring at 22.6 points per game, and when the Cyclones (13-12, 2-8, Big 12) host the Cowboys (17.7, 5-5) tonight (7 p.m., WOI) they’ll be looking to contain one of the country’s most dynamic scorers.
“James Anderson has really elevated his game from last season,” ISU coach Greg McDermott said.
And that’s saying something.
Anderson earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2008-09 while averaging 18.2 points and 5.7 rebounds. He also scored 30 or more points four times in his first two college seasons.
But he did most of his damage as a set shooter and by driving to his left. McDermott could live with seeing how many points Anderson could score by forcing him to his right.
That strategy limited Anderson to 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting in the last year’s Big 12 Tournament.
But wasn’t the player Brackins saw in international competition. He saw an unstoppable force.
He still could stroke it from 20 feet out, but now Anderson drove with either hand. He finished in the lane. He got to the free-throw line. He even hit some midrange jumpers.
Brackins credits part of Anderson’s growth to the World University Games experience.
“We all matured as players,” Brackins said. “You all learned a lot. You play a lot tougher because you don’t get fouls over there.”
Now Anderson’s playing like a first-team all-conference selection. He’s scored at least 30 points four times this season, including twice in his last four games.
Anderson’s gone from a player McDermott knew how to defend to one who is nearly impossible to guard.
“That’s why he’s going to be a first round draft pick,” McDermott said. “(He’s) hard to defend for one guy, so we’ve got to provide some help and that will be our plan going in.”
In the days leading up to the game, Brackins and Anderson have shot texts back and forth, “laughing, cracking jokes as always,” Brackins said.
But the jokes stop when Brackins talks about Anderson’s game, because instead of being Anderson’s teammate, Brackins now must stop the player who shot 52.6 percent for the USA over the summer.
“He is one of the most improved players as a scorer,” Brackins said.
Dendy back in town
ISU forward LaRon Dendy is back in town after attending the funeral of his great grandmother, but his playing status will be a game-time decision by the coaching staff because he was gone for the last week.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2010-02-16
Iowa State must find a way to slow down Oklahoma State guard James Anderson when the teams meet Wednesday night.
Iowa State forward Craig Brackins thought he was rooming with a shooter.
That’s all he saw Oklahoma State guard James Anderson do the last two seasons. But when he bunked with Anderson for the American World University Game team tryouts last summer, he saw a different kind of player.
“He’s a complete player,” Brackins said.
While winning a bronze medal, Brackins found out Anderson is a do-it-all guard. The rest of the Big 12 Conference found out this winter as Anderson has taken his game to a whole new level.
He leads the conference in scoring at 22.6 points per game, and when the Cyclones (13-12, 2-8, Big 12) host the Cowboys (17.7, 5-5) tonight (7 p.m., WOI) they’ll be looking to contain one of the country’s most dynamic scorers.
“James Anderson has really elevated his game from last season,” ISU coach Greg McDermott said.
And that’s saying something.
Anderson earned second-team All-Big 12 honors in 2008-09 while averaging 18.2 points and 5.7 rebounds. He also scored 30 or more points four times in his first two college seasons.
But he did most of his damage as a set shooter and by driving to his left. McDermott could live with seeing how many points Anderson could score by forcing him to his right.
That strategy limited Anderson to 14 points on 6-of-16 shooting in the last year’s Big 12 Tournament.
But wasn’t the player Brackins saw in international competition. He saw an unstoppable force.
He still could stroke it from 20 feet out, but now Anderson drove with either hand. He finished in the lane. He got to the free-throw line. He even hit some midrange jumpers.
Brackins credits part of Anderson’s growth to the World University Games experience.
“We all matured as players,” Brackins said. “You all learned a lot. You play a lot tougher because you don’t get fouls over there.”
Now Anderson’s playing like a first-team all-conference selection. He’s scored at least 30 points four times this season, including twice in his last four games.
Anderson’s gone from a player McDermott knew how to defend to one who is nearly impossible to guard.
“That’s why he’s going to be a first round draft pick,” McDermott said. “(He’s) hard to defend for one guy, so we’ve got to provide some help and that will be our plan going in.”
In the days leading up to the game, Brackins and Anderson have shot texts back and forth, “laughing, cracking jokes as always,” Brackins said.
But the jokes stop when Brackins talks about Anderson’s game, because instead of being Anderson’s teammate, Brackins now must stop the player who shot 52.6 percent for the USA over the summer.
“He is one of the most improved players as a scorer,” Brackins said.
Dendy back in town
ISU forward LaRon Dendy is back in town after attending the funeral of his great grandmother, but his playing status will be a game-time decision by the coaching staff because he was gone for the last week.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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