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Gilstrap still growing as a player
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2010-03-02
Coming off a screen, Iowa State forward Marquis Gilstrap has three options.
He can drive to the basket. He can pull up for a jumper. Or he can pass to an open teammate.
On Saturday, he knew when to do each one as he did most of his damage, scoring 26 points and handing out four assists in a 75-72 loss to Colorado, off of screens.
“I feel comfortable in pick and roll situations,” Gilstrap said. “It can create matchup problems for the other team.”
On verge of his senior night, Gilstrap is continuing to display new wrinkles of his game.
That happens when Gilstrap, a senior, spends only one year in an ISU uniform. And he’s guaranteed only one more chance to show a new side of his game to the Hilton Coliseum faithful when the Cyclones (14-15, 3-11 Big 12), host Missouri (21-8, 9-5) tonight (7 p.m., WOI).
“It’s gone quick,” Gilstrap said. “But it’s been a good year. There couldn’t have been a better place for me to play.”
And he couldn’t have run the pick and roll any better over the weekend.
He knew when to knife to the bucket for a dunk. He understood the best time to pull up for a jumper. He sensed when ISU forward Craig Brackins was open cutting to the basket.
It helped him shoot 10 of 16 from the floor and put the Cyclones in a spot to pick up a road win.
“(Gilstrap) is an unbelievable driver,” Brackins said. “He can drive to the hole and bully a lot of people once he is getting there. Me and (Gilstrap) can kind of utilize each other and help each other, and try to get open and try to set some mismatches.
“If they go double, he can pass it off to me. If they don’t, they go both with me, then he can pull up for a jumper or go and dunk on somebody.”
Gilstrap has had an issue putting his head down, ISU coach Greg McDermott said, and driving to the basket regardless of how many defenders were in his way.
That wasn’t the case against the Buffaloes.
“That is something we’ve constantly been working with Marquis on,” McDermott said. “To take advantage of his ability to get it in the paint and create things for his teammates, and he did that on Saturday as well as he has all year.”
He may be doing it next year for the Cyclones as well.
He’s applying for a medical redshirt. The paperwork is turned in. ISU won’t hear back from the NCAA until after the season.
There is a chance Gilstrap could get denied. There’s also the possibility of him playing professional basketball next season even if he gets an extra year.
Gilstrap said it’s too early to look into his future. Brackins, who could declare early for the NBA Draft, said the same thing Monday.
But they could be running out of time to run the pick and roll together.
“It really worked,” Gilstrap said. “It opened the floor up for everybody. I just have to be able to get the ball in the right spot.”
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2010-03-02
Iowa State forward Marquis Gilstrap will be the lone senior honored at senior night before the Cyclones host Missouri Tuesday.
Tribune File photo
Tribune File photo
Coming off a screen, Iowa State forward Marquis Gilstrap has three options.
He can drive to the basket. He can pull up for a jumper. Or he can pass to an open teammate.
On Saturday, he knew when to do each one as he did most of his damage, scoring 26 points and handing out four assists in a 75-72 loss to Colorado, off of screens.
“I feel comfortable in pick and roll situations,” Gilstrap said. “It can create matchup problems for the other team.”
On verge of his senior night, Gilstrap is continuing to display new wrinkles of his game.
That happens when Gilstrap, a senior, spends only one year in an ISU uniform. And he’s guaranteed only one more chance to show a new side of his game to the Hilton Coliseum faithful when the Cyclones (14-15, 3-11 Big 12), host Missouri (21-8, 9-5) tonight (7 p.m., WOI).
“It’s gone quick,” Gilstrap said. “But it’s been a good year. There couldn’t have been a better place for me to play.”
And he couldn’t have run the pick and roll any better over the weekend.
He knew when to knife to the bucket for a dunk. He understood the best time to pull up for a jumper. He sensed when ISU forward Craig Brackins was open cutting to the basket.
It helped him shoot 10 of 16 from the floor and put the Cyclones in a spot to pick up a road win.
“(Gilstrap) is an unbelievable driver,” Brackins said. “He can drive to the hole and bully a lot of people once he is getting there. Me and (Gilstrap) can kind of utilize each other and help each other, and try to get open and try to set some mismatches.
“If they go double, he can pass it off to me. If they don’t, they go both with me, then he can pull up for a jumper or go and dunk on somebody.”
Gilstrap has had an issue putting his head down, ISU coach Greg McDermott said, and driving to the basket regardless of how many defenders were in his way.
That wasn’t the case against the Buffaloes.
“That is something we’ve constantly been working with Marquis on,” McDermott said. “To take advantage of his ability to get it in the paint and create things for his teammates, and he did that on Saturday as well as he has all year.”
He may be doing it next year for the Cyclones as well.
He’s applying for a medical redshirt. The paperwork is turned in. ISU won’t hear back from the NCAA until after the season.
There is a chance Gilstrap could get denied. There’s also the possibility of him playing professional basketball next season even if he gets an extra year.
Gilstrap said it’s too early to look into his future. Brackins, who could declare early for the NBA Draft, said the same thing Monday.
But they could be running out of time to run the pick and roll together.
“It really worked,” Gilstrap said. “It opened the floor up for everybody. I just have to be able to get the ball in the right spot.”
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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