Iowa State Basketball: 5 keys for a successful 2018-19 season

Lard plays to his potential

Lindell Wigginton may have gotten the majority of the attention from the freshman class last season for Iowa State but he was not alone. In fact, big man Cameron Lard also had an incredibly impressive campaign. For the year, the 6-foot-9 forward posted 12.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks per game. He was a dynamic big man presence for the Cyclones all season long, oozing tons of potential for his future on both ends of the floor.

Although Lard is enrolled in an off-campus wellness center this offseason, the expectation is that he will suit up for the team from Day 1 in 2018-19. When he comes back, Lard will be one of the primary big men in the rotation and possibly the second-leading scorer on the team (behind Wigginton). In order for him to hit his full potential as a sophomore, though, there are three areas of the game where Lard can improve.

For starters, he is a poor free throw shooter. Although he got to the charity stripe on occasion last season (2.5 FTA per game), he shot just 58.9% on those attempts. If he is more physical in the paint during this season, he should get to the line more often and capitalizing there could make a major difference for the Cyclones. In addition, Lard could do a better job as a passer out of the paint. He averaged less than one assist per game in 2017-18 and could draw more defensive attention this time around. If that is the case, then finding the right man at the right time could pay dividends.

Lastly, though, he needs to be more consistent. Lard went through stretches last season of turning invisible on the court. That cannot happen for someone as talented as Lard. If he turns in repeatedly strong showings next season, he can be an All-Conference player without a doubt.