McDermott not sweating Colvin’s return

Greg McDermott says he is at peace with the decision to cut short Chris Colvin's suspension two days after firmly stating the freshman guard would remain benched until February.

Lucca Staiger's stunning decision to go back to Germany put the Iowa State coach in a pickle. Less than 24 hours earlier McDermott broke the news that Staiger returning home to play professionally. That left the Cyclones with seven scholarship players for Wednesday's game at Texas Tech.

Colvin, out of action for the previous two weeks, was back in uniform and logged 10 minutes in ISU's 78-71 loss.

“I slept fine (Wednesday) night,” McDermott said. “I didn't sleep well for other reasons, but reinstating Chris Colvin didn't weigh heavy on my mind. We weren't left with a whole lot of choice. I was not going to put our program in a position where we could possibly not have enough guys to put on the floor.”

The Cyclones (12-6, 1-2 Big 12) head into today's 1 p.m. match-up with No. 3 Kansas (17-1, 3-0) with at least a better idea of each player's role. Colvin, who was not made available to reporters, will be used as “the last guy off the bench,” McDermott said.

Had Staiger not skipped town and Charles Boozer not sustained a season-ending knee injury, Colvin would not be playing. Pile that on top of L.A. Pomlee's dismissal and injuries forcing ISU to seek a medical red-shirt for center Jamie Vanderbeken and it's been a month full of tough decisions.

“When you are the captain of a ship in smooth waters it is a little different than being the captain of a ship in rough waters,” McDermott said. “You have to adjust your decision-making based on the information you have. The circumstances changed.”

Colvin was suspended before the final non-conference game against North Dakota State. He had walked out on a team meeting after ISU's Jan. 6 loss to Duke in Chicago.

McDermott said that was the latest in a string of incidents in which Colvin showed a lack of respect for teammates and coaches. Colvin has improved his behavior, he said.

“What's best for Chris isn't going to get lost in all this,” he said. “That's why the conversation with his family was so important.”

McDermott consulted Colvin's father, Ike, among others, and said Colvin had learned from his mistakes.

“If I didn't feel that he did I wouldn't have cut (the suspension) short,” McDermott said. “The decision that I made wasn't made without (his father) giving his stamp of approval first.”

McDermott said he'd not had any contact with Staiger since Tuesday and that he believed the guard had already left town.

According to eurobasket.com, Staiger has signed a contract with Alba Berlin of the German Professional Basketball League through 2012.

“I don't really understand (his decision) but I haven't heard the full, full story,” said ISU's Diante Garrett.

“I still like him. I love him like a brother.”