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(AP) - Guard Chris Allen was a key cog in Michigan State's Final Four teams in 2009 and 2010.

Now he's at Iowa State for one final shot at the NCAA tournament.

Allen landed at Iowa State in the summer of 2010 after an unceremonious exit from East Lansing, and is now one of a crop of transfers coach Fred Hoiberg hopes can speed up his rebuilding efforts.

Allen, a 6-foot-3 guard, will be back in the spotlight for the Cyclones this winter.

 In fact, he's already been tabbed as a preseason honorable mention All-Big 12 pick by the league's coaches.

Allen says his dismissal from the Spartans happened so long ago that he blocked it out, adding that he hopes his big-game experience will rub off on his teammates.