Jake Sullivan on KXNO talking ISU BB

ajk4st8 · 12-07-2007, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by wheels686

Im not sure about the stintson comment. I dont know how much basketball IQ he has, he spent most of his junior season yelling at other teamates, missing shots, not playing defense, and driving in and missing layups. I definetely think the transition between morgan and mcdermott would have been easier if stintson and blaylock would have stayed. Obviously both of them bolting early was bad for both as neither have done anything worth leaving for

That might explain a difference between IQ and effort

benjay · 12-07-2007, 06:57 PM

I would guess the players aren't necessarily unhappy with McDermott's system, but they damn sure are unhappy with losing and are looking for a scapegoat. It'll be another test of McDermott's coaching ability to bring them together and win his way, which they can. Once the winning starts, we'll see all of these comments about dissatisfied players from people who may or may not know what they're talking about go away.

CYKOFAN · 12-07-2007, 06:58 PM

I'll admit I like to watch more of a running style game myself, and I'd guess most of the great players like it better too. I have good memories of a Blaylock or Stinson steal and a great pass to a flying Clark for a highlight jam. They put on a clinic at Drake two years ago and we blew them out of the gym.

cyclone14 · 12-07-2007, 07:20 PM

I agree that we should play a more up tempo style, especially against teams like Drake and UNI and supposedly weaker teams. We really just give up something by not letting them use their athletic talents, and seems as if we allow teams less talented to stay with us. I could understand the slow, methodical game against better Big 12 opponents, but look at the top teams in the nation now. They play fast and dominate lesser opponents who do not have the depth or athletes.

Drake may have been quicker than us, but we still have some great athletes like DG and CB, not to mention RC, and using them in an up-tempo style seems logical.

isuno1fan · 12-07-2007, 07:27 PM

I agree with Sullivan and said the exact same thing in another thread yesterday. GMAC's system is not set up to work with tremendous athletes. It is a system you use to win if you don't have the athletic talent because, if run successfully, it gives you a chance to win. The problem is athletes don't do well in this system. When Jake said he needs more UNI type players, he was right on...they are suited for this system. Great athletes will never succeed in what we are trying to run IMO. This is a big problem and will continue to be.

nsv24 · 12-07-2007, 07:32 PM

"I could understand the slow, methodical game against better Big 12 opponents, but look at the top teams in the nation now. They play fast and dominate lesser opponents who do not have the depth or athletes. "

If you look at the top ten, you will find UCLA, Washington St. and Georgetown, all which play a deliberate half-court game. Butler and A&M are knocking at that top10 door as well, and neither of those teams run much.

I understand what you are saying, but the quickest teams that run all over the place are not always better. Look at ISU 2005-2006.

cy1225 · 12-07-2007, 07:34 PM

Originally Posted by CYKOFAN

I'll admit I like to watch more of a running style game myself, and I'd guess most of the great players like it better too. I have good memories of a Blaylock or Stinson steal and a great pass to a flying Clark for a highlight jam. They put on a clinic at Drake two years ago and we blew them out of the gym.

The why did the ISU brass let WM go? I have never understood this decision.

trevn · 12-07-2007, 07:43 PM

Originally Posted by cyclone14

I agree that we should play a more up tempo style, especially against teams like Drake and UNI and supposedly weaker teams. We really just give up something by not letting them use their athletic talents, and seems as if we allow teams less talented to stay with us. I could understand the slow, methodical game against better Big 12 opponents, but look at the top teams in the nation now. They play fast and dominate lesser opponents who do not have the depth or athletes.

Drake may have been quicker than us, but we still have some great athletes like DG and CB, not to mention RC, and using them in an up-tempo style seems logical.

I see where you're coming from and where everyone else is coming from, I like up-tempo basketball too, but Mac's slow down style can and does produce results. Look at John Thompson III and Georgetown. They have a lot more athletes on their team than us this year (and last year too) and they're coming off a Final Four year. Georgetown makes it very clear that they're not in it to run up and down. They'll run when the situation presents itself, but most everything else is set plays and good ball movement (something we don't have due to our guard play). Same can be said about Wisconsin and Washington State.

Also, it's incredibly difficult to play up-tempo at all when most teams will put token pressure on us full court knowing that we have weak guard play. Teams are actually trying to slow us down even more! Until our guards get more comfortable out there and until we decide that we want to own the boards every game, we will have very few opportunities to run and we'll struggle.

jbhtexas · 12-07-2007, 07:55 PM

Originally Posted by isuno1fan

I agree with Sullivan and said the exact same thing in another thread yesterday. GMAC's system is not set up to work with tremendous athletes. It is a system you use to win if you don't have the athletic talent because, if run successfully, it gives you a chance to win. The problem is athletes don't do well in this system. When Jake said he needs more UNI type players, he was right on...they are suited for this system. Great athletes will never succeed in what we are trying to run IMO. This is a big problem and will continue to be.

**If** GMac's system can't work with great athletes, then ISU is never going to be more than a middle-of-the pack Big 12 team under him. To win the Big 12, a team needs athletic talent, and a system that can utilize that athletic talent.

As for Jake Sullivan's comments, he is a knowledgeable guy, and certainly welcome to his opinion. However, if what he says is true, either the system will adapt to fit the abilities of the existing players, or we will see more departures from the team.

I will say this...when ISU loses to Drake by 30+ points, something is wrong beyond injuries and the natural stuff that happens subsequent to a coaching change. There is a disconnect between coach and players right now, and I just hope GMac can figure it out, preferably before tomorrow afternoon.

Incyte · 12-07-2007, 08:04 PM

The notion that you can't win with a half-court system is crazy. I shutter to think what GMac would have done with Alford's Iowa team that lost to Northwestern state. Those players would fit his system very well. I don't think they were incredibly "athletic."

CTAClone · 12-07-2007, 08:04 PM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

**If** GMac's system can't work with great athletes, then ISU is never going to be more than a middle-of-the pack Big 12 team under him. To win the Big 12, a team needs athletic talent, and a system that can utilize that athletic talent.

As for Jake Sullivan's comments, he is a knowledgeable guy, and certainly welcome to his opinion. However, if what he says is true, either the system will adapt to fit the abilities of the existing players, or we will see more departures from the team.

I will say this...when ISU loses to Drake by 30+ points, something is wrong beyond injuries and the natural stuff that happens subsequent to a coaching change. There is a disconnect between coach and players right now, and I just hope GMac can figure it out.

Can I say "WAKE UP CALL"

I thought there was a realization for the team against Oregon State that GMac system works. Unfortunately, it didn't show itself in the Drake game. Hopefully, the drake game will be the best thing that ever happened to the team this season.

leg4cy · 12-07-2007, 08:11 PM

We need Jacy Holloway to have some kids and send them to ISU.

Sioux_Per_Cy · 12-07-2007, 08:12 PM

So what makes Jake such a great basketball analyst wohom we should take such great stock in?

CyRocket · 12-07-2007, 08:43 PM

I'm a big Sullivan fan but I would not say that he is the end all as to how to play BB. It was said that he knows best because he has his own AAU team. Well coach Mac has his "own" Big 12 team. Where does that put him on the pecking order. If we are going to compete with the top teams we cannot compete by playing their game as they will always have better players. We need to beat them by playing our game with less talent. That is the reality of the situation. It would be nice if it wasn't true but it is. We need to be calm and let things work out. Calling for the return to the "good old days" won't make it happen.

EggMcClone · 12-07-2007, 08:48 PM

There's a lot of points I wanted to respond to so this might jump all over the place...

The answer is definitely NOT recruiting "UNI athletes." Even if it's run well that's a plan to get to the NIT most years and the NCAA sometimes. It may have done better than that at UNI but the Big 12 is not the MVC. There are teams that have success running set plays, etc but they do it by having great athletes running it. UCLA has guards that can create their own shot and can work it down low into a future lottery pick. We a) don't have a consistent outside shooter and b) don't play the only guard that can penetrate.

I don't think we should read too much into all of this like the "players don't want to run his system" and I don't think anyone is asking to be run and gun but we have to adapt to what we have. However, if we do have more guards transfer I might just give up...