Jake Sullivan on KXNO talking ISU BB

**Drive4cy** · 12-07-2007, 07:54 PM

I didn't understand the "UNI athletes would be better in the system" comment, either. If the system is good(which it is) then it would seem obvious that if you plug a higher caliber player into that same system that you become an even better team. Plus, Gmac is yet to have a good PG run his system here. It's not like he needs a Jamaal Tinsley or anything, I'd settle for Will Blalock, Tim Barnes, an experienced Garrett/Buckley, Ben Jacobson,etc. Until we get decent point guard play I'm not going to judge Gmac. A good PG, similar to a good QB can make a big difference.

**isufbcurt** · 12-07-2007, 07:54 PM

I love it... A former player for ISU basketball player comes out and states his opinion of what is going on with ISU basketball and the internet posters, many of whom probably never were any good at basketball or never even played organized ball question his basketball analysis.

Got to love message boards and people who think they know more than someone who successfully played the game.

Humerous

**Drive4cy** · 12-07-2007, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by isufbcurt

I love it... A former player for ISU basketball player comes out and states his opinion of what is going on with ISU basketball and the internet posters, many of whom probably never were any good at basketball or never even played organized ball question his basketball analysis.

Got to love message boards and people who think they know more than someone who successfully played the game.

Humerous

I agree. He definitely has credibility. Personally, I loved getting his insight on the situation and appreciated his honesty. It was refreshing.

**kuney1** · 12-07-2007, 07:57 PM

I think with our guards if we tried to run more it would only result in 30 turnovers a game.

**Harry** · 12-07-2007, 08:02 PM

We don't need J. Holloway. We need the other four very good players that were good enough to win despite a mediocre point gaurd. Put Holloway on this team and were still bad. If Cato is in the middle and Willouby is drilling in threes I like our chances whichever of our gaurds are on the court.

**ISUChippewa** · 12-07-2007, 08:10 PM

It seems to me that before we can decide what type of system and tempo McDermott should play with the team, we should get some players who are capable of playing Big 12-caliber basketball first, and then worry about whether we should run or play half-court or whatever. Based on what I've read about so far this season, we don't have Division I caliber guards yet. We barely did last season with Taylor, McIntosh (whom I think the team might be missing more than anyone, frankly), and Dunson. Without any of those three, well, you guys have seen the team play more than I have....

**kingcy** · 12-07-2007, 08:22 PM

You have to remember who did the interview, he may have lead Jake astray a bit. WM was also well liked my his players, so that maybe part of it. Jake does know BB, but Mac has said they will use a faster pace when all the pieces are in place. What will make this system work is a pure 3 point shooter (like Jake was). That maybe the UNI type player Jake was talking about. If Mac has the great BB mind everyone says he has he will figure out a way to make his system work with the players he has and if he needs to he will speed it up. Brackins and Garrett have played 7 games and they are still getting a grip on playing, lets give them a chance before we throw the system out. Brackins does have a couple 20+ point games so the system must work somehow. Didnt Floyd and LE run a slower system? Jake is a great guy but Mac was Gary Thompson's choice for the job and I think Gary knows a thing or two more about the game and has been around a lot more coaches than Jake.

**snowcraig2.0** · 12-07-2007, 08:23 PM

I am just going to say this. Did any of you here play with any of our basketball players while at the rec center in college? They are supremely talented athletes. However, many of them had absolutely no idea how to play the game, even the upperclassmen. Playing the game in college doesn't necessarily preclude a great knowledge of the game. I am not saying this is the case with Jake, but it is something to keep in mind.

**Kyle** · 12-07-2007, 08:34 PM

Players don't exist on a continuum from bad to great. There are many different aspects to a players game, including defense, rebounding, shooting, dribbling, passing, and knowledge of the game. There are many more and the ones I mentioned can be broken down even further. Teams are good when the players complement each other and work well in the system being utilized.

Jake makes some sense in that certain types of players fit better in McDermott's system. The first thing that comes to mind is that his players at UNI could shoot the three, and this strikes me as something that is important in his system. The best three point shooter on the team right now appears to be a hobbled Wesley Johnson.

Eventually we will start seeing more players that fit into Mac's system. I don't want him to sell out that system now because in a few years it will pay dividends when our junior and senior players know and have been playing in that system for a few years.

**jbhtexas** · 12-07-2007, 09:02 PM

Originally Posted by CyRocket

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.

You could take that approach if you are content with being the 6th place team in the Big 12 year in and year out. Somehow, I expect that ADJP has higher expectations than that. ISU got Brackins; what makes you think that ISU can't get other highly touted recruits like him? Wesley Johnson is no slouch either...

**Wesley** · 12-07-2007, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by 83Clone

Garrett and Brackins were recruited by GMac, so I'm a bit miffed at the comment that "they don't want to play his style".

Who's "style" do you reckon they thought they were going to play??????

It is no secret that Carr and Stinnett did not want to play the Rick Carlisle/McD style. I can see where Btackins can run the court and do better. Frankly, Jake is right on the mark. If we had Lafester Rhhodes this year for the Iowa game, he would only score 4 points.

The only way McD system will work if you have 2 or 3 guards who can make 15-25 ft jumpers regularly so it opens up the other players. Watch the old UNI games and you will see that UNI was good only when their guards carried some load. Now we have the ultimate mismatch where the guards are not shooting shinola.

McD will not change his syetm to accommodate the players. He will have to wit for Wes Eckmeier and Harrison Barnes to really make it gop.

Heck, Bill Callahan insissted on west coast offense until the fans gave up on him.

That is why Paul Johnson is so well respected - he takes the players he has and used them to the best that he can.

So, we either have the players support the system or they go through the motions. How many appear to support the system now?

**jamesfnb** · 12-07-2007, 09:47 PM

EVERY basketball team needs good guard play. Not just McDermont's system. They need to hit jumpers to open up the big guys down low. We don't have very good guards at the moment. We are one dimensional with Brackins down low. Similar to being one dimensional in football. If you can't pass the ball the D loads up in the box and stuffs the run. If you have bad guards who can't shoot, load up down low and cover the big men.

It's not rocket science. Iowa State baskeball will be good when who ever the coach is and whatever system he runs puts together the whole package of talent.

And yes I played basketball in high school and Jr. College so I'm somewhat qualified but not really.

McDermont is the man. He will be successful at I-State.

**jamesfnb** · 12-07-2007, 09:51 PM

To say McD's system only works with unathletic white guys like it sounds like a lot of you are saying is just crazy talk to me. Is McD's "system" much different than Knights, Kzychevskie (how the heck do you spell that?), and Donovan? They all have similar "systems" with stud athletes.

Watching McD's teams over the years, he adjusts his style slightly based on what kind of athletes he has on the floor. If they are unathletic and can't create their own shot, more plays are run. If they are more athletic, McD still runs the plays but tells his guys to create their own shot, take it to the hole, etc if they have the ability.

I-State needs better guard play BAD. You'd be surprised how big of an impact good/bad guard play has. JC Holloway was much better than peopel give him credit for. He could run the show. He was no Tinsley though obviously.

**Wesley** · 12-07-2007, 10:06 PM

Wes Eckmeier will light it up next year. For the record, we shoot 26% from 3 point land and make 16 turnovers a game. We can get so much better. The biggest dropoff is Wesley rebounding going from 8 down to 2 a game this year. That is okay, Alex will make up the difference.

**CyRocket** · 12-07-2007, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

You could take that approach if you are content with being the 6th place team in the Big 12 year in and year out. Somehow, I expect that ADJP has higher expectations than that. ISU got Brackins; what makes you think that ISU can't get other highly touted recruits like him? Wesley Johnson is no slouch either...

You completely misunderstood my comments. I said that we would never be able to recruit with the top schools( Duke, North Carolina, Kansas). But we can win if we have the proper players for the system. Yes at one time we had Fizer and Tinsley but they were teamed with Paul Shirley, Johnson ect. They did not compare with the McDonald All-Americans on the top teams but we won with the right system. We can do it again, but we will not have a team of all-stars. I'm sorry if you think that is settling for second best. I see it as seeing things the way they are. The reality of life.