More Unsolicited Advice for Next year

[Enginerd]

This year was a mulligan...I get that. Next year is the first official year of the McDermott era. It pains me to admit that considering the state of Big 12 basketball and what McDermott gets paid.

First of all, no more 22 point losses on our home court to teams less talented than we are and no more wood shed beatings regardless of team and rank. No more excuses. The NCAA tournament is probably not a realistic expectation next year but separating ourselves from bottom feeders is. Hell, the NIT actaully means something now.

Michael Taylor - O.K. He may be the only guy capable of creating his own shot and there may be a little Troy Davis factor involved but enough. No more shots five seconds into the shot clock that we can get at anytime in a possession. Turnovers have to go whether he is playing his natural position or not. Make the team better not the margin of loss. BTW, thanks for the effort this year.

Rahshon Clark - This guy has to be a bigger part of the offense. This is on both him and the coach. Too much natural ability for a good coach not to utilize. He needs to slash and shoot. He did little of either this year. His leadership and defense deserves recognition but ISU needs more from him.

Wesley Johnson - The only way this kid's potential will be reached is if he hits the weight room and develops an inside game. His game is great for a freshman but not a sophmore. Learn how to bang and quit camping out at the three point line. In case you haven't noticed teams are willing to give you that shot.

Cory McIntosh - Signs of improvement but your job will be up for grabs. Get stronger and learn how to count to five. Keep improving your dribble penetration and you'll be a hero.

Ross Mardsen - Most important player for next year's team. His contribution is critical. Maybe grow your hair out and get a tattoo. I don't know if you were sick or soft but I suggest looking up Jared Homan and offering to be his prison wife during the off season.

Jiri Hubalek - Most improved player of the year. Great to see him buy into McDermott which is a credit to both Jiri and McDermott. Offense has to go through him and he needs to deliver. Continue to get tougher.

Dodie Dunson - If you are going to be a specialist then you have to be special. Move into a gym this summer.

Cory Johnson - Get bigger and get meaner.

Brock Jacobsen - C'mon man. You gotta make a few shots. We are dying to love you.

All Newcomers - Unlike the rest of my Belove Cyclone family you are nothing until you prove it on the floor. There are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this team. ISU is a point guard and power forward away from competing. Get in there and beat some guys out.

Greg McDermott - Honeymoon over big boy. Invest in this program. Live and die by wins and losses. Get a techinical. Insult a ref. Physically abuse a player. Date a cheerleader. Start acting like your existence depends on a win over Iowa and Kansas. And for crying in a bucket, no more purple or any other none ISU colors. Your shirt ties are red and gold only.

This seems a bit on the negative side. Trust me, I drink ISU kool aid by the keg. I just think this team and coach has tons of potential. That and I've had a few pops tonight and I am sick of living in enemy territory.

[Cyclone62]

This year was a mulligan...I get that. Next year is the first official year of the McDermott era. It pains me to admit that considering the state of Big 12 basketball and what McDermott gets paid.

First of all, no more 22 point losses on our home court to teams less talented than we are and no more wood shed beatings regardless of team and rank. No more excuses. The NCAA tournament is probably not a realistic expectation next year but separating ourselves from bottom feeders is. Hell, the NIT actaully means something now.

Michael Taylor - O.K. He may be the only guy capable of creating his own shot and there may be a little Troy Davis factor involved but enough. No more shots five seconds into the shot clock that we can get at anytime in a possession. Turnovers have to go whether he is playing his natural position or not. Make the team better not the margin of loss. BTW, thanks for the effort this year.

Rahshon Clark - This guy has to be a bigger part of the offense. This is on both him and the coach. Too much natural ability for a good coach not to utilize. He needs to slash and shoot. He did little of either this year. His leadership and defense deserves recognition but ISU needs more from him.

Wesley Johnson - The only way this kid's potential will be reached is if he hits the weight room and develops an inside game. His game is great for a freshman but not a sophmore. Learn how to bang and quit camping out at the three point line. In case you haven't noticed teams are willing to give you that shot.

Cory McIntosh - Signs of improvement but your job will be up for grabs. Get stronger and learn how to count to five. Keep improving your dribble penetration and you'll be a hero.

Ross Mardsen - Most important player for next year's team. His contribution is critical. Maybe grow your hair out and get a tattoo. I don't know if you were sick or soft but I suggest looking up Jared Homan and offering to be his prison wife during the off season.

Jiri Hubalek - Most improved player of the year. Great to see him buy into McDermott which is a credit to both Jiri and McDermott. Offense has to go through him and he needs to deliver. Continue to get tougher.

Dodie Dunson - If you are going to be a specialist then you have to be special. Move into a gym this summer.

Cory Johnson - Get bigger and get meaner.

Brock Jacobsen - C'mon man. You gotta make a few shots. We are dying to love you.

All Newcomers - Unlike the rest of my Belove Cyclone family you are nothing until you prove it on the floor. There are plenty of opportunities to contribute to this team. ISU is a point guard and power forward away from competing. Get in there and beat some guys out.

Greg McDermott - Honeymoon over big boy. Invest in this program. Live and die by wins and losses. Get a techinical. Insult a ref. Physically abuse a player. Date a cheerleader. Start acting like your existence depends on a win over Iowa and Kansas. And for crying in a bucket, no more purple or any other none ISU colors. Your shirt ties are red and gold only.

This seems a bit on the negative side. Trust me, I drink ISU kool aid by the keg. I just think this team and coach has tons of potential. That and I've had a few pops tonight and I am sick of living in enemy territory.

OK, I'm going to respond to a few players, and GMac, and hopefully that's it. First of all, not making the NCAA tourney shouldn't have been an "excuse."
Very few coaches, in any sport, do well with players they don't want/don't match their style.
Secondly, Wesley didn't shoot the 3 much until late into the season (when most frosh hit their slump). I'll excuse that. He does need to get into the weightroom though. BULK UP WES!
I don't think Marsden is the "most important player on next years team." That role is reserved for Jiri and Rhashon.
Finally, GMac. His existance at ISU does NOT revolve around wins against KU and EIU. If we go 0-3 in those games, and make the Elite 8, all of use SHOULD be happy. I see them as rivals, but not as make-or-break wins. That's why Iowa has held onto Alford in my opinion, he has a winning record against us (I'm almost positive). His ability to coach and improve our program goes beyond those two schools. With the change in Jiri throughout this season, we all see that he can coach, and make us competetive, even with players that don't fit his desire.

[herbiedoobie]

Good post, Enginerd. This year WAS a Mulligan, and everyone with a clue knows that. I look forward to Coach MAC moving forward with this team. Thanks for laying it out so succinctly.

[BryceC]

Was that a serious post? No, you're right, we should just totally ask players to do things that they aren't capable of and McD should change his personality. Sheesh.

[Cyclonesrule91]

Man, who peed in your oatmeal today

[ISUFan22]

Sometimes I was nodding my head reading this. Other times I was scratching it in confusion.

Oh....I had Captain Crunch this morning for breakfast.

[CYdTracked]

Yeah I was a little confused about some of the stuff. First off, it's no secret some of our players need to hit the weights this offseason. While Wesley could use some added bulk, he is not going to be a post player. He's a wing player that will cut to the basket or create off the dribble but he's not a guy that's going to be posting up with his back to the basket a whole lot.

Clark's biggest problem is he can't dribble the ball. If he could dribble to the hoop he'd be a nice option on offense but he basically has to be able to get a clear path to a layup/dunk or an open jumper to do much on offense right now. He is probably our best defender and if we can find some more scoring he doesn't need to provide us with 15ppg to be effective.

Cory Johnson is already 230 I thought, probably heaviest on the team. He's a little vertically challenged as a true center at 6-7 but I think he could be a nice 4 or 3 tweener kind of player. Especially if we get better post play next season he'd be more free to spread the floor and spot up for some 15 foot jumpers maybe.

Gaurd play will need to improve but I would hope that between all of them working hard in the offseason and getting a couple true point gaurds in that will go a long way.

And I don't see anything wrong wrong with Mac. He had limited talent to work with this season, had to implement a new system, and also feel out the style of Big 12 basketball just like everyone else had to. He has a great recruiting class coming in and you could see the progress throughout the season that a nice foundation has been laid. The fact we finished where we did was pretty amazing I thought considering we lost a bunch of players and had to find guys late in the recruiting stage.

[rlegg928]

Sometimes I was nodding my head reading this. Other times I was scratching it in confusion.

Oh....I had Captain Crunch this morning for breakfast.

Yeah, the Crunch Berries will do that to you, I switched to Peanut Butter Crunch a while back and it changed my life.

[Oldgeezer]

What an arrogant egotistical post! Just drinking a lot of beer and still being able to find your computer key board doesn't make you a basketball genius. Do you really think the players are coming here to learn how to get better?

[Cyclonesrule91]

What an arrogant egotistical post! Just drinking a lot of beer and still being able to find your computer key board doesn't make you a basketball genius. Do you really think the players are coming here to learn how to get better?

That's hilarious, instead of beer muscles, he got beer brains

Hopefully his day gets better then it was when this was typed.

[CyCloned]

Why is the NCAA tourney unrealistic? It might look unlikely from what happened this year, but I expect the Cyclones to have enough players and coaching to be in the dance next year. A lot can happen between now and next season and I think GMAC has a plan to make it to the NCAAs next year. The guy can coach and knows how to win games with less talent.

[Wesley]

All the analysis aside, this time has to get much better before they are NIT material. #130 Sagarin says we are a majopr conference bottom feeder. We can go NIT/NCAA next year or the following year. otherwise we have not improved our lot. Yes we have great coach and nice players, but, at the end of the day, did you win? We need to be better than .500 ball as our conference mates are upping the bar. Air Force, Winthrop, UNLV, and A&M upped their bar. We need to aspire to be mentally tougher next year at end of games. 15-16 was probably good for our current cast, but we do not have time to dilly dally next year. Bob Huggins is coming in with number one recruiting class. Doc Sadler is never satisfuied with his lot. The only soft touch next year appears to be Colorado who will get a new coach. The last recruit was a strong reflection that muscular big 12 guards may be needed. Poor Corey McI trying to dribble through the lane this year showed the need to bulk up with muscles.

[brianhos]

Sometimes I was nodding my head reading this. Other times I was scratching it in confusion.

Oh....I had Captain Crunch this morning for breakfast.

Captain crunch? What are you 10? Heh.

[psycln11]

Captain crunch? What are you 10? Heh.

brrianhos goes straight for the fermented hops for breakfast!!

[thrillcat]

I really HOPE nobody is cutting on Cap'n Crunch (remember folks, there's no tai in that word).

******. Sugar cereal is the best part about having kids. It's the perfect excuse.