Building For The Future

Jeremy · 02-11-2008, 11:54 AM

Building For The Future - Foundation Is The Key
CycloneFanatic.com
Jeremy Lind

With over half of the conference slate behind us, let's take a look at where we are in the rebuilding process and how we stack up to expectations.

We all know the endless list of things that haven't happened to the Iowa State Men's Basketball program over the past several years to put us in the biggest hole we've probably ever been in so I'm not going to rehash those here. Instead, I'm going to talk about where we are in the process and try to show everybody that we're right where we should be and right where most of us expected us to be at this time.

Coach McDermott came into a program that didn't just have bare cupboards, it pretty much didn't have a kitchen. After some recruiting steals and diamonds in the rough by way of Wesley Johnson, Lucca Staiger and Craig Brackins, McDermott and staff started to build a foundation that could lead to future building and further growth. While we're still to see Lucca play in any games, it's clear to all of us that have seen him play that he's a great player and even better competitor. Recruiting is a slow and meticulous process of gaining the trust and respect of not only potential players, but also coaches and contacts all around the country that can help in the recruiting process in the future. So far the staff has proven they can recruit with anybody and have already gone up against the top teams in the country. We haven't come out on top against those top tier teams yet, but on the recruiting side of things we're already ahead of schedule by even being considered with those other teams. The coups will come but it takes time to get to that level.

With a core of Johnson, Staiger, Brackins and Garrett to build around, the foundation is looking pretty good. It obviously takes more than that to be competitive on a consistent basis but the foundation is just that; a foundation, not an entire building. With some of the role players coming in over the next couple years, not to mention some possible additional steals, the staff has us well positioned to continue to build towards a complete roster of dedicated kids that have a high basketball IQ and bring the skills to the table to make a run towards the conference crown on a consistent basis. Remember, we're Iowa State, not Kansas - we have to start out with a foundation before we can build a cathedral.

Coming into the season I had predicted 15 wins, we're currently 13-11 overall and 3-6 in conference play. We have 7 games remaining with a couple being potential wins and a few more that are a toss-up. I never expected us to be in the top half of the conference this year and knew we'd struggle against what is a seriously strong conference. Of course we all want to win and win now, but that's not how you build a legit program. You can either win now and for a short time or you can win later and for a long time into the future. It just doesn't work any other way in the real world.

Much like Iowa State Football, the basketball program is being built from the inside out. Instead of risking the future of the programs by bringing in thugs or only transfer players, the programs are focusing on quality kids that have dedication to being the best they can be and that will in turn create a foundation of trust, dedication and then eventually success. One of the biggest keys to a successful program is a consistent level of players coming and going. By bringing in kids that want to compete and succeed, the coaches can stop the flow of departures that have long plagued our programs and caused us further problems with having to fill those spots with kids we would otherwise not be looking at. You have to work from the inside out or you'll never get that core built - that's something our coaches and athletic director understand far better than some of our fans, unfortunately.

This past Saturday we saw a scrappy Iowa State squad that realistically doesn't have the skill to beat many teams, almost pull out a victory against a top 15 team on television. We could try blaming the refs for losing that game (as they were a huge part of it) but realistically that's a Texas team that Iowa State should never have been close to hanging with. Do you think any other coach would have had a better game plan and brought the kids out ready to play any better than McDermott? He might not have the most athletic or offensively talented kids to work with but he's doing a superb job given the circumstances. Sure it would have been an awesome win to get but don't for a second kid yourself into thinking that it was a must win game. In the real world no single game matters in the grand scheme of building a program. Upsets can certainly help, but they don't define the direction of a program and they don't determine the fate of a coaching staff.

As we get closer to closing out the season, let's try and keep a few things in perspective. We are who we thought we were. We're a team of scrappy, under-sized and not highly recruited kids that is working their butt off every game. You can question individual contributions in any given game but you cannot question the overall effort this team is putting forth. You can question their talent level but you cannot question the work ethic, dedication or desire each of these kids has to make Iowa State a better program. Sure we'd all like more wins but in the end it's important to realize that if we want Hilton to become our cathedral, we have to build a solid foundation so it doesn't come crumbling down again.

cyismydog · 02-11-2008, 11:57 AM

Great article Jeremy. I agree 100%

CycloneWanderer · 02-11-2008, 12:01 PM

Very good article!

jdoggivjc · 02-11-2008, 12:27 PM

Yet another high quality post. You must own a website somewhere or something...

I just wish that this would resonate and sink in to the doubters on this site. However, they will probably largely ignore your post and continue demanding wins now.

ajk4st8 · 02-11-2008, 12:31 PM

Good post. Cant wait until we can have a great group of Jrs and Sr guards

CycloneWarrior · 02-11-2008, 12:40 PM

bring in more thugs. Lol. Mike Taylor was a beast to bad he didn't have any common sense

CY ST8T · 02-11-2008, 01:24 PM

Sean Haluska is starting to be who we saw this summer! Good times ahead!!!

isugcs · 02-11-2008, 01:30 PM

I'm a fan who after 6 years of schooling at ISU has not seen a top 15 finish in either FB or BB and a lot of turmoil. I want wins now. However, I am devoted to this university and understand it takes time (I know it's been said many times before). Once we do win some conference championships, we can all look back and remember the process it required and have a sense of self satisfaction that we stuck with it, which will make success that much more sweet. Good article Jeremy.

clonomaniac · 02-11-2008, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Do you think any other coach would have had a better game plan and brought the kids out ready to play any better than McDermott?

Yes, I do.

Other than that, I agree with most what you said on here.

drum1306 · 02-11-2008, 01:43 PM

Nice article Jeremy. It's nice to get some semblance of reason in amongst all the pessimism.

AirWalke · 02-11-2008, 02:12 PM

We've had two opportunities to thwart two Top 10 teams in overtime. I'm sorry, but fool me once, shame on... Shame on... Fool me's not gonna get fooled again!

All kidding aside, I probably enjoy watching basketball more than I like watching football, and I will always be behind this team. I'd like to see them return to the NCAAs someday, but I'm willing to wait for the right players to come in and make that happen. McD has the right stuff... I don't think were any more talented than we were last year... And assuming no one gets unfairly banned from playing or leaves the team, next year is going to be HUGE!

kingcy · 02-11-2008, 02:59 PM

Good stuff.

I hate to what could have been but; if this team has one more shooter on it this year (Lucca or Taylor) they could be 6-3 in conference play. Heck how many more preconference game would they have won with just one of those two. Think about it.

cyclonewino · 02-12-2008, 08:05 AM

If we could of had both Mike and Lucca, and if Wes and Jiri would have been 100% - much better team and results. NIT easily and maybe a bubble team.

guitarchitect7 · 02-12-2008, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by cyclonewino

If we could of had both Mike and Lucca, and if Wes and Jiri would have been 100% - much better team and results. NIT easily and maybe a bubble team.

I don't mean to harp on you here, but I think this article was just the point of getting over those would've, could've, and should've. Its great to be optimistic and think positively in the light of things, but to converse over something that never was sets everyone up for faliure. Of course, thats what sports talk is all about, those what if situations.

I think its great that the article outlines the "Foundation" of things that this program is going through. I think in the mist of excitment, most fans forget that this is still just the beginning.

When taking over a team, I think the program goes through three or more stages to come back to the existance that it was. Re-group, Re-build, and Re-concur.

Re-group. This is the time for the coach to gather his troups. They've been defeated, and maybe even depleated of the troops that were once a team. That doesn't matter though as its up to those who stick around to make the most out of the situation. Become the next cinderella story and pave the way for a new tradition of hard work, dedication, and perseverance that will rally the young men that want to play for maybe not the most athlectic, but the one with the most honor. This may last one or two years depending on the circumstance given. The sooner you do this, the sooner you can move forward to the next stage.

Re-Build. I've always enjoyed this part. The time that brings hope and ambition into those who've given up. The fans, the players, and the school begin to believe once again that settling for faliure is nevermore. The key those is to understand that it's only a foundation. It will take multiple years of this stage to transition into what is suppose to be the ride of your life.

Re-Concur. Now comes the fun part. The time where Distract 5 becomes the MIGHTY DUCKS. Where boys become men and begin to believe that they can rise again to be one of the best of the best. Iowa State has had a taste of this before, but not enough to even say we've quinched our thirst. This may take quite a few year, but to even be competitive once again is enough to statisfy the most hungry fan for the time being.

klerme · 02-12-2008, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by Jeremy

Building For The Future - Foundation Is The Key
CycloneFanatic.com
Jeremy Lind

This past Saturday we saw a scrappy Iowa State squad that realistically doesn't have the skill to beat many teams, almost pull out a victory against a top 15 team on television. We could try blaming the refs for losing that game (as they were a huge part of it) but realistically that's a Texas team that Iowa State should never have been close to hanging with. Do you think any other coach would have had a better game plan and brought the kids out ready to play any better than McDermott? He might not have the most athletic or offensively talented kids to work with but he's doing a superb job given the circumstances.

As we get closer to closing out the season, let's try and keep a few things in perspective. We are who we thought we were. We're a team of scrappy, under-sized and not highly recruited kids that is working their butt off every game. You can question individual contributions in any given game but you cannot question the overall effort this team is putting forth. You can question their talent level but you cannot question the work ethic, dedication or desire each of these kids has to make Iowa State a better program. Sure we'd all like more wins but in the end it's important to realize that if we want Hilton to become our cathedral, we have to build a solid foundation so it doesn't come crumbling down again.

Although your sentiment is appreciated, the "we are just ISU" rationale only makes it more difficult for us to achieve the success we want. I, for one, believe that we do have talent on this team and don't believe it is fair to players like Rahshon and Jiri to discount their abilities as basketball players. Moreover, we are not an "under-sized" team. Drake would qualify as an under-sized team. Our Kenny Pratt as PF team was undersized. When Rancik and Shirley were injured and Stevie was our PF in our championship year, we were undersized. This year's line-up which includes starters at 6-11, 6-10, 6-7, 6-6 and 6-1 with a bench of 6-10 and 6-4 first off the bench is not under-sized, and on top of that, two of those players have 40 in. verticals. In fact, other than T A&M and KU, we have more size in our starting line-ups than any team we face. I know we have issues at PG, but contrary to public opinion, I remember watching us win when we had a PG that merely managed the game (Jacy Holloway). The key to winning is in the details, and we have one main detail area we are lacking. Rebounding - despite the obvious height advantage we have and the fact we play mostly man-to-man defense, our rebounding is poor and is the main reason we haven't pulled out the upsets that everyone is hoping for. Even more telling in this stat is that we don't front the post of the opposing team, so our players should always have the opportunity to get great position for the rebound. Unfortunately, they don't. This is a toughness issue as other than Rahshon, I rarely see our players attacking rebounding on the defensive end and it shows in the overall stats.

Of the 17 games we have played against bigger conferences (B12, B10, Pac-10, SEC, and MVC) we have only won the rebounding battle 3 times. We have been tied on two occasions and within 1 rebound of our opponent on two other occasions. Our record in those 7 games is 6-1. Our record in the other 10 games that we have been outrebounded by more than 1 rebound - 0-10. The other stat of note - we have only held our opponents to less than 10 offensive boards in 3 of those games and give up an average of more than 12 offensive rebounds per game in those 17. If we dedicate ourselves to taking care of this detail and continue working hard on the court, we will win the games we are currently losing.