ISU MBB

Jeremy · 02-27-2008, 04:37 PM

CycloneFanatic.com
Jeremy Lind

I just wanted to quickly touch on the MBB program and where I think we're headed going into the future. This will be brief but hopefully it'll help a few people grasp what is going on. I wanted to use the Kansas game as an example to highlight the differences between having an overabundance of talent and having mostly walk-ons and role players.

ISU has several key players on the roster playing quality minutes that will pay big dividends in the future. With Garrett and Lee being fed to the wolves early on, there's a chance that both could be solid players over the coming years. Where Garrett really could have benefited from a redshirt year, I think it's obvious that he's starting to grow in certain areas, although he still needs to get bigger and use his head a bit more. Lee is a great defender and his shot is starting to form. He probably won't ever be a starter but he's certainly going to give us quality minutes. Boozer is another player that very much could have benefited from a year of growth, but we know that wasn't an option. If the growth continues, all three players should be able to see some playing time in the coming years.

With a lack of a big force on the inside after this year, Iowa State is most likely going to be a quicker/smaller team that plays a little more up-tempo. If Staiger finds his shot early next season, there's no reason ISU can't average 70-75pts per game. A lot depends on how well Wesley gets back to being 100% every game and how quickly Brackins finds his inner mean-streak and takes the ball to the basket with more muscle. If Diante can get himself under control when driving and dishing, we should have three solid scorers with experience and Lucca coming in with a lot to prove. Throw in a few of the current role players like Haluska, Johnson and Peterson and you have a decent group on which to build.

As Iowa State enters next season with some new players, namely guards, they enter an era of consistency. The main goal going forward is going to be retaining players and building on the foundation that has been poured. We're not going to win 30 games next year, but we will be better and we will be more consistent. We might struggle to win 20 games, but we'll be much more experienced, albeit still below the conference average. If Wes E. comes in playing like he has been in HS, we should benefit greatly from the faster pace. If we get a post player, either via the HS or JUCCO routes, that can come in and play quality minutes every game, we should be able to pull out a few games that we let slip away this season. Besides Kansas and Texas, no other team really seems to be extremely deep for next year and beyond. A lot of our success will depend on things that we can't control but such is life.

The coaching staff is working their butts off trying to get the best players to help Iowa State succeed. We saw them go to the wire with Kansas and Kentucky on a recent recruit and one of these days that work is going to pay off. Even if we don't get a good starting guard this spring, which we're less likely to now, I think the future is still looking good. The staff knows that it's better to bank scholarships rather than waste them on unproven prospects and they won't be afraid to hold off on bringing in kids just to fill spots. There are a couple quality guard and post prospects still out there but if we're unable to secure a strong commitment, look for the staff to hold on to the remaining scholarships.

In essence... If we can get all our players to return and get another body or two down low, we should be a solid team that finishes in the middle of the pack. We're not going to blow anybody out of the water, but we should be able to win a few more games that we weren't able to finish this year. There will be some growing pains and some hiccups along the way, but overall we should be in a good position to move forward with our heads held high. We were a good program in the late 90's and early 00's but right now we're about average with the history of Iowa State Men's Basketball. The true fun begins in a couple years when the foundation has success built on top of it and we become a consistently great program. Even when we were a good program, it wasn't always consistent, especially outside of Hilton, but the time is coming where the hard work, patience and dedication pays off. Let's knock of the grin of the JayHawks tonight and make the road a tad bit easier to see for those that still question the coaching staff.

snowcraig2.0 · 02-27-2008, 04:40 PM

I am optimistic for next year, but man, that's allot of 'ifs'....

Jeremy · 02-27-2008, 04:44 PM

That's exactly the point. This isn't a cut and dry type of business and it takes a few good breaks falling your way - something we haven't yet. It's just a matter of time and you hit the nail on the head with your comment.

scottie33 · 02-27-2008, 04:47 PM

Jeremy, I like your thinking! Its been a rough 2 years trying to build a foundation, when that foundation you are trying to build keeps failing ya. We have the fanbase to support our foundation and once that foundation is created we can start working up from there!

hfour · 02-27-2008, 04:51 PM

I don't really want to argue with you, but we aren't going have enough inside presence next year. Hubalek is doing a great job this year. Hopefully I am wrong. I hate to say it, but it looks like Nebraska has a good coach in Doc Sadler. They are at the same rebuilding point We are and they are definitely getting more out of their team. Three wins against the top 25 looks pretty good.

KMAC_ATTACK · 02-27-2008, 05:02 PM

Jeremy, so true, talked with a co-worker thats very "In" the know with the MBB and even though i'm ripping the tempo, the excitement, the athletic ability, the coaching he responds with something very similar to your comments. He has heard from the program that they were recruiting Garrett as a redshirt or minimal amount of minutes when the recruiting process was underway. Who knew the NCAA was going to railroad Staiger, who knew that Taylor was going to be a moron and get kicked off the team. How good would this team be with those two guys....Mike Taylor could make a huge difference with this team, what were lacking the most imo is an outside scorer - not a shooter, but a legitimate scorer and that was definitely Taylors strength.....His game with this team alone would have us 3-4 more wins.

I really look at our guards coming in next year with Wes and Dominique and we have some serious talent at the PG, SG rotating with Garrett and Staiger. Throw in there Peterson and Haluska, the area of concern next year is a big...i really wish we would have scored one of the top tier bigs we went after this recruiting year. Our interior presence will be Thompson and he's been playing better and hopefully another offseason under Gmac will have him playing his best ball as a senior and hopefully turning it over to Evan Anderson (If we get him) for 2010.....

Jeremy, foundation is built on guards, in college you win with guard play, all the great teams have had great guards. We have 6 quality players, we just need 2 to excel next year and take the starting positions and have quality depth. Things will turn around folks, i hope we go to the up tempo game, it helps recruiting big time instead of seeing a stuffy, every time over the midcourt line your setting up a play......i want the up tempo play that right now we cannot run because our talent is not at the level necessary to get away with it......

GMAC, get us a big and a slashing small forward and our team will be coming together just fine, give it time people, give it time......

gocubs2118 · 02-27-2008, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by hfour

I don't really want to argue with you, but we aren't going have enough inside presence next year. Hubalek is doing a great job this year. Hopefully I am wrong. I hate to say it, but it looks like Nebraska has a good coach in Doc Sadler. They are at the same rebuilding point We are and they are definitely getting more out of their team. Three wins against the top 25 looks pretty good.

You don't really need a good inside presence to win. Sure it helps but look at what Illinois did back in 2005. They won a lot of games because of their guards. We need to go to a 3 guard lineup next year with Buckley, Diante and Lucca all starting. Then Wes plays the 4 where he belongs with Craig playing the 5. I think this lineup will give us the best chance to win. No need to have a "center" on the floor if he isn't going to help us win.

isuno1fan · 02-27-2008, 05:18 PM

This program is 50/50 right now. 50% chance it gets righted and takes us back to some consistant success (20 win seasons, upper half B12 finishes), 50% chance it tanks to lows we haven't seen since before Orr arrived.

We need some momentum of any kind heading into next year. If we were to lose out and go out in the first round of the B12 tournament, that would mean finishing the year 1-10. OUCH!!

We desperately need something, anything to go our way in these last 5 or 6 games. Personally, I'm hoping we can finish 2-2 in the last 4 and win at least 1 in the B12 Tournament. That would match last year in conference at 6-10 and finish us overall at 17-16 (above .500).

CycloneWarrior · 02-27-2008, 05:37 PM

It'll get better soon

BryceC · 02-27-2008, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by gocubs2118

You don't really need a good inside presence to win. Sure it helps but look at what Illinois did back in 2005. They won a lot of games because of their guards. We need to go to a 3 guard lineup next year with Buckley, Diante and Lucca all starting. Then Wes plays the 4 where he belongs with Craig playing the 5. I think this lineup will give us the best chance to win. No need to have a "center" on the floor if he isn't going to help us win.

I would agree with this, but it totally depends on Diante getting a lot better and two guys who have never stepped on the court before.

I do like it though, and the potential with that lineup is off the charts.

Jeremy · 02-27-2008, 05:42 PM

You also have to keep in mind that even though the younger generation (myself included) grew up with the great run we had, we still aren't a traditional basketball school. We have been mediocre even during our great times (absent that run with Floyd, Eustachy). What we're seeing now is fairly close to what we were before that time. People need to remember that we aren't a storied program and that the success we envision isn't something that comes easy for us. The staff is working their butts off, the players as well, and we'll get to be a great program with GMac at the helm but it takes far longer when you try to build for sustained success than it does when you try to win immediately but don't think about the future.

zach · 02-27-2008, 06:05 PM

Thanks for a positive yet realistic and well thought summerization of our MBB program. Our best years are yet to come!!!....FB too!

Z

erikbj · 02-27-2008, 06:15 PM

We are starting to sound like Cubs fans. Not is not good, because we know the Cubs never win

Cydkar · 02-27-2008, 06:25 PM

[quote=isuno1fan;383047]This program is 50/50 right now. 50% chance it gets righted and takes us back to some consistant success (20 win seasons, upper half B12 finishes), 50% chance it tanks to lows we haven't seen since before Orr arrived.

I couldn't disagree more. There's a large percentage in the middle (mediocrity) that you are ignoring. Certainly not a goal but a possibility. I think the odds of a tank job are VERY low.

Wesley · 02-27-2008, 06:30 PM

Next yea we need to get more serious in the non confernce schedule if we want to be NIT. We will not win the Big 12 and will be lucky to go 7-9. The key is to beat Bradleys nd Minnesota next year. We need to get a mindset that we wil not be denied also. I think our team looks a little passive in many games and it hurts in the big 12. We need to look more like Jiri and Rashon.