McDermott Looks Ahead To 2008-09

cyismydog · 07-03-2008, 12:42 PM

Iowa State head men’s basketball coach Greg McDermott is beginning his third season with the Cyclones, but it may feel like it’s his first. When he was hired in March of 2006, McDermott was in for a rude awakening. Eight players that were allotted scholarships for the 06-07 campaign left the program, leaving just four returning players from the prior regime.

Despite the adversity, McDermott and his staff led the overachieving Cyclones to a tie for seventh in the league, finishing 15-16 overall and 6-10 in the Big 12.

McDermott figured the 2007-08 Cyclone team would take another step up in his rebuilding project, but again luck was not on ISU’s side. Its top returning player, all-conference guard Mike Taylor, was dismissed from the team in July and one of ISU’s top recruits, Lucca Staiger, was declared ineligible by the NCAA Certification Process in November and was forced to sit out the entire year. Those two losses coupled with nagging, season-long injuries to its top three players (Wesley Johnson, Rahshon Clark, Jiri Hubalek) led to a 14-18 overall mark and an 11th-place showing in conference play (4-12).

The ever-optimistic McDermott knew the road was not going to be easy. In all of his previous stops, McDermott had been patient in instilling his philosophies and principals, achieving his goals through player development and shying away from the quick fix. He has confidence it can happen at ISU as well.

“We’re starting year three, yet we only have one player who has been with us all three years in Alex Thompson,” McDermott said. “So in that regard, we don’t have a tremendous amount of experience in terms of guys who have been around our program. However, our returners have done a terrific job guiding our newcomers even though most are only in their second year with us.”

There is talent within the program. And there is time to grow with a group of players who will be here for the long haul. ISU has only one senior scholarship player on the roster (Alex Thompson) and returns two starters along with 46.9 percent of its scoring from a year ago. ISU has a chance to build around potential sophomore stars in Craig Brackins, Diante Garrett and Staiger. Brackins, a 6-10 post player, showed incredible promise in his rookie season, averaging 11.4 points and 5.0 rebounds.

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Also...

This is a good look at our upcoming season

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Scroll down and click on the interview link.

tigershoops31 · 07-03-2008, 02:40 PM

Thanks for the link...count me in for the optimistic/excited group for bball to start!

CrossCyed · 07-03-2008, 03:59 PM

Pomlee really strikes me as a guy who could be the next Damion Staple - a guy that took a little while to round into form, and wasn't a great offensive threat, but could play D and rebound.

And frankly, I'd be thrilled with that sort of progression out of him.

CycloneWarrior · 07-03-2008, 04:00 PM

it's mcdermott's 3rd year at iowa state. I think everyone knows what happens during mcdermotts 3rd year at a school

CrossCyed · 07-03-2008, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by cyclonedefender

it's mcdermott's 3rd year at iowa state. I think everyone knows what happens during mcdermotts 3rd year at a school

He buys frosty milkshakes for the student section? That'd be pretty tight.

Swanson10 · 07-03-2008, 04:16 PM

[quote=CrossCyed;529403]Pomlee really strikes me as a guy who could be the next Damion Staple - a guy that took a little while to round into form, and wasn't a great offensive threat, but could play D and rebound.

I work with Damion's Wife. No i dont think i am special just saying.

ISUFan22 · 07-03-2008, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by cyclonedefender

it's mcdermott's 3rd year at iowa state. I think everyone knows what happens during mcdermotts 3rd year at a school

I don't know what the experience/talent level was at his previous stops in the third year (compared to the talent he played against in those years)...but I do believe this time around - winning in year 3 is going to be very, very tough to get done.

Hopefully he can continue his trend.

snowcraig2.0 · 07-03-2008, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by CrossCyed

Pomlee really strikes me as a guy who could be the next Damion Staple - a guy that took a little while to round into form, and wasn't a great offensive threat, but could play D and rebound.

And frankly, I'd be thrilled with that sort of progression out of him.

I think Pomlee is a better athlete than Staple. Maybe not as strong, but a better athlete.

Clones85' · 07-03-2008, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by snowcraig2.0

I think Pomlee is a better athlete than Staple. Maybe not as strong, but a better athlete.

Perhaps. I think he is just taller than Staple was. Staple was really athletic but was short for his position. Pomlee won't be short at the 4. Your right though in that Staple was stronger than Pomlee but I have no doubt that Pomlee can get that strong, perhaps stronger. He has a great build.

cyismydog · 07-04-2008, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by Clones85'

Perhaps. I think he is just taller than Staple was. Staple was really athletic but was short for his position. Pomlee won't be short at the 4. Your right though in that Staple was stronger than Pomlee but I have no doubt that Pomlee can get that strong, perhaps stronger. He has a great build.

L.A. .is definitely 6'8" tops, but he has really long legs and arms, which will really help him with defense, IMO, his reach has got to be one of the top 3 on the team.

twojman · 07-04-2008, 02:53 PM

[quote=cyismydog;529096]
Despite the adversity, McDermott and his staff led the overachieving Cyclones to a tie for seventh in the league, finishing 15-16 overall and 6-10 in the Big 12.
[quote]

Overachieving

What is normal? What is underachieving?

Go2Guy · 07-04-2008, 03:47 PM

It seems like Mac is lowering the expectations for Lucca. I've been pretty guarded myself after reading here about his performance in practice and Cap City. Sounds like his defense needed some improvement as well as ball handling. I'm not going to get my hopes up and feel it will be the end of Jan until we really get to see some significant contributions.

“Until you get him on the floor, under the bright lights and in front of the crowd, we’re not going to know exactly what to expect from Lucca. He has done the things he needed to do to improve his game. Defensively he has come a long way since he first arrived on campus, and his ball-handling and strength has improved. We just have to get him some game experience so he understands what it is like to play at this level.”

CyValley · 07-04-2008, 05:57 PM

Originally Posted by Go2Guy

It seems like Mac is lowering the expectations for Lucca. . . . feel it will be the end of Jan until we really get to see some significant contributions.

“Until you get him on the floor, under the bright lights and in front of the crowd, we’re not going to know exactly what to expect from Lucca. He has done the things he needed to do to improve his game. Defensively he has come a long way since he first arrived on campus, and his ball-handling and strength has improved. We just have to get him some game experience so he understands what it is like to play at this level.”

Guess it just goes to show how subjective we all our in our interpretations about the world through which each one of us moves every day.

My reading of Mac's comments is the opposite of your interpretation. To me, Mac is saying nothing now that I have not heard him say in the past. He's just exercising a coach's normal caution about a player who has not yet played in a college game, it seems to me.

In the past, Mac has said that Lucca is a lights-out shooter, and he has said that Lucca is the best passer on the team. Also, at one point Mac said that Lucca is the most improved player defensively on the team (which doesn't mean that he still has a long way to go). None of what Mac is quoted saying above refutes any of this, does it?

ajk4st8 · 07-04-2008, 06:54 PM

I want to... REALLY want to... get excited for basketball next year. Im sure when the time rolls around I will be hopeful, but now is hard.

We were 14-18 with a pretty soft schedule. We lost our top player. We lost 2 other ok Srs.

I know everyone will have a year of experience under their belt, but it's not like any individual player will have changed their style of play.

Hopefully the recruits can shock everyone!

cycloneroyce · 07-04-2008, 07:05 PM

I think Lucca will be a for sure starter, but I don't think he will be 1st or 2nd team all big 12 this year. I thought he was a good player in the cap city league, but he was by no means a show-stopper. I am VERY excited to have him back, but I sure hope he doesn't doink his first 25 from the 3 point line.