Iowa vs Iowa state - Men's Basketball Potential

darts180 · 03-12-2007, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by cubs_81

Iowa does have two 4* recruits in Hamga and Gatens for the 08 class. So i wouldn't say they are getting leftovers.

Hamga still has to qualify Hawk.

jdoggivjc · 03-12-2007, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by mark

Jeremy ... I bleed cardinal and gold ... but this is as about as worthless a write up as the predictions about who ISU football coach would be. There is nothing to support hardly any of the assertions you are making.

All this type of writing does is create unreasonbable expectations. If we can split with Iowa next year in the big four sports -- I will be happy. I am not convinced that Mac can do the job -- I see no facts to think that he can put someone into the NBA any quicker than Alfraud.

ILets face facts -- Iowa has more money -- more fan base -- and now they are pissed. Unfortunately I think a sleeping giant has been awakened over at EIU.

Are you on CRACK??? ISU should be favored in at least three of the contests - MBB, WBB, and wrestling. ISU should be competitve w/ Iowa in football as well. Maybe I look at the bright side, but I think ISU has a very good chance at the sweep on all four sports.

clone2bone44 · 03-12-2007, 10:53 PM

"Maybe I look at the bright side, but I think ISU has a very good chance at the sweep on all four sports."

You're not the only one! I'll be there to hold up the rug so the Clone's can sweep 'em under it.

The only test we have yet to see the answers for is the Football program and Gene Chizik but I think based on all the other coaches we have we can make a good educated guess that IT and HE will be full of class and integrety just like the other programs. As for EIU the only program and coach that comes close to that is football.

Let's get out the brooms!

MNclone · 03-12-2007, 11:01 PM

I'm looking forward to the future of ISU athletics, and believe we have many of the right pieces in place for long time success.
But let's slow down a bit here people. We have a basketball coach who just finished his first season, and a football coach that hasn't stepped onto the field yet.
If it was just about creating hype, then we are right on track, but we need to back that hype up with performance. A little over a year ago, we had huge expectations for the football team and the basketball team, and many would have said that the program was on the up and up. Both teams were so disappointing that both coaches were left looking for a new job when the season was done. Now I know there were a few people calling for the heads of those coaches before their meltdown seasons, but they were both pretty surprising considering the preseason prospects.
I'm not saying that we aren't seeing future coaching legends here, but lets not get ahead of ourselves.

cyclonekj · 03-12-2007, 11:16 PM

Perhaps "Mark" is on the wrong board.

kberyldial · 03-13-2007, 12:05 AM

How good are our basketball recruits? I see Jeremy terms them star recruits. Technically, Fizer was our last star recruit. I know alot of people ragged on Texas' class last year when they were highly touted and it turns out they were the real deal. Stars may not matter that much but the proof is really there when you take a hard look. I stopped going to the ISU rivals site for various reasons but someone objectively break down our class for me. Again, I don't follow this much so forgive me if this has been done before. AND - I am in full comprehension that MeDermott will coach them up. BUT - are they game stoppers?

Cyclonepride · 03-13-2007, 12:31 AM

Speculating and talking up their team is what fans do. I agree with most of the article, though I do believe that Iowa will still be decent for the most part. They can go ahead and stay on course for all I care. The Cyclones will surpass them.

isucyclone4 · 03-13-2007, 12:47 AM

That article was DEAD ON...continuing progress in EVERYTHING, that is honeslty how we are gonna make it a Cyclone state...while at the same time we let iowa choke away.

Wesley · 03-13-2007, 02:30 AM

It almost feels like SA is on the pivot point for a change similar to what happened to WM. He needs better talent to win since his coaching does not appear to be top notch. Sorry, EIU fans, SA has some weaknesses although he has nice hair like Kookie on 77 Sunset Strip.

Jeremy · 03-13-2007, 08:31 AM

I understand the points about not getting too big of a head to quickly but I don't understand the remark that you don't think Mac is any better than Alford. Are you kidding me? Alford isn't even the best coach at Iowa, Neal is. With Neal possibly leaving, let's see just how good they really are.

Iowa *might* have a decent recruit coming in next year but you have to look at Iowa's full recruiting classes to realize they never have a full roster. Never do they get all the parts they need and they never plan ahead for departures, which they always have plenty of. After eight years and a supposedly huge name, one would expect a little more, at least I would. None of the guys they're in on are being highly recruited by major programs, mostly mid-majors and teams from the bottom half of conferences.

And note, Iowa's two decent recruits are for '08, not '07. And that's dependent on qualifying and Alford and Neal sticking around.

I guess one has to ask, would you rather have any of Iowa's coaches over who we have? I would imagine the only possible person that would be better is Ferentz and that's partially because Chizik hasn't had a chance yet. Remember, nobody thought Ferentz was going to be the coach he is today when he was hired.

I guess all I can say is I'm glad Pollard has come in here and given some of us hope even though there are still those people that don't want to change. Was my post worthless? I guess in the sense that everything any of us says is just opinion, yes. But, if it creates a debate that gets people excited about the future, then no, it wasn't a waste.

So if you want to go back to the days of complacency and mediocrity, you should probably start stocking up on Iowa gear instead of Cardinal and Gold.

CyCy · 03-13-2007, 08:54 AM

Couple of points.
I agree that the Big 12 is certainaly the equal of the Big 10 in the past few years, but I'm not sure the average 17 year old high school athlete knows that. The Big 10 is has a lot of national exposure, and has had their share of highly ranked teams in the past, so I'm not sure that the conference comparisons actually gives us any recruiting advantage.
Additionally Iowa still has a big advantage in spending. Their mens basketball income was $10.8M and spending was $4.6M. Our income was $5.0M and spending was $3.0M, That gives them more money to spend on scouting, recruiting, salaries, travel, facilities. Thankfully Alford has evidently not spent that money wisely.

Jeremy · 03-13-2007, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by CyCy

Couple of points.
I agree that the Big 12 is certainaly the equal of the Big 10 in the past few years, but I'm not sure the average 17 year old high school athlete knows that. The Big 10 is has a lot of national exposure, and has had their share of highly ranked teams in the past, so I'm not sure that the conference comparisons actually gives us any recruiting advantage.
Additionally Iowa still has a big advantage in spending. Their mens basketball income was $10.8M and spending was $4.6M. Our income was $5.0M and spending was $3.0M, That gives them more money to spend on scouting, recruiting, salaries, travel, facilities. Thankfully Alford has evidently not spent that money wisely.

I agree in part; the Big Ten has a history but a lot of it is just that, history. The Big XII is probably in the best shape of any conference for the future. With the southern teams always strong and Texas showing the talented youth the teams are amassing, the future is incredibly bright. Besides Ohio State and Wisconsin, there isn't that tough of a team in the Big Ten. And a lot of people would argue Wisconsin isn't even that tough. So that leaves you with one or two great teams compared to the Big XII with Kansas, Texas, Texas A&M as incredibly talented and several good to decent teams right behind them. Kansas State, Missouri and Iowa State are really picking up momentum and most of the teams in the Big Ten look to be down for at least another year or two minimum (besides OSU).

Cydkar · 03-13-2007, 09:31 AM

It's too "feel-good" for my taste. I'm optomistic about ISU's future but it's independent of Iowa's. Iowa may have an outstanding team next year (doubtful) but it has no bearing on ISU except for the one game they play. Not sure why Iowa always has to be discussed when speaking of ISU.

pulse · 03-13-2007, 09:42 AM

Stop bashing Alford! Iowa needs him! He deserves a long contract extension.

CyinCo · 03-13-2007, 10:11 AM

Originally Posted by mark

Jeremy ... I bleed cardinal and gold ... but this is as about as worthless a write up as the predictions about who ISU football coach would be. There is nothing to support hardly any of the assertions you are making.

All this type of writing does is create unreasonbable expectations. If we can split with Iowa next year in the big four sports -- I will be happy. I am not convinced that Mac can do the job -- I see no facts to think that he can put someone into the NBA any quicker than Alfraud.

ILets face facts -- Iowa has more money -- more fan base -- and now they are pissed. Unfortunately I think a sleeping giant has been awakened over at EIU.

I laughed when I read this because I thought it was sarcasm. Was it? If this is a serious post, Mark, you have something wrong with yourself. I'm glad all of our fans don't think like you do. What is wrong with being positive about all the positive aspects of our sports programs. If you can't see there are good things to come, you are blind. Pollard wanted to be able to sell hope. Hope is in the air. Hope is selling a record number of basketball and football tix during a "down" year. Hope will breed winning. Winning will breed long-term success. Success will lead to the completion of the JP's master plan. Good things are coming.