HB could establish ISU's MBB identity

Personally, I believe that the men's team is already on the up and up. They have the potential to do great things... the addition of Barnes would only buffer those chances. I don't think he's the make or break player for ISU's MBB chances in the near future... he'll just make them happen a lot quicker. That said, I refuse to hold any ill will towards him for choosing another college outside of ISU. I know exactly how it is, choosing to stay in the same town you grew up in, or wanting to leave town to get away from the place you're most familiar with.

Whether Brackins comes back is not my point. The fact is that things are looking "good" for the team, certainly much better than the last few years. HB isn't stepping into a mess, but into a program at ISU that seems to have found its stride.

We may never win a national championship, but he can certainly establish himself for an NBA future when he wants it, while also giving a new identity (and prominence) to the ISU program.

HB, "the people's president of ISU)!

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Originally Posted by trajanJ

I'm not sure how much of an identity a one-and-done establishes. But Beasley took K-State to the second round of the tourney and that's more than they had done in a while. You can't compare him to the Mayor, because that was a different day when players stayed longer in college. The key for ISU is to take advantage of the publicity and continue to recruit better athletes.

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We don't know if he's one-and-done and we won't until he gets to school. Everything so far has suggested that is not the case however.

I disagree with the notion that we need HB to establish an identity for ISU Men's BB. We have an identity already established by the guys who have their names and numbers retired in Hilton and by coaches like Orr, Floyd and Eustacy. The real question is will HB join that group. I hope he does.

It is the fact of growing up in Ames, being so connected to ISU already, and the prospect of staying connected for the rest of his life as such a nationally high profile person that makes his contribution to our identity unique.

P.S. I'm not saying that we don't have an identity (or don't have a great identity). I'm just saying that he will define it in large, new ways.

I could see him being much like Ernie Banks who is still "Mr. Cub" even though few of us on the board ever saw him play. I'm from Chicago and he still defines the Cub's identity there.

HB coming to ISU would definitely be huge. However, I think a lot of people are forgetting that we are a program who has won two Big 12 titles, one Big 12 Tournament title, had an Elite 8 appearance, a Final Four NIT appearance, and a second round NCAA appearance this decade. It's not like we don't have some basketball history the last 30 years.