Wild coaching theory on Miller and Deace

[cyclonezing]

We can only hope that this will end up being true!

[Chitowncy]

There have been some good posts in this thread over the last few hours. JoeFrog and ISUFan, I feel the same way you do for the most part. I want McDermott and ISU to do well. I really enjoy Cyclone basketball, so I would like to see the team do well. That said, it's been tough watching for the last couple years.

Bawbie, I notice you almost always defend McDermott (at least the posts I've seen over the last couple weeks). I think that's an admirable character trait, playing the role of defense counsel when the prosecution's argument continues to grow stronger with each passing season, (and even individual games) because it shows you care about the program (and maybe personally about the coach / staff / players) just like anyone else on this board. However, the purpose of this board, I believe, is to debate and discuss Cyclone athletics and not blindly follow and cheer 'rah-rah' to everything the coaching staff does.

Most posters are level-headed and didn't want to pull the switch on McDermott, it just now appears that he really can't do the job we hoped. It's sad to see ISU basketball slip like this. That said, I'll continue to pull for the team for the rest of the season, but I won't hesitate to vent when I feel McDermott should have changed up the defense to throw the opponent's offense out-of-sync, or question his substitution / personnel decisions, like when Hamilton started over Dendy in the 2nd half of the Texas game even though Dendy had the better first half and was playing better. If you look at that game, we won the score battle by a large margin when Dendy was in the game.

I've just been disappointed with McDermott's play-calling (or lack thereof since we only have a two-man game offense and I rarely see much variation, etc.) and I feel that one purpose of this board to discuss and question the coach. He is making over $750,000 this year right? However, I will never criticize the players and I don't like it when some of you do (typically, it is the minority who criticize, but the minority group always seems to be the loudest).

[bawbie]

I do agree with this statement 100%.

But IMO, some of your others are a bit misguided. I'm guessing you too are frustrated with the team...but taking out that frustration on fans that are showing their frustrations about ISU MBB. This is not a fan problem and I see no reason to rip on fans that are unhappy with the team/program and want improvement - in whatever manner that happens.

It's over-the-top to call fans quitters, tell them they've given up on the team or demand they shouldn't watch when they're simply voicing frustrations. Points that are pretty well spot-on regarding the team/program.

We're all frustrated at some level and we all want things to get better - wins and then Hilton Magic to return. Pretty much everyone here is a Cyclone. I do get that a few are going overboard with their critical posts and are playing one-string banjos, regardless of what the team does. But this is a very, very small minority - and I see no reason that every ISU MBB thread should turn into a "your a bad fan" fight because of these few people.

It's a tough time, we've come to expect more and IMO, that's a good thing. I've said many times, I'd be very concerned about the future if fans were just ok with losing and under performing. And I'm already starting to see it, a few less fans being active discussing the games/team because they're losing interest. We need passionate fans, regardless of the outcome. A fan that does not care about the program is generally not going to come here and rip on the program.

The expectations of our MBB program are higher - much higher than football at this point, as it should be based on our history. You'd think we had just won a BCS game with the reactions over our football season and we only went .500 and then beat a poor Minnesota team. A great improvement from recent years - but in itself no great accomplishment.

MBB can't do that and get the same level of support...and I fully welcome that. I'll be very fearful for our program when fans become ok with under performing or mediocrity from our MBB team.

Nice post. I think I agree with almost all of it, especially the comments about me. I'll try to keep that in mind.

I completely understand the frustration, and I think you do an excellent job of expressing that frustration in a constructive manner.

The two things that really bother me are the people who are writing off this season and the people who are calling for the coach to be fired in the middle of the season. But I'll leave it at that.

[Cyclonepride]

Miller and Deace haven't been snowed in at the station this week, have they? Perhaps they have, and delirium is setting in.

[ISUFan22]

The two things that really bother me are the people who are writing off this season and the people who are calling for the coach to be fired in the middle of the season. But I'll leave it at that.

I think based on the performance level to date and the fact this team has often looked disinterested, it's completely fair for fans to expect this season won't yield good results. I hope the effort displayed Wednesday night will be duplicated, if so, it changes things drastically. If not, the "writing off" will be spot on.

I don't think I've seen anyone say Greg should be canned right now. I have seen people say he should be fired based on the past 3 years and how year 4 is going so far (and assumptions on how it will finished based on what we've seen). I can't really dispute that as the facts speak for themselves. I do firmly believe Greg is a good coach and can get it done. Can and are - two different things. A person is only able to hold is job based on "can" so long, reality eventually must be good or you be gone.

[PJZ]

None of that would over ride his record at ISU. They would not want him back. If anything that fanbase is probably wondering if they were able to retain the real reason for their success.

Pretty sad that we've now got a coach whose old (mid-major) school would have absolutely no interest in hiring him.

If there was a way that this could happen, however, it would be a pretty fortunate, Chizek-esque mulligan for JP.

[wesley_w]

I do firmly believe Greg is a good coach and can get it done. Can and are - two different things. A person is only able to hold is job based on "can" so long, reality eventually must be good or you be gone.

I'm in your camp...let's let the season play out. These next two games are winnable road games and, let's face it, we are going to need three in-conference road wins to get to 10-6. The thing about athletics is if you can break through the fans will forget the bad years. Earle Bruce started 4-7 three straight years and I remember LOTS of ********. Then we went 8-3 and he was a hero. I read all the time on here about Earles last three years but noone talks about the first three. If GMac can get us in the NCAA's this year it will go a long way in appeasing the fan base.

[Dryburn]

Here's an idea.......whey can't ISU and UNI just swap coaches?

[ISUFan22]

Earle Bruce started 4-7 three straight years and I remember LOTS of ********. Then we went 8-3 and he was a hero. I read all the time on here about Earles last three years but noone talks about the first three. If GMac can get us in the NCAA's this year it will go a long way in appeasing the fan base.

It's "what have you done for me lately". Thus far Greg hasn't. Win and he becomes a fan favorite.

[fcmc]

I understand what he meant, I just don't understand how supporting this 11-5 team means you are "content with losing".

I'll bet you were saying the same thing last year when got off to an 11-4 start.
After four years of watching Mcdermott's act, some of us know what's coming next.
.

[jca1979]

Nice post. I think I agree with almost all of it, especially the comments about me. I'll try to keep that in mind.

I completely understand the frustration, and I think you do an excellent job of expressing that frustration in a constructive manner.

The two things that really bother me are the people who are writing off this season and the people who are calling for the coach to be fired in the middle of the season. But I'll leave it at that.

As I was reading this thread, I went back and read a lot of your stuff. Just to see if what you say here is an accurate summary of your feelings.

The one thing that struck me is that at no time are you even remotely critical of Greg. Look, I think he is a knowledgeable basketball guy, but that doesn't mean that he is above being accountable. Especially when you look to see that many of the same mistakes that cost us games last year, reared their ugly heads against Northwestern, UNI, and Cal. Add the fact that effort has been lacking and there are reasons to be concerned.

I don't think that there is a Cyclone fan on here that wants him to fail. I am pretty sure that even the biggest critics would be happy to admit they are wrong after we make the NCAA tournament, and win a couple games. So to create this us against them mentality divides a program.

I think that the trends show that the UT game was the exception, not the rule. If they come back tonight and play well, and more importantly hard, then we can reassess. The problem is that you wear this "I am a better fan, because I accept crap" argument on your sleeve, and it totally negates any valid points that you may be able to make.