The Morning Outlook

[cyclonenum1]

Do most of you think the MBB players actually wake up in the morning and say, "Boy, let's lose this one today".

Everyone here has the "answers" but really, so far from the truth. About 99.9% of us don't have a clue because of two reasons: we weren't student-athletes (intramurals and watching ESPN 24/7 don't count) or we haven't coached Division One athletics in one of the best conferences.

Complain all you want if you felt there was lack of effort. I don't see lack of effort; instead, I see crappy luck (even Bill Shelf said thanks but no thanks), some forced chemistry/focus and a bunch of crying fans who think Iowa State has history as this great bb powerhouse. Iowa State has been good and at times, almost great; however, top drinking the Orr, Eustachy and Morgan koolaid. Should we expect top half conference performance every season, yes but it doesn't always happen.

Of course they don't think that when they wake up. They probably are thinking about what they are going to have for breakfast...that's the great thing about younger people...they tend to live much more in the present than some of us more middle-aged and introspective people.

I don't think most of us on here claim to have the answers. However, what we do clearly see (and have a clue about) is that our current coach is not getting the job done...in fact has never gotten the job done since he has been here.

I will not bang on the players effort. I do think our coach does not understand how to put his players in a position to best succeed and have team success. You are the one that appears to not have a clue...maybe you can chalk one season up to "crappy luck"...but four is a significant trend in CBB. Four is also the time we give a President and the time in which many can graduate from college...four years is a long time.

Who is this Bill Shelf you speak of?

I don't think any ISU fans are crying and I don't think any believe we have ever had a powerhouse program. What most of us do know is that our program has been much stronger in the quarter of a century prior to our current coach's arrival than it is right now. This is not disputable.

The problem under GM is that it never happens...not even close.

[cyclonenum1]

We lose and lose and lose and lose and lose and it's just bad luck. If we won and won and won and won and won I bet people wouldn't say, "Whoa, whoa, whoa, guys. This is just all good luck." There's a reason so many "bad" things have happened since McD arrived. Is everyone really willing to believe 4 years of bad things is simply bad luck? What would it take to prove otherwise? Ten years? McD isn't winning. He's a good guy, and even an okay coach, but okay coach isn't good enough and that's without the, uh, ahem, talent he's brought in.

I live in New York now, so obviously I can't attend the games, but I do watch every game on ESPN360 by stealing internet from my neighbors, so I guess if you want you can use the "if you don't think we're awesome you suck as a fan" excuse if you'd like but it isn't gonna fly with me--we've been bad for four years, and there has been one consistency over those four years--the head coach.

FANTASTIC point...you are so correct.

If we had made two Sweet 16s, an Elite 8, and looked like a Final Four caliber team this year under McDermott everyone would be on here (and everyone in the national media) would be talking about how great a coach he is...not what amazing luck he has.

But for some reason, when things go the opposite way (which they have) it is all just bad luck...sorry, not buying that. You don't pay people the kind of money a CBB coach at a power conference makes if the position is nothing more than about getting or not getting some luck.

The reality is that a CBB coach has tremendous autonomy and they control their situation about as much as any employee could.

[cyclonenum1]

We've been bad for five years and the year before that we were a middle of the pack team. I just don't see this being an easy fix. Fire Mac and there will be more player turnover. It could be another five years before we make the tourney. Are you willing to fork out MORE money for another 3, 4, or 5 years of losing basketball??

I'm not happy with what Mac has done. But he wasn't handed the keys to a Lexus. People who think we are in worse shape now than when Mac took over are delusional.

He won't get fired this year, so why b**** about it? Watch the olympics support this team and prepare for spring football. Next year we will see what Mac can do with Ejim and Phillips. I fully believe that next year will be make or break for Mac in Pollards eyes. His silence to this point would suggest that in my opinion.

Go to Hilton, have a Clone Cone and support our program. I don't care if you support the coach just support the program. Allowing Hilton to be as empty as Carver would only add to the disappointment of this season.

Wow. You are the delusional one. You actually think our program is in better shape today than it was when GM took over? Wow.

[kansascy]

Why don't you enlighten us all as to what the "big picture" perspective is then? Here are some facts to get you started.

- More players have shown regression this year than have shown progression

So exactly what is your big picture that you think some of us are missing?

This is the only statement I'd have to disagree with. We only have four active players that were active last year to make a comparison.

My assessment:

Brakins - regression
Ham - progression
DG - progression
DB - neutral

[chuckd4735]

Wow. You are the delusional one. You actually think our program is in better shape today than it was when GM took over? Wow.

Depends on what aspect of the program you are looking at. He has improved many aspects that were bad when he came in, but has taken a lot of things down that were pretty good when he came in.

[imnclone]

since this has turned into another state of the program thread. I thought I would post this link because I thought it was interesting how some viewed the McDermott hire in 2006.

from link below:

Surest bet: Iowa State, Greg McDermott. McDermott has been in Iowa longer than corn. He runs sophisticated offenses and defenses that enabled teams at Northern Iowa to compete with high-major opponents. As long as there are enough solid players in the region, McDermott will succeed. Grade: B+

Out of water: Arizona State, Herb Sendek. Although Sendek's intellect has few boundaries, he's a long way from his base. None of Sendek's previous coaching stops took him west of Ohio. The staff has been well-received by high school and club coaches in the region, but because the state isn't especially productive, Sendek and his assistants are going to have to find players in California or Texas. Grade: B


SportingNews.com


I remember not be excited by his hire, but accepted views like this that he could be moderately successful. In hindsight, I wish we could have found someone like Sendek (unappreciated, but proven) for a coach. Hopefully, it works out for McDermott and ISU. Mostly, I just hope it works out for the Cyclones.

[cyclonenum1]

since this has turned into another state of the program thread. I thought I would post this link because I thought it was interesting how some viewed the McDermott hire in 2006.

from link below:

Surest bet: Iowa State, Greg McDermott. McDermott has been in Iowa longer than corn. He runs sophisticated offenses and defenses that enabled teams at Northern Iowa to compete with high-major opponents. As long as there are enough solid players in the region, McDermott will succeed. Grade: B+

Out of water: Arizona State, Herb Sendek. Although Sendek's intellect has few boundaries, he's a long way from his base. None of Sendek's previous coaching stops took him west of Ohio. The staff has been well-received by high school and club coaches in the region, but because the state isn't especially productive, Sendek and his assistants are going to have to find players in California or Texas. Grade: B


SportingNews.com


I remember not be excited by his hire, but accepted views like this that he could be moderately successful. In hindsight, I wish we could have found someone like Sendek (unappreciated, but proven) for a coach. Hopefully, it works out for McDermott and ISU. Mostly, I just hope it works out for the Cyclones.

Very interesting.

I thought GM was a quality hire for us when he was brought in because of what I had seen his UNI team do to a Final Four caliber LSU team in Baton Rouge.

But I would have thought Sendek was a quality hire as well. He just had the problem of being in the long shadows of Duke and UNC just a few miles away when he was at NC State...but he had a lot of succes there...winning seasons and post season play 9/10 years.

I would love for us to pursue Sendek if we were to have a coaching change.

[clonedude]

Why don't you enlighten us all as to what the "big picture" perspective is then? Here are some facts to get you started.

-5th losing conference season in a row
- Player transfers every single year under GMac
- All-American candidate leaves the program and becomes a top player at another school
- Team still cannot win in conference despite presence of 2 supposedly NBA caliber players at start of season
- Conference coaches pick one player as a pre-season all-conference, and another as newcomer of the year, yet pick the team to finish 8th. WTF? Turns out that was optimistic.
- A Freshman player has the nerve to actually walk out on the coach and team, then is brought back early from suspension by the coach.At what other school would that even happen?
- Another first-year player is so pleased with playing here that he goes home un-announced once during season, then stays too long and does not communicate during another trip home for a family funeral
- A starter who had undying support from the coaching staff, university, fans, and teammates when he had problems with the NCAA decides to leave at the start of conference season for a professional career that supposedly could not wait until the end of the season. Seems that was a lie.
- A redshirt player is booted off the team mid-season
- Barely enough players to finish out the season
- Attendance is down significantly
- Recruiting class for next year is not close to top-notch. Some good prospects, but probably not even in the top 9 of classes in the Big 12.
- More players have shown regression this year than have shown progression
- Team usually appears to not have a clue what they are doing on offense or defense.
- Current coach has never defeated a team at ISU that he was not supposed to defeat
- No wins against ranked teams in the last 4 years
- No post-season in 4 years......can't even make the CBI, let alone the NIT or NCAA
- AD gave a lousy contract to head coach, that basically financially paralyzes the AD from removing coach
- Despite no success and falling attendance and interest from fan base, head coach will get a $50,000 raise for next year.
- Head coach and performance of team is splitting what was a very loyal fan base

So exactly what is your big picture that you think some of us are missing?

This sums up my feelings exactly!

Everyone always uses the "bad luck" excuse, but that has worn thin. When you have tons of bad luck every year for 4-5 years... that is a trend folks. There is something wrong here.

I have the feeling that GMac has lost ALL control of this team. You cannot suspend a player until February, and then bring them back early because you need him to win games... especially when you also stated that winning games isn't as important as getting this kid on the right path. Then you say that this player will be the last guy off the bench, but then go back on that statement when Craig Brackins tells you that they need him. What the? Who runs the show here?

[ajk4st8]

I bet a lot of people think our team wakes up and thinks of a million things other than basketball.

[VeloClone]

I live in New York now, so obviously I can't attend the games, but I do watch every game on ESPN360 by stealing internet from my neighbors, so I guess if you want you can use the "if you don't think we're awesome you suck as a fan" excuse if you'd like but it isn't gonna fly with me--we've been bad for four years, and there has been one consistency over those four years--the head coach.

If you were a real fan you would steal plane tickets from your neighbors and attend the games.

[VeloClone]

I bet a lot of people think our team wakes up and thinks of a million things other than basketball.

I am one of those people:

Breakfast
Brush teeth
Get dressed - crap I really need to do laundry
Car needs gas
Better study for Stat test
etc.

You get the picture. The point is they are students who have a full time job (basketball). They have to do everything else just like everybody else. If all they think about is basketball, they won't make it past their first year.

[Dryburn]

This is the only statement I'd have to disagree with. We only have four active players that were active last year to make a comparison.

My assessment:

Brakins - regression
Ham - progression
DG - progression
DB - neutral

Sorry, I disagree with your assessment. Ham has progressed, no doubt about that. Brackins has definitely regressed. It would seem that Buckley has too, since he hardly ever plays. Wouldn't that be a logical assumption? DG....At best I would say he is neutral. His assist to turnover ratio is still not all that great in conference games. He can't defend anyone. He still can't finish at the basket, and he still can not be relied upon to be any kind of a threat from the outside. Also, he still cannot consistently run the offense, and get the ball inside.About the only way I can see he has progressed is that he is a year older and has been in GMac's alleged system for one more year. Boozer may have shown some progression this year, but I don't think we saw him in enough conference games to really make that distinction. JVB's status cannot be determined. Lucca, before he left was neutral at best, possibly worse than last year. He stil was not a consistent shooter, and when he was on the floor was still a defensive liability.

What it really amounts to is that as individuals, they did not progress nearly as far as they should with another year in the system, and another year with the same head coach. Plus, the team has certainly not progressed as a team. In reality, how is this team any better than last year's version?

[CTTB78]

If Dendy doesn't play, McD's waking up willing to take another loss.

[cyclonenum1]

Depends on what aspect of the program you are looking at. He has improved many aspects that were bad when he came in, but has taken a lot of things down that were pretty good when he came in.

OK, I'll bite...please list these many aspects he has improved with factual substantiation of that improvement. I anxiously await...

[Dryburn]

Perspective equals most of the people on the blog spend more time worrying and lamenting on blogs about college athletics than issues which impact their daily lives. I don't blog or check these sites frequently and there is definitely a reason.

BTW, I would like to know who considered Wes Johnson an All-American when he was at ISU. Now of course it is easy to say "how did we let that one get away". He was a solid, consistent player for ISU but didn't show AA worthiness. Those crying this are the same ones who blasted him for leaving...that's perspective.

Wow.....guess I should have clarified that better...no, WJ was not named to too many All-American teams while here...however he was named an Honorable Mention freshman All-American by Collegehoops. He was also named to the Big 12 All-Rookie team his first year, and was Honorable Mention All Big 12 his second year.

But he did not actually reach his current All-American status until after he left ISU, that is correct. Kind of makes you wonder what would have happened had he stayed, doesn't it. Would he be having the kind of year for ISU he is having for Syracuse? After seeing the development of players here the last four years (those that stay) I would have my doubts, wouldn't you?

BTW, I was not one of those blasting WJ for leaving, although I was disappointed and wondered why. I will agree.....I did wonder how the hell GMac let the best player on his team at the time "get away". Shouldn't a fan of a team wonder that about any team or coach who lets that happen? I would think so. How did you feel about WJ leaving? I take it from your comments, you must have been okay with it or something? Now, that is perspective.