Does losing Ham and Buckley really matter?

**acgclone** · 03-13-2010, 02:24 PM

Serious question. What really changes without them? We were likely headed for a poor season next year anyway, IMO. We may lose a couple of more games, but the fact is that this program was/is in shambles with or without Ham/Buck.

I have been on the fire Gmac bandwagon for the past several weeks because I've seen ABSOLUTELY NOTHING from him in his first four years, that would give me hope for the next four.

With that said, it seems that there are a number of people who were with Gmac previously, but now have changed their tune due to these transfers.

My only question is, will next year or the next 3 years for that matter be any different without Ham/Buck? I don't think so.

**bawbie** · 03-13-2010, 02:43 PM

No matter how you look at it, it decreases the likelihood of a successful season.

Maybe it decreases the likelihood from 30% to 10%.

Maybe it decreases the likelihood from 3% to 1%

I don't know, but no matter what it makes a successful season less likely.

**CycloneErik** · 03-13-2010, 02:44 PM

Losing Ham hurts. That one stinks a lot.

**ajk4st8** · 03-13-2010, 02:45 PM

I think it's more of the entire "Greg can't get anyone to want to play at ISU" argument.

Pretty soon that will start to hurt recruiting, wont it?

**CloneLawman** · 03-13-2010, 02:49 PM

1. Ham was going to be a major contributor next year.
2. Why do starters keep leaving?

**Gordyo5** · 03-13-2010, 02:54 PM

Losing Ham is going to hurt, Dendy I think would be playing more next year anyway but now we will have no depth. Buckley would have seen some minutes but we have plenty of players as good or better to take them. With Ham though there is not many people to take them if someone goes down.

**Dryburn** · 03-13-2010, 02:56 PM

It hurts a program to lose players, period. If this were an isolated incident, where the program had not lost anyone for a few years and then a couple guys decide to transfer, it would be no big deal. The problem is that it has become the norm here at ISU, not an isolated incident.

It hurts the program, and it has to make recruiting someone to come to ISU and play for GMac even more difficult than it already was.

**ISUcy08** · 03-13-2010, 03:02 PM

For me it's the simple fact that McD keeps LOSING players. Hamilton was a starter....

**Al_4_State** · 03-13-2010, 03:03 PM

This is what raises questions for me:

These guys don't live in a cave. They know how the public feels about coach McDermott. They know that every time someone leaves, it digs him in a deeper hole. They know that by leaving, they're making life extremely difficult for their coach. This isn't the kind of thing you do to someone you respect and care about.

**ChrisMWilliams** · 03-13-2010, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Al_4_State

This is what raises questions for me:

These guys don't live in a cave. They know how the public feels about coach McDermott. They know that every time someone leaves, it digs him in a deeper hole. They know that by leaving, they're making life extremely difficult for their coach. This isn't the kind of thing you do to someone you respect and care about.

Pretty solid post right there. I cannot argue with any of it.

For the OP, losing Ham is a terrible thing for this program. He's turned into a fine Big 12 center. You can't just replace that in March and April. Buckley's loss isn't nearly as significant because he's got to PG's ahead of him. Still, I wish he would have stayed. The best recruiting that Iowa State can do right now is to make sure nobody else jumps ship.

**gogagig** · 03-13-2010, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by ajk4st8

I think it's more of the entire "Greg can't get anyone to want to play at ISU" argument.

Pretty soon that will start to hurt recruiting, wont it?

It IS hurting recruiting. Opposing coaches would make it very clear to recruits how GM's players feel about him. And going back to Harrison Barnes- being a very good friend of several players, he obviously knew how the players felt about GM.

**CycloneErik** · 03-13-2010, 03:10 PM

Originally Posted by Al_4_State

This is what raises questions for me:

These guys don't live in a cave. They know how the public feels about coach McDermott. They know that every time someone leaves, it digs him in a deeper hole. They know that by leaving, they're making life extremely difficult for their coach. This isn't the kind of thing you do to someone you respect and care about.

That's right up there among the points of the day.

**Dryburn** · 03-13-2010, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by gogagig

It IS hurting recruiting. Opposing coaches would make it very clear to recruits how GM's players feel about him. And going back to Harrison Barnes- being a very good friend of several players, he obviously knew how the players felt about GM.

Hell......they can also point out that (for whatever reason) his OWN KID is not going to be playing for him! They will point this out after Doug makes a couple of All-state teams and he and HB lead Ames to another undefeated season.

**Final42b** · 03-13-2010, 03:13 PM

You know whats crazy....we only have one player left from our 2008 recruiting class and thats Jamie, who would have been gone by now if it werent for an injury. That whole class was a complete miss.

**Cyhart** · 03-13-2010, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Al_4_State

This is what raises questions for me:

These guys don't live in a cave. They know how the public feels about coach McDermott. They know that every time someone leaves, it digs him in a deeper hole. They know that by leaving, they're making life extremely difficult for their coach. This isn't the kind of thing you do to someone you respect and care about.

While I agree to a point, I also think the players have to do what's best for themselves at the end of the day. Bball is an important part of Ham's life and he simply has to do what he honestly feels is best for him in that regard. Even if he respects and cares about GMac.
And I'm not saying I agree with his decision.