ISU MBB: Reactive, not proactive

[Wesley]

And yet another GMac internet lynching.... This board can't even be happy when the administration does something they have been asking for since the last person left the building. It is like picking at a scab with you guys. It isn't the scabs ability to heal. It is that you don't want it to heal so you keep picking at slowly and steadily until it is infected again. IF we did replace Mac... most of you would be right back here ******** about the next guy and all of his problems. SAD...

It will not matter who the coach is next year - it will be a tough, long season.

[Wesley]

how long do you think you would last if your performance over 4 years was dead last amongst your peers (bcs schools)?

No more than 30 days.

[Biggerstaff]

Nice post...well thought out. I would have rather seen these two hires part of the next coach's staff, because I believe we are in for another horrible season next year and the next coach may not hold on to these guys or worse yet because we value Jeff Grayer so much he is used as a pawn to keep giving McD more chances.

I am not surprised at this maneuver as PR seems to be JP's number on strength but he knows it will only take you so far and the results must follow or your out!

[SpokaneCY]

I've stayed away because I frankly don't have anything positive to say. I still don't, but the latest moves have really struck a nerve with me.

First, I'll state I do welcome Nurse and Grayer to the program. I do wish them luck, but I firmly believe they're gonna need a heavy helping of it.

Clearly the hires were done seeking people that could relate to the players (and some of it is most definitely PR to the fans), guys that had worked with all different types of players and could be able to reach a diverse group. That's great.

But why did it take so long for this to happen? Keep in mind, Greg said before the season the key to 2010/2011 MBB was getting these guys to understand their roles and play together as a team. This didn't happen, not even close - and I believe that to be a very concrete fact.

How could a coach/staff already struggling with relating to the players (clearly shown by the inconsistent team play in the previous years and player departures) go into a season with easily the best talent he's had - and with the two best players most likely done at the end of the season - and just continue with the status quo?

And now suddenly, with the entire thing crumbling around 'em - then something is done about it. After another losing season. After more players leave. After staff members leave.

Why not bring in a consultant like Grayer for at least a bit last summer? Do something...anything?

It is emphatically the fault of the current staff/admin this thing has spiraled so far downward. And now that it's almost reached rock bottom, people react. I just don't get how they could turn such a blind eye to a very ugly situation that continued to brew.

This probably doesn't matter, because I'm no longer "a fan" in many eyes because we won't be in Ames for 2010/2011 MBB. We will no longer be in "Pollard's 20% of fans that discuss the program and actually buy tickets". And I'm totally cool with that.

Unlike others, I won't label the fans that continue to support a program (which is in fact for all intents, a business) that is so irresponsible with its decision making and does not behave in proactive manner. If you have the financial ability to do that with your funds, great. I don't and won't.

The team on the floor reflects leadership. Our team in almost every single case, has not responded well to adversity. And for me, that is a direct correlation to the leadership of the program. Others in Ames apparently feel the need to blame it on kids and our country's culture. We all have our own opinions I guess.

Perhaps this latest response will be a good one. I guess we will find out. It's just come far later than it should have at and a very heavy cost.

Because the staff felt/saw the team as being cohesive with CB back and MG coming in and nobody getting hurt? Because with the talent and experience and the hands-on time the staff spent with the players led them to believe this was to be a break-thru year? Because NOBODY anticipated it? Because a true leader didn't emerge on the team? I dunno.... But you seem to have it nailed down.

[mkadl]

I love the hires, Grayer will bring passion to the game, but I have said if you dont get rid of the problem, do you really have the solution? My answer is no. McDermott is not a coach for a BCS program, he should be gone and one of these guys should be looked at as his replacements not assistants.

I believe it is VERY possible that the assistants quitting might have really sucked. If any exit interviews were conducted with players the truth has to come out. What would prevent Wes Johnson, or any other defector from badmouthing their actual problem with the program? If most of them gave any confidential reasons, and they were about GMAC I believe our head coach would be gone by now. I hope (and you should too) this rights the ship. Just an opinion.

[snowcraig2.0]

And yet another <acronym title="Greg McDermott">GMac</acronym> internet lynching.... This board can't even be happy when the administration does something they have been asking for since the last person left the building. It is like picking at a scab with you guys. It isn't the scabs ability to heal. It is that you don't want it to heal so you keep picking at slowly and steadily until it is infected again. IF we did replace Mac... most of you would be right back here ******** about the next guy and all of his problems. SAD...

This is the biggest load of crap I have seen posted here in a long while. There is a large group of us who gave Greg 100% support for 4 years. Now, after 4 years of failure, its on him to earn that support back.

[MNclone]

Hey, how about mixing in a few more paragraphs...jeesh!

The first thing I highlighted is really scary to me...the guy running the program has no idea what a "good" power conference team looks like. Talk about being clueless.

Boozer and SC worth 5 wins?

I think that sounds about right. It wasn't the points or the defense that they offered, but the simple fact that we lost all potential scoring from the 2 guard spot allowed oponents to really bog down the paint. Taking away the driving ability from the 1 and 3 spots, and really frustrating Brackins.
Until SC got healthier towards the end of the season, Brackins was our best 3 pt threat. I know almost nothing about coaching basketball, but I think that even I could come up with a plan to stop a an offense that could only score inside.

[michaelrr1]

The recent hires aren't going to make next year much better, if at all. I'm terrified that the other thread about Mac having 2-3 more years to make it work is true. With the new assistants, it's another Year 1. I'd rather have an actual Year 1 with someone else at the helm.

[enisthemenace]

I think it is kind of funny how people keep saying that last year we didn't play "as a team" and that is why we didn't live up to expectations, and that next year our guys will play like a team and we will be "better". I saw from last year's team the exact same thing I have seen from Greg's other teams; an offense that is not cohesive and does not work in the big 12 and questionable coaching decisions. From two years ago to last year the team improved quite a bit. Go look at the scores from the year before and you will see that they got blown out a lot. last year we kept most games pretty close. Most people picked us near the bottom of the big 12. I think fans and local media members had enflated expectations for the team. People also put way too much into the Kstate game. We played pretty good and they shot horrible from the field. Upsets happen, it doesn't mean that because we beat them our team way underachieved. I think there was a couple more games we could have won.

Again, our offense is not going to be any better this is the same offense they have been running under Greg for four years now. We don't have the players next year to compete in the big 12 and i am expecting blow outs again.

As much as I tire of the negativity, I have a more difficult time arguing this. The offense, IMHO, has been very frustrating since day 1 of season 2 (Taylor did a pretty good job of playing his game, although I remember thinking sometimes 'he was the best player for both teams' damn I miss him, but I digress).

I am hopeful Nurse can help here.

I like Grayer too much to throw out any expectations for him.

[enisthemenace]

how long do you think you would last if your performance over 4 years was dead last amongst your peers (bcs schools)?

Not to derail, but you asked. In this day in age when Human Resources is KING, you'd be surprised how long someone would last. In the business world, it's pretty ******* hard to lose your job for simply performance reasons (and that's pretty scary in some instances). You're not going to ever be promoted or see more money, but once you have your foot is in the door, you're there until you 'break the law' (whether that be literal, or via the established corporate culture).

Sad, but absolutley true.

Remember, you asked.