Who is the greatest Cyclone of all-time?

[ChrisMWilliams]

Not sure if you guys heard me and Hines discussing this in our driving back from Milwaukee podcast but I got some interesting reaction to it.

Who is the greatest Cyclone ever? Our criteria was "impact made on Iowa State program."

I say Niang, mainly because of what he was able to do for the brand through social media, his personality, etc.

I think you have to go Fred if you can combine playing days with what he did as a coach - that's some gray area.

Best player ever? It's Fizer for me, but I wasn't around for the Grayer years.

Fascinating conversation. What do you guys think?

 

[RedlineSi]

Greatest Cyclone IMO is Niang as well.

 

[SoapyCy]

there is no right answer for a few reasons. first, we tend to put more weight on players when we were growing up. they are in a mystical world because we looked up to them differently than we see players when we are adults. morris, to me, is the greatest player, while niang is the greatest cyclone for reasons you mentioned.

 

[GTO]

Georgios Tsalmpouris

 

[Bret44]

Jeff Grayer is the greatest player in Iowa State Basketball history.

 

[heitclone]

Best career?Niang. Most talented player? Royce White (its crazy what he could have been) Cyclone lifetime achievement award, Fred.

 

[NATEizKING]

Jamie Pollard if these Campbell and Prohm hires work out.

Fennelly and Dresser as bonuses?

 

[bawbie]

My "Mount Rushmore" of ISU Basketball is:

Jeff Grayer, Fred Hoiberg, Georges Niang and Monte Morris.

I think you could make a case for any of the 4 as the greatest, or the biggest impact, but Fred's still #1 in my book.

 

[CycloneErik]

My name speaks for itself.

 

[cyfanatic]

Player: Grayer was incredible...but Tinsley has to be the best player ever to wear the Iowa State uniform in my opinion. He was phenomenal!

 

[Cyclonepride]

My "Mount Rushmore" of ISU Basketball is:

Jeff Grayer, Fred Hoiberg, Georges Niang and Monte Morris.

I think you could make a case for any of the 4 as the greatest, or the biggest impact, but Fred's still #1 in my book.

That's a very good one. I agree.

Hard to name just one as the greatest impact, or greatest player.

 

[ca4cy]

Best Cyclone ever (with all it entails) is probably either Niang or Hoiberg. Niang probably gets the nod for me with social media being a factor in his time here and how he touted ISU at every opportunity.

Overall impact on the program is probably Fred, given that he was heavily recruited and stayed home and then came back to resurrect the program from the ashes of the McDermott nuclear winter.

Best player ever for me is Grayer. I was in my Cyclone fan infancy when he was in school but that guy was a freaking stud. In addition to the #'s he put up, you have to remember the defense he played. I think he was all defensive team in the Big 8 all four years. All american, Olympian and first round draft pick whose career was cut short by injury. Who knows what he could have done in the NBA with today's medicine to rehab that knee.

 

[CyBraveBear]

Greatest impact on me, Jeff Grayer. Greatest impact on ISU, I think you could go with Fred or Niang.

 

[SCyclone]

My "Mount Rushmore" of ISU Basketball is:

Jeff Grayer, Fred Hoiberg, Georges Niang and Monte Morris.

I think you could make a case for any of the 4 as the greatest, or the biggest impact, but Fred's still #1 in my book.

I LOVE the idea of a Cyclone Mt. Rushmore. And your choices are spot on!

 

[3GenClone]

Best player ever? It's Fizer for me, but I wasn't around for the Grayer years.

Fascinating conversation. What do you guys think?

I completely agree, Chris. That 99-00 squad was picked in the preseason to finish 6th in the Big 12 conference - the ended up being ranked 6th in the country.

 

[CycloneWarning]

I have to go with Fizer. Conference title, one conference tournament title, an Elite Eight appearance that could have been Final Four run or better.

Honorable Mention to Johnny Orr. He built Hilton Magic and put ISU on the map.

 

[85clone]

1. Fred Hoiberg
2. Gary Thompson (no, I didn't see him play...just paying respect)
3. Georges Niang
4. Jeff Grayer
5. Marcus Fizer

 

[cyfanatic]

I have to go with Fizer. Back-to-back conference titles, one conference tournament title, an Elite Eight appearance that could have been Final Four run or better.

Honorable Mention to Johnny Orr. He built Hilton Magic and put ISU on the map.

But Fizer was only on one of those title teams...Tinsley drove both teams to those titles!

 

[carvers4math]

Roland Rocket. Has had an impact for decades past his playing days and part of the greatest upset in ISU history,

 

[ruxCYtable]

It has to be Fred. What is his combined career record as player/coach? Has to be pretty damn good. So's his record against the Hawks.