Expectations - Your thoughts.

[dbronco7sc]

I expect every recruit to give the best for this school, try their best *correction - fight their ***** off* every game... no matter how good or bad of a season we have.

Therefore it's only fair for me to do that as long as I support this team, every game, and cheer them on no matter how good or bad of a season we have.

I'm a fan of the Iowa State Cyclones. I'm not a fan of only the "1998-2003 Cyclones" or the "Johnny Orr coached Cyclones" or the "Gary Thompson year's Cyclones".

I'm a fan of the Cyclones every year. I get excited for every game on the schedule of every year. I like to follow the players who have committed to play for this school, and watch them grow and develop as players and young men every year.

I never wish for any of our players or coaches to leave or get excited that they're gone. If the results of their efforts are sub-par... I don't wish for somebody else to replace them... I wish for them to improve and get better.

They've chosen to do their best for the Cyclones and though everyone wants to win. Reality says that over 250 division 1 teams don't get to go to the tournament in a given year.

What makes our school the one that should be going to the tourney year in and year out? All 300+ schools want to be at that level, but most don't get to. The best any school can ask of their team is to strive for such goals every year.

For example... if the rule is that it's exceptable to fire a coach if they don't make the NCAA tournament in a 4 year span.... then at a minimum of 67 coaches will be fired every year (and that is assuming that there are no teams that make the tournament more than once in each 4 year span). (For the record... I do not think that WM should be fired for his team's results... if there were other reasons... then so be it)

I know many disagree with me, and I respect that. I just figured I'd share my my stance on what I expect of a team and what I expect of myself as a fan.

Feel free to share what you think a fan's expectations of their team should be. Please be respectful in your post and no snide/sarcastic remarks. I'm sure few people are in the mood for it right now.

 

[jpete24]

Tough calls, very tough calls. It's all about expectations and public opinion. If we were Kentucky, McD would have been gone already (that is if they hired him) simply because of an "expectation". I agree about Iowa State going to tourneys year in and year out, where did we get this expectation that we are a ultimate basketball powerhouse? Maybe if we were going to the tourney year in and year out, I would expect differently. I think too many people look back to the early 2000's and expect this result.

NOW......Does that excuse McD for some of the mistakes he's made as a coach....tough call as well. I think McD is a tad soft, and I think sometimes he doesn't seem involved as much as he should. I really do think he's a good coach and he knows how to recruit. He's had a lot of bad luck, but if you flip over enough rocks eventually you're going to find something. Hopefully this is the case in the next few years because I certainly don't want to start back at square one or WORST be in the position that Iowa is in right now....(scary bad).

 

[Whin4Cy]

I fully agree with dbronco7sc. I want a competitive program in that our boys compete hard and play hard for ISU. If we win - great. If we lose - we tried our best. I am most upset when we aren't playing with intensity and get complacent. By playing hard and giving our all, we have a better chance of making a tournament more consistently.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I think McDermott can make ISU into a perennial contender if given enough time (2 more years).

 

[cyfan964]

I fully agree with dbronco7sc. I want a competitive program in that our boys compete hard and play hard for ISU. If we win - great. If we lose - we tried our best. I am most upset when we aren't playing with intensity and get complacent. By playing hard and giving our all, we have a better chance of making a tournament more consistently.

I don't mean to sound like an *** here, but I hate when people say, "we tried our best." You don't become winners by "trying your best."

I wish the statement would get changed to, "we fought our ***** off!"

 

[dbronco7sc]

I don't mean to sound like an *** here, but I hate when people say, "we tried our best." You don't become winners by "trying your best."

I wish the statement would get changed to, "we fought our ***** off!"

Post updated.

 

[BryceC]

Expectations differ based on the person. Some people also feel like Cyclonepride does that McDermott is the guy for us and some don't.

I don't expect this program to make the tourney every year and I highly doubt most realistic fans feel any differently. I want to see a team that plays tough and smart. We haven't seen that for a long time and we haven't seen it yet this year, and it was a year when expectations were raised prior to the season. I was part of the group pumping up the team prior to the season so I guess you could blame me for some of the backlash, because while people would be upset if their expectations were lowered they might not be so upset.

Also, while my expectations in regard to on the court success may be higher than others, I don't buy season tickets to watch guys try hard. I didn't spend money and time off to watch ISU try hard on Wednesday. The effort and basketball IQ on display on the court on Wednesday (as well as the whole season) was not what I expect from a basketball team and anybody who paid to watch that has every right to be ****** off. In my opinion.

 

[isuno1fan]

I think McDermott can make ISU into a perennial contender if given enough time (2 more years).

+1...I completely agree. My timeline is another 3 years though.

 

[kingcy]

Here is the thing. We were told by Coach Mac himself that this team would be a good team. The reason we played Duke and the Chacigo tourny and Calf is because he thought this team was going to be a good team and he wanted those games to test this team and get NCAA resume points. Coaches know when they should have a good team. This one sucks because it has been so long since a good NCAA run and it is Macs 4th year and it is most talented team to date.

 

[kingcy]

+1...I completely agree. My timeline is another 3 years though.

Serious? That is crazy. I love Mac but if it takes him 7 years to win, in college BB, he shouldnt be coaching at this level.

 

[HiltonMagic]

+1...I completely agree. My timeline is another 3 years though.

and what evidence is there that this will happen?

 

[Cyclonepride]

and what evidence is there that this will happen?

The fact that we are extremely disappointed to be 10-4 with the talent on the team. Two years ago, we were playing mostly with first year players. You can see progress with each and every year, even if it hasn't shown up in the win column. But I truly believe it will.

 

[jhill]

The fact that we are extremely disappointed to be 10-4 with the talent on the team. Two years ago, we were playing mostly with first year players. You can see progress with each and every year, even if it hasn't shown up in the win column. But I truly believe it will.

Devil's advocate. What is the progress you have seen this year? They lost at home to UNI and on a neutral court to Northwestern. Hammered on the road against Cal. I guess they have soundly beaten teams in their wins, so that could be some progress. But, quite honestly, a big part of my frustration is the apparent lack of progress that this program has seen since McDermott took over. They are looking squarely at another 8th-9th place finish in conference and 16-17 win season. I think that is quite similar to his first season.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Devil's advocate. What is the progress you have seen this year? They lost at home to UNI and on a neutral court to Northwestern. Hammered on the road against Cal. I guess they have soundly beaten teams in their wins, so that could be some progress. But, quite honestly, a big part of my frustration is the apparent lack of progress that this program has seen since McDermott took over. They are looking squarely at another 8th-9th place finish in conference and 16-17 win season. I think that is quite similar to his first season.

The progress is that we actually have the horses to compete at a high level (and future signees seem to indicate that this trend will continue). That's the key to the frustration, because we aren't. If they can start playing within a team concept, there's no limit to what they can do.

 

[LeBron1]

+1...I completely agree. My timeline is another 3 years though.

It shouldn't take a head coach 7 years to turn a team into a winner.

 

[Tre4ISU]

I will say this. In todays college sports there is no trying, you do or you don't. Mac hasn't. This season also isn't over.

 

[HiltonMagic]

The progress is that we actually have the horses to compete at a high level (and future signees seem to indicate that this trend will continue). That's the key to the frustration, because we aren't. If they can start playing within a team concept, there's no limit to what they can do.

so in other words, you're saying that Mac can recruit, but can't coach?

 

[BryceC]

The progress is that we actually have the horses to compete at a high level (and future signees seem to indicate that this trend will continue). That's the key to the frustration, because we aren't. If they can start playing within a team concept, there's no limit to what they can do.

I will say this, I think our talent is consistently overrated by our fanbase. IMO we have seen this year that we do NOT have the horses to compete. I can be proven wrong and I hope I am.

 

[Rick]

I think we over hype all the players every year. ISU has never had a solid 8 man rotation. Maybe for stretches we might have in the "80-90" years but most often we had that hole the other teams seem to find. People get their expectations up so high on blog reports or this site and then when it doesnt happen they blow up and want to fire the coach or dis the players or both. I am not a basketball expert, coach, afficionado etc.. I think the guys want to win but they really havent found their identity yet. A lot of these guys are 1st year players. They may have been around but actual game type situations are different than practice. The team needs to gel to win. I missed the bickering during the Duke game but that does not sound good and is a cause for concern.
So with all that being said, I have know idea how this will end. I will keep an eye on the team and root when they are playing. As for the dissecting and coming up with why we are good/bad, I will leave it up to all the experts on this site.

 

[Cyclonepride]

so in other words, you're saying that Mac can recruit, but can't coach?

No, I am saying that this is his first team fully stocked with high caliber talent, and they aren't playing within a team concept. That could be his fault, yes, but it also could be on the players. Time will tell.

I will say this, I think our talent is consistently overrated by our fanbase. IMO we have seen this year that we do NOT have the horses to compete. I can be proven wrong and I hope I am.

Possibly, since that is a natural tendency in fans, but I don't think that is correct in this case. I think that we have a case where, at least to this point in the season, the sum is less than the total of the parts, due to the fact that they are not playing as a team. I'm inclined to think that the depth is working against them in the preseason as they are having trouble getting used to each other to an extent.