Just shows that some in the national media still consider Iowa state to be a less than desireable place to play.
Mitrou-Long Out Rest of Season
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Just shows that some in the national media still consider Iowa state to be a less than desireable place to play.
My thoughts.
1. Sucks for Naz. Worked so hard to try and come back. Played last year when he probably shouldn't. Nobody can say he isn't a team player.
2. People have asked why didn't he wait to start the year. Well, if he waited to play until January, he still may not have been ready. Trying to integrate a new player in conference season would be tough. Plus, if he wasn't 100%, couldn't practice and had to miss a game here and there, that could really cause problems for the team. Trying to start the season, see how his hip handled the games and make a decision at this point in the season was the smart move for the team and the smart move for Naz personally.
3. Goodman asked why announce it now, versus seeing how he felt in January. First off, if he tried to play a game in January, his chance at a 5th year goes down the tubes. From a team perspective, announcing it now is best. Otherwise the team would just be waiting for him to get back. It would be a disaster if he had said "I hope to be back after New Years" then delayed it to February, then delayed it to March. Now the team knows he's not coming back to save them and they just have to make things happen. If they struggle now, they can't have the mental excuse that everything will be fixed when Naz gets back.
4. Could he transfer? Sure. I doubt it though, but I don't know Naz personally. He seems to be all about Iowa State, but all he's ever known at Iowa State is winning, so maybe seeing a rebuilding season would lead him to transfer. I doubt it, but who knows. He could use this opportunity to get a years worth master's education. For all we know, this hip injury may mean he won't be able to play professionally.
5. People keep saysing he's going to miss all the "people" (plural) that he came to Iowa State with. There aren't "people" he came to Iowa State with. There is 1 person. Georges.
6. We can all feel sorry for ourselves, but injuries happen to every team. Its not just Iowa State.
7. If Iowa State had to lose a starter to injury, Naz is probably they one they could most afford to lose. Niang, McKay and Morries would obviously be much more devastating. Nader's flexibility and the fact that Naz wasn't playing at 100% make this not as devastating as it could be. Plus the fact that Thomas and Cooke are on the bench, SG is our deepest position.
8. Losing Naz's leadership on the court in games hurts, but his leadership is still present in practice and on the bench during games.
9. I see the Rotation as this. Thomas is the starter. Cooke subs in first for Nader. Nader subs in for McKay/Niang. Burton subs in for Thomas/Morris. Basically the same substitution pattern. The only difference is that Nader plays more SF than PF.
10. This might be why Carter/Ashton get in sooner Sunday. I wondered why they didn't, even in a close game in the first half. Iowa State was probably going to win that game even if you through them in there. However, with Naz's health in question, it was entirely possible that Iowa State could get into a situation in Big 12 play where they had to go with a 6 man rotation and giving them a chance see what its like to play that way.
1. Sucks for Naz. Worked so hard to try and come back. Played last year when he probably shouldn't. Nobody can say he isn't a team player.
2. People have asked why didn't he wait to start the year. Well, if he waited to play until January, he still may not have been ready. Trying to integrate a new player in conference season would be tough. Plus, if he wasn't 100%, couldn't practice and had to miss a game here and there, that could really cause problems for the team. Trying to start the season, see how his hip handled the games and make a decision at this point in the season was the smart move for the team and the smart move for Naz personally.
3. Goodman asked why announce it now, versus seeing how he felt in January. First off, if he tried to play a game in January, his chance at a 5th year goes down the tubes. From a team perspective, announcing it now is best. Otherwise the team would just be waiting for him to get back. It would be a disaster if he had said "I hope to be back after New Years" then delayed it to February, then delayed it to March. Now the team knows he's not coming back to save them and they just have to make things happen. If they struggle now, they can't have the mental excuse that everything will be fixed when Naz gets back.
4. Could he transfer? Sure. I doubt it though, but I don't know Naz personally. He seems to be all about Iowa State, but all he's ever known at Iowa State is winning, so maybe seeing a rebuilding season would lead him to transfer. I doubt it, but who knows. He could use this opportunity to get a years worth master's education. For all we know, this hip injury may mean he won't be able to play professionally.
5. People keep saysing he's going to miss all the "people" (plural) that he came to Iowa State with. There aren't "people" he came to Iowa State with. There is 1 person. Georges.
6. We can all feel sorry for ourselves, but injuries happen to every team. Its not just Iowa State.
7. If Iowa State had to lose a starter to injury, Naz is probably they one they could most afford to lose. Niang, McKay and Morries would obviously be much more devastating. Nader's flexibility and the fact that Naz wasn't playing at 100% make this not as devastating as it could be. Plus the fact that Thomas and Cooke are on the bench, SG is our deepest position.
8. Losing Naz's leadership on the court in games hurts, but his leadership is still present in practice and on the bench during games.
9. I see the Rotation as this. Thomas is the starter. Cooke subs in first for Nader. Nader subs in for McKay/Niang. Burton subs in for Thomas/Morris. Basically the same substitution pattern. The only difference is that Nader plays more SF than PF.
10. This might be why Carter/Ashton get in sooner Sunday. I wondered why they didn't, even in a close game in the first half. Iowa State was probably going to win that game even if you through them in there. However, with Naz's health in question, it was entirely possible that Iowa State could get into a situation in Big 12 play where they had to go with a 6 man rotation and giving them a chance see what its like to play that way.
First thing that popped in my head when I heard the news was him wanting to transfer at the end of the season FWIW (not much, just saying I think we can at least have a good discussion of the possibility)
Yep. As much as it sucks losing Naz, if we had to lose 1 starter for the season, he is the one to lose. Now, lets hope that's the biggest kick in the nuts we have this season.
The injury is what it is. An injury that will sideline Naz the rest of the year. I promise you the coaching staff is ******** it's self but they know they just have to move on. It's time for the youngins to step up and stop being frosh players ands start playing like vets. It is what it is. If you think about it, they most likely waited til Burton became eligible before announcing that Naz was gone for the season.
I see naz being like romo after he went out. Talking in Thomas and cookes ear with what he's seeing from the sidelines and helping in a coach type roll. Only not sucking at the same time like the cowboys. Also if he will be utilizing the training staff to the fullest I don't see him bolting at the end of the season. Could be dead wrong but he doesn't seem like that type of person. I think he cares about Iowa state more than winning at a new program
It is interesting to me that we weren't using Naz conservatively until he sat out on Sunday. We kept hearing that his hips were still a concern, but it definitely did not affect his playing time. If not finishing the season was this much of a reality, it didn't seem like we had much of a game plan to try to allow him to make it all the way.
Terrible break for Naz. Injuries are a part of the game, but it sucks when they happen to a senior who's worked his *** off to become a major contributor on a team with Final Four potential. I hope we see him in an ISU uniform again next winter, but if not, good luck to him whatever he does. Great Cyclone.
Sad. Surprised coach staff not closer to Long to know his true health and had made possible adjustments in his current play time --maybe would have still been available to play in March.
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