Never Saw That Coming...Basketball

[Sigmapolis]

Not to replace your list, but to add to it:

- Matt Thomas as a defensive stopper his final two years after how he played defense his first two years.
- Jared Holman offensively his senior year.
- 20 point come from behind win vs IA after Mr Soft for IA went off in the first half (OK so that doesn’t fall the form of this thread, but boy, was it fun to say!)

I love Matt Thomas, and if senior Matt was going to be on the squad next year, we'd probably project him to lead the team in scoring as the featured SG and he'd be the face of the program right now far more than he was in reality being "stuck" behind some all-time personalities like Georges and Naz.

That being said, I wouldn't have called him a defensive "stopper" on the same level as Chris Babb and Gabe Kalscheur. Matt went from a heralded SG recruit who, well, couldn't shoot and was bad at defense to one of the best shooters in school history (with the prettiest form I've ever seen from a Cyclone... so quick and so smooth...) who was at least a plus defender in the Big 12 but not really a true stopper.

I've watched that comeback game against Iowa a few times now. I know Matt takes the credit, but Georges was actually the one guarding Uthoff when he came back down to Earth. I don't think it was so much the defense as Uthoff had the half of his life channeling Bird and then the magic potion wore off.

Melvin Ejim from role player to Big 12 player of the year

He was a starter as a true freshman. He was fourth on the team in scoring behind Garrett, JVG, and Uncle Jake and second on the team in rebounding after Uncle Jake. Is that really a "role player?"

That being said, going from a low-end starter in the Big 12 (who was starting mostly because of a complete roster reset after McDermott left and Fred came in) to CPOTY is still impressive.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I love Matt Thomas, and if senior Matt was going to be on the squad next year, we'd probably project him to lead the team in scoring as the featured SG and he'd be the face of the program right now far more than he was in reality being "stuck" behind some all-time personalities like Georges and Naz.

That being said, I wouldn't have called him a defensive "stopper" on the same level as Chris Babb and Gabe Kalscheur. Matt went from a heralded SG recruit who, well, couldn't shoot and was bad at defense to one of the best shooters in school history (with the prettiest form I've ever seen from a Cyclone... so quick and so smooth...) who was at least a plus defender in the Big 12 but not really a true stopper.

I've watched that comeback game against Iowa a few times now. I know Matt takes the credit, but Georges was actually the one guarding Uthoff when he came back down to Earth. I don't think it was so much the defense as Uthoff had the half of his life channeling Bird and then the magic potion wore off.



He was a starter as a true freshman. He was fourth on the team in scoring behind Garrett, JVG, and Uncle Jake and second on the team in rebounding after Uncle Jake. Is that really a "role player?"

That being said, going from a low-end starter in the Big 12 (who was starting mostly because of a complete roster reset after McDermott left and Fred came in) to CPOTY is still impressive.

If you go back, there were quite a few CF posters saying that Melvin wasn't Big 12 material well into his sophomore season. Obviously, he was, but that's what I am basing my selection on.

 

[Sigmapolis]

If you go back, there were quite a few CF posters saying that Melvin wasn't Big 12 material well into his sophomore season. Obviously, he was, but that's what I am basing my selection on.

Ejim PPG against the Big 12 --

8.4
10.9
10.7
18.3

I don't know many guys who scored 8.4 against the Big 12 as a freshman who utterly didn't belong in the conference. And that is before you factor in his rebounding numbers...

6.2
7.1
9.4
8.9

 

[Pat]

I love Matt Thomas, and if senior Matt was going to be on the squad next year, we'd probably project him to lead the team in scoring as the featured SG and he'd be the face of the program right now far more than he was in reality being "stuck" behind some all-time personalities like Georges and Naz.

That being said, I wouldn't have called him a defensive "stopper" on the same level as Chris Babb and Gabe Kalscheur. Matt went from a heralded SG recruit who, well, couldn't shoot and was bad at defense to one of the best shooters in school history (with the prettiest form I've ever seen from a Cyclone... so quick and so smooth...) who was at least a plus defender in the Big 12 but not really a true stopper.

I've watched that comeback game against Iowa a few times now. I know Matt takes the credit, but Georges was actually the one guarding Uthoff when he came back down to Earth. I don't think it was so much the defense as Uthoff had the half of his life channeling Bird and then the magic potion wore off.



He was a starter as a true freshman. He was fourth on the team in scoring behind Garrett, JVG, and Uncle Jake and second on the team in rebounding after Uncle Jake. Is that really a "role player?"

That being said, going from a low-end starter in the Big 12 (who was starting mostly because of a complete roster reset after McDermott left and Fred came in) to CPOTY is still impressive.

Yeah, but the expectation was certainly not that Melvin “Stone-Hands” Ejim would be a starter. I heard an interview years ago - I think it was CW and TJ, but it’s been a minute - where the coach said they recruited him thinking he would be develop into a nice 10mpg guy.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Yeah, but the expectation was certainly not that Melvin “Stone-Hands” Ejim would be a starter. I heard an interview years ago - I think it was CW and TJ, but it’s been a minute - where the coach said they recruited him thinking he would be develop into a nice 10mpg guy.

This was ~15 years ago, so all of our memories are probably a bit hazy and really more of a form of reasoning backwards from what we know happened rather than projections at the time.

But I remember Ejim being touted as a key building block for McDemott to rebuild with and that it was "very important" to retain TJ to retain Ejim so Fred would have the same asset in his rebuild.

I don't remember "projected scrub." I remember "projected dude critical to retain."

 

[Pat]

This was ~15 years ago, so all of our memories are probably a bit hazy and really more of a form of reasoning backwards from what we know happened rather than projections at the time.

But I remember Ejim being touted as a key building block for McDemott to rebuild with and that it was "very important" to retain TJ to retain Ejim so Fred would have the same asset in his rebuild.

I don't remember "projected scrub." I remember "projected dude critical to retain."

It’s also nearly impossible to translate the coach-speak after so long, too. Both of us could be remembering correctly, just different stories being told at different times with different motivations. Hoiberg was a master at spinning the local press.

 

[Sigmapolis]

It’s also nearly impossible to translate the coach-speak after so long, too. Both of us could be remembering correctly, just different stories being told at different times with different motivations. Hoiberg was a master at spinning the local press.

I do remember Ejim as a projected starter, though.

If only because the roster was so depleted rather than based on raw talent.

Garrett, Christopherson, Anderson, and Vanderbeken were the other starters.

What other options did you even have...?

Bubu? A freshman walk-on who was promoted to a scholarship player?
Godfrey or Railey? Last-minute summer recruits with much lower ratings than Ejim?
DeMarcus Phillips? Didn't even finish the first semester with the team.

And that was it. The team went into that season with only nine eligible (read: not counting the large crop of guys on transfer redshirts) scholarship players, which dropped to eight when Phillips left.

Ejim was starting with the paucity of other options one way or another.

 

[HFCS]

I thought Tyrese had clear NBA potential the very first time I saw him play. His passing and playmaking ability was obviously next level elite and he had nba wingspan/length. Royce had some fun passing plays, Monte was an elite ball handler, but Tyrese is easily the most talented passer we ever had and it was clear at least to me immediately.

I have no idea how recruiting rankings can be that wrong. Do I know more than them just by being a true NBA fan? Maybe I do.

I was surprised that he’s become one of the best 3 point shooters on earth and no fluke since it’s been multiple seasons at high volume. That I did not immediately see.

 

[Drew0311]

Lafester was a highly rated recruit. He just didn’t develop until his senior year for some reason. Just stuck behind better players.

My biggest suprise is what Jared Homan eventually became as a player.

 

[Drew0311]

I thought Tyrese had clear NBA potential the very first time I saw him play. His passing and playmaking ability was obviously next level elite and he had nba wingspan/length. Royce had some fun passing plays, Monte was an elite ball handler, but Tyrese is easily the most talented passer we ever had and it was clear at least to me immediately.

I have no idea how recruiting rankings can be that wrong. Do I know more than them just by being a true NBA fan? Maybe I do.

I was surprised that he’s become one of the best 3 point shooters on earth and no fluke since it’s been multiple seasons at high volume. That I did not immediately see.

To be honest I always thought Tyrese game was more suited for the nba over college. Lots of guys have college games that don’t translate like Fizer.

 

[qwerty]

IIRC, in his early career, he'd sometimes come in for 3 minutes, and have 8 points, 3 rebounds and 2 4 fouls.

FIFY

 

[Sigmapolis]

To be honest I always thought Tyrese game was more suited for the nba over college. Lots of guys have college games that don’t translate like Fizer.

BDJ was the same way. He could have had a nice NBA career if not for the tragedy.

His game was always that of an NBA slasher/SG.

He actually wasn't a great fit for college Hoiball even outside of the personality issues.

 

[Big_Sill]

Tyrus McGee. Unreal shooter.

 

[MushroomPinball]

This was only for one game but John Neal coming in to hit two big threes to help beat Iowa back in 2004 came out of nowhere.

 

[JRE1975]

Tyrese is a great passer and ball handler, but it would be hard to choose the best ever out of a pool of Haliburton, Tinsley, and Hornacek.

 

[ISUTex]

Tinsley
Ejim
Horny

 

[ISUTex]

Tyrese is a great passer and ball handler, but it would be hard to choose the best ever out of a pool of Haliburton, Tinsley, and Hornacek.

All different styles in different eras.

Hornacek is probably the most famous nationally.
Tinsley's ball handling and bad ass attitude
Haliburton's talent and smile.


Who is the best? Yes.

 

[Drew0311]

All different styles in different eras.

Hornacek is probably the most famous nationally.
Tinsley's ball handling and bad ass attitude
Haliburton's talent and smile.


Who is the best? Yes.

In college I would take Tinsley over all of our other point guards. It would not be close. In pro it’s Tyrese, Horny, then Tinsley.

 

[jdoggivjc]

I was grasping at straws that the 9th-place projection could've been 00-01 ... didn't make sense when I posted, but I was guessing.

Here are links to that season:

Media poll:

Tinsley Earns Big 12 Preseason Player of the Year by Big 12 Media - Iowa State University Athletics

DALLAS - Iowa State senior point guard Jamaal Tinsley captured the clean sweep of preseason Big 12 honors by earning the league's preseason player of the awa...

cyclones.com

Big 12 coaches poll:

Big 12 Basketball Coaches Poll

DALLAS (AP) _ The 2000-01 Big 12 men's basketball preseason coaches poll, with first-place votes in parantheses followed by total points. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own teams, so points

www.newson6.com

--> Note: I realize I've cited only the Big 12 media/coaches summaries, it's possible Athlon and others had ISU ranked low both seasons. I haven't scoured the interwebs yet for that. ... as longtime consumer of Athlon et al in the old-fashioned newsstand format, my vague memory tells me that's probably what fans have referenced.

Like I said, it was more than 20 years ago... and let's be honest, there's parts of that season that most of us prefer to have forgotten, and finally doesn't show up in every tournament upset promo annually to our humiliation.

 

[theshadow]

I seem to remember us being picked to finish dead last as well. Others have said I remember wrong - but it's more than 20 years ago now so who really knows anymore.

The 95-96 team (that won the last Big Eight tournament) was picked DFL in the media preseason poll.