You guys are going to love this. Enjoy.
http://cyclonefanatic.com/2017/03/blum-down-goes-kansas-reliving-the-1996-big-8-title/
http://cyclonefanatic.com/2017/03/blum-down-goes-kansas-reliving-the-1996-big-8-title/
BLUM: Re-living the 96 Big 8 title game
- Thread starter ChrisMWilliams
- Start date
Great read!
For those too young to remember, this team was truly a gang of misfits. Almost no one of consequence returned from the previous year.
I remember going to the team's first exhibition game with Keep and as they entered the floor we kind of looked at each other like,"Who the hell are these guys?" Dedric Willoughby impressed that first night with his silky-smooth jumper, but I still didn't expect much from these guys.
They got better and better. They defended. They rebounded. They won on the road, which was something Johnny's teams could never seem to do.
My dad and I went down to the Big 8 tourney that year, the first time we'd ever gone together. The first two games were dogfights. ISU got into the championship game by the hair of their chins.
We saw the team at the hotel the night before the championship game. They were loose, smiling, signing autographs, interacting with fans, relaxed. I said to my dad,"I have a feeling they might pull it off."
As Vaughn's shot clanged off the rim and Cyclone fans went crazy, I turned to hug my dad and he wasn't there. He was sitting down with his head in his hands, crying. I'd never seen my dad cry before. He's gone now, but I'm really glad we shared this day together.
For those too young to remember, this team was truly a gang of misfits. Almost no one of consequence returned from the previous year.
I remember going to the team's first exhibition game with Keep and as they entered the floor we kind of looked at each other like,"Who the hell are these guys?" Dedric Willoughby impressed that first night with his silky-smooth jumper, but I still didn't expect much from these guys.
They got better and better. They defended. They rebounded. They won on the road, which was something Johnny's teams could never seem to do.
My dad and I went down to the Big 8 tourney that year, the first time we'd ever gone together. The first two games were dogfights. ISU got into the championship game by the hair of their chins.
We saw the team at the hotel the night before the championship game. They were loose, smiling, signing autographs, interacting with fans, relaxed. I said to my dad,"I have a feeling they might pull it off."
As Vaughn's shot clanged off the rim and Cyclone fans went crazy, I turned to hug my dad and he wasn't there. He was sitting down with his head in his hands, crying. I'd never seen my dad cry before. He's gone now, but I'm really glad we shared this day together.
Some awesome context from Blum.
Some nuggets from this article that I didn't know/enjoyed: Jacque Vaughn was the head coach of the Magic. Jim Nantz made an OJ reference. ISU played two close games before getting to the final. I remember the Nebraska game but not the Mizzou game. Guessing that was the Sutherland/Thames/Grimm crew? Joe Modderman was still on the team. I thought he was on the roster in the Hoiberg/Meyer/Michalik years.
Shelby Walton? Who?
Some nuggets from this article that I didn't know/enjoyed: Jacque Vaughn was the head coach of the Magic. Jim Nantz made an OJ reference. ISU played two close games before getting to the final. I remember the Nebraska game but not the Mizzou game. Guessing that was the Sutherland/Thames/Grimm crew? Joe Modderman was still on the team. I thought he was on the roster in the Hoiberg/Meyer/Michalik years.
Shelby Walton? Who?
I was a sophomore at ISU and I had to work during the week. The dorms were closed and I was staying at a friend's apartment. I was watching the game by myself and could hardly keep my eyes focused on the TV the last two minutes.
The final buzzer sounded and I heard people screaming outside. About 20 people started an impromptu outdoor party. I didn't know any of them. It was awesome.
The final buzzer sounded and I heard people screaming outside. About 20 people started an impromptu outdoor party. I didn't know any of them. It was awesome.
My mom got a piece of the Hilton court floor after the floods (Merry Christmas from me and my new wife, how time has flown!), and the picture of this team holding the championship trophy is proudly displayed on it. Everyone in my family had gone down to see this game, except me. Stupid work.
I just watched this replay too, and I also yelled after Jacey's 3 ball.
I just watched this replay too, and I also yelled after Jacey's 3 ball.
The atmosphere at the game was incredible. It was essentially 50-50. The Jacy shot is one of the biggest and most memorable in ISU history because nobody saw it coming and what it meant.
Coincidentally Klay Edwards' game winner against Cinncy the next year was a huge one too.
Oh and the article perfectly eludes to the reason why I think Monte should be on the floor for every single minute for the rest of the season.
Surprisingly the KU fans next to us were very gracious when we one.
Coincidentally Klay Edwards' game winner against Cinncy the next year was a huge one too.
Oh and the article perfectly eludes to the reason why I think Monte should be on the floor for every single minute for the rest of the season.
Surprisingly the KU fans next to us were very gracious when we one.
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My favorite Cyclone team of all time. Still kills me they blew a 20 point lead to UCLA the next year in the Sweet 16. Had a very very good shot of going to the final four.
This particular game is my favorite Cyclone moment ever, and will never be eclipsed barring a national championship. And it involved my favorite Cyclone of all time in any sport.....Dedrick.... fing..... Willougby. My god that dude could hoop. He could do everything on a basketball floor. Loved everyone on that team though. Bankhead, Cato, Pratt...just all complete studs.
Kenny Pratt wasn't much over 6'2 and battled all those guys, really an amazing team.
I was at that game too! Taking down Bob Huggins' team was sweet!
Not only could Willoughby shoot, he had an absolute killer's mentality. I can't tell you how many times the other team would get a big basket to seemingly get back in the game and Dedric would sprint down the court and nail a three. He had a nack for hitting that shot that just destroyed the opponent's will to live.
Kenny. In some ways Deonte reminds me of Kenny a little bit. Maybe the toughest man to ever play Cyclone basketball. In crunch time, you could give him the ball and he'd go and get one.
Man, I loved that team.
I had always liked Cyclone basketball, but that team is what made me LOVE it. I would have been 12 or 13 at that time and was really starting to get into NCAA sports.
I had a obsession with Willoughby and Cato. Kenny Pratt to a lesser extent.
I had a obsession with Willoughby and Cato. Kenny Pratt to a lesser extent.
This was a fantastic read.
Some of my thoughts/memories of that team:
1. This was the year after Fred/Julo/Loren graduated and obviously no one thought Iowa State was going to be any good. If I remember right (and I may not remember important things, but I can remember random Iowa State basketball details to rival anyone), Floyd had signed or had about 20 players committed. In true Tim Floyd fashion, he ran off a few of them, a few didn't qualify, and therefore we were left with Bankhead, Pratt, Willoughby, and Cato. And this was pre internet, so unless you really had connections you knew nothing about them. Although my Dad claims he noticed Cato sitting on the bench the previous year sitting out as a transfer and thought he looked like a player.
2. Jacy hitting that shot was so unlikely. Its hard to imagine now---since now every player is encouraged to shoot and take any good shot they can---but I'm pretty sure Jacy was probably told not to shoot very much. Floyd tried to run him off every year. Eventually Floyd realized that it was probably good to keep Jacy.
3. I grew up in NE Iowa and back then the TV stations barely acknowledged that Iowa State had a basketball team. Getting the games on the radio was tough and there were a lot of games that weren't on TV. We had an antenna that you could turn and then we could sometimes get channel 13 and 5. So I had a VHS tape of the post game coverage from channel 13, it's fuzzy, but I watched it many times
. Keith Murphy looks young!
4. The Gar Forman mention made me laugh. I've often wondered how a slimy assistant coach ended up in charge of a storied NBA franchise. It's super smart to make your wife and the owner's son's wife are friends, I guess. I suspect that if Iowa State basketball has a curse, it probably came from Bulls fans.
5. Willoughby was so good. Best pure 3 point shooter I've ever watched at Iowa State. Kenny Pratt is probably best known for the run from the police in Des Moines, but he came back and finished his degree a few years ago. That's one thing that Iowa State has done right...helping some of these players come back and finish their degrees. I bet in the Floyd and Eustache eras very few players ended up graduateing.
Some of my thoughts/memories of that team:
1. This was the year after Fred/Julo/Loren graduated and obviously no one thought Iowa State was going to be any good. If I remember right (and I may not remember important things, but I can remember random Iowa State basketball details to rival anyone), Floyd had signed or had about 20 players committed. In true Tim Floyd fashion, he ran off a few of them, a few didn't qualify, and therefore we were left with Bankhead, Pratt, Willoughby, and Cato. And this was pre internet, so unless you really had connections you knew nothing about them. Although my Dad claims he noticed Cato sitting on the bench the previous year sitting out as a transfer and thought he looked like a player.
2. Jacy hitting that shot was so unlikely. Its hard to imagine now---since now every player is encouraged to shoot and take any good shot they can---but I'm pretty sure Jacy was probably told not to shoot very much. Floyd tried to run him off every year. Eventually Floyd realized that it was probably good to keep Jacy.
3. I grew up in NE Iowa and back then the TV stations barely acknowledged that Iowa State had a basketball team. Getting the games on the radio was tough and there were a lot of games that weren't on TV. We had an antenna that you could turn and then we could sometimes get channel 13 and 5. So I had a VHS tape of the post game coverage from channel 13, it's fuzzy, but I watched it many times
. Keith Murphy looks young!4. The Gar Forman mention made me laugh. I've often wondered how a slimy assistant coach ended up in charge of a storied NBA franchise. It's super smart to make your wife and the owner's son's wife are friends, I guess. I suspect that if Iowa State basketball has a curse, it probably came from Bulls fans.
5. Willoughby was so good. Best pure 3 point shooter I've ever watched at Iowa State. Kenny Pratt is probably best known for the run from the police in Des Moines, but he came back and finished his degree a few years ago. That's one thing that Iowa State has done right...helping some of these players come back and finish their degrees. I bet in the Floyd and Eustache eras very few players ended up graduateing.
This was a fantastic read.
Some of my thoughts/memories of that team:
1. This was the year after Fred/Julo/Loren graduated and obviously no one thought Iowa State was going to be any good. If I remember right (and I may not remember important things, but I can remember random Iowa State basketball details to rival anyone), Floyd had signed or had about 20 players committed. In true Tim Floyd fashion, he ran off a few of them, a few didn't qualify, and therefore we were left with Bankhead, Pratt, Willoughby, and Cato. And this was pre internet, so unless you really had connections you knew nothing about them. Although my Dad claims he noticed Cato sitting on the bench the previous year sitting out as a transfer and thought he looked like a player.
2. Jacy hitting that shot was so unlikely. Its hard to imagine now---since now every player is encouraged to shoot and take any good shot they can---but I'm pretty sure Jacy was probably told not to shoot very much. Floyd tried to run him off every year. Eventually Floyd realized that it was probably good to keep Jacy.
3. I grew up in NE Iowa and back then the TV stations barely acknowledged that Iowa State had a basketball team. Getting the games on the radio was tough and there were a lot of games that weren't on TV. We had an antenna that you could turn and then we could sometimes get channel 13 and 5. So I had a VHS tape of the post game coverage from channel 13, it's fuzzy, but I watched it many times
4. The Gar Forman mention made me laugh. I've often wondered how a slimy assistant coach ended up in charge of a storied NBA franchise. It's super smart to make your wife and the owner's son's wife are friends, I guess. I suspect that if Iowa State basketball has a curse, it probably came from Bulls fans.
5. Willoughby was so good. Best pure 3 point shooter I've ever watched at Iowa State. Kenny Pratt is probably best known for the run from the police in Des Moines, but he came back and finished his degree a few years ago. That's one thing that Iowa State has done right...helping some of these players come back and finish their degrees. I bet in the Floyd and Eustache eras very few players ended up graduateing.
Your dad is right. Cato was one of the first in a long line of sit-out legends. Distinctly remember his presence on the bench starting conversations. Like you said, there wasn't much info on these guys. Everyone just knew he looked huge and a little mean.
I really hope the 3 day old kid or the parents somehow see this, that would be really awesome.
I was 10 years old. I had just started paying attention to sports the previous fall, and this was the first season I really followed it. That day was the first time I really found myself feeling that elation sports can bring. I was hooked. The infamous Cameron Dollar shot a year later would be the first time I felt my heart get ripped out.
My mom (Hawkeye fan) was working and my dad, brother (who was 9), and I watched it. My dad's an ISU alum/fan but not as into sports as I am. My brother was a Hawkeye fan at the time and rooted lustily for Kansas.
He got sent to his room for cheering for Kansas that day.
My mom (Hawkeye fan) was working and my dad, brother (who was 9), and I watched it. My dad's an ISU alum/fan but not as into sports as I am. My brother was a Hawkeye fan at the time and rooted lustily for Kansas.
He got sent to his room for cheering for Kansas that day.
This was the first Iowa State basketball game I ever watched.
My dad didn't watch a lot of basketball and was more of an NFL guy than a college football fan, so I was unaffiliated until I enrolled at ISU.
I remember watching this game because I figured Kansas would win, because I knew they were always good. Kenny Pratt was a beast.
My dad didn't watch a lot of basketball and was more of an NFL guy than a college football fan, so I was unaffiliated until I enrolled at ISU.
I remember watching this game because I figured Kansas would win, because I knew they were always good. Kenny Pratt was a beast.
As noted, that was Floyd's second year, the year after Hoiberg and crew, the first with Floyd's own, though mostly unknown players, and a lot of low scoring defensive wins. A lead of a few points typically proved to be a pretty good lead.
Iowa State was predicted to finish last in the conference at the beginning of the season. They finished alone at second in the regular season, if I recall correctly, and then won the conference tournament.
Iowa State was predicted to finish last in the conference at the beginning of the season. They finished alone at second in the regular season, if I recall correctly, and then won the conference tournament.
This was one of three trips that we took down to Kansas City and remains our favorite. No one wanted to leave after the game was over, although most of us spilled back to the Kelly's area for continued celebration. Our tickets were up in the rafters (1 row from the top), and I'll never forget in the Missouri game when a Missouri fan told us, "down in front." To which my wife replied, "Up in Back!"
