Emiah leaving team

[IowaStateClones]

I will say again, that I am completely devastated by this. The team I envisioned doing very well had Emiah playing well. In fact, Em's dad mentioned it in a post, and I won't go back to find it word for word since I can give the gist. We need plenty of ball-handlers and shooters if we are going to challenge Baylor. Moody needed a blow during the game the way she plays. Now where do we go to get that?

Easy dude, get a hobby or something

 

[BoxsterCy]

I will say again, that I am completely devastated by this. The team I envisioned doing very well had Emiah playing well. In fact, Em's dad mentioned it in a post, and I won't go back to find it word for word since I can give the gist. We need plenty of ball-handlers and shooters if we are going to challenge Baylor. Moody needed a blow during the game the way she plays. Now where do we go to get that?

I figured we were maybe long shot to do any better than the last couple of years 1st round NCAA. Long shot mostly because of lack of depth and experience at guard but thought maybe we could build that depth during the season if the fresh guards were up to the task. Now we are even thinner and have no margin for errors and foul trouble or even short term injuries or illnesses. I've gone from cautiously optimistic to slightly pessimistic about the season. I think we will be good on defense but worry we will just get worn down. Even that assumes Pop is okay and 100% (which I hope she is more for her than for basketball).

 

[mitten1975]

Easy dude, get a hobby or something

The cyclones are a hobby. That is why I post on here. I have always hoped for a great team. Great teams need depth. Especially at the point guard.

 

[IowaStateClones]

The cyclones are a hobby. That is why I post on here. I have always hoped for a great team. Great teams need depth. Especially at the point guard.

You sounded like a old widow who lost her cat

 

[mitten1975]

So you aren't at all emotionally invested in this team. If I am not emotionally invested, I won't watch. You sound like someone that simply doesn't care. And what do you have against old widows who lose their cats? I feel for a widow who has lost her cat. Do you only believe younger people with dogs count?

 

[KneeGusto]

Difficult news to hear. Great person and athlete in a program that would have worked great for her in the future.

Unfortunate that it didn't work out. Best of luck to her and her family going forward.

Em will be missed. Could have been part of something great here.

 

[EHdakota]

You forgot Whitney Williams, I was disappointed with her leaving at the time. We will probably play against her this year because she is playing for TCU.

It is safe to say that ISU will play TCU, unless one of the team forfeits both of the scheduled games. ;-)

 

[gizzsdad]

A trend is when something continues to happen for the same reason. People here think players are leaving BECAUSE of Coach Fen. That has happened once in recent history. Not the case here. Not the case a few years ago when we lost three either. Of course no one considers the trend of ladies transferring IN to the program. Think on that one for a minute.

Actually is a trend, and player treatment WAS a factor when we lost three four years ago. As you can see below, I predicted the exodus here 5-6 weeks before it started, and was roundly flamed for it, even though I had specific information at the time:

http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/womens-basketball/50533-next-years-lineup.html#post930867

It was also not hard to figure out when Whitney Williams left, though I had no personal knowledge of that situation. But you had a home schooled kid who was clearly put off by the derision, profanity and constant use of the Lord's name in vain.

Here is another direct quote from a kid who lasted all four years: "He SURE didn't talk that way to me while he was recruiting me!"

 

[acoustimac]

You predicted it and it wasn't hard to figure out as Yackley was clearly not a high D1 player and had a helicopter dad interfering. Arlen was very public clear about why she left. As for how Fennelly talks to players...all recruits attend practices and games. Any who isn't aware of his coaching style before coming here is lost in la la land somewhere.

 

[twistedredbird]

Actually is a trend, and player treatment WAS a factor when we lost three four years ago. As you can see below, I predicted the exodus here 6-7 weeks before it started, and was roundly flamed for it, even though I had specific information at the time:

http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/womens-basketball/50533-next-years-lineup.html#post930867

It was also not hard to figure out when Whitney Williams left, though I had no personal knowledge of that situation. But you had a home schooled kid who was clearly put off by the derision, profanity and constant use of the Lord's name in vain.

Here is another direct quote from a kid who lasted all four years: "He SURE didn't talk that way to me while he was recruiting me!"

if you had posted that now, most of us would have respected your post as you have established a reputation of quality posts now. I know I usually view your stuff and legit.

 

[Gizmo]

Regardless of the sport, the days of every recruiting class staying for 4 years appear to be over. We have to expect a certain amount of turnover every year. It is sad when we see somebody leave we think had great potential, but lets stop pointing fingers and support those who remain on the team. Lets look at this as an opportunity for the remaining players to step up and for the coaches to go out and find another great player. I will be there the rest of the season cheering for our team and coaches to succeed.

 

[cydney]

Fennelly has always taken a chance on quality kids who show promise for the game. Some work out, some don't. Among the players who left a few years ago, I'm sure they are great student-athletes and now getting the experience they prefer. But most were not going to elevate ISU to another level. Maybe Arlen had the potential, although clearly felt comfortable in DII. But Whit still sees bench time at TCU as a senior, and I saw Yackley on TV this fall, and her game has not developed much either.

The real issue with these recruits though is depth. ISU has needed more depth for several years now. Whether it's injury or a player not working out, teams that maintain a smaller roster are flirting with trouble. Look at OU this year.

It's hard to say what the solution is. Top players are still picking a relatively small set of schools. Their benches stay deep and some don't get much playing time. Seems like some mid majors are thriving by getting the players ISU used to get. ISU needs a mix of hard-nosed mid-major style players, some who can shoot lights out, while also getting some players who are ready for intensity of the Big 12 (and that includes the various pressures that go with it).

 

[cydney]

To add regarding my last post, I have lots of respect for those players deciding ISU was not for them, but also for staying committed to the team for the season and figuring out how to make it work in the short run. A great life lesson.

 

[kcdc4isu]

Fennelly has always taken a chance on quality kids who show promise for the game. Some work out, some don't. Among the players who left a few years ago, I'm sure they are great student-athletes and now getting the experience they prefer. But most were not going to elevate ISU to another level. Maybe Arlen had the potential, although clearly felt comfortable in DII. But Whit still sees bench time at TCU as a senior, and I saw Yackley on TV this fall, and her game has not developed much either.

The real issue with these recruits though is depth. ISU has needed more depth for several years now. Whether it's injury or a player not working out, teams that maintain a smaller roster are flirting with trouble. Look at OU this year.

It's hard to say what the solution is. Top players are still picking a relatively small set of schools. Their benches stay deep and some don't get much playing time. Seems like some mid majors are thriving by getting the players ISU used to get. ISU needs a mix of hard-nosed mid-major style players, some who can shoot lights out, while also getting some players who are ready for intensity of the Big 12 (and that includes the various pressures that go with it).

Very true but the problem is many players who were stars in high school do not want to come and sit on the bench (unless it is a Conneticut or Stanford type team where they can say I was on a national championship team) for 3 years and maybe see playing time as a senior. We need more playerse like Amanda Nislet who came here worked hard and then when called on gave us great games. Hopefully our bench players who we have now and who want to be here will step up when called on I have faith in them.

 

[twistedredbird]

I know Coach has said on a lot of occasions depth is a challenge because players that play at the Big 12 level, want playing time. And that is why he doesn't max schollies out. We maybe wouldn't have gotten Emiah, Moody, Anna, Kidd if they thought they wouldn't have seen a chance at earning playing time as a Freshman.

 

[twistedredbird]

Very true but the problem is many players who were stars in high school do not want to come and sit on the bench (unless it is a Conneticut or Stanford type team where they can say I was on a national championship team) for 3 years and maybe see playing time as a senior. We need more playerse like Amanda Nislet who came here worked hard and then when called on gave us great games. Hopefully our bench players who we have now and who want to be here will step up when called on I have faith in them.

Would take Niz any day of the week. She worked so hard, and her shot was so reliable.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

Actually is a trend, and player treatment WAS a factor when we lost three four years ago. As you can see below, I predicted the exodus here 5-6 weeks before it started, and was roundly flamed for it, even though I had specific information at the time:

http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/womens-basketball/50533-next-years-lineup.html#post930867

It was also not hard to figure out when Whitney Williams left, though I had no personal knowledge of that situation. But you had a home schooled kid who was clearly put off by the derision, profanity and constant use of the Lord's name in vain.

Here is another direct quote from a kid who lasted all four years: "He SURE didn't talk that way to me while he was recruiting me!"

The horror!

Apparently, "Emiah's decision" to leave wasn't basketball related. Yeah, ok.

Women

 

[gizzsdad]

Would take Niz any day of the week. She worked so hard, and her shot was so reliable.

+1 Niz is still one of my all-time favorites.

 

[mitten1975]

We should remember, Fen got them here in the first place. I have no desire to do anything, but I am not averse to criticism. I have had problems with lots of things in this program over the years, but I must admit, he gets things done, while not perfectly, perfection is a hopeless ideal. Also I love his concept of defense.

As you can see by my avatar, I am like Whitney, not in favor of using profanity to men or women. However, just as I know my ideal is hopeless, you never work for change by abandoning the problem. I am an ISU fan and will always be.

(Also I understood all of that about TCU including that Whitney hadn't fared well there. She apparently started at the first of the year and became bench after that. I was happy to see that because I am no TCU fan.)

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

Speaking of Nisleit, SIAP:

http://www.myabc5.com/category/1901...art=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=8067691