why mcdermott was a bad fit

[Wesley]

At UNI, McDermott was coaching players who were there because they wanted to get a free education and play the game they love.

At ISU, McDermott was coaching players who all think they can play at the next level and get paid to do it. He couldn't relate to that type of player.

The end.

Ya mean like the departed German Bomber? It seems like most of the players that we have had were thinking next level. Frankly, we saw many players out of position not knowing where to go on the court. McD would finger point and try to tell therm to move, move, move to position. It was a very disorganized effort. When Mike Taylor ran the show he went so fast that the out of place people did not hurt as much.

 

[ManBearClone]

Just go back to his introduction pep rally speech. I think it's obvious he never got it. That is what ISU basketball is. Kept saying I want to beat Iowa, I want the players Iowa gets. I remember thinking screw that. I want to beat Kansas. I want the players Kansas gets. Just beating Iowa went out in the 80's. Compare that to FH speech. Fred gets it.

 

[Wesley]

Being a CEO, it was tough for him to relate to the coffee breaks and sick days off by our players. He wanted the hundred plays run by end of game. The players just went to lunch.

 

[GoShow97]

I'm uncertain about which type of caliper you are talking about exactly. Please clarify so I can interpret your post.

Do you mean this kind?


or this kind?

Thanks

That ain't no Brembo. :wink:

 

[lmsoup]

Re: Strict Offense? Set Plays?

That's an interesting comment regarding Garrett's skills given that Coach Hoiberg basically said the opposite at his intro press conference. I would agree with Coach on that one.

There were several things that led to GMac's struggles at ISU, but I don't think a strict offense and too many set plays had much to do with it.

The number one issue was losing Wesley Johnson and the manner in which it affected GMac's coaching and his player relationships, especially last season when he had enough talent on the roster for the first time to compete for a post-season bid. Pollard touched on this after GMac left for Creighton, GMac treated Brackins differently than the rest of the players and the others on the team resented that. Throw in a high mainteance kid like Colvin (also disliked by his teammates) and you had a perfect recipe for real bad team chemistry.

Another big issue was lack of quality guard play. Mike Taylor was the only high quality guard during GMac's tenure and, by default, he had to handle the ball way too much and became a turnover machine in Year 1. Poor guard recruiting by GMac was a killer for the program and that helped result in high roster attrition from the likes of Buckley, Eikmeier, Brister, McIntosh, etc.

Regarding GMac's on-floor strategy and coaching, I thought he did a good job his first 3 seasons with limited talent and injury issues, especially in the guard court when he lacked consistent, quality PG play. This past season, he got away from what worked for him at UNI by playing an extended man defense (which he ditched halfway in the conference season) and by running way too many isolation sets for Brackins which ended up stifling ball movement and player motion (and played a part in bad team chemistry).

This.....great post by you.

 

[bostrem00]

some thoughts i had as to why mcdermott didnt work out.

when ur at UNI or Creighton you are recruiting kids based on there high school bball skills and what they have done in the high school level.. most kids who play strictly or mostly high school ball will run a more strict offense with more set plays.. thats how high school ball works...

when ur recruiting at Iowa state you have to look to the better more athletic players who are the ones that play mostly AAU ball. when playing AAU ball you run mostly a motion offense....

In a motion offense most of the cuts involve someone cutting an moving away from the ball to create open driving lanes.. in set play offense.. you see more screens that bring someone to the ball...

how many times did we see Gilstrap try to drive the lane and end up running into several players?? a lot from what i can remember... He was used to AAU and motion offense. so now you want these kids to remember a hundred plays and be effecient at them?? when they have never really done it before... thats why i believe that MCD. system didnt and wouldnt work at this level.. it will however work in the MVC where the guards are as willing to penetrate one on one....

would love to hear or read any thoughts on this

This sums it up

 

[Wesley]

GOOD
The recruiting was fine. The defense was acceptable. The players tried. KSU. Close games.

BAD
Poor offensive schemes. Rebounding. Shooting from outside. Turnovers. Presses. Layups.

FUGLY
Free throw shooting. Time out usage. Out of bounds plays. Court acumen.

 

[deadeyededric]

He tried to make the basic sport of basketball rocket science. He wasn't even in the same league as the top Big 12 coaches. Not even close. It wasn't just a bad fit, it was four years of FAILURE. End of Story!

 

[Go2Guy]

I'm still in shock that Creighton took the dead weight off our hands...suckers!!

And a 10-year contract to boot! We found an AD who negotiates a contract worse than Jamie.

For being a mediocre coach, McD has essentially had over 15-years of guaranteed employment. Unheard of in this industry.

 

[Enginerd]

Just go back to his introduction pep rally speech. I think it's obvious he never got it. That is what ISU basketball is. Kept saying I want to beat Iowa, I want the players Iowa gets. I remember thinking screw that. I want to beat Kansas. I want the players Kansas gets. Just beating Iowa went out in the 80's. Compare that to FH speech. Fred gets it.

Well, I guess he did accomplish his goals regarding Iowa.

I am with you. Worried from the day I watched the pep rally introducing him. I thought it then and I still think it now...he overestimated his abilities and underestimated what it took to be successful in the Big 12. I think he eventually had a rude awakening but overcompensated for it.

I just never felt like the guy was all in with ISU. Though I am happy he jumped ship to Creighton, I think that move supports my belief. Does anyone believe he will be spotted at any UNI pep rallies while coaching Creighton?

 

[vortex]

What are the chances we see a similar thread about Fred in four years? Iowa fans are excited about their new coach, but will they be excited in four years? It's a crap shoot, maybe you get lucky maybe you don't.

 

[GoShow97]

some thoughts i had as to why mcdermott didnt work out.

when ur at UNI or Creighton you are recruiting kids based on there high school bball skills and what they have done in the high school level.. most kids who play strictly or mostly high school ball will run a more strict offense with more set plays.. thats how high school ball works...

when ur recruiting at Iowa state you have to look to the better more athletic players who are the ones that play mostly AAU ball. when playing AAU ball you run mostly a motion offense....

In a motion offense most of the cuts involve someone cutting an moving away from the ball to create open driving lanes.. in set play offense.. you see more screens that bring someone to the ball...

how many times did we see Gilstrap try to drive the lane and end up running into several players?? a lot from what i can remember... He was used to AAU and motion offense. so now you want these kids to remember a hundred plays and be effecient at them?? when they have never really done it before... thats why i believe that MCD. system didnt and wouldnt work at this level.. it will however work in the MVC where the guards are as willing to penetrate one on one....

would love to hear or read any thoughts on this

tru dat i no wut u mean

 

[FarminCy]

Well, I guess he did accomplish his goals regarding Iowa.

I am with you. Worried from the day I watched the pep rally introducing him. I thought it then and I still think it now...he overestimated his abilities and underestimated what it took to be successful in the Big 12. I think he eventually had a rude awakening but overcompensated for it.

I just never felt like the guy was all in with ISU. Though I am happy he jumped ship to Creighton, I think that move supports my belief. Does anyone believe he will be spotted at any UNI pep rallies while coaching Creighton?

I have never thought of that, good point. I know UNI was his alma mater but it always kind of bothered me to see him at UNI events celebrating their success when ISU's program was quickly falling to the level of Iowa's program. You never saw coach Mac at an Iowa bowl game pep rally when he was here because the man bled Cardinal and Gold as the head football coach.

 

[Enginerd]

I have never thought of that, good point. I know UNI was his alma mater but it always kind of bothered me to see him at UNI events celebrating their success when ISU's program was quickly falling to the level of Iowa's program. You never saw coach Mac at an Iowa bowl game pep rally when he was here because the man bled Cardinal and Gold as the head football coach.

I'll takle the comparison a step further. Does anyone remember DMac coming out of the lockerroom after a halftime speech for an Iowa game? Dude would be dripping in sweat and beat red. He would do anything to beat Iowa. Something tells me GMac did not share the same committment.

 

[istater7]

my brother goes to isu and he was talking to one of the players (not naming names) and he said that mac was "afraid" to yell at the black players and he only yelled at hamilton or scott, since he just couldn't relate to the black players

 

[TheHelgo]

my brother goes to isu and he was talking to one of the players (not naming names) and he said that mac was "afraid" to yell at the black players and he only yelled at hamilton or scott, since he just couldn't relate to the black players

If this is true, then even more reason why it is good his gone. What a weak ***** if he can't treat everyone the same.

 

[SpokaneCY]

I have never thought of that, good point. I know UNI was his alma mater but it always kind of bothered me to see him at UNI events celebrating their success when ISU's program was quickly falling to the level of Iowa's program. You never saw coach Mac at an Iowa bowl game pep rally when he was here because the man bled Cardinal and Gold as the head football coach.

DMac loved Iowa - no doubt about it. He hired former Iowa coaches, he was interviewed about Fry numerous times, etc... He heve had a bad thing to say about that program.

GMac's best friend coached the program he built. His son was going there. He graduated there. Absolutely no reason to hammer him for loving the school where he coaches and loving the school where he coached. LE proclaims love for ISU - so how's that play with whatever team he's at now? Coaches gerenarlly don't try and burn bridges.

 

[mustangcy]

Couple things....

Did CU really take him off our hands? Seriously, did I dream that...because that couldn't have happened.

You know the thing I always go back to was his 2nd season. Mike Taylor get's booted and WJ comes down wrong on his ankle in a meaningless preseason practice. I agree with a majority of what has been said in this thread but nobody can argue that had that season gone like it should have, with a healthy WJ, Mike Taylor running the point for his senior yr and a top talent like Brackins able to grow and play his game instead of needing to come out and be the man as a freshman...that team could have made a run at the tourney. That season that was so close to happening could have made Greg's career at ISU. It could have turned the corner. It didn't happen and we all know what happened that spring.

But nobody can say that the luck he had that 2nd season but utterly devastating.

 

[everyyard]

some thoughts i had as to why mcdermott didnt work out.

when ur at UNI or Creighton you are recruiting kids based on there high school bball skills and what they have done in the high school level.. most kids who play strictly or mostly high school ball will run a more strict offense with more set plays.. thats how high school ball works...

when ur recruiting at Iowa state you have to look to the better more athletic players who are the ones that play mostly AAU ball. when playing AAU ball you run mostly a motion offense....

In a motion offense most of the cuts involve someone cutting an moving away from the ball to create open driving lanes.. in set play offense.. you see more screens that bring someone to the ball...

how many times did we see Gilstrap try to drive the lane and end up running into several players?? a lot from what i can remember... He was used to AAU and motion offense. so now you want these kids to remember a hundred plays and be effecient at them?? when they have never really done it before... thats why i believe that MCD. system didnt and wouldnt work at this level.. it will however work in the MVC where the guards are as willing to penetrate one on one....

would love to hear or read any thoughts on this

my thoughts...don't care. i closed that chapter for good and so should you.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

Is it possible to beat this dead horse a little more?