Williams & Blum Pod: S&P Big 12 predictions and fan questions from Twitter

[SolarGarlic]

TJ's tenures in Brookings and Paradise did not scream "ready to move up to P5." A very vocal minority on here was upset Pollard hired him and argued -- not without basis -- that TJ wasn't qualified to be handed a Big 12 job like that and only got it because he's one of Pollard's favorites/outright favoritism.

Did TJ learn how to be a good coach before coming to Ames or is there just some synergy between coach, AD, basketball program, town, and state he has in Ames he didn't in those other places? Is the "fit" just that good that everything else falls into place and they win? Hard to say, but I bet the latter factor is at least as strong as the former. And the fit in 2016 would have been at least as good as it was in early 2021.

I think TJ would tell you he still has a lot to learn as a coach. He is obviously a great recruiter and hit home runs for his staff. Green installing a defense that quickly and effectively was high level coaching. And he's also a good recruiter. And Blount is an ace recruiter who will probably have a head gig after next season.

 

[Sigmapolis]

I think TJ would tell you he still has a lot to learn as a coach. He is obviously a great recruiter and hit home runs for his staff. Green installing a defense that quickly and effectively was high level coaching. And he's also a good recruiter. And Blount is an ace recruiter who will probably have a head gig after next season.

Yeah, I'm surprised Blount is still here.

We might see him back in Hilton as an opposing coach in the Big 12 someday.

 

[ScottyP]

I think Kyle Green is one of the biggest reasons for our success. His defense allowed us to be competitive right away. He is like our basketball version of Jon Heacock.

From a recruiting standpoint, getting the highly ranked recruits isn't what made TJ so good at it. Although he does get some decently ranked guys, he is very good at finding those 4-yr role players/glue guys and getting them to buy into their roles. (Eijm, Naz, Lipsey, etc.)

As we've seen with this past class, he is beginning to bring in some higher level guys (Omaha/Milan/JT Rock) but also understanding that he needs those 4-year role players (Kayden Fish has that potential).

 

[cycloneML]

CW let his tongue slip a little during the section on why basketball recruiting is so good. I am paraphrasing here, but he said something to this effect about Hoiberg and Otzelberger --

"T.J. Otzelberger is one of the top-five recruiters in college basketball. That's why Fred brought him back here to replace him." I don't think I've heard it said so unambiguously before.

This has always been the rumor, but it seems it was the truth: Fred knew he was leaving, TJ was brought back expecting to be handed the head job when he did, and Leath screwed it up and went off and hired Prohm even if it wasn't Fred and Pollard's plan. I'm glad it worked out in the end and there were no hard feelings about it, but yet another example of something Steven Leath screwed up for Iowa State.

Fred must have a team of great publicists. Are we sure Fred didn’t bring him back solely because he’s a top 5 recruiter?

 

[BCClone]

Small addition --

TJ being hired in 2016 and bringing in Kyle Green means AJ Green is a Cyclone.

He would have been an excellent 4- or 5-year lead guard in the Big 12. He wouldn't have had the ceiling of guys like Haliburton and Wigginton but would have been around a lot longer.

Yes, he's only one guy, but one top-notch guard brings you a long ways towards being competitive in basketball. Assuming TJ fills in around him, then those teams are probably pretty good.

Two things then. 1) would KG have came at that time 2) would we have gotten Halliburton? Hali is good for ISU with the rep he gives us.

 

[bozclone]

TJ is a great recruiter, but what he has done that last two years has little to do with his recruiting. He has a established a culture of hard work and toughness. That has translated into surprising success. His staff and the older guys on the roster were bought in 100%. Now that he is getting highly rated recruits and has a younger roster, it will be a new challenge to keep that toughness.

Prohm made me feel like we were often at a disadvantage with in game coaching. TJ isn't perfect, but most of the time I do not feel that way. I do think having better talent on the roster should help limit some of the rough stretches in the Big 12 we had in year 1 and 2.

 

[mitchforcy]

TJ is a great recruiter, but what he has done that last two years has little to do with his recruiting. He has a established a culture of hard work and toughness. That has translated into surprising success. His staff and the older guys on the roster were bought in 100%. Now that he is getting highly rated recruits and has a younger roster, it will be a new challenge to keep that toughness.

Prohm made me feel like we were often at a disadvantage with in game coaching. TJ isn't perfect, but most of the time I do not feel that way. I do think having better talent on the roster should help limit some of the rough stretches in the Big 12 we had in year 1 and 2.

I think his in game coaching still leaves a lot to be desired but he will grow. The toughness he instilled in such a small amount of time is crazy and a big reason for the early success IMO.

 

[MugNight]

TJ is a great recruiter, but what he has done that last two years has little to do with his recruiting. He has a established a culture of hard work and toughness. That has translated into surprising success. His staff and the older guys on the roster were bought in 100%. Now that he is getting highly rated recruits and has a younger roster, it will be a new challenge to keep that toughness.

Prohm made me feel like we were often at a disadvantage with in game coaching. TJ isn't perfect, but most of the time I do not feel that way. I do think having better talent on the roster should help limit some of the rough stretches in the Big 12 we had in year 1 and 2.

I don’t disagree, but I think the culture he has created works in harmony with his recruitment. He recruited the right guys to build it, and now the culture helps attract the right guys to sustain it. TJ zeroes in on those guys and has a high rate of getting them.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Fred must have a team of great publicists. Are we sure Fred didn’t bring him back solely because he’s a top 5 recruiter?

Fred sure does. I think his press secretary's name is Chris Williams.

Two things then. 1) would KG have came at that time 2) would we have gotten Halliburton? Hali is good for ISU with the rep he gives us.

1.) I would assume so. TJ and KG have a longstanding relationship through the McDermott tree, and KG is one of the best bench coaches in the Midwest. Green wants to stay in the Midwest/Iowa, and TJ could still offer him a lot more money at Iowa State than he was making in Cedar Falls for the Panthers.

The only thing that gives me pause is that the kids would have been younger/still in middle or high school. Maybe he doesn't want to commute to Ames before they go off to college. But, again, like I said, if TJ makes it happen, then there's a good chance AJ Green is a stud 4-5 year guard for the Cyclones.

2.) Maybe. Maybe not. That's too "butterfly flaps its wings" to be sure.

But TJ is plugged into the Wisconsin hoops scene... a 6'5" PG with a hilarious wingspan and an infectious personality on the level of Georges or Naz might have been right up TJ's alley.

So maybe. Or maybe not. But I could see Tyrese being the kind of prospect that fits the size, personality, and regional profile that TJ seems to be looking for as he's recruited the past three years.