There is a lot of terms we could use to describe the end Larry's time in Ames, but I dont think unremarkable is one of them
ISU MBB coaches in NCAA sweet 16
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There is a lot of terms we could use to describe the end Larry's time in Ames, but I dont think unremarkable is one of them
Dude was the definition of going out in blaze of glory.There is a lot of terms we could use to describe the end Larry's time in Ames, but I dont think unremarkable is one of them
This is how I look at it. ISU under Otz in not a flash in the pan program that will just go away when he leaves / retires. It is a cumulation of what Johnny, Tim, Larry, Fred and Steve accomplished before him. Otz is just fine tuning the Ferrari!
I would say TJ is now the goat at Iowa State. I would say Johnny's era was way different though. What he walked into was not an established program. We were a nobody. He made us a somebody.
I think what really is remarkable is the specific way that Iowa State is talked about by national media members, personalities, etc. Quite simply - it has never, ever been like this. In terms of getting so much respect.
As @VeloClone alluded to - it is the consistency. And THAT is what builds up respect, builds up attention, forces the narrative, etc.
When you're down 28-16 midway through the first half against a Blueblood, and then you are leading 70-47 midway through the second half (without your First Team All-American) - it really makes ya take a step back and think - holy smokes what planet are we on.
As someone who didn’t want to hire TJ, he is absolutely the GOAT. I’ll offer up my children to keep him here.
For sure though I think this year's Big 12 was more loaded than back in 2000.
Number of NCAA tourney wins:
Orr - 3
Floyd - 4
Eustacy - 3
Morgan - 1
Hoiberg - 4
Prohm - 3
Otz - 7
Unless I'm counting wrong...
Orr - 3
Floyd - 4
Eustacy - 3
Morgan - 1
Hoiberg - 4
Prohm - 3
Otz - 7
Unless I'm counting wrong...
Cyclonepride
Thought Police
It is definitely a program where all the pieces are there, just need the right person to take advantage of them.
With that said, I hope they do whatever it takes to keep TJ there. The kind of national recognition that he has brought to Iowa State could not be purchased with the same money spent in a marketing campaign.
Keeping OTZ is literally the most important part of the ISU A.D. Puzzle.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Those are the humps this program is stuck at right now. Winning the league again, and getting past 16.
Let's get over the hump in a few days.
Orr literally carried all of ISU athletics on his back for a decade or more. His teams brought excitement game in and game out. His zinger insults of Iowa were the stuff of legend. TJ is great, but for me Orr is still the foundation of modern ISU basketball. Here's to the future.
And he coached ISU before there were 64 teams making the field for a chunk of his time
No one is disputing that Orr was the foundation but he doesn’t hold a candle to what TJ has accomplished in his short time so far. TJ has to be the best and it shouldn’t be really close. 5 years, 3 sweet 16’s, a conference tournament championship, and 5 straight tournament invites.
IMO I think it's a no brainer now but understand how people can prop up Fred(fun/consistent), Eustacy(Best highs...so far) and Orr(raising the overall level). If TJ gets this E8 or even another S16 I think it's no contest. At that point I don't think anything could justify another answer against his resume. Props to this discussion. What a fun time to be a Cyclone MBB fan.
I feel like this is revisionist history IMO. Getting to one Sweet 16 in 14 years doesn’t make that school a somebody.
He was just the first guy who didn’t totally suck as a coach. But he was a .500 coach and a way below .500 coach in conference. He played a fun brand of basketball, sure.
Everyone loved Johnny because of his personality but if we are going into the past and changing things then give me more than 52 games of Maury John as Iowa State head coach.
