Hate?

[HititHard]

I am relatively new to this but I've already noticed a trend. It seems a common response that some of you post to anyone that criticizes our coaching staff or our teams play goes something like this: "I know you hate McDermott and the team so just shut up."

I am critical of our coaching staff and I have been critical of our team's play. However, that criticism is not rooted in hate. It is rooted in LOVE for my alma mater. I want the very best for her and will criticize anyone or anything that stands in the way of excellence for her.

I think Coach McDermott is a good man and an honorable man.

I also think he is a good example of the Peter Principle and has been promoted to his level of incompetence. I also sense that the level of expectations for our program have been lowered by fans, the administration, and coaching staff. Somehow not making the NCAA is the new normal and to be expected. Our goals for this program need to be more in line with these three.

1. Iowa State should expect to be in the NCAA every year.
2. NIT berths should be as disappointing to us as they would be to Kansas.
3. We should compete for the Big 12 title every year.

Those goals might seem lofty. All I know is when Lynn Nance was our coach we never dared even dream of such goals. We turned it around then and we can turn this around now.

 

[Ames]

I don't know about hate, but there are some guys that just want to see Mac fired.

I don't think expectations have been lowered and I think your expectations are nice, but not realistic.

 

[Swanson10]

I don't know about hate, but there are some guys that just want to see Mac fired.

I don't think expectations have been lowered and I think your expectations are nice, but not realistic.

What's not realistic about demanding we have a coach that can earn a winning record?

 

[cyphan]

If we set goals to be in the NCAA every year, we should be competing for conference titles at times. So I see where he's coming from.

I don't think those expectations are unrealistic. I wouldn't call an NIT bid a disspointment, but our program should be a bubble team on a consistent basis.

 

[Ames]

What's not realistic about demanding we have a coach that can earn a winning record?

KU and Texas can recruit such that every single year they will be in the big dance. None of the other Big 12 teams can.

ISU isn't going to get McD's All Americans every year and has to spend time developing kids.

Saying we will always make the big dance and we will look down on making the NIT just isn't happening; so it's not realistic.

 

[flynnhicks03]

I am relatively new to this but I've already noticed a trend. It seems a common response that some of you post to anyone that criticizes our coaching staff or our teams play goes something like this: "I know you hate McDermott and the team so just shut up."

I am critical of our coaching staff and I have been critical of our team's play. However, that criticism is not rooted in hate. It is rooted in LOVE for my alma mater. I want the very best for her and will criticize anyone or anything that stands in the way of excellence for her.

I think Coach McDermott is a good man and an honorable man.

I also think he is a good example of the Peter Principle and has been promoted to his level of incompetence. I also sense that the level of expectations for our program have been lowered by fans, the administration, and coaching staff. Somehow not making the NCAA is the new normal and to be expected. Our goals for this program need to be more in line with these three.

1. Iowa State should expect to be in the NCAA every year.
2. NIT berths should be as disappointing to us as they would be to Kansas.
3. We should compete for the Big 12 title every year.

Those goals might seem lofty. All I know is when Lynn Nance was our coach we never dared even dream of such goals. We turned it around then and we can turn this around now.

Most can understand (maybe not agree with), but understand frustration after tough losses. When the same people are ******** up a storm after a 10 point win (which we easily controlled throughout), it's pretty annoying.

 

[CycloneErik]

It's not the idea of criticizing, because we still have things we can do better. It's more that we've all caught on that certain posters only criticize the coach and players. Certain ones have made it clear that that's really the only reason they post.

Wait until our next loss (and I think it's safe to assume that we end with more than 3 losses on the year), and just watch the posts. You'll know who these guys are.

 

[aauummm]

It's not the idea of criticizing, because we still have things we can do better. It's more that we've all caught on that certain posters only criticize the coach and players. Certain ones have made it clear that that's really the only reason they post.

Wait until our next loss (and I think it's safe to assume that we end with more than 3 losses on the year), and just watch the posts. You'll know who these guys are.

Yep, it's very evident. They are very consistent. And the "ignore" function is one way to deal with it.

 

[clone136]

Its not hate and I am ok with some criticism, but some people question everything and live in the past so much its sickening. It seems as though we can't even enjoy a win anymore without people almost wanting us to lose because they HATE McD. We beat Iowa two days ago and people are mad because they would have done it differently. Or a team meeting is called to address some issues and people call the coach soft. No matter how much talent this team has they still have to learn to win, it takes time and I think we are on the way up...

 

[alaskaguy]

Saying we will always make the big dance and we will look down on making the NIT just isn't happening; so it's not realistic.

Hogwash.

I'm sure that there were people that would have given a small private school like Gonzaga University even longer odds of having a successful basketball program. Up until 2004 Gonzaga was playing in what was a glorified high school gym. Somehow though Gonzaga developed an obscure BB program into a team that tastes success on an annual basis.

The high turnover of players that exit for the NBA, puts a premium on good coaching skills and gives schools that don't grab the McDonald All-Americans a chance to compete. Cohesive teams that play together for four years have done very well against the teams that have the one year and done superstars.

 

[ChrisMWilliams]

Hogwash.

I'm sure that there were people that would have given a small private school like Gonzaga University even longer odds of having a successful basketball program. Up until 2004 Gonzaga was playing in what was a glorified high school gym. Somehow though Gonzaga developed an obscure BB program into a team that tastes success on an annual basis.

The high turnover of players that exit for the NBA, puts a premium on good coaching skills and gives schools that don't grab the McDonald All-Americans a chance to compete. Cohesive teams that play together for four years have done very well against the teams that have the one year and done superstars.

Good point but would Gonzaga have developed like they did by playing a Big 12 schedule every single year?

 

[fwiw]

I sometimes wonder where the program would be if LE hadn't imploded. There's been a lot of mediocrity and lowered expectations since then.

Even so, ISU fans WANT to believe and had higher expectations for this year. If we hang on against UNI and are more competitive against Cal we probably aren't having this conversation.

Of course it's too early to panic, but I can understand why some people are frustrated. Let's see where things are at later in January.

 

[alaskaguy]

Good point but would Gonzaga have developed like they did by playing a Big 12 schedule every single year?

You don't have to win the Big 12 Conference to make the NCAA tournament.

 

[CycloneErik]

Good point but would Gonzaga have developed like they did by playing a Big 12 schedule every single year?

You got your e-mail from the AD right away....

I wondered that, myself. Their conference had to help in that sense, but they still had to take advantage of their opportunities when they had them.

I look at MBB as the opportunity sport, where everyone has a chance, due to things like turnover, the 3-point line, differences in style, home court advantage, etc.

At the same time, because of those same factors, it's hard to have that success every year. It's a sport with countless variables, so yes, we could be an every year team, or not, but there's always a chance.

 

[cyphan]

For those of you who don't think ISU should be a consistent bubble team, why not? Look no further than Purdue or Marquette. Both are little brothers in their prospective states (Indiana and Wisconsin), both are in premier conferences, both are not schools that recruit McD AA's and both are going to contend for the NCAA on a consistent basis. Purdue will even be in the hunt for the Big Ten title this year.

 

[CycloneErik]

I sometimes wonder where the program would be if LE hadn't imploded. There's been a lot of mediocrity and lowered expectations since then.

Even so, ISU fans WANT to believe and had higher expectations for this year. If we hang on against UNI and are more competitive against Cal we probably aren't having this conversation.

Of course it's too early to panic, but I can understand why some people are frustrated. Let's see where things are at later in January.

I understand the frustration myself. I've been clear that I really don't believe that things would be good if LE had stayed. Sure, he's the tough guy coach, but he wasn't a recruiter, and he didn't have a good year without Tinsley. I really believe that we'd have talent deficiencies, and that his approach would have eroded whatever support he could have had.

Usually, people point out that he did go to the Elite 8, and that was a magical season. But plenty of people have gone one time, and never have anything else to show for it. I'm not convinced at all that he was a guy that could pull it off a second time.

I could be wrong, and that's OK, but that's what I see when I see LE.

 

[Ames]

Hogwash.

I'm sure that there were people that would have given a small private school like Gonzaga University even longer odds of having a successful basketball program. Up until 2004 Gonzaga was playing in what was a glorified high school gym. Somehow though Gonzaga developed an obscure BB program into a team that tastes success on an annual basis.

The high turnover of players that exit for the NBA, puts a premium on good coaching skills and gives schools that don't grab the McDonald All-Americans a chance to compete. Cohesive teams that play together for four years have done very well against the teams that have the one year and done superstars.

It's a lot tougher to win the Big 12 every year than the WCC. If we were in a weaker conference and could win it every year than yeah the Big Dance every year is realistic.

It's interesting to see that with Gonzaga doing well over the years they are getting the other WCC teams some TV time and as such they are recruiting better and getting better.

Personally I think our goal should be either the Big Dance or the NIT every year. We don't look down on the NIT.

 

[HititHard]

Our WBB team competes at that level every year. I just don't understand why it is unrealistic to expect the same level of excellence from our men's program.

It is not as if our men's program has always been a doormat. It has been on a path to achieve exactly the kind of long term success those goals represent.

1. NCAA Tourney appearances 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005.
2. We won conference titles in 2000 and 2001.
3. We won conference tournaments in 1996 and 2000.

 

[HititHard]

Our WBB team competes at that level every year. I just don't understand why it is unrealistic to expect the same level of excellence from our men's program.

It is not as if our men's program has always been a doormat. It has been on a path to achieve exactly the kind of long term success those goals represent.

1. NCAA Tourney appearances 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005.
2. We won conference titles in 2000 and 2001.
3. We won conference tournaments in 1996 and 2000.

 

[cyphan]

Our WBB team competes at that level every year. I just don't understand why it is unrealistic to expect the same level of excellence from our men's program.

It is not as if our men's program has always been a doormat. It has been on a path to achieve exactly the kind of long term success those goals represent.

1. NCAA Tourney appearances 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2005.
2. We won conference titles in 2000 and 2001.
3. We won conference tournaments in 1996 and 2000.

Not to mention we have a passionate fan base AND a brand new practice facility. We've always given basketball a preferential treatment at ISU more than any other sport. Hilton gets upgrades with a new video screen, digital band that goes around the arena, etc. before Jack Trice. I've always felt we were a basketball school first. Granted football runs the athletic department, but it's always seemed to me that basketball success was the true driver in our department.