I normally do not read message boards as most of the time the people on here have short memories and don't take the time to sit back and look at the big picture. I bet the % of those who write on here are 20-25yrs old and have no clue who Ron Virgil, Doug Collins, Ron Bayless, Justus Thigpen, were.(more on them later)
I used to write for CN(from the balcony) few years back and knew Chris Williams was an up and comer who has passion for telling us Cyclone fans what is going on. He has done a great job since coming back to the fold. You think the Morgan years were good? Well that's because we had great guard play, much like all the good years at Iowa State. Reality was that those teams didn't play any defense except one player, Rashon Clark consistantly. I was in the media room the Big Monday night when we faced Texas and TJ Ford & company just made ISU look silly. An old time legand told other reports, that was it. ISU basketball can not go on looking like this, lack of team chemistry, poor defense, players telling coaching what to do. It had to end and it did at the conclusion of the year.
Well, I did not like the hire of GMac at the beginning. Not that he couldn't coach, he can and has proven that but the fact that we tried to hurry up and beat KState for him and that I didn't feel he was ready for the Big 12 to bring this program back to middle of the pack or top 4 which, if the administration would put the same amount of money and effort into the basketball like football, here at ISU we could be a top 4 program!
From what I seen the past four years is the lack of a defensive stopper. As mentioned prior the former players above, the list of players you could count on to make a stop when game was on the line are Jeff Grayer, Fred Hoiberg, Shawn Bankhead, Kantrel Horton and few others. Main thing here is who during GMac's years has been that defensive stopper? I can't think of anyone.
What happened at the end the other night was crap. You NEVER Allow a player to catch the ball at opposite free throw line and run all the way to the other end and finally pick him up at your free throw line. YOU FORCE THAT PLAYER TO GIVE IT UP!
Another topic is the inbound pass plays under the basket. Has anyone else ever noticed that its a chore just to get the ball in let alone try to score instantly off it? Bill Fennely always trys to score and does often as most of the time the defense has their backs to the ball.
I like GMac as a person, but the X's & O's are not working out. Too many times we are getting out coached in the 2nd halves or we are soo far down by halftime that we have to play a perfect 2nd half just to have a chance in the last four minuets.
I don't want a change, but if JP fired McCarney because there wasn't any more hope due to us not buying season tickets, where can someone tell me there is hope?
Possible replacements or people should look at:
Todd Bozeman at Morgan State. you may laugh but he was formerly with Cal when ISU beat them in NCAA with Floyd(great game by Cato vs Rahim!) he left coaching DI back in 2000 to work with NBA scouting and got back into coaching with Morgan St and they have been the best team in the MEAC past three years and should make NCAA again this year. Great recruiter. Mark it down, he will replace Gary Williams at Maryland!
Doug Wojcik-Tulsa- He knows the Big 12 area for recruiting and not afraid to go up against the big boys!(played at Duke this year) his teams know how to score and if Tulsa didn't believe in him, wouldn't have signed him for another 6 years at end of last year. (he is in his 5th year)
Stew Morrill-Utah St- I know, we already had a coach from Utah St. But hey, Morrill knows his stuff. Utah St has been to 10 straight post season tournaments and make that 11 this year. Since he has replaced Larry has gone 267-91 coming into this year. He can get NBA type players or make them into NBA players. He can recruit to a place where most people don't know where it is on a map. ? is, will he leave the comforts of always winning the WAC to a more difficult job? only $$$ will tell!
other name to keep this short(lol) are Brian Gregory(Dayton), Ron Everhart(Duquesne)-don't laugh, if you can win there, you can win anywhere, and Fran McCaffery(Siena)-proven winner who again, isn't afraid of the big boys!
overall, GMAC will be back next year as JP too afraid to do something this year and I can copy and paste this into next year's threads at this time.
Go Cyclones! Keep the faith
