Jake Sullivan on KXNO talking ISU BB

[nsv24]

"I could understand the slow, methodical game against better Big 12 opponents, but look at the top teams in the nation now. They play fast and dominate lesser opponents who do not have the depth or athletes. "

If you look at the top ten, you will find UCLA, Washington St. and Georgetown, all which play a deliberate half-court game. Butler and A&M are knocking at that top10 door as well, and neither of those teams run much.

I understand what you are saying, but the quickest teams that run all over the place are not always better. Look at ISU 2005-2006.

 

[cy1225]

I'll admit I like to watch more of a running style game myself, and I'd guess most of the great players like it better too. I have good memories of a Blaylock or Stinson steal and a great pass to a flying Clark for a highlight jam. They put on a clinic at Drake two years ago and we blew them out of the gym.

The why did the ISU brass let WM go? I have never understood this decision.

 

[trevn]

I agree that we should play a more up tempo style, especially against teams like Drake and UNI and supposedly weaker teams. We really just give up something by not letting them use their athletic talents, and seems as if we allow teams less talented to stay with us. I could understand the slow, methodical game against better Big 12 opponents, but look at the top teams in the nation now. They play fast and dominate lesser opponents who do not have the depth or athletes.

Drake may have been quicker than us, but we still have some great athletes like DG and CB, not to mention RC, and using them in an up-tempo style seems logical.

I see where you're coming from and where everyone else is coming from, I like up-tempo basketball too, but Mac's slow down style can and does produce results. Look at John Thompson III and Georgetown. They have a lot more athletes on their team than us this year (and last year too) and they're coming off a Final Four year. Georgetown makes it very clear that they're not in it to run up and down. They'll run when the situation presents itself, but most everything else is set plays and good ball movement (something we don't have due to our guard play). Same can be said about Wisconsin and Washington State.

Also, it's incredibly difficult to play up-tempo at all when most teams will put token pressure on us full court knowing that we have weak guard play. Teams are actually trying to slow us down even more! Until our guards get more comfortable out there and until we decide that we want to own the boards every game, we will have very few opportunities to run and we'll struggle.

 

[jbhtexas]

I agree with Sullivan and said the exact same thing in another thread yesterday. GMAC's system is not set up to work with tremendous athletes. It is a system you use to win if you don't have the athletic talent because, if run successfully, it gives you a chance to win. The problem is athletes don't do well in this system. When Jake said he needs more UNI type players, he was right on...they are suited for this system. Great athletes will never succeed in what we are trying to run IMO. This is a big problem and will continue to be.

**If** GMac's system can't work with great athletes, then ISU is never going to be more than a middle-of-the pack Big 12 team under him. To win the Big 12, a team needs athletic talent, and a system that can utilize that athletic talent.

As for Jake Sullivan's comments, he is a knowledgeable guy, and certainly welcome to his opinion. However, if what he says is true, either the system will adapt to fit the abilities of the existing players, or we will see more departures from the team.

I will say this...when ISU loses to Drake by 30+ points, something is wrong beyond injuries and the natural stuff that happens subsequent to a coaching change. There is a disconnect between coach and players right now, and I just hope GMac can figure it out, preferably before tomorrow afternoon.

 

[Incyte]

The notion that you can't win with a half-court system is crazy. I shutter to think what GMac would have done with Alford's Iowa team that lost to Northwestern state. Those players would fit his system very well. I don't think they were incredibly "athletic."

 

[CTAClone]

**If** GMac's system can't work with great athletes, then ISU is never going to be more than a middle-of-the pack Big 12 team under him. To win the Big 12, a team needs athletic talent, and a system that can utilize that athletic talent.

As for Jake Sullivan's comments, he is a knowledgeable guy, and certainly welcome to his opinion. However, if what he says is true, either the system will adapt to fit the abilities of the existing players, or we will see more departures from the team.

I will say this...when ISU loses to Drake by 30+ points, something is wrong beyond injuries and the natural stuff that happens subsequent to a coaching change. There is a disconnect between coach and players right now, and I just hope GMac can figure it out.

Can I say "WAKE UP CALL"

I thought there was a realization for the team against Oregon State that GMac system works. Unfortunately, it didn't show itself in the Drake game. Hopefully, the drake game will be the best thing that ever happened to the team this season.

 

[leg4cy]

We need Jacy Holloway to have some kids and send them to ISU.

 

[Sioux_Per_Cy]

So what makes Jake such a great basketball analyst wohom we should take such great stock in?

 

[CyRocket]

I'm a big Sullivan fan but I would not say that he is the end all as to how to play BB. It was said that he knows best because he has his own AAU team. Well coach Mac has his "own" Big 12 team. Where does that put him on the pecking order. If we are going to compete with the top teams we cannot compete by playing their game as they will always have better players. We need to beat them by playing our game with less talent. That is the reality of the situation. It would be nice if it wasn't true but it is. We need to be calm and let things work out. Calling for the return to the "good old days" won't make it happen.

 

[EggMcClone]

There's a lot of points I wanted to respond to so this might jump all over the place...

The answer is definitely NOT recruiting "UNI athletes." Even if it's run well that's a plan to get to the NIT most years and the NCAA sometimes. It may have done better than that at UNI but the Big 12 is not the MVC. There are teams that have success running set plays, etc but they do it by having great athletes running it. UCLA has guards that can create their own shot and can work it down low into a future lottery pick. We a) don't have a consistent outside shooter and b) don't play the only guard that can penetrate.

I don't think we should read too much into all of this like the "players don't want to run his system" and I don't think anyone is asking to be run and gun but we have to adapt to what we have. However, if we do have more guards transfer I might just give up...

 

[Drive4cy]

I didn't understand the "UNI athletes would be better in the system" comment, either. If the system is good(which it is) then it would seem obvious that if you plug a higher caliber player into that same system that you become an even better team. Plus, Gmac is yet to have a good PG run his system here. It's not like he needs a Jamaal Tinsley or anything, I'd settle for Will Blalock, Tim Barnes, an experienced Garrett/Buckley, Ben Jacobson,etc. Until we get decent point guard play I'm not going to judge Gmac. A good PG, similar to a good QB can make a big difference.

 

[isufbcurt]

I love it... A former player for ISU basketball player comes out and states his opinion of what is going on with ISU basketball and the internet posters, many of whom probably never were any good at basketball or never even played organized ball question his basketball analysis.

Got to love message boards and people who think they know more than someone who successfully played the game.

Humerous

 

[Drive4cy]

I love it... A former player for ISU basketball player comes out and states his opinion of what is going on with ISU basketball and the internet posters, many of whom probably never were any good at basketball or never even played organized ball question his basketball analysis.

Got to love message boards and people who think they know more than someone who successfully played the game.

Humerous

I agree. He definitely has credibility. Personally, I loved getting his insight on the situation and appreciated his honesty. It was refreshing.

 

[kuney1]

I think with our guards if we tried to run more it would only result in 30 turnovers a game.

 

[Harry]

We don't need J. Holloway. We need the other four very good players that were good enough to win despite a mediocre point gaurd. Put Holloway on this team and were still bad. If Cato is in the middle and Willouby is drilling in threes I like our chances whichever of our gaurds are on the court.

 

[ISUChippewa]

It seems to me that before we can decide what type of system and tempo McDermott should play with the team, we should get some players who are capable of playing Big 12-caliber basketball first, and then worry about whether we should run or play half-court or whatever. Based on what I've read about so far this season, we don't have Division I caliber guards yet. We barely did last season with Taylor, McIntosh (whom I think the team might be missing more than anyone, frankly), and Dunson. Without any of those three, well, you guys have seen the team play more than I have....

 

[kingcy]

You have to remember who did the interview, he may have lead Jake astray a bit. WM was also well liked my his players, so that maybe part of it. Jake does know BB, but Mac has said they will use a faster pace when all the pieces are in place. What will make this system work is a pure 3 point shooter (like Jake was). That maybe the UNI type player Jake was talking about. If Mac has the great BB mind everyone says he has he will figure out a way to make his system work with the players he has and if he needs to he will speed it up. Brackins and Garrett have played 7 games and they are still getting a grip on playing, lets give them a chance before we throw the system out. Brackins does have a couple 20+ point games so the system must work somehow. Didnt Floyd and LE run a slower system? Jake is a great guy but Mac was Gary Thompson's choice for the job and I think Gary knows a thing or two more about the game and has been around a lot more coaches than Jake.

 

[snowcraig2.0]

I am just going to say this. Did any of you here play with any of our basketball players while at the rec center in college? They are supremely talented athletes. However, many of them had absolutely no idea how to play the game, even the upperclassmen. Playing the game in college doesn't necessarily preclude a great knowledge of the game. I am not saying this is the case with Jake, but it is something to keep in mind.

 

[Kyle]

Players don't exist on a continuum from bad to great. There are many different aspects to a players game, including defense, rebounding, shooting, dribbling, passing, and knowledge of the game. There are many more and the ones I mentioned can be broken down even further. Teams are good when the players complement each other and work well in the system being utilized.

Jake makes some sense in that certain types of players fit better in McDermott's system. The first thing that comes to mind is that his players at UNI could shoot the three, and this strikes me as something that is important in his system. The best three point shooter on the team right now appears to be a hobbled Wesley Johnson.

Eventually we will start seeing more players that fit into Mac's system. I don't want him to sell out that system now because in a few years it will pay dividends when our junior and senior players know and have been playing in that system for a few years.

 

[jbhtexas]

If we are going to compete with the top teams we cannot compete by playing their game as they will always have better players. We need to beat them by playing our game with less talent. That is the reality of the situation.

You could take that approach if you are content with being the 6th place team in the Big 12 year in and year out. Somehow, I expect that ADJP has higher expectations than that. ISU got Brackins; what makes you think that ISU can't get other highly touted recruits like him? Wesley Johnson is no slouch either...