First time in 50 years. Floyd didn't do it, Larry didn't do it and God love him Johnny didn't do it. We are in uncharted territory when it comes to competing in the conference. All while replacing 5 of our top 7 players.
3rd straight winning conference record
- Thread starter 83Clone
- Start date
This is the part I like the most. We are doing much better than predicted before the season.
With one more win, Fred eclipses Eustacy in wins for the first four years at ISU (and under much more difficult circumstances too). I think once Fred gets a Big12 Championship and has a deep run in the NCAA tourney, you can start to say that he's the best coach in ISU history (with all due respect to Orr).
Agree completely. I told that to my wife last night. He is the master of taking someone that isn't on anyone's radar and making them a star....and using what is in front of him to make the system work. Every year we end with "but we lose xxx players." but I know I am more and more comfortable with saying "no biggie."
I would hope Fred, his system, and style is really permeating the AAU circuit. Even if I take my cyclone colored glasses off, it would be hard to convince a top recruit why they couldn't be successful, win games, play in front of big crowds against the top competition, improve as a player, and play in the big dance.
I would LOVE to get the big 12 tourney this year...KU is beatable...just need to play good ball vs the teams to get there and hope that the deep big 12 maybe helps us (KU getting knocked off by a surging Tech, etc).
Yes, but just think where we COULD be if we had a coach with head coaching experience before we hired him...
I wonder how many of those "experts" have admitted they were stupidly wrong.
To be fair... Id bet that if 10 other schools hired 10 other guys without coaching experience, 9 of those hires fail.
Hoiberg is a special case.
Additionally: We're a lock for the tourney for this year at this point, but if we make the tourney for next year as well (we should be favored to) that will be the first time we've done 4 years in a row.
Yes, def. uncharted territory for the program. During the height of Floyd's and LE tenure, it felt that this ride would not last. Floyd was always rumored to go to the NBA and that hurt his recruiting, and some did not make it to Ames. LE was riding Floyd's players and could never go beyond what he did his first 2 years, and then he had an issue.
It just feels different with CFH. His first year, was not a great year like LE's was, the cupboards were bone bare.
One god year can just be luck, 2 years could be using other coaches recruits, but 3 years with a totally different set of players, that means things are going right.
It just feels different with CFH. His first year, was not a great year like LE's was, the cupboards were bone bare.
One god year can just be luck, 2 years could be using other coaches recruits, but 3 years with a totally different set of players, that means things are going right.
And to think, CFH had absolutely no prior coaching experience.
...None.
...........Nada.
......................Zip.
.................................Z-E-R-O!
Joke's on them.
...None.
...........Nada.
......................Zip.
.................................Z-E-R-O!
Joke's on them.
I was pretty skeptical when Fred was hired. We all knew his pedigree as a player and citizen, but his lack of prior coaching experience at any level had me worried that Pollard was acting hastily to desperately infuse the MBB program with star power at the expense of other potential viable, experienced candidates who could have offered a more seasoned resume .
But clearly Fred not only had a plan but he has the charisma, steadiness, and coaching chops to be execute that plan and get the best out of his players. Being 22-5 this far into the season is exceedingly rare for ISU, so we should all try to take a moment to enjoy it, and hopefully the season won't end any time soon.
I've never been more happy to be wrong.
But clearly Fred not only had a plan but he has the charisma, steadiness, and coaching chops to be execute that plan and get the best out of his players. Being 22-5 this far into the season is exceedingly rare for ISU, so we should all try to take a moment to enjoy it, and hopefully the season won't end any time soon.
I've never been more happy to be wrong.
Couldn't have said it better. The guy just succeeds at whatever endeavor he attempts. He's a true role model and I'm proud to have him represent my team, my school and my city.
I was probably of the same mindset. I'm not dissing any radio shows or writers but the strong sentiment at the beginning of the year was Iowa was the tourney team and we were borderline. I didn't think that was unfair entirely given what we lost and the new guys. However, it's going to be hard going forward to doubt Fred and what he does assembling winning teams when it comes to predictions. It all looks, feels and seems that we will contend for the league every year. You have to look no further than Kansas' next recruiting class to know they are still the team to beat. And that won't change. But the thought of being a top 4 team in the league every year is a far cry from ISU's past.
