Official Announcement of TJ as the New Iowa State Mens BBall Coach

[CascadeClone]

Was thinking the same thing. I bet Lutz ends up back in Ames.

That would be a really encouraging sign for me.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

Yes. Both he and Wieskamp got the upgrade at the same time.

That's true - Wieskamp is pretty stone-faced. I do like that kid's game, I have to admit. Good ballplayer.

 

[cyclonehomer]

keep in mind folks iowa is going back to the crapper next year, the power vaccuum needs to be filled, tj is wild compared to prohm, there wont be any more licking your lips dear in headlights look, tj will be all over people like white on rice

At the very least, I'd love to see a coach actually upset with officials/players sometimes. Make me believe you care out there.

 

[Sigmapolis]

That's fair. I suppose saying wanting to be here is more of a bare minimum and not something that necessarily leads to success on its own. Lord knows Paul Rhodes wanted to be here and while he helped jump start the program, I think we all want more than the equivalent for the basketball program.

These (and others) are all fair concerns. We aren't hiring Tony Bennett here.

But TJ is our guy now and he hasn't ****** it up yet. He still might but, until he does, I'm on the wagon.

Plus, I really like Allison. Loved her as a player and I had a class with her back in the day -- super cool person.

 

[usedcarguy]

TJ Pretzelburger

Or the TatertOtzelburger...

 

[WhoISthis]

If TJ is going to turn this around the team needs to show life by year 2. Which means they need to compete against teams in the upper half. Not necessary win but compete. Not lose by 25+ against Tech.

If they are doing that then it shows to me the team has talent and they have an understanding of what the games plan is and executing it which also shows that TJ has the right staff to implement the turn around. If not and we get more of the clueless defense with aimless offense it shows me a lot of people were right and we hired another Prohm clone and we'll be looking another coach soon.

He’ll need a good amount of wins. Granted, due to the historic failure of JP’s last decision, some will have moist panties from 4-5 wins in the conference next year. 6 or 7 in Year 2 would be euphoria on here.

 

[isucyfan]

I just saw that Bobby Lutz is leaving Fred's Nebraska staff to pursue other opportunities. I wonder if he will be reprising his role in Ames under TJ?

Edit: Didn't see this just mentioned above. Great minds.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Should be an exciting month or so around here, with news coming in about new assistants, current players, current recruits and new recruits.

 

[cyclonehomer]

Unless he's just amazing with prep, Xs and Os and all that, he's gonna need some massive talent advantages to have success here. Just looking at the list of coaches in this conference, dude is most likely going to be eaten alive every game out.

This is my biggest worry. TJ is almost assuredly an upgrade over Prohm, but the B12 is an absolute murderers row of coaches. It's unlikely we were ever gonna hire someone who wouldn't be presumably outmatched, but if TJs strength is gonna be recruiting he's gonna have to do it at a realllllllyyy high level.

 

[cyatheart]

The way I look at it, I am pretty happy to have a new guy, and I am going to assume TJ is a great coach until he proves to me that he is not....the last staff individual proved to me in 1 year they were not capable of doing this....so until he shows me he is a complete idiot, I will assume he is not.

 

[cyclonehomer]

These (and others) are all fair concerns. We aren't hiring Tony Bennett here.

But TJ is our guy now and he hasn't ****** it up yet. He still might but, until he does, I'm on the wagon.

Plus, I really like Allison. Loved her as a player and I had a class with her back in the day -- super cool person.

Oh for sure! I'm gonna root for and support TJ until we get a real reason not to. I don't love it on the surface, but I'm wrong all the time.

 

[RClone]

He’ll need a good amount of wins. Granted, due to the historic failure of JP’s last decision, some will have moist panties from 4-5 wins in the conference next year. 6 or 7 in Year 2 would be euphoria on here.
Go Hawks...I guess for you. See yah!

 

[CycloneErik]

This is my biggest worry. TJ is almost assuredly an upgrade over Prohm, but the B12 is an absolute murderers row of coaches. It's unlikely we were ever gonna hire someone who wouldn't be presumably outmatched, but if TJs strength is gonna be recruiting he's gonna have to do it at a realllllllyyy high level.

And frankly, recruits at the level he'll need will probably go somewhere that's winning.
He's got maybe two years to sell them on a vision and get results, or he'll live in the basement every year here.

 

[joefrog]

sorry your feelings and concerns accomplished absolutely nothing.

You should be thanking me for at least doing some due diligence in regards to a major hiring decision. Sorry if I apparently dedicated more time and was more thorough than an athletic director at a major university.

 

[Statefan10]

You should be thanking me for at least doing some due diligence in regards to a major hiring decision. Sorry if I apparently dedicated more time and was more thorough than an athletic director at a major university.

Thank you for your service. We will all be sure to think of you as a replacement for Jamie when he leaves some day.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Anybody else find the line from Pollard about how on any given night 150 D1 teams can lose and it’s impossible for everybody to win a little strange?

You have to read between the lines with everything Jamie says.

 

[usedcarguy]

That's fair. I suppose I should say wanting to be here is more of a bare minimum and not something that necessarily leads to success on its own. Lord knows Paul Rhodes wanted to be here and while he helped jump start the program, I think we all want more than the equivalent for the basketball program.

IMO, and I think Rhoads would agree, but had he done a HC stint somewhere before returning to Ames, his tenure would have ended differently.

 

[NoCreativity]

Here's what I'd like to see the next couple years to know the program is on track.

-Keep Hunter and Foster committed
-get a couple transfers that can play right away
-his first recruiting class needs at least 1 or 2 Top 100 players
- Go at least 6-12 next year, that would mean finishing above .500 in Hilton and winning 1 road game
-Work the refs and don't be afraid to get T'd up every once in awhile
-Hold players accountable on the court, if they can't get the ball over within 10 seconds with nobody guarding them they sit until they csn figure that out
-NCAA bubble team or NIT appearance in Year 2

Do those between now and the time the NCAA tourney comes back to Des Moines in 2023 then I'll know the program is headed in thr right direction.

 

[AuH2O]

Wasn't that 2 or 3 years apart between Beard leaving UNLV and them hiring Otz?

Yes I am totally jacked up there!

 

[Clone_12]

I hope TJ does so well that the Bulls WANT to hire him in 4 years, but don’t because they know the feedback of hiring a 3rd Iowa State coach would be too brutal