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All "Gripes" with Greg McDermott

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cyclonestate

Well-Known Member
May 4, 2009
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I was very excited when Coach Mac was hired because I felt like he was a coach who would mold our guys into a team with exceptional chemistry. I wasn't sure that he'd be able to bring in the most talented players, but I was sure that his strength was molding a team that is greater than the sum of its parts. In other words, I knew that chemistry would be the LAST thing we'd have to worry about.

As I read this Paul Rhoads interview, it reminded me of exactly the kind of coach that I thought Mac would be, and exactly the kind of basketball team I thought we'd have. Now I have to admit that I'm completely stumped as to why it hasn't worked out like I thought it would.

I haven't given up hope on Mac, but I have to admit, it's getting really hard.

Q&A: Iowa State coach Paul Rhoads - Big 12 Blog - ESPN
 
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Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

I'm in the same boat as you. I was excited when Mac was hired. I was living in Cedar Falls at the time and loved how he got his teams to play. My cousin was an assistant trainer for him and said how much she respected him as a coach and as a person. She still talks to him occasionally and he has always been a stand-up guy. Now I know that being a person with high morals doesn't guarantee you wins, but I have always pulled for him and not just because I'm a Cyclone fan.
When I talk to my cousin after a game, she is as confused as the rest of us. I remember mentioning how I couldn't stand it when Garrett would dribble himself into a trap and she told me that Mac would be all over his guards at UNI for doing that. We also discussed the lack of toughness on the team. She told me that it is almost like watching a completely different guy coaching. I honestly think we have a head coach that is gun shy after the Wesley Johnson situation. Now with Hamilton gone, I don't think it is going to get better.
 
Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

I feel as if I am one of the only people who was NOT excited by Mac's hiring in 2006. I was so-so about it, and then he said "I'll be recruiting HEAVILY in the state of Iowa" and I had a beer right after.
 
Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

haha mac still maybe gone, just my statement. i no nothing. err or maybe not
 
Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

marothisu said:
I feel as if I am one of the only people who was NOT excited by Mac's hiring in 2006. I was so-so about it, and then he said "I'll be recruiting HEAVILY in the state of Iowa" and I had a beer right after.
Click to expand...


Wasn't the #1 player in high school this year from Iowa?
 
Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

farmerbrent said:
Wasn't the #1 player in high school this year from Iowa?
Click to expand...

How many #1 players have there been from Iowa? For every great player from Iowa, which isn't many, I can probably name about 25-50 from New York, California, Florida, or Texas.
 
Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

I was against WM's firing. I was starting to sour on him, but felt that his results were certainly good enough to get another year.

I do have to admit that when Gmac was hired, I was confident that he was a good fit for the program and would get it done.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen anything from him or his teams in the last 4 years, that would validate that confidence.
 
Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

yeah I wasn't over joyed about his hire, but I hope what you felt. The truth is, what you (and I hoped) was wrong.
 
Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

acgclone said:
I was against WM's firing. I was starting to sour on him, but felt that his results were certainly good enough to get another year.

I do have to admit that when Gmac was hired, I was confident that he was a good fit for the program and would get it done.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen anything from him or his teams in the last 4 years, that would validate that confidence.
Click to expand...

Agree completely.
I wouldn't have fired Morgan myself, but I was certainly ok with it once it happened.
I was ecstatic that we hired GMac. I was convinced he was a perfect hire. I was also certain that the Alford era at Iowa wasn't going to last and I knew they would come calling for GMac. So I was glad we were able to secure him before the Iowa job opened up. I wonder if Pollard was thinking the same thing and got in on GMac before Iowa could?! Food for thought anyway.

At any rate, GMac hasn't worked out. And that is so disappointing.
 
Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

I was in the fence about his hiring, mainly because of recruiting. Not because I didn't think he couldn't coach. But now with the yearly attrition and lack of improvement I don't know what's wrong but it didn't work it's time to say goodbye IMO.

Question, does anyone know what it will cost to buy mac out?
 
Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

It's funny how this stuff happens. For example we fired Wayne Morgan after he took us to the post season twice in three years and never had a losing seasons....Iowa fires Alford after he has one losing season (barely) in 8 seasons and going to the post season 6 of those times with a winning pct of almost 60%

Then he goes to New Mexico, has three 20+ win seasons in three seasons, and right now has a Mountain West team as a 3 seed.
 
Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

Clonedogg said:
I was in the fence about his hiring, mainly because of recruiting. Not because I didn't think he couldn't coach. But now with the yearly attrition and lack of improvement I don't know what's wrong but it didn't work it's time to say goodbye IMO.

Question, does anyone know what it will cost to buy mac out?
Click to expand...

2.5 million if it happened this year.
$500k less if it happens next year.
 
Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

I think we will see a turn around on mac's attitude next year. He has nothing to loose. If he doesn't get it right, he is gone. If he does, then he may have the beginning of a solid coaching run. I think he stops codeling these kids and starts coaching. i don't know if it is too late, but better late than never.

In short, i think Mac grows a pair over the summer. As for the transfers, kids want to be part of a winning program. I think that is what Ham was being pushed to be on. bYU is the second best team in the conference.
 
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Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

marothisu said:
How many #1 players have there been from Iowa? For every great player from Iowa, which isn't many, I can probably name about 25-50 from New York, California, Florida, or Texas.
Click to expand...

Really?

You realize that there is only one #1 recruit for mens basketball every year.

So, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and go with the low side (25). You'll have to go back 101 years to find 25 for each of those states. And that's assuming no other state has had any during that time period.

Yeah... population wise... the ones you listed ought to have more than us obviously. But good luck naming 25 to 50. (now that I think about it... you must mean 25 to 50 from those 4 combined)

Still... based on our population alone... 1 in the last 50 years is welllllllll above average.

And obviously we recuit Texas (WJ), Florida (Taylor), California (Brackins, McIntosh) so clearly they're all in New York. Maybe we shoulda kept Morgan then (Stinson, Clark, Blalock?...)
 
Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

dbronco7sc said:
Really?

You realize that there is only one #1 recruit for mens basketball every year.

So, I'll give you the benefit of the doubt and go with the low side (25). You'll have to go back 101 years to find 25 for each of those states. And that's assuming no other state has had any during that time period.

Yeah... population wise... the ones you listed ought to have more than us obviously. But good luck naming 25 to 50. (now that I think about it... you must mean 25 to 50 from those 4 combined)

Still... based on our population alone... 1 in the last 50 years is welllllllll above average.

And obviously we recuit Texas (WJ), Florida (Taylor), California (Brackins, McIntosh) so clearly they're all in New York. Maybe we shoulda kept Morgan then (Stinson, Clark, Blalock?...)
Click to expand...


Let me state it another way...as much as everyone on here would love to think so, there haven't been many great players who went to HS in Iowa. The "great" players from Iowa don't even compare to the great players of somewhere like NY. Abdul-Jabbar, Dr. J, Bernard King, Tiny Archibald, etc vs. Kirk Hinrich and Raef LaFrentz

That wasn't even really the main point though. The main point was back before that. When GMac was hired he said he was going to very heavily recruit Iowa, to which I had a beer. We recruit other places than Iowa because of our assistants and their ties to other areas. Example being Craig Brackins and TJ O...he's the main reason Brackins ever came or considered ISU.

And yes, I was angry when Morgan was fired even though we "underachived" his last season which still turned out better than GMac's best year so far here.
 
Re: Puzzled by Coach Mac

Also if you are going to throw the Harrison Barnes rock at Mac, make sure you are throwing Collison and Heinrichs rocks at someone. Also make sure there is a Lafrentz one in there too.
 
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