One of site's writers wrote 2-3 weeks ago that upcoming stretch was most important of Prohm's career

[Cyclonepride]

I’m in the minority, which is fine, but I think the NCAA Tournment should be the floor for a Top 30 program like Iowa State. That is what Fred built and what Steve continued in his first two years. I understand a rebuild every 5 years may occur but when you have been to the tournament 7 of the last 8 years that becomes the cultural and the expectation.

Losing out and finishing 20-13 (which should not happen) would be disappointing. No school is ever going to fire a coach when they make the NCAA Tournament but if you are just making the tournament every year and not advancing then it is going to be difficult to keep Iowa State at that Top 30 level as a program. So in that respect I think the next two weeks are quite crucial.

It would definitely be disappointing (and I don't think that will happen, by the way), but the year as a whole, bouncing back from dead last place in the conference, will almost certainly be seen by Jamie Pollard as more successful than not, because he is going to look at everything in total (wins, losses, talent in the program, talent coming into the program, etc). So, not crucial, but obviously it will leave a better taste in everyone's mouth if they can get back on track and make some noise to finish out.

 

[Fitzy]

I disagree on the crucial part. They could lose out, and if they come back and go to the tournament again next year, nothing will have substantially changed either way.

Lose out, as in regular season, B12, and getting bounced in the 1st round of the tourney? If that happens then Prohm's seat would be warming rapidly next year whether it's fair or not. It's tough because many in the fan base see this as year four of Prohm's tenure while others see this as year two (because of the rebuild following the class with Monte, Naz, etc.).

I'll say this... If it were up to me, I'd say the end to this year is mostly inconsequential because I tend to lean toward this being "year 2". There are only two guys on the roster currently who have experienced being on a winning/good team in Division I (Shayok, NWB if you count his first year in Ames). That's one of the biggest differences between this year and the latter years of the Hoiberg era / Prohm's first two seasons at ISU where those guys had been to multiple NCAA Tournaments and won Big 12 Tournament titles.

At the same time, I still contend the end of the season is crucial only because there's a vocal portion of the fan base that strictly sees this as year 4 (or year 8/9 even, if they merge the Hoiberg years in as a total rebuilding period) and isn't going to be near as patient as the rest of us.

 

[mdk2isu]

I’m in the minority, which is fine, but I think the NCAA Tournment should be the floor for a Top 30 program like Iowa State. That is what Fred built and what Steve continued in his first two years. I understand a rebuild every 5 years may occur but when you have been to the tournament 7 of the last 8 years that becomes the cultural and the expectation.

Losing out and finishing 20-13 (which should not happen) would be disappointing. No school is ever going to fire a coach when they make the NCAA Tournament but if you are just making the tournament every year and not advancing then it is going to be difficult to keep Iowa State at that Top 30 level as a program. So in that respect I think the next two weeks are quite crucial.

Sure they do. Recent example of one that probably regrets doing that: Texas firing Rick Barnes who made the tournament in 16 of 17 seasons at Texas, including the year he got fired.

 

[madguy30]

I’m in the minority, which is fine, but I think the NCAA Tournment should be the floor for a Top 30 program like Iowa State. That is what Fred built and what Steve continued in his first two years. I understand a rebuild every 5 years may occur but when you have been to the tournament 7 of the last 8 years that becomes the cultural and the expectation.

Losing out and finishing 20-13 (which should not happen) would be disappointing. No school is ever going to fire a coach when they make the NCAA Tournament but if you are just making the tournament every year and not advancing then it is going to be difficult to keep Iowa State at that Top 30 level as a program. So in that respect I think the next two weeks are quite crucial.

Problem with this narrative is Fred didn't build anything--he rebuilt and getting to the tournament this often is the exception and not the rule.

I suppose the tournament is the general expectation and yeah, losing out would be stupid but at some point some of these things need to fall on the players. If there's one or two that are checked out for different reasons it affects the rest. Not saying that's the case, although it at times sure looks that way.

 

[madguy30]

Lose out, as in regular season, B12, and getting bounced in the 1st round of the tourney? If that happens then Prohm's seat would be warming rapidly next year whether it's fair or not. It's tough because many in the fan base see this as year four of Prohm's tenure while others see this as year two (because of the rebuild following the class with Monte, Naz, etc.).

I'll say this... If it were up to me, I'd say the end to this year is mostly inconsequential because I tend to lean toward this being "year 2". There are only two guys on the roster currently who have experienced being on a winning/good team in Division I (Shayok, NWB if you count his first year in Ames). That's one of the biggest differences between this year and the latter years of the Hoiberg era / Prohm's first two seasons at ISU where those guys had been to multiple NCAA Tournaments and won Big 12 Tournament titles.

At the same time, I still contend the end of the season is crucial only because there's a vocal portion of the fan base that strictly sees this as year 4 (or year 8/9 even, if they merge the Hoiberg years in as a total rebuilding period) and isn't going to be near as patient as the rest of us.

I think what's disappointing is that ISU really started playing some good consistent basketball at the end of his first two years and it doesn't appear that this team will do that.

I'd agree that if they flame out this year, and most pieces are back next year and it's a similar thing where there's not much of an identity, fundamentals are bad, etc., it's alright to get the seat warm. CSP can only say 'it's on me, and I maybe could have done this or that' so many times.

 

[rochclone]

Problem with this narrative is Fred didn't build anything--he rebuilt and getting to the tournament this often is the exception and not the rule.

I suppose the tournament is the general expectation and yeah, losing out would be stupid but at some point some of these things need to fall on the players. If there's one or two that are checked out for different reasons it affects the rest. Not saying that's the case, although it at times sure looks that way.

Fred didn't build anything.....we hadn't been to the Tournament in 5 years with our best record during that stretch being 16-14. When did we go to the NCAA Tournament 4 years in a row before him? When did we spend 2.5 years in the Top 25 from the preseason poll to the Final poll? I'm sure how those types of accomplishments including two #3 seeds can be labeled as anything other than building something.

When you look at the entire history of Iowa State the NCAA Tournament is the exception. But this isn't the 1970's or 1980's. The Power 5 schools are brining in so much money that the difference in facilities between them and the Non-Power 5 is ridiculous. This isn't the 1980's or 1990's when coaching salaries where 1/5 of what they are now and the fans monetary investment was 1/10 of what it is now.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Lose out, as in regular season, B12, and getting bounced in the 1st round of the tourney? If that happens then Prohm's seat would be warming rapidly next year whether it's fair or not. It's tough because many in the fan base see this as year four of Prohm's tenure while others see this as year two (because of the rebuild following the class with Monte, Naz, etc.).

I'll say this... If it were up to me, I'd say the end to this year is mostly inconsequential because I tend to lean toward this being "year 2". There are only two guys on the roster currently who have experienced being on a winning/good team in Division I (Shayok, NWB if you count his first year in Ames). That's one of the biggest differences between this year and the latter years of the Hoiberg era / Prohm's first two seasons at ISU where those guys had been to multiple NCAA Tournaments and won Big 12 Tournament titles.

At the same time, I still contend the end of the season is crucial only because there's a vocal portion of the fan base that strictly sees this as year 4 (or year 8/9 even, if they merge the Hoiberg years in as a total rebuilding period) and isn't going to be near as patient as the rest of us.

The vocal portion of the fanbase hated him from the word go. Some wanted TJ, some cannot get over Fred. It would be silly to base any decision on what those people want, though I will admit that their rampant and insistent temper tantrums have poisoned the well and made CF almost unreadable.

I'd put all my money on it that Prohm has at least the next two years. His seat will not be warm to start next year, and only a failure to make the tournament will make it warm for the year after.

 

[WastedTalent]

I’m in the minority, which is fine, but I think the NCAA Tournment should be the floor for a Top 30 program like Iowa State. That is what Fred built and what Steve continued in his first two years. I understand a rebuild every 5 years may occur but when you have been to the tournament 7 of the last 8 years that becomes the cultural and the expectation.

Losing out and finishing 20-13 (which should not happen) would be disappointing. No school is ever going to fire a coach when they make the NCAA Tournament but if you are just making the tournament every year and not advancing then it is going to be difficult to keep Iowa State at that Top 30 level as a program. So in that respect I think the next two weeks are quite crucial.

I agree mostly. My general rule of thumb, for this level of program, is to be in the tournament 4 out of every 5 years. It used to be that way because that gets one whole recruiting class thru the program, but it's slightly different now with the 4 year player being less common. However, I feel the coaches need to adapt their recruiting methods to compensate for this, and I think Prohm has.

The tournament itself, is a fickle *****. I sort of subscribe to the theory of "throwing darts," and the more darts you throw, (tournament appearances) the more bullseyes (sweet 16s, elite 8s, etc) you'll hit.

Unless a coach continually gets knocked out in the first round, or is always being upset, a coach's fate should never be solely on NCAA tournament results.

 

[Rabbuk]

The vocal portion of the fanbase hated him from the word go. Some wanted TJ, some cannot get over Fred. It would be silly to base any decision on what those people want, though I will admit that their rampant and insistent temper tantrums have poisoned the well and made CF almost unreadable.

I'd put all my money on it that Prohm has at least the next two years. His seat will not be warm to start next year, and only a failure to make the tournament will make it warm for the year after.

Is his seat warm if we lose out and then lose like in an effort similar to the Texas game in the tourney? I'm not thinking it'll happen whatsoever but I feel like momentum matters especially staring down the barrel of losing a few key contributors.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Is his seat warm if we lose out and then lose like in an effort similar to the Texas game in the tourney? I'm not thinking it'll happen whatsoever but I feel like momentum matters especially staring down the barrel of losing a few key contributors.

Maybe slightly? I think the hot seat talk is mostly silly overreaction.

 

[Knownothing]

I’m in the minority, which is fine, but I think the NCAA Tournment should be the floor for a Top 30 program like Iowa State. That is what Fred built and what Steve continued in his first two years. I understand a rebuild every 5 years may occur but when you have been to the tournament 7 of the last 8 years that becomes the cultural and the expectation.

Losing out and finishing 20-13 (which should not happen) would be disappointing. No school is ever going to fire a coach when they make the NCAA Tournament but if you are just making the tournament every year and not advancing then it is going to be difficult to keep Iowa State at that Top 30 level as a program. So in that respect I think the next two weeks are quite crucial.

Iowa. Iowa will flat out fire a coach even if he makes the tourney ( Tom Davis ) if he don't make the tourney and flames out at the end of every year. He gets a contract extension. We will see how Prohm does over the next few years.

 

[SolarGarlic]

I think what's disappointing is that ISU really started playing some good consistent basketball at the end of his first two years and it doesn't appear that this team will do that.

I'd agree that if they flame out this year, and most pieces are back next year and it's a similar thing where there's not much of an identity, fundamentals are bad, etc., it's alright to get the seat warm. CSP can only say 'it's on me, and I maybe could have done this or that' so many times.

Prohm has always stressed playing well at the end of the season, and his first two teams were doing just that.

Year 1, he's lucky that we turned it on because that would've been an all-time disappointment after being top 5 to start the season. Could still say it was disappointing, but I'll never argue with a Sweet 16 at ISU.

Year 2, we were a top 15 team by season's end, but the early seasons struggles limited us to a 5 seed.

He's stuck to the same "wait 'til March" mantra this season, but it's looking less likely that a peak is coming. At what point does it become apparent that he doesn't really know what's going on and is solely reliant on the pure talent of the players to bail him out?

One win in KC, and one win in NCAAs, and he's fine for this season. I'm cheering for him, but for the first time, I'm starting to worry about his future at ISU.

 

[madguy30]

Prohm has always stressed playing well at the end of the season, and his first two teams were doing just that.

Year 1, he's lucky that we turned it on because that would've been an all-time disappointment after being top 5 to start the season. Could still say it was disappointing, but I'll never argue with a Sweet 16 at ISU.

Year 2, we were a top 15 team by season's end, but the early seasons struggles limited us to a 5 seed.

He's stuck to the same "wait 'til March" mantra this season, but it's looking less likely that a peak is coming. At what point does it become apparent that he doesn't really know what's going on and is solely reliant on the pure talent of the players to bail him out?

One win in KC, and one win in NCAAs, and he's fine for this season. I'm cheering for him, but for the first time, I'm starting to worry about his future at ISU.

Yeah I'm starting to slip as well...I'm really not relying on what happens in the Big 12 tourney or NCAAs. Both tend to have crazy results. If ISU plays really well but is still just in a bad matchup, there's not much else to do.

I'd just like to see some things develop where good habits have been established.

If Wednesday night is more of the same of not just being not sharp, but just looking really bad, yikes.

 

[MartyFine]

 

[cycfan1]

I think what's disappointing is that ISU really started playing some good consistent basketball at the end of his first two years and it doesn't appear that this team will do that.

I'd agree that if they flame out this year, and most pieces are back next year and it's a similar thing where there's not much of an identity, fundamentals are bad, etc., it's alright to get the seat warm. CSP can only say 'it's on me, and I maybe could have done this or that' so many times.

Who at their best finished 3rd or 4th in the conference and lost plenty of road games.

 

[cycloneML]

So just trolling, huh?

https://cyclonefanatic.com/2019/02/mid-week-mailbag-meltdown-edition/

 

[cycloneML]

This really doesn't even seem like a logical thing for someone to write during this season, but if it fits your narrative...

https://cyclonefanatic.com/2019/02/mid-week-mailbag-meltdown-edition/

 

[CtownCyclone]

https://cyclonefanatic.com/2019/02/mid-week-mailbag-meltdown-edition/

Are you just reposting this link over and over again to get Fitzy more page hits on his article? I don't think CF pays him based on page views, but I could be wrong.

 

[madguy30]

Who at their best finished 3rd or 4th in the conference and lost plenty of road games.

And???

 

[Cyclonepride]

https://cyclonefanatic.com/2019/02/mid-week-mailbag-meltdown-edition/

Already caught that, and disputed the thought directly.