My memory isn't the greatest but I thought Jacobson was UNI's best player, and he was pretty good. And please don't tell me how great Stinson and Blaylock were. They were good and much better than we now have, but neither made it in the NBA. They were really good when we had an experienced big man like Homan, but in Morgan's last year we had all first year bigs, so that team was very young starting two juniors, two sophomores, and a freshman center that had missed the first part of the season due to illness. Still had a winning record and won a tough big 4 that year.
Wayne Morgan
- Thread starter Todd Blythe
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Jacobsen was their best player...but Mckowen and Jacobsen aren't near as good as Blalock and Stinson...and Stinson and Blalock were both fantastic college basketball players...Stinson, Blalock, and Clark at the time was the best backcourt in the Big 12...We had NO business going 16-14 that year...that team was better in December than it was in March...it completely imploded.
Wayne was a great guy. I didn't like the way VdV treated him. But, it was clear the program was headed in the tank. On top of that I sat through his last ISU UNI game in the dome and was embarressed by the players unsportsman like behavior. Basketball like that makes you not want to take your kids.
Look at McDermotts past. Each new stop takes about three years to hit bottom, then the fourth year he takes off. Given a complete turnover of gaurds the first two years he may be behind that schedule. This year isn't a write off but, based on history be patient. Next year should be the real start upward.
Look at McDermotts past. Each new stop takes about three years to hit bottom, then the fourth year he takes off. Given a complete turnover of gaurds the first two years he may be behind that schedule. This year isn't a write off but, based on history be patient. Next year should be the real start upward.
Morgan could recruit. Had Eustachy stayed out of trouble, and Morgan stayed in Ames we'd be a traditional top 3 finisher in the Big 12. Eustachy built his program her off of Floyd's recruits, and began to rebuild it off of Morgan's recruits. Too bad the man couldn't recruit himself.
Wrong. ISU trounced Marquette coached by Tom Crean on their way to to the Final 4 (beat Georgia, Florida State and Marquette). ISU also beat Thad Matta's Xavier team soundly at home. Yes... Wayne Morgan coached those ISU teams that won those and many other big games.
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The Marquette thing: I was correcting the spelling. I know we beat them.
I'm really not trying to detract from Wayne, but I dont think he instilled anywhere near the discipline necessary for long term success. He also severly lacked in coaching fundamentals. It really is funny how soon people forget some of the mishaps, especially during his final season.
I'm really not trying to detract from Wayne, but I dont think he instilled anywhere near the discipline necessary for long term success. He also severly lacked in coaching fundamentals. It really is funny how soon people forget some of the mishaps, especially during his final season.
My opinion of how/why we got to the point we are at.
Floyd busts out and hands things over to LE. I liked Floyd and I think he is very similar to Mac(except Mac isn't leaving). LE could coach and was very entertaining to watch, but he wasn't the best recruiter...So, he hires Morgan as an assistant and problem is temporally solved before getting caught drinking with coeds. Hire Morgan because nobody else wants the job and at least this way the players/recruits won't leave(see Mac era), but he can't coach...but, but, but, NCAA, NIT...how do you explain that?
What is a coaches job?
Teach fundamentals
Teach life lessons
Develop a game plan both short term and long term
Manage a team
Recruit
Inform the press(Fans)
But ultimately their job is to teach young kids HOW TO WIN.
Floyd could do it, LE could do it, Morgan could not, Mac...you be the judge. It's like riding a bike once you learn how to win...kids don't forget; this is where experience becomes a big deal. Morgan post season appearances was a product of what LE got done. Some may see NCAA and NIT, but I see what could have been if those kids played hard and with discipline because the talent was there. JP knew it and boosters knew it...After Morgan's 16-14 year three what were expectations from the fans if Morgan stays on? Morgan probably deserved one more year...but if JP waits one more year and things don't turn around, ISU is serious trouble. Part of our defense to the NCAA was that we had hired a new coach and we were doing everything we could to clean up the program...Details were never given to the public, but from little I heard it was not good.
Correction for Wally 86- Morgan beat GMac's best team in Ames in Morgan's last year. And there's no stopping people that want to think Morgan couldn't coach, was undisciplined, had trash talking players, and all that other garbage I've seen on the board about Morgan (nobody talked more trash than Tinsley but I never heard any complaints about him). Bottom line is Morgan took over a program on the verge of collapse, kept the guys he recruited and gave us 3 pretty good years with many great wins. He had a young team his last year but was under heavy pressure from JP, which the players also felt, and that's not a good atmosphere for any team. We still would likely have been in the NIT had JP lobbied for a game. I'll always be grateful to WM for saving our program and giving us many great wins during the regular and post season.
I guess those things could all be on the list, however I really only have one expectation of coaches at ISU: Win games.
I have another - intimidate referees. Wayne could never do this (for rep, name the opponent/year)...
Nebraska -- Jan. 10, 2007.
I have another - intimidate referees. Wayne could never do this (for rep, name the opponent/year)...
FWIW, I think we appealed several times for varies things and with the APR we did lose two scholarships (Took the penalty early because we knew it was coming).
#1 Greg Doyle is a tool
#2 Jamie wanted his own guys in here asap. So he used whatever he needed to get Wayne and others out in a hurry.
Don't forget about Roy Bright...who was within an eyelash of commiting here before Bobby Huggins swooped in at the last second to snag him...Although Huggins couldn't have cared less about players going to class, he kicked Bright off the team...Bright was arrested for firing a handgun on campus...Bright and Theo Davis could've made quite the pair...
