What counts as success?

I think most of us probably had an overly optimistic opinion of this year's team, but don't forget, in nearly every interview with the team in the preseason, they talked about the tourney as well. How could we not expect it?

It's tough to say how far off everyone really was with our predictions given the injuries, departures, suspension, etc. That said, it doesn't explain the poor effort and repeated stupid mistakes every single game.

Wait, so because the team had a goal of making the tourney you have a right to expect it? Or, even if they expect it, that means you should expect it too? Have you ever been involved in sports before?
 
At this point, I would define success as putting forth a solid effort for 30-35 minutes per game, eliminating stupid mistakes, capitalizing on gimmes, and playing as a team. W/L seems unimportant right now.

Your kidding right? Then let them goof off for the 5-10 minutes of the game? HELL NO you play hard the whole 40 minutes...
 
Acceptable? To me, personally? That's a weird question IMO. Would I like that to happen? No. But who would like 4 years of sub .500 seasons?

I'm not asking if it's acceptable. I'm asking what counts as success.

And I'm just pointing out how far the bar has been lowered for ISU MBB over the past four years.
 
Bingo!

Outside of the Michigan game, Iowa has competed very well recently. They took Ohio St and Michigan St down to the wire. And Michigan St was on the road. Tonight they had a chance with a minute left to beat a decent Illinois team.

And Iowa has VERY little talent at all folks. But they are competing hard. They rebound pretty well, get after loose balls, etc.

Right now, I'd be happy with that. I see no fight in us whatsoever. I see no fight in our head coach. Take a damn technical foul once, just to show your team you care. Get on someone for their stupid mistake. You run the show. Don't treat your team like little babies and coddle them all the time.

I'd just like to see a little fight, a little bit of smarts, and some heart. That is all.

I don't know about very little talent. Brackins and Gilstrap are clearly better than any two players Iowa has. But, I'd be pretty close to taking Payne, Gatens, and Cole over DG, Christopherson, and Hamilton/Dendy
 
Wait, so because the team had a goal of making the tourney you have a right to expect it? Or, even if they expect it, that means you should expect it too? Have you ever been involved in sports before?

At some point you should expect to make the NCAA. That could be as a sixth place team in the Big 12. That is why CB stayed another year. Now we are back to a lousy looking offensive team. We make a shot, we miss a shot. We cannot seem to get it rolling.
 
And I'm just pointing out how far the bar has been lowered for ISU MBB over the past four years.

It's fallen if you don't take into account all the circumstances surrounding the interim four years. It's all relative.
 
That may be. But let me ask you a question...on the day McDermott was hired, if I told you his first four seasons would go as these last four have...would you have found that acceptable?

You would have needed some tangible reason to make that statement at that time for me to believe you.

Gut instincts don't count.
 
Wait, so because the team had a goal of making the tourney you have a right to expect it? Or, even if they expect it, that means you should expect it too? Have you ever been involved in sports before?

I guess as a fan I can expect whatever I want, it means nothing to anyone but me. The team's expectations, a few upperclassmen returning combined with two likely NBA draft picks on this team had me excited about our chances just like everyone else. And yes, of course I've played sports, never at the collegiate level, but my experience has nothing to do with this discussion.

I think we're on the same page here, really. If you look back, I took into account the unfortunate circumstances of the season, and I basically said I just want to see a strong effort. I looked at the season at this point, and to me, success is not expecting post season play, just overall improvement.
 
You would have needed some tangible reason to make that statement at that time for me to believe you.

Gut instincts don't count.

Hey look, this guy agrees! I guess one is enough.

Do I want the team to be better? Absolutely! But I'm not sure we're performing a whole lot beneath the potential of this group of 8 guys. The team just isn't that good.
 
Hey look, this guy agrees! I guess one is enough.

Do I want the team to be better? Absolutely! But I'm not sure we're performing a whole lot beneath the potential of this group of 8 guys. The team just isn't that good.

I believe we have played drastically below outlr potential all year.
 
I believe we have played drastically below outlr potential all year.

I think we're just not that good. Brackins is an NBA probably. Gilstrap? Maybe. After those two, the talent level on this team is pretty frickin bad.
 
Garret was a decently rated PG....playing poorly
dendy has shown some great skill...just goes in to hibernation
colvin is a very talented guard who needs more PT
Ham can bang with anyone in conf
 
Your kidding right? Then let them goof off for the 5-10 minutes of the game? HELL NO you play hard the whole 40 minutes...

Would that not be an improvement over some recent games? I'm also keeping in mind that we have no depth, and I know we've had some great teams in the past that only played a few guys off the bench. Like I said, I think it would be an improvement, and right now improvement is my definition of success for the rest of the season.
 
haha success and ISU basketball in the same sentence? NIT would be nice, or maybe not getting manhandled like little girls every time we play a big 12 team, oh and a top 25 team since we havnt had one of those since mcdermott brought his loser *** to ames
 
This team had to make the NCAA tourney to be considered successful.

At this point I'd be ecstatic with the NIT to at least salvage something, but I don't see us getting there unfortunately.
 
At this point in the season, what outcome would you require to say the basketball team had a successful season? Ignore the preseason expectations because they didn't take into account tranfers, suspensions, injuries, etc. Right now, what would be the minimum required for a successful season?

NCAA (not gonna happen), NIT (possible), winning record?

are you joking???? this is not a successful season at this point and you can't change the criteria for success halfway through!!! The ONLY way this season will be a success is a big XII tournament title gaining us access to the NCAA Tournament or McDermott resigning from embarrassment.
 
A successful season isn't possible anymore. Our only route to success is a B12 tourney title.
Success for this program in the long term will be cutting out the dead wood so the rebuilding can start.
 
At this point, we can only define success as winning A game in the Big XII tourny.

After all we've seen, to expect any more is expecting WAAAY too much. Getting to the NIT is laughable anymore. Not gonna happen.