Is this guy serious?

[SteinPizza]

I would love to see McDermott pull a Terry Allen at this point. Not that I don't respect what he did at UNI, but it would be justice. I could very well see it happening as well. Remember, at UNI he didn't always get the "top notch recruit" that he should be able to lure to Ames. Also remember, the "top notch recruits" often are playing for themselves rather than the team. That isn't McDermott-ball.

Not all "top notch recruits" are playing for themselves. If that's the case, why do teams like Duke and UNC do so well? They play team ball every bit as much as any team McDermott coached, with superior athletes. This is reality, not the movie "Hoosiers." That said, I think he'll recruit good athletes who will fit his system. He's also smart enough to realize that with better athletes, you don't need to run 100 set plays, you can allow your players to penetrate and create more.

I agree that rooting for a former coach to fail is stupid. You want them to suceed, as it makes your program and conference look better and more attractive to future coaching candidates. Rooting for them to fail is like rooting for Kurt Warner to fail in the NFL because he left the Arena League. The only exception to this would be if said coach derailed your program through recruiting violations or other ethical lapses.

[43's pop]

I for one was grateful that Mac did'nt get booed by some of the dissenters who seem to want to see his team fail. I thought it was a class act by the fans. Of course, since Jake and Mac run class programs I was happy that the fans reacted the way they did. Respectful but let's kick his ass for this game.. I will be his biggest fan as long as he isn't playing the Cats.

[ceaser150]

My only problem with the quote is I don't recall the series being "dominated" at any time by either team.

[tcondon]

My only problem with the quote is I don't recall the series being "dominated" at any time by either team.

Considering ISU had won 6 of the last 7 meetings and the series is 34-8 in favor of ISU, I would say they have been dominating.

[AmesPanther]

I would love to see McDermott pull a Terry Allen at this point. Not that I don't respect what he did at UNI, but it would be justice. I could very well see it happening as well. Remember, at UNI he didn't always get the "top notch recruit" that he should be able to lure to Ames. Also remember, the "top notch recruits" often are playing for themselves rather than the team. That isn't McDermott-ball. Taylor and Clark showed this last night; in particular Taylor. He was our best defender on the floor when he had the rock! Clark doesn't seem to work well in this system either. These are the types of players that McDermott will get in Ames; and he is going to have headaches for years to come. Mark my words: Greg McDermott will not be able to "turn around" ISU... Remember that he wasn't hired to simply make the NCAA tournament, but to compete for B12 championships...

I agree that Taylor will try to win a game by himself, but come on Mac's staff had a couple of weeks to find players and they needed someone who could press things and score when the game is on the line. Taylor looked horrible last night, but if you were a Cyclone fan in the 2 previous games you'd have been happy to have Taylor.

Calling Clark a guy that plays for himself and doesn't fit into the team is laughable. Clark is the definition of a role player. The guy has the size and athletic ability to really do something, but for some reason he just wants to be that third man. You'd swear he didn't do anything all game and yet he averages close to a double double.

I don't know that Mac will win the Big12, but I think ISU has the right coach and to count him out is a mistake. He did great things at UNI and I would expect more of the same at ISU.

[Blue42]

I think a lot of folks in this thread are giving ISU a lot of credit for being reasonably competitive so far this year and allowing them the benefit of great expectations down the road.

ISU's athletic dept has had the same chance to field a competitive basketball program for the 2006-07 season just like every D1 school in the country. In fact they have huge advantages over most in that they're in a BCS conference. The fact is that they've had more than their share of screw ups over the last 5 years and the recent state of their program reflects that. They're a mediocre team right now and that's what they should be regarded as.

As for the future, well they have to earn that just like everyone else. They need to demonstrate that they can keep the wheels on for the long haul and build a sustainable program. If they do that, good for them. But let's not assume they'll be top tier Big 12 and perenial NCAA tourney team until they do it.

UNI is rarely given the benefit of the doubt, despite a successful recent history. Let's let ISU earn their own respect.

[Durf73]

Mac will do just fine at ISU ! You can't even think about comparing TA's venture into Kansas & Macs move to State ! ( apples & oranges)

Hilton is always a tough place to play !

Coach Jake will do just fine at UNI !

Two years from now if we play them in the McLeod they will find it a very difficult place to play!

Go Panthers, remember we are not going to be anyone's poor little brother !

Also the Panther women are at home this week end !

[FarmerClone]

I would love to see McDermott pull a Terry Allen at this point. Not that I don't respect what he did at UNI, but it would be justice. I could very well see it happening as well. Remember, at UNI he didn't always get the "top notch recruit" that he should be able to lure to Ames. Also remember, the "top notch recruits" often are playing for themselves rather than the team. That isn't McDermott-ball. Taylor and Clark showed this last night; in particular Taylor. He was our best defender on the floor when he had the rock! Clark doesn't seem to work well in this system either. These are the types of players that McDermott will get in Ames; and he is going to have headaches for years to come. Mark my words: Greg McDermott will not be able to "turn around" ISU... Remember that he wasn't hired to simply make the NCAA tournament, but to compete for B12 championships...

How would it be justice if McDermott flops at ISU? Shouldn't it then be considered an injustice that he didn't flop at UNI considering he left his previous job for the UNI gig? That is assanine.

He was hired to make the NCAA tournament and occasionally battle for Big 12 titles. But making the Dance is the only goal that really matters because as long as you are there, you have a shot of winning it all. And in the Big 12, you really only need to be top 6 in the league typically to make the Dance. You don't believe McDermott can move ISU into the upper half? You obviously don't have much respect for him as a coach then. Which is odd then that you have so much hate for him and would consider it justice if he flopped. If he was a poor coach that cannot get ISU in the top six, shouldn't you be happy he left?

Taylor is not the typical recruit McDermott will land at ISU. He was a best available recruit that Greg signed this spring when he had to try and assemble a squad quickly. Taylor will have great nights and poor ones. But I would wager his great ones will outnumber his poor ones. And while Taylor did not score well last night, you act like he single handedly played ISU out of the game. Sure Taylor had four turnovers, but he had 7 (the most of any player in the game) assists and 5 rebounds.

And Rahshon is a me first player that will not work for McDermott? WHAT? Did you see the game last night. Rahshon had 12 points, 10 boards, 2 steals, 2 blocks and an assist. He did everything he could to help ISU win. Not to mention that if Rahshon was all full of himself, he would have bailed on ISU like all of the others that transferred out, but instead Rahshon stayed and chose to be a leader for ISU.

[FarmerClone]

Next year we will be just as tough (if not tougher). You have to remember we have a new coach as well...granted he was in the system.

Okay, I am very open to being educated. Educate me as to why UNI will be better next year without Stout and McKowen. Who will pick up the slack?

I was impressed last night by Travis Brown. I thought he had great potential coming out of HS and he plays within his abilities. Coleman is flat out a beast, that is obvious.

After that, who is going to step up? Is Ahlegbe a true point guard? Can Egleseder be effective playing more than 15 minutes a game? ISU's post players were only effective last night for the brief periods Jordan was guarding them. Our guys put the ball on the floor a couple times and went right around him. I just don't think he can be a 30 minute player for UNI, but that is merely my opinion. Is Koch going to be able to pick up the slack in the post or will that be done by the recruit from Illinois? He is an undersized PF right?

Maybe Josten and Viet will step up big in their senior years. What is going to make UNI tougher next year?

[BCPanther]

To answer:
Yes, Ahelegbe is a much more natural point guard than McKowen and I don't think it would surprise any of us to see him replace Josten in the Starting Lineup to let McKowen slide to the 2.

Stout will be replaced by Brent Barz from Johnston who has a similar body and is much more athletic.

Eglseder is finding out that major DI basketball is a little different than 1A basketball in Iowa. He has dropped a bunch of weight and needs to drop some more to get some quickness back.

As for Koch, he is going to end up playing the 3. He is very athletic and is by far more comfortable on the perimeter. The Illinois kid, Lucas O'Rear, will play post minutes next year.

I have never really been impressed with Viet or Josten and what you see right now is the best you are ever going to get from those two. They were recruited in a different era of UNI basketball and am not sure that they would be big targets if they were coming out of high school today.

[ubuntuCAT]

Okay, I am very open to being educated. Educate me as to why UNI will be better next year without Stout and McKowen. Who will pick up the slack?

I was impressed last night by Travis Brown. I thought he had great potential coming out of HS and he plays within his abilities. Coleman is flat out a beast, that is obvious.

After that, who is going to step up? Is Ahlegbe a true point guard? Can Egleseder be effective playing more than 15 minutes a game? ISU's post players were only effective last night for the brief periods Jordan was guarding them. Our guys put the ball on the floor a couple times and went right around him. I just don't think he can be a 30 minute player for UNI, but that is merely my opinion. Is Koch going to be able to pick up the slack in the post or will that be done by the recruit from Illinois? He is an undersized PF right?

Maybe Josten and Viet will step up big in their senior years. What is going to make UNI tougher next year?

Boy I was sick of hearing stuff like this about this season. I mean how could we be competitive losing Jacobson, Little, and Crawford not to mention our head coach and half the assistants.

[MarshallTucker]

Bcrawf - I understand you don't like Viet or Josten...you've made that clear many many times in your posts. But did you see Josten shut down Mike Taylor last night? He's our quickest and best defender. He looked lost at times on offense last night and will have off nights but for the most part this season he's been quite solid. He's got a pretty jumper and has put up good numbers. Viet has shown he can shoot the three just fine and last night he put in a lot of quality minutes. He didn't shoot once but is playing better defensively and is limiting his mistakes. Last night I saw one time he did miss a box-out and his man got the board but to me he's showing good improvement with each game. The freshman will continue to improve each game as well but I don't think Josten will leave the starting five this year and if Viet can put in solid time and make a few threes it may keep Stephen Jones (who I think is going to be a star) on the bench like he was last night.

You have your opinion and I have mine...I just disagree with your assessment of Viet and Josten - I think they will continue to surprise us as the year goes. Regardless, it's a good problem that we have to be discussing these personnel issues.

[CIPanther]

I was trolling the Clown board to see their reaction to the game and came across an "Instant Analysis" article about the game on the main page by publisher/moderator Paul Clark.

"The good news is that this should be Iowa State's last loss to UNI for a while. The Cyclones get the Panthers back at Hilton next year and will have more talent and another year in the McDermott system. By the time ISU returns to Cedar Falls early in the 2008-09 season, it will be much better equipped to get back to dominating the series both home and away as it did in years past."

It's fun to see the Clone fans worrying so much about UNI. The years of total domination are over, even for the mighty Big 12. If I were a Clone fan, I'd be much more worried about making a good showing in the conference, as opposed to one win over an in-state rival. I'd take a Valley title any day over the ISU victory.

Talk is cheap and only time will tell.

[BCPanther]

Bcrawf - I understand you don't like Viet or Josten...you've made that clear many many times in your posts. But did you see Josten shut down Mike Taylor last night? He's our quickest and best defender. He looked lost at times on offense last night and will have off nights but for the most part this season he's been quite solid. He's got a pretty jumper and has put up good numbers. Viet has shown he can shoot the three just fine and last night he put in a lot of quality minutes. He didn't shoot once but is playing better defensively and is limiting his mistakes. Last night I saw one time he did miss a box-out and his man got the board but to me he's showing good improvement with each game. The freshman will continue to improve each game as well but I don't think Josten will leave the starting five this year and if Viet can put in solid time and make a few threes it may keep Stephen Jones (who I think is going to be a star) on the bench like he was last night.

You have your opinion and I have mine...I just disagree with your assessment of Viet and Josten - I think they will continue to surprise us as the year goes. Regardless, it's a good problem that we have to be discussing these personnel issues.

I think a fair disagreement of minds is good for society!! Agree to disagree!! And you are correct, if this is all we have to debate about, I guess things are going pretty well

PS- Its nothing personal against either player, and I do agree that Josten is a completely different player than he was a couple of years ago, its a real credit to him as an athlete.

[FarmerClone]

Boy I was sick of hearing stuff like this about this season. I mean how could we be competitive losing Jacobson, Little, and Crawford not to mention our head coach and half the assistants.

They were legitimate questions I posed. I am curious about the future of UNI basketball. I am not saying UNI can't be competitive next year, I am just curious as to how they will be better and deeper.