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Column: K-State win showed why McDermott should return
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2010-03-08
The upset had nothing to do with Iowa State men’s basketball coach Greg McDermott getting a vote of confidence.
That’s what ISU athletic director Jamie Pollard said Monday. But really it had everything to do with it.
For every reason Pollard gave during the 16-minute press conference announcing McDermott’s return, McDermott put it on display when the Cyclones beat then-No 5 Kansas State this weekend.
Really, instead of sitting in front of a horde of reporters, Pollard could have popped in a DVD from Saturday’s game and said, “Watch it. You’ll make the same decision I did.” The game said it all.
ISU didn’t steal a win from a potential Final Four team. The Cyclones outplayed the Wildcats from the opening tip.
They held the lead for the final 31 minutes. They even pulled out the win with their superstar, Craig Brackins, on the bench for the final 7:27 of action.
It was a fantastically played, coached and executed game from the Cyclones.
Unfortunately, games where everything comes together have been few and far between in the McDermott era.
That’s why Pollard had to hold a press conference Monday.
That’s why he said the basketball program has underperformed.
That’s why he said McDermott’s leadership, integrity and character override the lack of success.
Pollard wouldn’t base his decision on the outcome of one game and nor should he. But the Kansas State win is the perfect visual to prove Pollard’s point.
From his comments Monday and the coaches I’ve seen him hire, Pollard wants someone 18-to-22-year old kids respect, listen too and can learn from as the men’s basketball coach.
The anti-McDermott crowd may not want to hear it, but that’s what McDermott’s done all season long.
If that wasn’t the case, ISU wouldn’t have won Saturday.
It’s amazed me how the players continue to fight and battle after everything that’s happened this year.
Injury after suspension after injury after defection for Germany couldn’t stop this team. That counts for something, not as much as wins would, but it counts none the less. Especially when other teams around the country packed it in weeks ago after going through a lot less.
I believe a big part of the reason the Cyclones kept battling, kept playing teams close with only eight scholarship players was McDermott. Without a central figure to keep things together, I think the season would have unraveled weeks ago.
Instead, they played teams close, but tended to fall short. They had no margin for error. It shows in the win-loss record.
From a black-and-white perspective, 4-12 in the Big 12 is a bad season, possibly fire a coach bad.
But sports, like life, are full of gray areas.
When Lucca Staiger left the team in February, I wondered if ISU would lose out. That’s not something most teams can overcome, especially when it’s already shorthanded. But the Cyclones found a way to adapt. They’ve improved significantly in the last few weeks, winning three games.
It may sound strange to hear, but it takes a good coach to do that.
ISU didn’t lose 16 games in the regular season because of McDermott. The biggest reason the Cyclones have a losing record is the team suffered a series of really bad breaks, starting with the injuries and ending with the Staiger mess.
That’s not something you’re allowed to say in the American sports culture. People label that an excuse. But it’s not an excuse when it’s what happened, when it’s the truth. ISU tried to overcome everything thrown at it but couldn’t.
There is no shame in that. Disappointment and frustration, but no shame.
McDermott deserves another chance. He’s not why the season went south.
That’s not a popular sentiment in parts of Cyclone Nation.
The only way for Pollard and McDermott to convince them otherwise is add to the Kansas State DVD collection.
The more games in that library, the fewer complaints you’ll hear about the coach. It’s on McDermott to make it happen.
Wednesday against Texas is the perfect opportunity to start adding to the collection.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
By Bobby La Gesse
Date Posted: 2010-03-08
Bobby La Gesse is the sports editor of the Ames Tribune.
The upset had nothing to do with Iowa State men’s basketball coach Greg McDermott getting a vote of confidence.
That’s what ISU athletic director Jamie Pollard said Monday. But really it had everything to do with it.
For every reason Pollard gave during the 16-minute press conference announcing McDermott’s return, McDermott put it on display when the Cyclones beat then-No 5 Kansas State this weekend.
Really, instead of sitting in front of a horde of reporters, Pollard could have popped in a DVD from Saturday’s game and said, “Watch it. You’ll make the same decision I did.” The game said it all.
ISU didn’t steal a win from a potential Final Four team. The Cyclones outplayed the Wildcats from the opening tip.
They held the lead for the final 31 minutes. They even pulled out the win with their superstar, Craig Brackins, on the bench for the final 7:27 of action.
It was a fantastically played, coached and executed game from the Cyclones.
Unfortunately, games where everything comes together have been few and far between in the McDermott era.
That’s why Pollard had to hold a press conference Monday.
That’s why he said the basketball program has underperformed.
That’s why he said McDermott’s leadership, integrity and character override the lack of success.
Pollard wouldn’t base his decision on the outcome of one game and nor should he. But the Kansas State win is the perfect visual to prove Pollard’s point.
From his comments Monday and the coaches I’ve seen him hire, Pollard wants someone 18-to-22-year old kids respect, listen too and can learn from as the men’s basketball coach.
The anti-McDermott crowd may not want to hear it, but that’s what McDermott’s done all season long.
If that wasn’t the case, ISU wouldn’t have won Saturday.
It’s amazed me how the players continue to fight and battle after everything that’s happened this year.
Injury after suspension after injury after defection for Germany couldn’t stop this team. That counts for something, not as much as wins would, but it counts none the less. Especially when other teams around the country packed it in weeks ago after going through a lot less.
I believe a big part of the reason the Cyclones kept battling, kept playing teams close with only eight scholarship players was McDermott. Without a central figure to keep things together, I think the season would have unraveled weeks ago.
Instead, they played teams close, but tended to fall short. They had no margin for error. It shows in the win-loss record.
From a black-and-white perspective, 4-12 in the Big 12 is a bad season, possibly fire a coach bad.
But sports, like life, are full of gray areas.
When Lucca Staiger left the team in February, I wondered if ISU would lose out. That’s not something most teams can overcome, especially when it’s already shorthanded. But the Cyclones found a way to adapt. They’ve improved significantly in the last few weeks, winning three games.
It may sound strange to hear, but it takes a good coach to do that.
ISU didn’t lose 16 games in the regular season because of McDermott. The biggest reason the Cyclones have a losing record is the team suffered a series of really bad breaks, starting with the injuries and ending with the Staiger mess.
That’s not something you’re allowed to say in the American sports culture. People label that an excuse. But it’s not an excuse when it’s what happened, when it’s the truth. ISU tried to overcome everything thrown at it but couldn’t.
There is no shame in that. Disappointment and frustration, but no shame.
McDermott deserves another chance. He’s not why the season went south.
That’s not a popular sentiment in parts of Cyclone Nation.
The only way for Pollard and McDermott to convince them otherwise is add to the Kansas State DVD collection.
The more games in that library, the fewer complaints you’ll hear about the coach. It’s on McDermott to make it happen.
Wednesday against Texas is the perfect opportunity to start adding to the collection.
Bobby La Gesse can be reached at (515) 663-6929 or rlagesse@amestrib.com.
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