Sunday is the feature game of the Global Sports Hy-Vee Challenge in Des Moines. Creighton will take on Iowa State at the Wells Fargo Arena. The Bluejays and Cyclones are both sitting at 3-0. They both played Northern Arizona and Alabama State as part of the multi-team tournament last weekend and both will still play Kennesaw State in a next week.
It is pretty ironic that a year or so ago when this game was first announced that both coaches would leave their respective schools and one of them would end up at the opposite school. That is the case with Greg McDermott. McDermott left Iowa State in the spring to come to the Hilltop to coach the Bluejays. A lot of coaches may choose to play against their former school, but usually after the players that they knew and recruited are long gone. Not in this case. This is the second time in his career that he has played the former team he coached within a year of leaving the former. He played Northern Iowa the winter after leaving the Panthers for Iowa State in 2006. The Cyclones lost that game 70-57.
Many Bluejay fans are hoping that the same result won’t happen this year when McDermott brings his new team to face Iowa State. The Cyclones are on a roll, blasting MVC member Drake on Wednesday night 91-43. To get a little more insight into the Cyclones before Sunday’s game, we had a chance to talk to Mark Kieffer who runs the Clone Chronicles website covering Iowa State sports. Here is what he had to say:
White & Blue Review: Greg McDermott left Iowa State to take the head coaching job at Creighton. What was the state of the program that McDermott left for new head coach Fred Hoiberg?
Mark Keiffer: The state of the program in terms of players was terrible. Iowa State had 20 players either transfer out or get dismissed from the program early over the 4 years that McDermott was at Iowa State, while only one transferred into the program from other schools (not counting JUCOs). That doesn’t count the guys that left the program when he initially got hired. In each of his years, Iowa State had 6-7 newcomers per year. The program was in perpetual state of rebuilding.
When Larry Eustachy got fired, the perception was Iowa State was one of the better jobs in the Big 12. Earlier this year, Andy Katz wrote something to the effect of Iowa State being the worst job in the Big 12. How quickly people forget, but that perception was fueled by McDermott not getting the W’s. All he had to do was go to at least the NIT by year 4, something that most successful college basketball coaches can do, and the fanbase would have been behind him. In fact, I challenge anybody to find a respected coach that failed to take a team to the postseason by year 4, and ended up having success at that school. I haven’t found one.
WBR: What is Hoiberg’s coaching style and how are things different with him as the head coach? Everyone loved him as a player at Iowa State. How are things perceived with him now in the head coaching role?
MK: Hoiberg is not just a Cyclone legend, but a legend of Ames, Iowa. He went to Ames High School and had a great career there. Everybody loves Fred. He’s a hometown hero. As far as him coaching, the public trusts him, and they know he wants to give his all for Iowa State. He has surrounded himself with a great coaching staff, and will get the support from the Cyclone family to ensure a situation where he cannot fail.
As far as his style, it is a more free flowing type of a game. It’s going to be more guard friendly than McDermott’s system. It’s a more simplified offense that allows for more motion, and the team is going to try and push the tempo when it makes sense. Instead of taking athletic guys from high school and trying to make them more robotic, Hoiberg’s style is about putting them in a system that allows these guys to play to their strengths. He isn’t trying to change anybody from who they are. Hoiberg is going to be similar to Brad Stevens I think. With Hoiberg it’s about the players, not himself. I also think Hoiberg’s pro experience and relative youth is going to help him relate to players better than in the past. The guy had Latrell Sprewell as a teammate for a couple of years. If he can handle that, I think he can manage egos, or guys who may bring some extra baggage, maybe better than McDermott did. It’s still early, so the jury is still out on Hoiberg’s “style” at this point.
WBR: How did Iowa State fans feel about McDermott and how did they react when he decided to head to Creighton?
MK: I think Iowa State fans were done with McDermott for the most part. I was done with him the year or two prior. I would say because of his personality, I don’t think there was anybody in the state that didn’t want McDermott to do well, myself included. For various reasons, he could not get the program going, and with so much player turnover, the outlook was kind of hopeless. When he decided to leave, I think many fans were relieved, because it was clear the AD was going to stick with McDermott another year or two. It really was a win-win for all. Iowa State can go forward with a style of play better suited to the types of players they need to recruit, while McDermott can coach in a conference he’s had success with, and also coach his kid. Not to mention that 10-year contract bringing more job security for McDermott too. I think from a majority of Iowa State fans, they wish McDermott well, just not on November 21st.
WBR: The Cyclones have had a couple of impressive wins in the first two games of the Global Sports Hy-Vee Challenge. Who has been the most impressive on the court so far?
MK: Having been out of town for those first two “real” games, I have to go based on stats and what I saw in their exhibition game. It’s early, but I’ve been impressed with Diante Garrett’s improved shooting and higher confidence level. In his previous 3 years, he hasn’t shot the ball particularly well, but is now going to be leaned heavily on for scoring. It’s an interesting storyline for Iowa State, and he is going to be the key for Iowa State this season. Another note about Garrett: if McDermott had stayed for this season, he would have been the sole player to have entered the program as a freshman and made it all the way to his senior year under McDermott. The other seniors were transfers.
WBR: Iowa State doesn’t seem to be very deep, as the starters have played a majority of the minutes. Is this something that can be done throughout the season or will it catch up to them at some point?
MK: Iowa State has ten players eligible this season including a walk-on. Four of those ten are freshmen. Currently Iowa State has what was labeled by Cyclone fans and Fox Sports’ Jeff Goodman as the best scout team in America. Guys that are redshirting include former 5- star recruit Royce White from Minnesota, a former starter from Penn State, Chris Babb, and a former starter at Michigan State, Chris Allen. With those 3 guys, the new recruits for 2011, along with the added experience of the four freshmen on this roster, the 2011 has the makings of a potentially special year for Iowa State… at least special compared to the last 5 years or so.
As to whether or not they can make it through a season, they don’t really have a choice. It would be my hope that as conference play rolls around, some of the guys who are getting only a few minutes will see more minutes. If they can get 8 players that can contribute, and avoid injuries, I think they will be “OK” in a way. Overall, I hate to say it, but this is a throw-away year for Iowa State. Nobody is expecting any kind of postseason appearances or anything like that. This is a chance to get Hoiberg’s program rolling, and to give him and the players experience. I want them to win as many games as possible, but I see this as a bottom three Big 12 team based on what they’re doing right now.
WBR: What are the weaknesses that Creighton might be able to exploit on Sunday against the Cyclones?
MK: I think the key will be to slow down Iowa State. Iowa State is a better looking transition team than half-court team right now. They have benefited from shooting extremely well from beyond the arc, but I do not see how they can sustain that for an entire season. Knowing the way McDermott likes to play ball, I fully expect Creighton to try and grind it out. If Creighton can control the tempo of the game, they have a great chance at winning.
WBR: With this being a neutral court game, what color do you expect to see the most of – red or blue? Will a lot of fans make the short trip to Des Moines for the game?
MK: I actually think there will be more Creighton fans if not an equal showing. Students are going to be on break, so not many will be there. Also, the game is on a Sunday afternoon and people in the area do love watching football. I also think the general consensus is that Iowa State fans do not really like Wells Fargo Arena either. If this team was better, I think the showing would be better. It also seems as though Iowa State has issues getting fans to show for non-conference games.
I’m not trying to make any excuses for the fans, I think it’s all kind of lame. At the same time, it just seems like that’s the way it is. I’ll be at this game, and the big supporters of ISU basketball will be there too. I just think those on the fence types may not show. But who knows? Maybe there will be a good walkup crowd.
WBR: The series between these two schools is an even 15-15 record, and haven’t played each other for over 15 years. With these schools as close as they are to each other, do you think they should play each other more often? Why don’t they rotate the Valley schools they normally play (Drake, Northern Iowa) and add Creighton to the mix?
MK: This has been talked about by ISU fans before. I know the two teams have done closed scrimmages before. It also seems like Iowa State has a good relationship with Bradley and plays or scrimmages them often. I think generally people in Iowa like to keep things in the state. Drake and UNI are getting more props with basketball as they have improved over the years. Even though Iowa State has had its struggles against the instate opponents recently, I think it makes for more fun. Personally I know way more Drake and UNI alums than I do Creighton alums, so a good natured ribbing here and there is quite fun. I suspect for as long as McDermott is at Creighton, ISU will not play them anymore. This game was agreed upon while McDermott was still at ISU.
WBR: What are your final predictions?
MK: As far as predictions go, I think it’s going to be a pretty even game. That is based on the fact that ISU and Creighton have played 2 common opponents, with the results being similar. I will go homer and pick Iowa State to win by one possession. Either way, I think it’s a very close game decided in the last couple of minutes. Iowa State 70, Creighton 68.