Live Blog
ISU at Northern Iowa
Chat with Pantagraph sportswriter Jim Benson before the ISU men's basketball game.
- Welcome from the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls! First time I've ever been up here without snow on the ground, but it is still Frigid Falls. Brrrrr!!!! Anthony Cousin will not play for ISU tonight. He sprained his left ankle near the end of practice in the Horton North Gym on Friday before the team bussed here. Fire away with the questions!
- A reader pointed out to me after the last chat that Johnathon Wilkins, the younger brother of John Wilkins, is a sophomore at La Lumiere Academy in Indiana. Johnathon is a 6-10 sophomore. My bad!
- Wichita State 89, Creighton 68. Final. Totally unbelievable how Creighton has fallen apart in the last eight days. The Bluejays went from an NCAA tourney lock to on the bubble. Big time. Wichita State could lock up Valley title at ISU on Feb. 22.
- Well I can't think of any questions pertaining to ISU to ask. Other than why can't we take what we did well @ Missouri State and transfer it on to our other road games where we have struggled? But no one knows the answer to that and why it is that we look like such a worse team on the road. But anyways I saw your article on the U-High boys basketball game last night. Their front line of 6'8" Bryn Agnew, 6'8" Mitch Styczynski, and 6'7" Keita Bates-Diop plus 6'6" Wildermuth brothers off the bench is a huge asset. Plus they have some good guard play with kids like Morris, Ellis, and Schroeder. I feel like they have a legitimate change at making it to state and possibly winning it, but Seton from the Chicago area will be their biggest test. They moved down from 3A to 2A this year? What do you think of their state playoff chances?
- Junior Trey Blue could see some playing time tonight for the Redbirds with Anthony Cousin out. ISU would like to see Bryant Allen play some point guard next season, but thus far he has been limited in practice and games to the 2 spot.
- That was my first chance to see U High last night. They have some of the best size I've seen on a high school team in quite some time. I haven't studied their path to the state tournament, but I would have to think the Pioneers have a great chance. Bates-Diop is an unbelievable talent. He should be fun to watch develop the next two years. He is a high-major recruit, folks.
- Why do we (ISU) struggle so much on the road?
- Has the seating chart for Arch Madness been released yet? Looking ahead just a little
- How many of the conference away games does the team fly to? Do you hitch a ride with them?
- I know everyone doesn't like to hear this, but it is true ... to an extent. It takes a team awhile to learn to win on the road. Like it or not, and I know most don't like hearing Jankovich said it, it takes inexperienced teams a while to win on the road. Yes, ISU won at Missouri State on Jan. 4, but that is a different game if Patterson plays. What is disturbing to me is the huge deficits ISU has dug itself on the road. To me, inexperience cannot be blamed for that. It's more a leadership thing, not from the coaches, but the players. Jackie Carmichael, John Wilkins and Tyler Brown need to knock some people in the head and tell them to get in gear. Problem is, those three guys are pretty quiet by nature. Nic Moore eventually will be that guy, like Boo Richardson was, but it is very difficult for a freshman to get in a guy's face. I covered Deron Williams and Dee Brown at Illinois when they were freshmen, and they were much more vocal as sophomores.
- The teams flies to Wichita State, Missouri State, Drake and Creighton in the Valley. They used to fly here, but when they were forced to bus last year Jankovich didn't mind it. They usually always practice on campus before leaving the day before the game, No, I don't travel with the team. I'm a loner.
- Not sure about the seating chart for Arch Madness. Just hope my seat is ready ... ha!
- If you asked Friedman right now if he was to give Coach Jankovich a vote of confidence, what do you think he would say? Is that something you would ask? It was recently asked of the new Illini AD, in regards to Bruce Weber. Just saying...
- I definitely think Friedman would give Jankovich a vote of confidence. To me, it's silly to bring that up. Am I missing something? Wasn't ISU picked to finish eighth in the Valley? Right now, the Redbirds are tied for third with four league games left. Granted, the last four games are going to be difficult, but thus far the Redbirds are ahead of schedule. I'm not even going to ask Friedman because it's not a fair question.
- Ed Hightower is the lead official tonight. I can't remember Hightower ever refereeing an ISU game in the Valley. Usually, he does a game or two in the nonconference portion. Hightower usually is at a Big Ten or Big 12 game on weekends. Surprising.
- Kurt Pegler and Bob Morris will be doing the ISU game tonight on Comcast Chicago.
- I can't wait for ISU's game on Tuesday night in Terre Haute. Not too concerned about the game itself right now, but my taste buds can't wait a stop at the Beefhouse in Covington. Love that place!
- Just talked to a writer from Des Moines about this. He laughed. He said if ISU finishes 10-8, Jankovich will get consideration for Coach of the Year, probably after Marshall. If ISU isn't in the NCAA discussion next year, it will be a fair question. This year, it's not.
- The only people who wouldn't give Jankovich a vote of confidence are some of the posters on the RedbirdFan message board, no offense to anyone or anything. Nobody on the administration would give him a thumbs down or anything like that. I feel like people don't understand. People think that if we don't make the NCAA's next year that he's gonna be gone. Heck people want him gone this year. I don't get it. Why such unrealistic expectations from fans? I feel that some need to be brought down to Earth.
- Lou Henson told me once 50 percent of fans are always against you because they didn't think you should be hired in the first place. Luckily, most administrators don't read message boards. This NCAA tournament or bust mentality that has enveloped college basketball is really disturbing to me. Kind of sad. This ISU team is set up to make a run next year. That they are tied for third right now is pretty damn good.
- I have seen marked improvement this year and as this year has progressed we are looking better and better. Is that the eternal optimist in me or do you think we are getting it together at the right time of the year?
- Right on, Buckeye Girl. Tonight will tell how far ISU has come. I know they have won four of the last five at home, but I'm sensing everything is starting to come together. BTW, I'll try to sneak out some of those dinner rolls. Of course, they probably will be gone by the time I get back to Normal. LOL
- Attendance stinks too. That has to play a role. Ilstu, Moser wasn't given this amount of time. Neither was Richardson. Believe it or not, most fans want more than the middle of the pack. While this team is improved from last year, we are miles away from Creighton or Wichita State. And this is Jankovich's 5th year!
- Attendance poster. I respect your opinion, but disagree. Also, ISU does a hard attendance count, while most schools do a tickets sold count. ISU's numbers would be higher if those buying tickets showed up. Also, attendance is down everywhere. And for those who think a BCS team is coming to Redbird Arena every year, forget it. Not happening. Getting Northwestern was good. But I agree, let's get some better mid-majors on home and home series.
- I think the attendance improves as the team improves. Couple that with what seems to be a better marketing plan and it's only up from here. Again the optimist in me. We are 2nd year season ticket holders. We aren't alumni or anything. Just transplanted Ohioans who love college basketball. We enjoy the atmosphere at Redbird and the entertainment value is great.
- Amen, Buckeye Girl!
- Jim, I respect your opinion. But Jankovich has had 5 years to bring in better mid majors. And he hasn't done it. His most successful years were with Moser's players. Those are facts. I like Coach Jankovich. But he schedules soft and in 5 years on the job, the best he has done is the NIT. His tenure isn't much different than Barry Henson's at Missouri State. ISU hasn't been to the Big Dance since what 1998? And what does that tell you when only 4K come out after a big win over Bradley?
- Let's see. Champ Oguchi, Emmanuel Holloway, Brandon Sampay, Jackie Carmichael, Nic Moore. I don't think Porter got those players to ISU. Yes, Porter brought in Osiris, Boo, Slack and Dom Johnson. I will give him credit for that. I like Porter. But I think players respond much more to Jankovich's coaching style than Porter's. I think the big nut that Friedman and his folks need to crack is the students. If you ask me, let the students in for FREE.
- No NCAA's after 5 years Jim. I think it's a fair question. These are all of Jankovich's players.
- Yeah, starting over at this point would be great. Guarantee you a couple of the current players would be bye-bye. You like Nic Moore? Well, you wouldn't see him in an ISU uniform if a change was made. I can't even believe we are having this discussion. This team is making great progress. Enjoy it.
- I am willing to take a wait and see approach to the scheduling issue. From what I have seen from Friedman I believe he will try to make our schedule more palatable to the hardliners. I agree completely about the students. When they are there in full force it is electric at Redbird.
- To be fair, ISU should've been in the tournament in Janks first year.....and maybe even his second.
- The schedule needs to improve. We all agree on that. It is something to be discussed with Jankovich and Friedman ... when the season is over. I can't help but think if Sampay turns around and gets that bucket in 09 MVC final or Champ makes that layup, ISU was in the tourney. But coulda, shoulda, woulda...
- Jankovich is not a good coach at all. In his first 2 years at the helm at ISU, he had the best talent and took the team to the MVC championship, only to lose to less athletic and talented teams, but better coached teams. Jankovich can recruit all the talent in the world but the best the guy can do is take the team to the NIT. That is why me and a lot of redbird nation do not like his coaching abilities.
- Yeah, Keno Davis was such a great coach. How did he do at Providence? Wait, he's on the Big Ten Network now. ISU has had the best talent in the Valley the last four years? Those Wichita and Creighton teams looked like they had equal or better talent to me.
- Jim, enough with this coach bashing. How's the crowd there in Northern Iowa?
- Bless you, Birdfan. Actually, pretty decent crowd with two minutes left to tipoff. Probably about 6,000. This place is pretty cool. Like a better Shirk Center for those familiar with IWU.
- Also, i think the B-N community who fails to come out and fill Rebird Arena (yet still bash the program) are as much to blame as anyone else. If I'm a top recruit, do I want to play in front of a packed house at Creighton/Wichita? Or 4,000 in Normal. Come on people.
- Jim, from an ISU fan's perspective you have to understand where we are coming from. We all just go done watching Marshall kick Creighton's butt. Now Marshall is in his 5th year too. He has won an NIT title and is about to win the MVC. After 5 years we are fighting to stay out of the play-in game, for a 2nd straight year.
- Lively discussion tonight folks. Love it! There are no right or wrong answers. I respect everyone's opinion. Let's let the season play out and see where it stands at the end. OK, we will do again at 5 p.m. Tuesday before ISU's game at ISU blue in Terre Haute. Hope I can make it there after the Beefhouse. Thanks again.
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