I wanted to comment on both the threads from last week, He's a good man, and The Turnaround, in one place moving forward into this very important game with Oklahoma.
Prohm is a good man. And I have to remind many people who are contributors here that many on here were not in favor of him getting the job. So let's start with that. Their minds were closed. For those people, this season was always going to be if the team did well, it was going to be because of the players. If there were problems, and disappointing play, and losses, it was going to be because of the coach. That was totally wrong.
I'm amazed of the general lack of interest in the head coach of our basketball program. Still. On this site, football recruiting threads and speculation generally wipes out basketball conversation. For a number of people, it seems when Hoiberg vacated the job, that changed a lot of people's outlook of ISU BB leadership at the top. The Golden Boy was gone- That's it. Who the heck is this outsider from the South? That too was/is unfortunate.
I have said all along that Prohm needed to be himself, and it appears he is finally beginning to be that. He had coddled this team long enough. He knew he needed to do something, and he did, as he said "In his own way." The team needed to be reached and I hope he has reached them. He's here to try and help them be better, and for a long time the players were doing it their way. Their way was not going to be good enough and the head coach understood that. He finally stepped in at mid-week and took action. Action that needed to be taken.
Prohm coached more on the sidelines, harder and with a purpose at K-State than he had probably in all the other games combined this season. He wanted his knowledge and influence to be felt in the game, and for his players. And it was. He wanted the players to understand the consequences of when they took bad shots early in the offense. He wants them to understand position defense and help.
I hope a corner has been turned. Of course that opponent Saturday wasn't exactly a world-beating shooting team, (although they did hit 10 threes against Texas Tech the game before), so the zone defense that was very good will probably not be able to be used against other opponents, or for as long. But it can help buy a little time in games, and maybe change tempo, not only for the other team, but also for ISU. If the Cyclones play too much zone against a team like OU, they would likely shred it. And the zone causes some unfortunate issues, like giving up 16 offensive rebounds at K-State. But as I said Saturday night, any win out there in Manhattan is a welcome win, given the trouble the program has had there over the years.
Now you hope that everyone can move forward with the good momentum. Yeah, there's still going to be some regression at times, especially with some defensive play. But we're at a point in the season where good teams begin to improve and make themselves be felt in conference play.
Prohm reminded everyone at mid-week that he has gone through all this before, and that he understands all the expectations and the big picture. But you have to get better at the little things before the big picture even comes into view. Coach said last Thursday was "Day 1" for him. He said the players and he "Were all one." That was good to hear. I hope he's right. It was time for him to take full ownership as the head coach of our basketball team and for everyone to realize this could get better, and would get better, and CSP would be a big reason why.
Now comes the next test. Playing the No. 1 team in Hilton. What I am looking for is the most consistent game ISU has played all season. Sure the emotion and juice will be ramped up. It should be. But you still have to play within yourself and not hit the wall after the first 5-6 minutes. That will be what Prohm reminds the team.
The trend recently has been that the road team coming into Big Monday is at a pretty big disadvantage. I hope OU was ground down by their game with West Virginia on Saturday. Still, ISU has to take care of its own business. And continue the turnaround. Lots of basketball yet to be played, and other big games are coming. This is just the first, or next one. Hope ISU can win the day!
Prohm is a good man. And I have to remind many people who are contributors here that many on here were not in favor of him getting the job. So let's start with that. Their minds were closed. For those people, this season was always going to be if the team did well, it was going to be because of the players. If there were problems, and disappointing play, and losses, it was going to be because of the coach. That was totally wrong.
I'm amazed of the general lack of interest in the head coach of our basketball program. Still. On this site, football recruiting threads and speculation generally wipes out basketball conversation. For a number of people, it seems when Hoiberg vacated the job, that changed a lot of people's outlook of ISU BB leadership at the top. The Golden Boy was gone- That's it. Who the heck is this outsider from the South? That too was/is unfortunate.
I have said all along that Prohm needed to be himself, and it appears he is finally beginning to be that. He had coddled this team long enough. He knew he needed to do something, and he did, as he said "In his own way." The team needed to be reached and I hope he has reached them. He's here to try and help them be better, and for a long time the players were doing it their way. Their way was not going to be good enough and the head coach understood that. He finally stepped in at mid-week and took action. Action that needed to be taken.
Prohm coached more on the sidelines, harder and with a purpose at K-State than he had probably in all the other games combined this season. He wanted his knowledge and influence to be felt in the game, and for his players. And it was. He wanted the players to understand the consequences of when they took bad shots early in the offense. He wants them to understand position defense and help.
I hope a corner has been turned. Of course that opponent Saturday wasn't exactly a world-beating shooting team, (although they did hit 10 threes against Texas Tech the game before), so the zone defense that was very good will probably not be able to be used against other opponents, or for as long. But it can help buy a little time in games, and maybe change tempo, not only for the other team, but also for ISU. If the Cyclones play too much zone against a team like OU, they would likely shred it. And the zone causes some unfortunate issues, like giving up 16 offensive rebounds at K-State. But as I said Saturday night, any win out there in Manhattan is a welcome win, given the trouble the program has had there over the years.
Now you hope that everyone can move forward with the good momentum. Yeah, there's still going to be some regression at times, especially with some defensive play. But we're at a point in the season where good teams begin to improve and make themselves be felt in conference play.
Prohm reminded everyone at mid-week that he has gone through all this before, and that he understands all the expectations and the big picture. But you have to get better at the little things before the big picture even comes into view. Coach said last Thursday was "Day 1" for him. He said the players and he "Were all one." That was good to hear. I hope he's right. It was time for him to take full ownership as the head coach of our basketball team and for everyone to realize this could get better, and would get better, and CSP would be a big reason why.
Now comes the next test. Playing the No. 1 team in Hilton. What I am looking for is the most consistent game ISU has played all season. Sure the emotion and juice will be ramped up. It should be. But you still have to play within yourself and not hit the wall after the first 5-6 minutes. That will be what Prohm reminds the team.
The trend recently has been that the road team coming into Big Monday is at a pretty big disadvantage. I hope OU was ground down by their game with West Virginia on Saturday. Still, ISU has to take care of its own business. And continue the turnaround. Lots of basketball yet to be played, and other big games are coming. This is just the first, or next one. Hope ISU can win the day!
