Inside the Eye

[davegilbertson]

I remember when the first few episodes of this came out, it felt like something special could be happening.

Obviously it's meant as a marketing and excitement tool. And from that angle could have been successful even if the Cyclones went 3-15 in the big 12 and snuck in the NIT.

But how crazy is it says we're four days away from opportunity to go where this program hasn't gone in 22 years? Without a McDonald's All-American, NPOTY candidate and arguably one of our most talented teams.

One year removed from bottoming out. That video documentary is going to be something it's watched and re-watched for a lot of years.

I'll be interested to see what the season recap looks like when this is all said and done whenever that end comes.

 

[Cyclonepride]

This team, from out of nowhere, became special through sheer force of will. I love it. My favorite type of season where no one expects anything, and they catch lightning in a bottle.

 

[HFCS]

I was just talking about 00 in another thread.

Fizer: mcd AA, best player in big 12, probably second best player in country, Martin got hurt so Fizer was pretty clearly best player in NCAA tourney

Tinsley: improved rapidly over course of the year, was best player in big 12 the next season and probably top 3 or 4 in NCAA

Nurse, probably better shooting specialist than we have now, very serviceable running point

Horton, would fit this year’s defensive bulldog team exactly and be our best outside shooter

Rest of the team…basically like these guys

Our DNA is a LOT like that team in terms of toughness. IB has some all American level games and Hunter is an emerging star at times the way Tinsley was that season. Different player but same limitless potential as a college guard. What we lack is the consistent brutal domination of Fizer, but that’s incredibly rare in today’s game for anybody. None of the one seeds have a Fizer, players like Holmgren are actually more common now.

 

[davegilbertson]

I was just talking about 00 in another thread.

Fizer: mcd AA, best player in big 12, probably second best player in country, Martin got hurt so Fizer was pretty clearly best player in NCAA tourney

Tinsley: improved rapidly over course of the year, was best player in big 12 the next season and probably top 3 or 4 in NCAA

Nurse, probably better shooting specialist than we have now, very serviceable running point

Horton, would fit this year’s defensive bulldog team exactly and be our best outside shooter

Rest of the team…basically like these guys

Our DNA is a LOT like that team in terms of toughness. IB has some all American level games and Hunter is an emerging star at times the way Tinsley was that season. Different player but same limitless potential as a college guard. What we lack is the consistent brutal domination of Fizer, but that’s incredibly rare in today’s game for anybody. None of the one seeds have a Fizer, players like Holmgren are actually more common now.

Can't leave out Paul Shirley. Yeah he was a nerdy looking white guy, but had an extended cup of coffee in the league as well

 

[allfourcy]

Shame on me...but did ISU go to the elite 8 before? Did Eustachy's team?

 

[HFCS]

Can't leave out Paul Shirley. Yeah he was a nerdy looking white guy, but had an extended cup of coffee in the league as well

I think of him like a combo of Enuruna and Conditt. Had some touch and skill on offense but he actually was whistled for fouls even faster than Conditt. Him, Rancik, Stevie…those guys were exactly like this team this year just playing brutally hard.

 

[ISpyCy]

Shame on me...but did ISU go to the elite 8 before? Did Eustachy's team?

Yep, in 2000. I believe this was billed as the REAL National Championship game.

 

[CyHans]

Can't leave out Paul Shirley. Yeah he was a nerdy looking white guy, but had an extended cup of coffee in the league as well

I always liked Paul and correct me if I'm wrong but I think he was on an academic scholarship.

 

[CyHans]

Yep, in 2000. I believe this was billed as the REAL National Championship game.

Was this the year we got hosed by the ref's against MSU and Eustachy lost his mind on national TV?

 

[allfourcy]

Was this the year we got hosed by the ref's against MSU and Eustachy lost his mind on national TV?

Oh yes, now I remember.

 

[ISpyCy]

Was this the year we got hosed by the ref's against MSU and Eustachy lost his mind on national TV?

...and M***** C****** haunted our memories...and maybe still does? Yeah, that's the one.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I was just talking about 00 in another thread.

Fizer: mcd AA, best player in big 12, probably second best player in country, Martin got hurt so Fizer was pretty clearly best player in NCAA tourney

Tinsley: improved rapidly over course of the year, was best player in big 12 the next season and probably top 3 or 4 in NCAA

Nurse, probably better shooting specialist than we have now, very serviceable running point

Horton, would fit this year’s defensive bulldog team exactly and be our best outside shooter

Rest of the team…basically like these guys

Our DNA is a LOT like that team in terms of toughness. IB has some all American level games and Hunter is an emerging star at times the way Tinsley was that season. Different player but same limitless potential as a college guard. What we lack is the consistent brutal domination of Fizer, but that’s incredibly rare in today’s game for anybody. None of the one seeds have a Fizer, players like Holmgren are actually more common now.

Yeah, this team really reminds me of that one from a toughness standpoint. Certainly not as talented this year, but the opportunity is there to put themselves in the same rare air as far as the NCAA tournament goes. Just goes to show you how crazy March Madness can be.

 

[HFCS]

Shame on me...but did ISU go to the elite 8 before? Did Eustachy's team?

There was very little doubt it was the best two teams in the nation and it was a true road game with court even painted in MSU’s colors. Rest of the bracket had lost all of the top seeds.

 

[swiacy]

Yeah, this team really reminds me of that one from a toughness standpoint. Certainly not as talented this year, but the opportunity is there to put themselves in the same rare air as far as the NCAA tournament goes. Just goes to show you how crazy March Madness can be.

Ditto. But the toughness in this group is different, Defense is another world compared to 2000. Only comp would be Huggy’s teams in his prime and Nolan Richardson’s 40 minutes of Hell at Arkansas back in the day. This group goes 9 deep without a D intensity drop off. I attribute a lot of their poor shooting to the amount of effort they expend at the other end of the court.

 

[mjhavlo76]

Shame on me...but did ISU go to the elite 8 before? Did Eustachy's team?

2000 was the only time.

 

[JimDogRock]

I'm hopeful that episode 9 of Inside the Eye gets created and posted on Wednesday or Thursday. They've been so good. The preseason ones set the stage for what this team was going to be about, and the mid-season ones were fun to see after big wins.
It would show up here -
youtube.com/user/isuvideo/videos

 

[dunar]

Shame on me...but did ISU go to the elite 8 before? Did Eustachy's team?

Also in 1944, when there were only eight teams in the tournament. We won against Pepperdine and lost to Utah. First, last, and only Final Four appearance to date.

 

[Jdk]

Was this the year we got hosed by the ref's against MSU and Eustachy lost his mind on national TV?

Yes the malice in the palace the great robbery by the zebras

 

[interrobang]

A new one got posted today!

 

[CycloneCJ]

A new one got posted today!

@ChrisMWilliams With a great quote in this one