Most Clutch ISU Player

[clonefan98]

What they're saying is that you cannot crown a man as the most clutch performer in our school's history when his career was ended by one of the biggest choke jobs in the history of the NCAA tournament.

Amen. I loved JT too, and agree he is absoultely one of the best players we've ever had. But the Hampton loss has to remove him from consideration. We, as ISU fans, must relive that nightmare every stinking March now when they roll out the highlight reels.

The way I remember it going down was that we were up by 1, Hampton comes down and scores and we had to hustle down the floor. Of course JT was going to take the shot, he was our go to guy. He missed though, didn't help that it was a layup. I could probably find it on youtube, but I'd rather not gouge my eyes out.

So in my eyes he can't be the most clutch player. He could have won us 100 games on last second shots, but that one... ugh..

 

[singsing]

This one is reaching a little, but I always thought Martin Rancick was money with that baseline jumper. With defenses concentrating on our other obvious options I loved it when they'd kick it to martin on the baseline. Can't remember him ever missing.

 

[johnsonjj]

For my money, in the clutch I wanted the ball in Grayer's hands he could rise over anyone and get his shot off. He also did it on the defensive end. But from the moment he hit that game winner against Drake early in his freshman season, you could just see he had greatness written all over him.

 

[cyfreddy]

Jeff Hornacek. He had a high basketball IQ and always seemed to bail us out for a big win in Hilton. Perhaps my all-time favorite Cyclone. A walk-on who became one of ISU's best players...

I agree ! I even named my son after him.

Who can forget the shot he made against Miami of Ohio in the NCAA Tournament game ! Kind of help put Iowa State on the map.

 

[peteypie]

I agree ! I even named my son after him.

Hornacek, what an unusual first name, but to all his own. JK:biglaugh:

 

[retzmountn]

Jeff Hornacek- he hit a big 3 pt. shot for ISU late in the game in 1986 to defeat ranked (I think 10th) Michigan and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. :yes:

 

[JJ4ISU]

Anyone who mentions Stinson obviously forgets the slop he threw up late in games throughout the 2005-06 season...can you say meltdown?

I would personally go with Jamaal Tinsley or Jeff Hornacek...two very different point guards who could get it done in their own way late in ballgames. Tinsley could create and Hornacek knew who needed to have the ball and how to get it to them.

 

[ce1]

Jeff Hornacek- he hit a big 3 pt. shot for ISU late in the game in 1986 to defeat ranked (I think 10th) Michigan and advance to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. :yes:

no three pointers that year. First year of 3-pointers was the 86-87... the big Hornacek play in that game was an inbounds pass he made to Elmer Robinson. Caught Elmer breaking to the basket, inbounding at the half court line. An amazing pass, and an incredibly athletic play by Elmer.

In 30 years of watching ISU basketball, two players stand out: Barry Stevens and Dedric Willoughby. Barrry's shot in the Mizzou game (talked a lot about last month), and Dedric's game winner against Colorado stand out.

 

[ajk4st8]

Tinsley was all but ONE time.

 

[hort4cy]

Jamaal Tinsley 100%

Definitely Tinsley!

 

[The_Architect]

Sullivan for 3 AND THE WIN!!!

Just seeing him catch the ball on the baseline from 3 and you already knew it was going in.

Sullivan couldnt hit the backside of a barn his senior year.

 

[The_Architect]

To answer the original question: Tinsley, Stinson, or Willoughby.

 

[psycln11]

Of all of the great players to play here, which one would you feel most comfortable with having the ball late in a close game. Personally I think it is hard to argue against Justice Thigpen. He hit a buzzer beater three to win at Colorado, Tipped in a bucket with about 1 second left to beat Minnesota, and single handedly brought ISU back against #2 Oklahoma State both in regulation and in OT.
However, I have to give a close second to either Fred Hoiberg or Curtis Stinson.
What are your thoughts?

Both of Thigpen's buzzer beaters were off of set plays. Hoiberg threw a half court bounce pass at Colorado that Thigpen hit his running 3 on. Wasn't the Minnesota win one of those alley oop inbound plays under the basket that Johnny was famous for?

Since you say it's the player you want with the ball, I'm going with either Tinsley or Willoughby. They could both create their own shots or dish to others if needed. The others, minus Stinson, needed others to set up their heroics.

 

[khaal53]

Fizer hit a few game winners. I remember one against Kansas he banked in from the baseline... sweeeet...

What are you talking about? He never banked in a game winner against Kansas. His sophomore year he had a dunk with about 20 seconds left to go up 2 and win the game. In 2000 he hit a turnaround 17 footer from the wing that didn't bank in or give ISU the lead. It extended the lead to 3 with 5 or 6 seconds left.

 

[jj-cyclones]

Tinsley! No question!

 

[keepngoal]

Tinsley missing the last shot of the Hampton game automatically disqualifies him for me.

I agree with that. You can't end your college career on missing a game winner (layup) and be most clutch in history.

This is a tough subject...

I would have to put Dedric on the top with Fizer below. You know the coaches were working plays to get the ball to their strengths of the game.

After that.... there are many too choose from.

-keep

 

[cyclonenum1]

A few clarifications:

Hornacek hit a game winner vs. a Miami (OH) team led by Ron Harper in the Metrodome to send us to a second round game vs. Michigan (which we also won).

Hampton was a 15 seed (not a 7 seed as someone mentioned). Since they went to 64 teams in 1986, I believe, only 4 #2 seeds have lost (Hampton over Iowa State, 2001. Coppin State over South Carolina in 1997. Santa Clara over Arizona in 1993. Richmond over Syracuse in 1991). That's 4 of 88 games if my math is correct. That was a huge upset. Personally, I doubt that a Michael Jordan led team would have ever been in that situation against the likes of a Hampton where a last second shot was necessary.

Bottom line is that Tinsley was a great player for ISU but I would choose Hornacek!

 

[Rolling Clones]

Jeff Hornacek.

 

[The_Architect]

I'm as bitter as anyone else about the Hampton game but lets be honest here - that wasn't a "layup." Jamaal went the length of the court at full speed and had to shoot around a defender - certainly no uncontested layup.

 

[jackrabbit21]

A few clarifications:

Hampton was a 15 seed (not a 7 seed as someone mentioned).


The point the guy was making above was that a #2 seed in the NBA playoffs would have played a #7 seed, thus the #7 seed to #15 seed comparison.

I would go with Tinsley #1, with Dedric, Hornacek and Thigpen getting huge consideration. One thing I remember about Jamaal was he was about a 60-65% free throw shooter overall, but when the free throws really mattered down the stretch, then he was practically automatic.

Anyone who says Jake Sullivan is out of their mind. Possibly the worst player named to the All-Century team, Sullivan won exactly ZERO Big 12 road games when JT wasn't on his team. How is that clutch? Think about it...Sullivan could not create his own shot (relied on Tinsley and then Stinson) and was a terrible defender. While I don't have stats in front of me, I know that Sullivan's shooting stats were atrocious in road games versus home.