Steve Prohm Report Card thus far
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I agree, the loss of Naz made a difference, but I am also not sure about some of his game coaching. It did seem like he did get out coached sometimes.
Absolutely, that's what I meant by saying "But it can't be overstated that he didn't lose to a non-NCAA tournament team and a Fred coach teamed never did that."
Too early to grade Prohm but I am optimistic about his future at ISU. He is off to a great start and nothing I have seen from him makes me skeptical. Jeez, he did Sweet Sixteen with an injury ridden short benched team that had some unrealistic expectations assigned to it. He hasn't even been here one year yet.
I kinda have a program/team grading that goes something like this:
No post-season = F to D
NIT = D+ to C-
NCAA one and done = C to C+
Second round = B
Sweet sixteen = B+ to A-
Elite 8 = A
Final Four = A+
Win it all = Create a new letter in front of A
I kinda have a program/team grading that goes something like this:
No post-season = F to D
NIT = D+ to C-
NCAA one and done = C to C+
Second round = B
Sweet sixteen = B+ to A-
Elite 8 = A
Final Four = A+
Win it all = Create a new letter in front of A
First reaction is, between "Good" and "jury still out."
His approach to McKay's funk/outlook appeared to work, unless it was purely coincidence (which I doubt). Maybe he needed to do it sooner. The bigger-picture aspect of that, he played it smart by not attempting to put his "stamp" on the team too early and smother what the players knew how to do well — but if he had cranked up the half-court defense sooner, might have won a couple more games in conference.
Splitting hairs, of course.
Like any transitional coach, it'll require at least 3 years to get an accurate sense.
His approach to McKay's funk/outlook appeared to work, unless it was purely coincidence (which I doubt). Maybe he needed to do it sooner. The bigger-picture aspect of that, he played it smart by not attempting to put his "stamp" on the team too early and smother what the players knew how to do well — but if he had cranked up the half-court defense sooner, might have won a couple more games in conference.
Splitting hairs, of course.
Like any transitional coach, it'll require at least 3 years to get an accurate sense.
If we have Naz, I think we win 2-3 more Big12 games. That said, his presence wouldn't have cured all the isses this team faced. The difference between this team being a top 5 preseason team and the sweet 16 was the lack of post depth and a physical post defender.
It was probably too much to expect Carter/Ernst combination to provide 15-20mpg, 8ppg and 5rpg. When Diello chose KU and Bielfelt chose IU- this team was limited from the start. Add erratic play by McKay, this team had flaws that were too significant to beat a team like Virginia.
Prohm will be judged on the program he will build, not on the team that Fred recruited. The Big12 of Steve Prohm will be a different conference than the Big12 of Fred Hoiberg. The new coaches at Texas, TCU and OSU and their approaches to defense will dramatically change what it will take to be successful. The days of outscoring opponents is probably over. Defense and rebounding are going to be critical. Guard play will be critical against pressure defenses, but quality big men will be the difference between finishing 2nd and 6th
It was probably too much to expect Carter/Ernst combination to provide 15-20mpg, 8ppg and 5rpg. When Diello chose KU and Bielfelt chose IU- this team was limited from the start. Add erratic play by McKay, this team had flaws that were too significant to beat a team like Virginia.
Prohm will be judged on the program he will build, not on the team that Fred recruited. The Big12 of Steve Prohm will be a different conference than the Big12 of Fred Hoiberg. The new coaches at Texas, TCU and OSU and their approaches to defense will dramatically change what it will take to be successful. The days of outscoring opponents is probably over. Defense and rebounding are going to be critical. Guard play will be critical against pressure defenses, but quality big men will be the difference between finishing 2nd and 6th
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I would give him a solid B. Also, I am excited, yet cautiously optimistic about our future with Prohm.
I just don't see six more wins with Long. ISU wasn't losing games because of offense (#4 in KenPom AdjO), In conference, ISU was losing because they gave up too many second chance points and really couldn't defend the post well. I don't think Long would have fixed those problems. To go further, Prohm needed a miracle on the rebounding side, and that just didn't happen.
Anyway, I think Prohm's grade is A-/B+ range. He faced a lot of difficulties, and given the roster issues, I think he got the team about as far as they could realistically go. My gripe would be waiting too long to get the bench more minutes. Morris' minutes were just crazy.
First year coach at the Big 12 level, going against some of the best coaches in the game. Getting out coached will happen. I think he held his own for the most part.
Getting out coached in his first season in the B12 with the HC's we have in this conference isn't surprising.
Fred was out coached a couple of times his first year as well.
I think we will see Prohm learn a lot after his first season.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Steve did a great job given all the circumstances. Fred quit on us and the more I think about it he gave up on this team. He said again this week in Chicago that he thought this team could go all the way. If he really believed that would he have walked away last year? Not only that he didn't recruit a post to help out where we needed it most. I think out ceiling was capped when Fred bailed and Steve and the players did their best to reach and achieve it. We ran into a better team that exposed our flaws...lack of defense and rebounding. I am excited to see what Prohm can do as a coach. I think he can take us a long ways if he can continue to get great players. This season was a success in my book given the circumstances.
[video=youtube;1ytCEuuW2_A]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ytCEuuW2_A[/video]
C+
1) He finished 6th in a 10 team league.
2) Subing pattern was head scratching at times.
3) Did not get on officials hard enough when it was clear ISU was getting a raw deal. The greats, Bill Self, Tom Izzo, Mike K, would get T's to male a point it's horse crap.
4) To many games the team felt unprepared and out maneuvered with no answer for what was happening.
1) He finished 6th in a 10 team league.
2) Subing pattern was head scratching at times.
3) Did not get on officials hard enough when it was clear ISU was getting a raw deal. The greats, Bill Self, Tom Izzo, Mike K, would get T's to male a point it's horse crap.
4) To many games the team felt unprepared and out maneuvered with no answer for what was happening.
I would say a B+. I thought that he did not handle the issues that came up during the year very well. Not sure what the deal with McKay was, but he was a fraction of the player he was last year most of the time. Prohm was put in a tough position because Fred left so late that he could not find a big man for the middle of the defense, which was the cause of most of the losses during the year, and last night. Losing Naz was huge also.
I was pretty disappointed in the season, because there were so many close losses. Next year will be interesting with all the new parts. Just having a few more players will help some. Unfortunately none of those guys will be as good as GN.
I was pretty disappointed in the season, because there were so many close losses. Next year will be interesting with all the new parts. Just having a few more players will help some. Unfortunately none of those guys will be as good as GN.