T J

[Dale]

If we could get to the E8 or F4 once every 4 or 5 years, that would be taking us to the next level in my opinion.

I've been thinking about this sentence all day. Specifically: How many teams are there that get to the Elite 8 every 5 years or so, and maybe the Final Four every 10?

So, I ran the numbers on the last 10 NCAAs. There were 18 teams that got to at least 1 FF and 2 EEs:

Villlanova (3 FFs, 3 EEs)
North Carolina (3 FFs, 3 EEs)
Gonzaga (2 FFs, 5 EEs)
Duke (2 FFs, 5 EEs)
Michigan (2 FFs, 4 EEs)
Kentucky (2 FFs, 4 EEs)
Kansas (2 FFs, 4 EEs)
Michigan State (2 FFs, 3 EEs)
Wisconsin (2 FFs, 2 EEs)
UConn (2 FFs, 2 EEs)
Syracuse (2 FFs, 2 EEs)
Florida (1 FFs, 3 EEs)
Virginia (1 FFs, 2 EEs)
Texas Tech (1 FFs, 2 EEs)
Oregon (1 FFs, 2 EEs)
Miami (FL) (1 FFs, 2 EEs)
Louisville (1 FFs, 2 EEs)
Houston (1 FFs, 2 EEs)

Based on that, I'd say it's a reasonable long-term metric to aim for.

 

[BirdDog]

One of my favorite things is to listen to his coaching show (and in some pressers) where he will drop a very dry joke. I think last week Heft made a comment about something at shootaround he noticed and TJ without missing a beat (in a serious voice) did (paraphrase) "well first I need to ensure our staff take a critical look at who we allow at shootarounds moving forward"

Remembering a TJ interview with Chris Williams right after he was hired : Chris who has a beard asked TJ if he could grow one. Without a pause TJ says “Yes … but looking at your Chris I wouldn’t want one”. Classic.

 

[hoosman]

I was at the OSU football game (homecoming) in 2021. The basketball team just went 0-18, 2-22. Prohm was fired. I assumed the sport was dead and buried and that TJ did not have the credentials for success. He gave a speech at halftime and said that they were working their a$$es off and they were going to make a huge turnaround. He was really pumped. I was thinking "ya sure" . Sorry I doubted you TJ, you were spot on.

 

[T-oh double D]

I've been thinking about this sentence all day. Specifically: How many teams are there that get to the Elite 8 every 5 years or so, and maybe the Final Four every 10?

So, I ran the numbers on the last 10 NCAAs. There were 18 teams that got to at least 1 FF and 2 EEs:

Villlanova (3 FFs, 3 EEs)
North Carolina (3 FFs, 3 EEs)
Gonzaga (2 FFs, 5 EEs)
Duke (2 FFs, 5 EEs)
Michigan (2 FFs, 4 EEs)
Kentucky (2 FFs, 4 EEs)
Kansas (2 FFs, 4 EEs)
Michigan State (2 FFs, 3 EEs)
Wisconsin (2 FFs, 2 EEs)
UConn (2 FFs, 2 EEs)
Syracuse (2 FFs, 2 EEs)
Florida (1 FFs, 3 EEs)
Virginia (1 FFs, 2 EEs)
Texas Tech (1 FFs, 2 EEs)
Oregon (1 FFs, 2 EEs)
Miami (FL) (1 FFs, 2 EEs)
Louisville (1 FFs, 2 EEs)
Houston (1 FFs, 2 EEs)

Based on that, I'd say it's a reasonable long-term metric to aim for.

Thanks for those stats! If we made that list, that would put us in the top 18 or so in terms of that metric…I think most folks around here agree we’re one of the top 20 programs in basketball, so it should be absolutely within our reach.

 

[qwerty]

TJ telling Coach K he is too soft for Iowa State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (weather wise)

 

[madguy30]

TJ telling Coach K he is too soft for Iowa State . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (weather wise)

Ok so this is really, really good.

 

[t-noah]

I like him. He'll do.

 

[t-noah]

Of all the coaches at ISU he is one of them.

What sport?

 

[NorthCyd]

Ok so this is really, really good.

TJ seems to have a good rapport with everybody.

 

[UnCytely]

Guys, this is his third season and you are just now realizing that he is a good coach? He took us to the Sweet 16 of the NCAAs the very next season after winning 2 games! One of the biggest turnarounds in NCAA basketball history.

 

[2122]

This man is definitely, in my opinion, off to the one of the greatest coaching starts in the history of Iowa State . That's quite a legacy.
How we have "stumbled" upon such a great coach, mentor, father, husband, you name it, is beyond me.
I actually expect that who ever we face, we are going to win.
Thoughts?

I believe it was Pollard who 'stumbled' upon TJ.

 

[EvilBetty]

Guys, this is his third season and you are just now realizing that he is a good coach? He took us to the Sweet 16 of the NCAAs the very next season after winning 2 games! One of the biggest turnarounds in NCAA basketball history.

It was either #1 or #2 all time in terms of games won from one season to the next.

 

[qwerty]

This man is definitely, in my opinion, off to the one of the greatest coaching starts in the history of Iowa State . That's quite a legacy.
How we have "stumbled" upon such a great coach, mentor, father, husband, you name it, is beyond me.
I actually expect that who ever we face, we are going to win.
Thoughts?

For all his underachieving, McDermott was the coach who first snagged Otz and brought him to Iowa State in 2006. Best contribution he made to ISU basketball. Pollard might be the individual who knew of TJ and introduced him to GM though (since both were Wiscy boys).