Update on Harrison Barnes

[ajk4st8]

We has said in other articles I've read that our big problem with him is that we haven't won many games.

Losing Lucca might have cost us more than a few wins.

 

[CyGuy33]

Jim Criner resume':

His first head-coaching job was at Boise State, where he led the Broncos to 4 Big Sky Conference titles in 7 years including the NCAA Division 1-AA title in 1980 (career record 59-21-1).

Just not the same thing, including the University of New Orleans. I don't mean disrepect to Coach Floyd - I was an ISU student when Orr and then Floyd coached (I was an older student) - and I appreciate what he did for the program. But what he's shown since being at ISU and one tournament championship is not championship caliber. If Harrison is looking for a proven coach and program - one that has the chance to win a conference and national championship, he's got just as good of a chance at ISU as he does at USC.

My bet - Tim Floyd will not be the coach as USC in five years.

You said Never, that's all I was pointing out.

On the same note he hasn't been at a Major Division 1 School for all the long. He was at Iowa State from '94-'98 and has been at USC since '05. Not alot of time to take a program, turn it around and win a championship. Right McD supporters!

 

[ultracreative]

What?

 

[djkent01]

You said Never, that's all I was pointing out.

On the same note he hasn't been at a Major Division 1 School for all the long. He was at Iowa State from '94-'98 and has been at USC since '05. Not alot of time to take a program, turn it around and win a championship. Right McD supporters!

You are correct, I said "never" and should have qualified it. Nonetheless, my hope is that Harrison can see through some of this stuff and realize that he has more opportunities on the BB court at ISU than he does at USC. Even if only for a year - take one look at Beasley and you can see it's true.

I have lived in S. Cal. a couple of times for almost five years combined. I can fly to the beach anytime I want. Harrison will have many more opportunities to do that than I ever hoped for. But I will never have the chance to supplant the "Mayor of Ames" and become folklore in ISU history - or any other school for that matter. That's what I hope - Harrison realizes what an opportunity he has here and that he'll never get it back. But he can always fly to the beach.

 

[mplscyclone]

I don't want to sound negative here, but I'm not liking our chances. It's hard to compare the players, but if Hoiberg was hard for Orr to get, I don't see how McD can get Barnes.
Barnes is just so much more high profile than Hoiberg was and McD isn't Orr.

I want us to get him, but he's going to REALLY want to be a Cyclone. I think the team can be pretty good in a couple of years, but him wanting to stay in Ames and BE a Cyclone is going to have to outweigh everything else. So far, we aren't really hearing anything like that.

One other side note- I would HATE to see him play in the Big 12, especially Kansas. We'd have a packed crowd with tons of Ames High Alums cheering Barnes on.... Or am I just crazy/wrong?

 

[CyGuy33]

I have lived in S. Cal. a couple of times for almost five years combined. I can fly to the beach anytime I want. Harrison will have many more opportunities to do that than I ever hoped for. But I will never have the chance to supplant the "Mayor of Ames" and become folklore in ISU history - or any other school for that matter. That's what I hope - Harrison realizes what an opportunity he has here and that he'll never get it back. But he can always fly to the beach.

Isn't USC in not the greatest neighborhood?

Plus while at USC the program will always be second to the football team, he won't be the highest ranked recruit to commit there, etc. etc. Let's eliminate them.

 

[Tornado man]

USC eventually will be small potatoes when basketball schools like UCLA, Michigan State, Florida, Duke, Louisville, etc. offer him. I still say he comes here, that the ISU roots are too deep. No fan base will care about him as a person like we will.

 

[djkent01]

USC eventually will be small potatoes when basketball schools like UCLA, Michigan State, Florida, Duke, Louisville, etc. offer him. I still say he comes here, that the ISU roots are too deep. No fan base will care about him as a person like we will.

You know - you're right. When all is said and done, Harrison can choose whatever school he wants go to. It's HIS choice, forget the school, coach, tradition, etc... He will be the highest ranked recruit whereever he goes (with FEW possible exceptions). He will be choosing a one year lifestyle (assuming he goes pro after one year) and then the world opens up to him and he can do whatever he wants. In that perspective, and given the fact that people on this site comment on his intelligence, maturity, family, etc - I think ISU has a better chance than anyone else.

 

[ajk4st8]

With all of his interviews it is obvious he wants to play for a team thats going to win a lot of games. Why would he choose ISU?

I really hope he does, but if that is his criteria.... 14-18 doesn't cut it.

 

[CyGuy33]

With all of his interviews it is obvious he wants to play for a team thats going to win a lot of games. Why would he choose ISU?

I really hope he does, but if that is his criteria.... 14-18 doesn't cut it.

The thing about basketball is you don't need 14 high ranking recruits to put together a great team and make a great run for a season.

You need 2 players, Harrison Barnes and Dykstra could be those two players. If we can land one other player to make it 3 it doesn't matter how many games we won last season or this year it will be a completely different ball game. Just ask K-State.

He sees that, I Hope!

 

[djkent01]

With all of his interviews it is obvious he wants to play for a team thats going to win a lot of games. Why would he choose ISU?

I really hope he does, but if that is his criteria.... 14-18 doesn't cut it.

Preaching to the choir here, but last time I made a comment about the lack of success in ISU BB I was neg rep'd to death. In any case, he is a player that can make a difference. If he believes in coach and the players there/coming in, he can be the difference maker. We've seen it a lot in recent years, starting with Carmelo Anthony and right up through Beasley. Coach has to sell this.

 

[Tornado man]

WIth all due respect, I struggle to understand the mind-set of those fans who diminish or discount our chances with HB, and then publicly reflect that thinking with posts for anyone to see.
I have been to many other campuses, and to many athletic events. This is absolutely "Disneyland" here! Our university, with its broad-based faculty, can enable anyone to professionally flourish. We are the land grant university in a state that ranks in the top five in the country in literacy and educational levels. I have not seen a campus as beautiful as ours in any other large university setting.
Then we have our huge - just huge - basketball fan base - IMO, also the most loyal in the Big XII in terms of unwavering support. Our only competition are KU and OSU; yet I've been to Allen Fieldhouse in their losing days (pre-Larry Brown), and we would never treat our home-town athletes like they did.
I do not put on the Cardinal and Gold glasses - I am a realistic fan. But I am also a confident fan, one who sees ISU as the benchmark, and who wonders how many schools can really measure up to us.

 

[ajk4st8]

I'm just saying from what I've read in his interviews.... playing for a championship type contender is a huge factor for him. I've NEVER read him say something about playing for a certain type of fanbase, or going to school with a beautiful campus.

We were 14-18.

 

[SeattleClone]

I'm definitely hoping that HB waits until after this season to make his decision, and hopefully we can manage some success or at least show some signs of life this year. Combine that with HB knowing that he will be the biggest star this town has ever seen, and that's our best chance.

What's a higher status than Mayor anyways? Mafia Boss of Ames? Mack Daddy of Ames? Mayor of Ames II "Mayor Harder"? Ok, those are dumb I know, I'm just thinking out loud. I'm not usually one to hang my hat on one person as a savior of a program, or give someone a nickname before they've officially earned it, but I'm willing to make an exception here.

 

[ISUonthemove]

It would probably benefit us if he waited until his senior year, so we have a chance to start winning and proving ourselves. If he were to decide now, we wouldn't have much of a shot. In two years, we will hopefully be competing for a Big XII Championship and going Dancing.

 

[ajk4st8]

Totally agree with those last two posts. We need to start winning games and knock off a few good teams.

 

[bfnnhn]

Had an opportunity to visit with my sister's neighbor who is the third cousin to the Asst. AD's best friend and he said Harrison ate all his carrots last night......I'm just sayin'

 

[ISUonthemove]

Had an opportunity to visit with my sister's neighbor who is the third cousin to the Asst. AD's best friend and he said Harrison ate all his carrots last night......I'm just sayin'

Wait...how is that relevant? He has great court vision? Crap! Now he is definately going to Duke. :arghh:

 

[SeattleClone]

Had an opportunity to visit with my sister's neighbor who is the third cousin to the Asst. AD's best friend and he said Harrison ate all his carrots last night......I'm just sayin'

At first I didn't care what you had to say, but then again, you DO have 4 popped collars... :wink:

 

[jsb]

After speaking with Harrison within the last day, he is very pleased and excited with his play and the increase in attention he has brought himself from his play at the LeBron Camp. The one thing he continually re-iterates is his patience and waiting in his recruiting process. With all this talk going around about a 'verbal this fall' or 'before this next season' one may think that from what they've heard from teammates, 'inside sources', etc. is the legit truth. However, from Harrison himself, he has no intentions on deciding this early before his senior year of ball, he has seen things he likes in many school, he has seen things he hasn't. Two pretty important factors in his recruiting process he feels are the school's campus and business program. On top of that, the most important he thought is the ability to win games and make a championship run. From Harrison himself, he is happy where he stands as of today, he is in no rush to decide before this next season, and he wants to win.

What Harrison has said from speaking with him within the last month:

USC: Loves the campus and the area. Likes the current players and staff and really see's them as a 'championship-caliber' team here within the next few years who he see's will win a lot of games.

Kansas: Really enjoys and respects the coaching staff; however, he does not see them making championship-run in the next few years due to loss players to the NBA. Knows they will be good but questions how good.

Iowa State: Obviously, Ames is his roots. Loves the program and school in general and really gets along well with players and coaches. However, also does not know how hard of a push the Cyclones can make to become a 'championship team'. A big plus for Iowa State is being right here in Ames, where he gets to be around the basketball program much more than other schools.

Iowa: Treats him well when is in IC.

Kentucky: Recruiting quite hardly and likes the direction in which the program is going. Rich history.

Texas: Likes the program and there consistency in winning games. See's himself fitting in with their style of play.

TCU: Still extremely close and talks to Prioleau on a daily basis.

Duke: Talks to on almost daily basis and see's an offer coming soon. Really likes Coach K and staff.

However, one huge thing Harrison always does bring up is whether or not he is trying to go to a big school and win championships and perhaps not get the 'stardom' he would at a school like Iowa State, or go to say, TCU or Iowa State and be 'the star'. Something he is really thinking about and has not determined in his recruiting process.

Does Harrison feel that Iowa State needs to be competing for a national championship or just a conference championship? We've never competed for a national championship, so I don't think we'll start now. I certainly hope that he is not as serious about TCU as he is about us. Although, I guess if we were to lose him, going to TCU would be pretty funny.

I hope he looks closely Beasley.....he went to a school that sucked at basketball and parlayed it into the 2nd draft pick.

Man....I wish that kid would pick Iowa State. I can understad the lure of the other schools, but he would be loved here.