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Williams & Blum: The Larry Eustachy interview

@ChrisMWilliams and @brentblum thank you for this wonderful interview! As a 2002 alum that got to experience Larry's era of ISU basketball as a student I was glued in listening to this and could have listened to hours more of stories by Larry. Like you guys touched based on that 99-00 team is the gold standard when it comes to the best team in ISU basketball history and probably even the greatest season any ISU sport has had. Really hope next season that ISU embraces celebrating that team on the 25th anniversary as it never really has been given the attention it deserves and I assume part of that is because of how Larry's tenure here ended. But surely enough time has passed and Larry has obviously turned his life around from that low point and owned it and most Cyclone fans still hold him in high regard so it's time to give that team a long overdue celebration. I have so many fond memories of going to games as a student and this was before they ever started Cyclone Alley and moved the students closer to the action. To this day I still don't think there have been games as loud as some of those were during that 99-00 season and maybe even the 00-01 season too.

I know the topic of retiring Fizer's jersey has come up from time to time but in this day in age when playing 4 years at the same school is rare I hope whoever determines who deserves that honor finally budges on whatever obstacle it is that has prevented ISU from hanging Fizer's #5 from the rafters of Hilton. Playing 3 years at ISU before going to the NBA in today's culture is a far more common thing and shouldn't be the reason he is denied the honor for not finishing out his 4th year and degree. Hanging #5 from the rafters the same day they honor the Elite 8 team would be a perfect setting. I'm sure Niang's #31 gets hung at some point and he's very deserving of the honor too but Fizer arguably is the best player to ever play at ISU - at worst one of the best for sure and I hope that ISU honors him with that before they hang any other player's jersey.
 
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Outstanding interview. I loved hearing Larry's perspective on a few of those teams/games. He's such an interesting person. It also sounds like he's in a really good place right now, which was really good to hear. I hope he can come back to Hilton for another round of applause at some time. He's a significant piece in Cyclone basketball history.
 
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Can we get a bi-weekly podcast with Larry? Somewhat serious. Let each of the CF and Iowa Everywhere personalities spend some time with him.
 
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I watched Larry his entire career at ISU. His act on the court got REAL hard to watch at the end. Not doubt he got a lot out of most of his players. I supported his being fired. He disrespected ISU and his head coaching position. Loved the interview and Larry's character, which is complicated. Tinsley was the best guard (player?) ever at ISU. Spread the court and give him the ball! Larry gave ISU TWO conference championships in a row!
 
CYdTracked said:
@ChrisMWilliams and @brentblum thank you for this wonderful interview! As a 2002 alum that got to experience Larry's era of ISU basketball as a student I was glued in listening to this and could have listened to hours more of stories by Larry. Like you guys touched based on that 99-00 team is the gold standard when it comes to the best team in ISU basketball history and probably even the greatest season any ISU sport has had. Really hope next season that ISU embraces celebrating that team on the 25th anniversary as it never really has been given the attention it deserves and I assume part of that is because of how Larry's tenure here ended. But surely enough time has passed and Larry has obviously turned his life around from that low point and owned it and most Cyclone fans still hold him in high regard so it's time to give that team a long overdue celebration. I have so many fond memories of going to games as a student and this was before they ever started Cyclone Alley and moved the students closer to the action. To this day I still don't think there have been games as loud as some of those were during that 99-00 season and maybe even the 00-01 season too.

I know the topic of retiring Fizer's jersey has come up from time to time but in this day in age when playing 4 years at the same school is rare I hope whoever determines who deserves that honor finally budges on whatever obstacle it is that has prevented ISU from hanging Fizer's #5 from the rafters of Hilton. Playing 3 years at ISU before going to the NBA in today's culture is a far more common thing and shouldn't be the reason he is denied the honor for not finishing out his 4th year and degree. Hanging #5 from the rafters the same day they honor the Elite 8 team would be a perfect setting. I'm sure Niang's #31 gets hung at some point and he's very deserving of the honor too but Fizer arguably is the best player to ever play at ISU - at worst one of the best for sure and I hope that ISU honors him with that before they hang any other player's jersey.
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Great post. I would also add Tinsley and Monte.
 
mynameisjonas said:
Great post. I would also add Tinsley and Monte.
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Monte probably should at some point, Ejim is in the conversation too. For as good as Tinsley was it was only 2 years so he's debatable to me unfortunately. The 2 teams he was on were 2 of the best ever at ISU but I guess my thing is there has to be some kind of criteria that makes getting your jersey hung from the rafters of Hilton exclusive so there has to be a cutoff somewhere. If I search the all-time records for ISU basketball here's what I did find for Tinsley

Most assists in a single season 99-00
Most steal in a single season 99-00
2nd most triple doubles tied with 5 others at 6
Shows up tied for 4th 9th and 13th for most assists in a single game
9th in career assists (Monte is #1 over Hornacek 768 to 665)
He shows up on several other assists rankings
Most steals in a single season - owns both 1st and 2nd in that. Lipsey is actually 3rd on that list
Most 5+ steal games in a season twice
Surprisingly is 10th for blocks in a season at 37 in 2000

He had a great 2 year stretch for sure. If he was here 3 years I say it would be a no brainer he should have his jersey retired. I kind of view his accomplishments more that he benefited from playing on a great team. Fizer, Nurse, and Horton were a tough trio to shut down and Tinsley could make you pay in transition or hit the open 3 if you left him open. That team would not have gotten as far without him but the pieces as a whole really benefited everyone on that roster as they all played their roles so well.
 
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CYdTracked said:
@ChrisMWilliams and @brentblum thank you for this wonderful interview! As a 2002 alum that got to experience Larry's era of ISU basketball as a student I was glued in listening to this and could have listened to hours more of stories by Larry. Like you guys touched based on that 99-00 team is the gold standard when it comes to the best team in ISU basketball history and probably even the greatest season any ISU sport has had. Really hope next season that ISU embraces celebrating that team on the 25th anniversary as it never really has been given the attention it deserves and I assume part of that is because of how Larry's tenure here ended. But surely enough time has passed and Larry has obviously turned his life around from that low point and owned it and most Cyclone fans still hold him in high regard so it's time to give that team a long overdue celebration. I have so many fond memories of going to games as a student and this was before they ever started Cyclone Alley and moved the students closer to the action. To this day I still don't think there have been games as loud as some of those were during that 99-00 season and maybe even the 00-01 season too.

I know the topic of retiring Fizer's jersey has come up from time to time but in this day in age when playing 4 years at the same school is rare I hope whoever determines who deserves that honor finally budges on whatever obstacle it is that has prevented ISU from hanging Fizer's #5 from the rafters of Hilton. Playing 3 years at ISU before going to the NBA in today's culture is a far more common thing and shouldn't be the reason he is denied the honor for not finishing out his 4th year and degree. Hanging #5 from the rafters the same day they honor the Elite 8 team would be a perfect setting. I'm sure Niang's #31 gets hung at some point and he's very deserving of the honor too but Fizer arguably is the best player to ever play at ISU - at worst one of the best for sure and I hope that ISU honors him with that before they hang any other player's jersey.
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mynameisjonas said:
Great post. I would also add Tinsley and Monte.
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And speaking of hanging a players jersey in the rafters, do we have any?

As far as Fizer, Tinsley, Monte, all good candidates for that honor, as well as a few of the past greats. If we do have some current past players jerseys in the rafters, what is the criteria.
 
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