vs #10 Evansville - 2024 MVC Tournament First Round - Thursday, 3/7/2024 - 6 pm - Bally Sports

[Adunk33]

First off, shout out to the Vidette for their article and coverage throughout the season. They are the best at covering ISU right now and it's not close. Randy at the Pantagraph is doing his best but when you are the only sports reporter in town and are tasked with covering every sport, it's tough.

That said, quotes on a page don't do much for me. I'm a 2x grad of the ISU School of Comm and feel that there is so much more to what is said, how it's said and how questions are asked. So, feel free to watch all of the quotes yourself and take what you will away from them.




I've mentioned my expectations for Pedon several times. Year 1, lay the foundation and establish culture. I think he did that. Year 2, start to be competitive in games and finish middle of the pack. Until last night, I would say he did that. Needed a win at the Arch to even have a chance of saying this season was a success.

At the end of the day, water finds its level and last night the Birds were the team they've been for all 17 of their losses and probably 5 or so of their wins. Though, in those 17 losses, they had a chance to win most of them. Some roster shake up will happen for sure. But I'm also in the camp that there needs to be some shake up on the staff as well. I documented a few weeks back how inexperienced the staff was as a whole. I think Pedon would benefit greatly from having a Barry Hinson type on his staff to help him manage in-game situations.

Keep Johnny at all costs. Watch the video, linked above. The kid gives a damn. That's for sure.

 

[Adunk33]

Too soon to talk about the complete mismanagement of Walker and the redshirt/not redshirt fiasco?

What a waste of eligibility.

Question- Do you think Walker will be a Redbird for the next three years?

You've also posted that you're worried about ISU's ability to keep him.

So, if you don't think he'll be a Redbird for the next three years, why do you care about burning one of his years of eligibility?

 

[TBus_Birds]

First off, shout out to the Vidette for their article and coverage throughout the season. They are the best at covering ISU right now and it's not close. Randy at the Pantagraph is doing his best but when you are the only sports reporter in town and are tasked with covering every sport, it's tough.

That said, quotes on a page don't do much for me. I'm a 2x grad of the ISU School of Comm and feel that there is so much more to what is said, how it's said and how questions are asked. So, feel free to watch all of the quotes yourself and take what you will away from them.

Feel free to enlighten us all on the proper questions to ask then

Not sure what your grad record has to do with any of this?

 

[ScoreboardDotRace]

Year 1, lay the foundation and establish culture. I think he did that.

I’m still not exactly sure what the culture is?
I wonder what they think it is.

 

[Sladerunningbear]

Tired of it.

Spread it.

 

[SgtHulka]

He should be looking at a staff shakeup as well, because this is not working.

First off, shout out to the Vidette for their article and coverage throughout the season. They are the best at covering ISU right now and it's not close. Randy at the Pantagraph is doing his best but when you are the only sports reporter in town and are tasked with covering every sport, it's tough.

That said, quotes on a page don't do much for me. I'm a 2x grad of the ISU School of Comm and feel that there is so much more to what is said, how it's said and how questions are asked. So, feel free to watch all of the quotes yourself and take what you will away from them.




I've mentioned my expectations for Pedon several times. Year 1, lay the foundation and establish culture. I think he did that. Year 2, start to be competitive in games and finish middle of the pack. Until last night, I would say he did that. Needed a win at the Arch to even have a chance of saying this season was a success.

At the end of the day, water finds its level and last night the Birds were the team they've been for all 17 of their losses and probably 5 or so of their wins. Though, in those 17 losses, they had a chance to win most of them. Some roster shake up will happen for sure. But I'm also in the camp that there needs to be some shake up on the staff as well. I documented a few weeks back how inexperienced the staff was as a whole. I think Pedon would benefit greatly from having a Barry Hinson type on his staff to help him manage in-game situations.

Keep Johnny at all costs. Watch the video, linked above. The kid gives a damn. That's for sure.

The Vidette is one of the few bright spots there was this year. They do a fantastic job. The Pantagraph is a dinosaur and isn’t making the right moves to make it in the digital world. ISU needs to continue to prioritize making them and ZND the media face of athletics. The churn of talented writers has been impressive in recent years. These folks are hungry, not riding it out till retirement.

The game sucked from the get go. We need perimeter help big time. The HS kids are a good start. Johnny is better as the off guard. Get a taller ball handler a couple of marksmen and a Lewis replacement

Would like to see staff changes too. Pedon needs a side kick upgrade. Our handling of timeouts, fouls to give… are head scratchers

 

[stielowp]

I don’t think anyone is worrying about JK at all. Why would there be? He’s a baller straight up

I think the worry is that he will get frustrated at the losing culture and leave in the portal.

 

[stielowp]

Or they could just unionize (aka Dartmouth) and complete muck-up any decency left in the game.

Unionizing could be a lot harder for major college schools. I am not so sure the revenue generating sports are so eager to take on the issues, requests and complaints of the non-revenue sports. I think ultimately they will realize they have it pretty good right now.

 

[redbirds2000]

I think the worry is that he will get frustrated at the losing culture and leave in the portal.

JK is staying next year. Book it! If he doesn't, come back to this comment and roast me!

 

[Adunk33]

Feel free to enlighten us all on the proper questions to ask then

Not sure what your grad record has to do with any of this?

I don't think the wrong questions were asked. I think the reporters did a nice job. I just find value in having the context to what question was asked, is all. In a world where folks tend to only read headlines, it's easy to forget that context means something.

 

[stielowp]

JK is staying next year. Book it! If he doesn't, come back to this comment and roast me!

I agree with you 100%. He will be back next year. If we don't take a step forward next year (top 4 in MVC), my guess is that he will look elsewhere. The dude wants to win and if ISU doesn't provide that for him, somewhere else will. I think you will see that is probably pretty common with all programs. I am not sure we have a full roster with players like that, which is why Pedon needs to weed out those that don't have that true desire to win.

Two needs I think we MUST have for next year:

1) PG (or at least a combo guard to share the duty with JK)
2) Athletic 4 (to replace Lewis) - we will miss his flexibility and athleticism regardless of his flaws

 

[TBus_Birds]

I don't think the wrong questions were asked. I think the reporters did a nice job. I just find value in having the context to what question was asked, is all. In a world where folks tend to only read headlines, it's easy to forget that context means something.

All good, makes sense. I was overly harsh there, my apologies. Just know firsthand (as many others on here do) it's a tough business and I tip my cap to anyone, regardless of outlet, who is in the trenches doing it every day.

 

[The Beak]

I don’t think anyone is worrying about JK at all. Why would there be? He’s a baller straight up

There have been a number of posters here in the past month worrying the JK ,Chase, and Foster would hit the portal.

 

[Moreorless]

JK is staying next year. Book it! If he doesn't, come back to this comment and roast me!

Exactly. Look what the kid have achieved since being inserted into the starting line up. He’s a crowed favorite feeling nothing but love. Can he perform at a higher clip at a High Major Program? Maybe maybe not. JK have no reason to leave this program. Coaches have their trust in him, he’s confident and has become a leader of this team already. HE WILL BE BACK……

 

[SlackBooDom]

Two portal / roster thoughts…

1. Kinziger’s size is going to keep him from getting poached by anyone of any reputable conference. He’s young and will get stronger, but he is small. Go watch some of the conference games. Go watch what UIC did to him. He’s not going to be able to guard at a level that warrants someone wanting him in the portal. Maybe the offense more than makes up for it down the road, but we haven’t seen that yet.

2. I do not think Walker is a must-keep. Willing to be wrong on this one but I don’t see what everyone else does there.

 

[Aggie]

I understand people wanting to support ISU basketball no matter what and people that may be friends of the current coaches, management, staff and employed by ISU trying to look at the sunny side of this program. But, the big but is hardly anyone in central Illinois within an hour’s driving distance cares what happens with this program. That was not the case in the 80s and 90s. There were a lot of “casual” fans that showed up as recently as the débâcle against UCF in the NIT tournament. Which is becoming distant history. With the portal and ball players wanting to play two years should show you what to expect in the future. It is a different ballgame today. Look at Southern, a guy at Champaign and a guy at Purdue makes them a lot different ball club, but, yes another but, what did they do to backfill the departures?

ISU needs to turn the losing into winning very quickly or who would want to come here. Players that didn’t see the court where they were at? Foster was a great pick up but in this day and age one probably needs three of them every year, not just to add but to replace what will leave. I will take the one and dones if they get ISU back to respectability.

Just get ISU back to being a top four finisher in the valley. That is not a real big ask.

As for the culture comments and assessment. ISU had another losing season. End of the day wins versus losses, how far did you advance in STL, and did you dance either NIT or NCAA. Build a respectable program which for the average fan is based on the measuring sticks above. Anything else is a reflection of not only how far the program has fallen ,but also how far our own expectations have fallen.

 

[Scipio]

Exactly. Look what the kid have achieved since being inserted into the starting line up. He’s a crowed favorite feeling nothing but love. Can he perform at a higher clip at a High Major Program? Maybe maybe not. JK have no reason to leave this program. Coaches have their trust in him, he’s confident and has become a leader of this team already. HE WILL BE BACK……

JK is a winner in a loser program. I’m in the group that believes he stays next season. But if next season ends up like this one; he’s gone. You must have a program that quality players want to play for and stay at. Facing facts; that’s not ISU.

 

[Scipio]

I understand people wanting to support ISU basketball no matter what and people that may be friends of the current coaches, management, staff and employed by ISU trying to look at the sunny side of this program. But, the big but is hardly anyone in central Illinois within an hour’s driving distance cares what happens with this program. That was not the case in the 80s and 90s. There were a lot of “casual” fans that showed up as recently as the débâcle against UCF in the NIT tournament. Which is becoming distant history. With the portal and ball players wanting to play two years should show you what to expect in the future. It is a different ballgame today. Look at Southern, a guy at Champaign and a guy at Purdue makes them a lot different ball club, but, yes another but, what did they do to backfill the departures?

ISU needs to turn the losing into winning very quickly or who would want to come here. Players that didn’t see the court where they were at? Foster was a great pick up but in this day and age one probably needs three of them every year, not just to add but to replace what will leave. I will take the one and dones if they get ISU back to respectability.

Just get ISU back to being a top four finisher in the valley. That is not a real big ask.

As for the culture comments and assessment. ISU had another losing season. End of the day wins versus losses, how far did you advance in STL, and did you dance either NIT or NCAA. Build a respectable program which for the average fan is based on the measuring sticks above. Anything else is a reflection of not only how far the program has fallen ,but also how far our own expectations have fallen.

Another fan said to me during the last days of the Muller era that ‘sometimes programs fall so low they can’t be brought back’. Given the portal and NIL money, ISU may be one of those programs. But what can you do? Stick with the Birds or get a lobotomy and become a Bradley fan. As a long suffering Cubs and Bears fan I guess I’ll stick with the Birds and hope for a miracle.

 

[Moreorless]

JK is a winner in a loser program. I’m in the group that believes he stays next season. But if next season ends up like this one; he’s gone. You must have a program that quality players want to play for and stay at. Facing facts; that’s not ISU.

I believe every kid on a college basketball roster across the country are all winners. JK will have a great collegiate career. All programs bottom up sometimes or another, rebuild and start winning. I think the program is headed in the right direction. Hopefully he will stay for 4 years. At the end of the day the landscape has changed. All I know is ISU will be better off with him than without him.

 

[Redbird222]

JK is staying next year. Book it! If he doesn't, come back to this comment and roast me!

I feel the same way