2009-2010 FIU Golden Panthers Basketball Discussion

[Bobbob1313]

Isiah Thomas' team didn't get totally embarrassed in it's season opener at UNC. Only losing by 16 and staying point for point with them in the 2nd half is mildly impressive, though as expected they couldn't rebound for shit and couldn't do anything at all inside. I like the 15 steals, though.

We could give teams problems in the Sun Belt. That shooting has to get better.

[Bobbob1313]

No. 10 ranked Forward in the nation just signed with FIU, as did a pretty good PG and a JuCo guy who was ranked as the 7th best player in Michigan last year.

[Omar]

Isiah is cleaning house

[Bobbob1313]

Maxpreps has FIU's early signing class ranked 21st in the nation. Pretty impressive.

[Ramp]

Why would any top recruit want to go to FIU?

Not trying to be a dick, just wondering what would go through these kids minds

[Beef]

Isiah Thomas knows what it takes to get to the NBA has quite a few connections with NBA people

[Bobbob1313]

Why would any top recruit want to go to FIU?

Not trying to be a dick, just wondering what would go through these kids minds

Isiah Thomas.

Also, lot's of pretty bitches.

Also we just got $5 million to renovate our arena.

Also it's in Miami, and why wouldn't you want to live in Miami for free if you are 18-22 years old?

Also, Isiah Thomas. You listen to this guy talk for 5 minutes and he'll name drop Coach K, Bobby Knight, Billy Donovan, and about 15 other well known basketball coaches. The guy's got tons of connections, and it's not like the Sun Belt doesn't produce NBA talent. WKU has had some real success in the tournament recently (didn't they beat Duke last season?) and there's a lot of Sun Belt guys in the NBA.

Really, of mid major schools, FIU is a pretty good place to be if you want to make it to the pros. You're going to get tons of exposure just because of who the coach is, and if enough of those guys go, eventually it won't matter who the coach is.

Also, I think one thing that might be influencing these kids is that he's got a ton of connections in the AAU world as well. I think his director of basketball operations was an AAU guy in Chicago and Isiah has been very active in that whole community. So a lot of those guys get nudged on his way, as a lot of AAU coaches are starting to act like de facto agents.

[Mainge]

I like you Bobbob, and I like that you really like your school.

But it's FIU. And if it wasn't for the de facto cage match they had with Miami, no one would have a clue who FIU is.

The other stuff is nice I guess but i think it's safe to say it's 98% on Isiah Thomas.

[Bobbob1313]

Well, yeah. 98% Thomas, but last year we did get a mid to high 80's (by espn's scouting rating) basketball recruit, so it's not all Isiah.

Funny you say that though, Isiah said the only thing he knew about FIU before being offered the job was that they fought Miami.

[Ramp]

Isiah Thomas.
A man that has never coached college ball in his life and has failed miserably pretty much everywhere he has gone since retiring from the NBA as a player.

Also, lot's of pretty bitches.
See: Every major college campus in the country

Also we just got $5 million to renovate our arena.
Again, many schools already have a state of the art facility or whatever.

Also it's in Miami, and why wouldn't you want to live in Miami for free if you are 18-22 years old?
This is just me, but I didn't love it when I lived down there. I like a more campus feel for my college experience. But everyone is different so that's cool.

Also, Isiah Thomas. You listen to this guy talk for 5 minutes and he'll name drop Coach K, Bobby Knight, Billy Donovan, and about 15 other well known basketball coaches. The guy's got tons of connections, and it's not like the Sun Belt doesn't produce NBA talent. WKU has had some real success in the tournament recently (didn't they beat Duke last season?) and there's a lot of Sun Belt guys in the NBA.
First of all, connections mean jackshit if you're trying to get to that next level. At the end of the day, if you're good enough, people are going to notice you. On the other hand, if you're a top 20 recruit at your position wouldn't you rather go to a place that is going to be on national tv a few times month? A place where you're treated like a god? Maybe FIU athletes are treated like gods and I just don't know it, but it still boggles my mind why someone players that are supposedly so good would choose FIU.

Also, I think one thing that might be influencing these kids is that he's got a ton of connections in the AAU world as well. I think his director of basketball operations was an AAU guy in Chicago and Isiah has been very active in that whole community. So a lot of those guys get nudged on his way, as a lot of AAU coaches are starting to act like de facto agents.
Yea, this actually makes some sense. Still, if I'm one of the better HS players in the country, FIU never appears on my list.

Anyway, not trying to pick on FIU, hopefully they get good in a hurry. Would be pretty cool.

[Ramp]

FIU lost 99-70 to Monmouth tonight

[Beef]

I was gon lowell, but I gon be sad when they beat us

[Bobbob1313]

It's not like Isiah's not going to get coverage. His team is going to be on TV solely because of who he is. You'll get noticed playing for him.

If you're a top 20 recruit at your position, would you rather go play right away at a "bad" school with a really high profile coach that's going to get publicity or be the 8th man as a freshman, 6th man as a sophomore not start until you're a junior at a "good" school that's going to get more publicity?

If I'm a less than elite but still very good recruit, I think I'd rather get the ingame experience. If you are the reason Isiah's team is good, you'll get notice. Look at guys coming from like WKU. If you are good, you'll get noticed. Might as well get some PT.

[Ramp]

TULSA — Three games into his college coaching career, Isiah Thomas was already asking for mercy.

Midway through the second half of Florida International’s 81-49 loss at Tulsa on Sunday, Thomas motioned toward his counterpart as if to ask when he’d take his starters out.

A few minutes later, he got vocal with his request, shouting a few words in the direction of Golden Hurricane coach Doug Wojcik. FIU (0-3) was down 63-25 with 8:59 to play after being outscored 27-5 to start the second half.

"It’s a 40-minute game. If you want the truth of it, go back to the (North) Carolina game Monday night, when Carolina was pressing them with 3 minutes left,” Wojcik said, referring to FIU’s 88-72 loss at North Carolina. "I don’t press, and I don’t embarrass anybody. But it’s a 40-minute game, and I’m in this game to get better.

"I’ve never seen anything like that. It was very bizarre.”

Wojcik, who was putting leading scorer Ben Uzoh back into the game, looked back at Thomas and shrugged his shoulders. He pulled 7-footer Jerome Jordan shortly thereafter and Uzoh with more than 5 minutes remaining. He had emptied his entire bench with 3 minutes left.

Wojcik explained that he had only eight scholarship players available.

"There’s 10 minutes left in the game and, to be honest with you, I only have so many guys,” Wojcik said.

Uzoh scored 20 points and Justin Hurtt added 16 to lead Tulsa (2-0).

LOL fantastic

[Bobbob1313]

Ramp doesn't seem to like Isiah Thomas and is going to post in this thread every time his terrible team, that features 5 returning players including just 1 starter, from last year's terrible team, loses.

This team is going to lose a lot more than they win. Nobody expects much of him if they know anything about the team. The fact that he's going to get a lot of razzing when he loses is kind of... not sad, but certainly strange.

His team stinks and he's frustrated with how they played. He also doesn't like that a clearly superior team was left out on the floor for the entire game despite being up 40.

That story also missed the part where he invited Wojcik to play FIU next season.

[Ramp]

I have no problem with Isiah actually. He's the greatest IU player ever and gives back to IU alot.

Unfortunately nearly everything he touches turns to shit and he rubs alot of people the wrong way. I hope he turns things around at FIU but I'd be willing to bet he quits before anything major gets done. Would be nice if I was wrong though.

[Bobbob1313]

With the players he's recruited, he'd have to be retarded not to make at least a couple of tourneys in the 5 years he's got a contract here.

[Ramp]

With the players he's recruited, he'd have to be retarded not to make at least a couple of tourneys in the 5 years he's got a contract here.

Definitely not hating here, but do you mean NCAA tourneys or just postseason in general?

[Bobbob1313]

Definitely not hating here, but do you mean NCAA tourneys or just postseason in general?

NCAA.

Sun Belt conference winner gets an automatic bid, so it's not really that tough.

[Beef]

FIU lost

[Bobbob1313]

FIU lost

We have no size, and we're worse than I thought we'd be.

[Beef]

They looked really bad at making shots in warmups.

[Bobbob1313]

They looked really bad at making shots in warmups.

Yeah. They really do...