Brandon Wiesemann added as graduate assistant

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not to disrespect the Track and XC guys, and not that it matters much, but, I'm just curious how a former collegiate Track/XC guy gets a gig as a grad assistant job at a D-I mid-major.

I guess it doesn't matter that much, I don't imagine he'll be drawing up the play for a last-second-shot.
 
SycfromBirth said:
not to disrespect the Track and XC guys, and not that it matters much, but, I'm just curious how a former collegiate Track/XC guy gets a gig as a grad assistant job at a D-I mid-major.

I guess it doesn't matter that much, I don't imagine he'll be drawing up the play for a last-second-shot.
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Not sure I follow? Lots of coaches never played the game. I'd imagine this is natural progression considering he was the student assistant with the Racer's basketball team last season, no? Looked like he was a business major at Murray State as an undergrad so more power to him using his enjoyment of basketball to get his masters at Indiana State.
 
Ya, look at SSOM...I hear he's under "special contract" w/ the OK City Thunder - a sort-of pipeline from the TH Boys Club relationship!

Seriously, you'd thought that Lansing could've brought in an EXPERIENCED "big man" coach. Guess he's not concerned about our prowess inside.
 
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BankShot said:
Ya, look at SSOM...I hear he's under "special contract" w/ the OK City Thunder - a sort-of pipeline from the TH Boys Club relationship!

Seriously, you'd thought that Lansing could've brought in an EXPERIENCED "big man" coach. Guess he's not concerned about our prowess inside.
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You keep saying this. The kid is an UNPAID grad assistant. Did you forward Lansing a list of big men coaching candidates that would move to Terre Haute and coach up our big men for free? Padgett is a PAID assistant at IUPUI.
 
Jason Svoboda said:
You keep saying this. The kid is an UNPAID grad assistant. Did you forward Lansing a list of big men coaching candidates that would move to Terre Haute and coach up our big men for free? Padgett is a PAID assistant at IUPUI.
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I can't agree more. Taking a chance on an unpaid graduate assistant is much different than paying someone a full salary...
 

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Taking a chance on an unpaid graduate assistant? Someone is going to have to help my understand...??? He is a grad assistant, he will help get copies made, he will help create powerpoints, he will help fun drills in practice, he will make sure that all team members are on the bus, he will log tape, he will help with statistical analysis that coach requests. He will in essence be an assistant to the coaches, so he can learn from them and gain some experience? Its not like he was hired as a coach. He may want to be one someday, but while he is studying at ISU he is going to be put into a situation where he can gain some valuable experience...what or how is that a bad thing for any of the parties involved?
 
Sackalot said:
Taking a chance on an unpaid graduate assistant? Someone is going to have to help my understand...??? He is a grad assistant, he will help get copies made, he will help create powerpoints, he will help fun drills in practice, he will make sure that all team members are on the bus, he will log tape, he will help with statistical analysis that coach requests. He will in essence be an assistant to the coaches, so he can learn from them and gain some experience? Its not like he was hired as a coach. He may want to be one someday, but while he is studying at ISU he is going to be put into a situation where he can gain some valuable experience...what or how is that a bad thing for any of the parties involved?
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That was my point...the risk to reward ratio on that is heavily weighted in the rewards section...just a personal opinion.
 
Someone on here doesn't really sound like a Sycamore fan most of the time? Must be way too smart for all of the rest of us I guess?
 
Not really having a horse in this race as I can understand the unpaid assistant title . I think and tend to agree seeing a lack of improvement in the is frustrating and should be addressed . Is the hiring of a grad assistant the answer to our woes? no but it hurts nothing at all. . However if we want to truly be a contender year in and year out we have to land some help in this area or we are pissing in the wind .
 
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I understand fully the alleged "free" consequences of the graduate assistant role, but as DAVEINTH so aptly stated, unless we deal w/ the need of increasing the productivity of our INSIDE RECRUITS, we're "pissing in the wind."

If Lansing would've hired a G.A. w/ big-time basketball experience capable of lending insight to post player development, that's another story.

Rah rah rah...GO Trees!
 

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Hey did you happen to notice Murray State's record of 28 and 1 with this young man as a Manager there? Grad Assistants are just that, guys getting their master's. And did you happen to know that his coach Steve Prohm at MSU, was the OVC coach of the year and came up through the same ranks, working as a manager, then a grad assistant, then an assistant coach and now head coach of the team that was last year's longest reigning national undefeated team?
 
Where's the OVC ranked as far a national power ratings? I'm not impressed...and I know what our (ISU) needs are, based on past performance & incoming player profiles.

The OVC & MVC are both mid-major conferences, and that's where the similarity ends.
 
At least MSU has been in the NCAA tournaments the past couple of years. So, correct me if I am wrong, don't the Sycamores have to finish somewhere close to the top of the MVC to be competitive in the National Power Ratings? Don't remember seeing them in the ratings the past couple of years. At least Murray was there.
 
SycfromBirth said:
not to disrespect the Track and XC guys, and not that it matters much, but, I'm just curious how a former collegiate Track/XC guy gets a gig as a grad assistant job at a D-I mid-major.

I guess it doesn't matter that much, I don't imagine he'll be drawing up the play for a last-second-shot.
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Well I would imagine that he has the ability to draw up a play for a last-second-shot if they needed him to do so and if he can't then your probably right he doesn't have a place in college basketball. That said he is a Graduate Assistant and is learning the ropes.

Just because a kid doesn't play college basketball doesn't mean he is not fit to be a college basketball coach. What is important to me is that he was a college athlete, I don't really care what sport he played. I have always contended that by being a college athlete you have a little more insight into the college athletics system - you know what goes into it and you know exactly what it takes to be successful and you know what it takes to fail - as a college athlete you have likely done both at some point or another. But just as track and field or any other sport is not a pre requisite for being a college basketball coach, being a college athlete or not doesn't automatically deem someone incapable.

Let me close with this, even though I was a college track athlete I would honestly say that I think (that is usually a dangerous activity for me) that I know more about basketball than ever did track. Yeah I knew a lot about track and I know enough about it to be dangerous in coaching kids at St. Patrick Middle School the last 3 years. But I grew up on basketball - that is my first love, I was never big enough to be taken seriously on a basketball floor. I was 5'8 150 lbs, basketball as a player was never going to be in the cards for me even though the ultimate goal for me was to play college basketball - had to settle with track. lol So don't assume cause someone ran track, or played baseball, or ran cross country, or played football that they wouldn't be fit to be a basketball coach.
 
Luthermaxwell said:
At least MSU has been in the NCAA tournaments the past couple of years. So, correct me if I am wrong, don't the Sycamores have to finish somewhere close to the top of the MVC to be competitive in the National Power Ratings? Don't remember seeing them in the ratings the past couple of years. At least Murray was there.
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Are you on here to make light of how good Murray was last year or point out to us that GA's play a vital role in college athletics? What's your agenda?

Look - Murray State was good last year, I wouldn't contribute much of that success to a GA or student manager. They do play an important role in college athletics and are often times closer to the players than the coaches ever get. That said, when you step between the lines not a whole lot that GA or manger is going to do to impact the outcome of the game.

Fact of the matter is, if we need a big mans coach then we should probably not be looking for an unpaid GA to fill that void. After all, whatever happened to just welcoming the new guy that you don't know anything about to the Terre Haute community and Indiana State campus with open arms. Maybe, just maybe some of that Racer magic will rub off on the Sycamores this year!?!?

Welcome to the Trees, where we debate everything from race, to gun laws, to the role of graduate assistants to... You get the point!

BTW Bank, love the avatar image! Cool picture!
 
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Got it from one if my old ISU Media Guides...can't validate the year, but on the back is a pic of "the new fountain" in front of Gillum Hall (whatever year that was featured). The phenomenal Salty Seamon drew it...boy was that guy GOOD!

*** I don't mean to get down on the new G.A...was just looking for someone w/1st hand BIG TIME experience to help groom our big men. These guys (Kitch, Gant, RJ, Samuels, et al) have GREAT potential - their development is crucial to ISU's success. Whatever happened to JAY TUNNEL, who once expressed interest in being a G.A. & getting his MBA @ ISU?
 
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We're still talking about a grad assistant right, not an actual coach?

I'm sure he'll do a good job. I'm sure he picked up some quality experience at Murray State. Welcome aboard, Brandon.

As for power ratings, I don't know how much those matter, but Indiana State was in the NCAA Tournament the year before last, so ...
 
Well, it seems that your consensus is the team needs a "big time coach" and my opinion is the GA was being thrown under the bus was not necessary. You have to realize the hiring that was done was the schools/coaches decision. Then leave the GA out of the mix. He came from a winning program and he was a huge part of it. If you feel the Sycamores need a big time paid coach, then that's a whole nother story. And I hope that Brandon can bring some of the Racer magic to the Sycamores...... Go Sycamores!!!!
 
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