The Eustachy File

Well-known ISU Coach Johnny Orr ended his career at ISU in 1993-1994 on a sour note. The Cyclones finished the year 14-13 overall, and 4-10 in the Big 8. Fans felt the disappointment at having this record with a team of junior stars that included Fred Hoiberg (aka “The Mayor”), Loren Meyer, and Julius Michalik.

Mississippi’s favorite son Tim Floyd was hired by ISU from the University of New Orleans, where he had been successful. UNO player Dedric Willoughby followed Floyd to Ames, a fact that would later have great significance to the Cyclone faithful. Floyd’s career began in 1994-1995 with a 23-11 overall record (6-8 in the Big 8). The Cyclones advanced to the Final 32 in the NCAA Tournament. Floyd was able to put together a winning formula with the players he inherited, then seniors Hoiberg, Meyer and Michalik (as per NCAA rules, Willoughby was red shirted that season).

Things began to heat up further in 1995-96 for Floyd as the Cyclones went 24-9 overall, 9-5 in the Big 8, and captured the Big 8 Tournament Championship. They later advanced, once again, to the Final 32 of the NCAA Tournament. Floyd was able to make use of Orr holdover Jacy Holloway at point guard, and mix in the talents of Willoughby and newcomer Kelvin Cato, who transferred from USA.

By this time, Cyclone fans were beginning to feel the momentum. During the recruiting period following the season, ISU landed prized recruit Stevie Johnson from Mississippi. Floyd’s Mississippi connection helped, and the Mississippi connection of Floyd’s assistant from 1994-1996 at ISU, former Southern Miss head coach James Green, also played a vital role.

The 1996-1997 campaign was even more successful, as the Cyclones finished 22-9 overall, 10-6 in the Big XII, and advanced to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament. Many fans remember the amazing show that Willoughby and his Cyclone teammates put on before national audiences. The following recruiting period yielded perhaps the biggest prize in ISU history --- Marcus Fizer.

By this time the NBA was courting Floyd heavily --- rumors were buzzing all around Ames and other parts of the country almost daily --- and the Cyclones slipped to 12-18 overall, and 5-11 in the Big XII. Key components that season were Fizer (Frosh) and Paul Shirley (Soph). This was to be the last chapter at ISU for Floyd, as the Chicago Bulls would lure him away. (Note: Though Floyd failed in the NBA, he took over a lackluster Southern Cal program this year and has propelled them to a 12-6 record thus far, including a win over North Carolina on national television.)

Eustachy came to Aimes, after having coached at smaller programs out west. He inherited a talented group of players. 1998-1999 was not to be a success, however, as the Cyclones went 15-15 overall, and 6-10 in the Big XII. When recruiting started, Eustachy began playing what many in the business refer to as “the JUCO lottery” by signing, almost exclusively, JUCO kids. One of these was Jamal Tinsley.

1999-2000 was a huge year for ISU. The Cyclones finished 32-5 overall, and 14-2 in the Big XII. They were led by Fizer and Johnson (Floyd products) along with Tinsley and Michael Nurse. They reached the Elite 8 in the NCAA Tourney and Eustachy was named National Coach of the Year. There was an element of bad fortune. Tim Floyd’s signee, Marcus Fizer, was so talented he was able to jump to the NBA after just 3 seasons in Ames. The recruiting period produced at least one dividend in Shane Power.

Eustachy followed the Elite 8 year with a 25-6 overall record (13-3 in the Big XII) in 2000-2001 with Tinsley and Shirley. However, as a cap on a successful regular season campaign, the second-seeded Cyclones were upset by a 15-seed in the NCAA Tournament.

The quick departure from the 2001 NCAA Tournament was a sign of things to come. The Cyclones fell dramatically to 12-19 overall (4-12 in the Big XII) in 2001-2002, as things were held together in part by the youngster Power. That’s when another lightning bolt struck. Shane Power decided to take his talents south to Mississippi State University. Now the Magnolia state was beginning to turn against Ames. Regarding Power’s decision, Eustachy told the Iowa State Daily (April 26, 2002) “We want players who want to be in our program. This is part of the transition period for this team. . .”

The next season, 2002-2003, the Cyclones partially rebounded to 17-14 overall (5-11 in the Big XII), but they were ousted in the first round of the NIT. A key player on that team was freshman Adam Haluska, who has since transferred to the University of Iowa.

But, it was in the middle of this “apparent recovery” season that the wheels fell off. Eustachy went to a Missouri frat party after an ISU loss in Columbia. By now, everyone knows the rest of this episode. He was later dismissed by the University.

Wayne Morgan stepped up to salvage what was left in Ames. He immediately made two brilliant moves by securing the talents of prep stars Curtis Stinson and Will Blalock. This freshmen guard combo would lead the Cyclones to a 20-13 overall record (7-9 in the Big XII) in 2003-2004 and an appearance in the NIT Final 4 at Madison Square Garden.

Morgan followed his first year of success by bringing in another hoops talent (Clark), who combined with the now well-regarded Stinson-Blalock combo to lead ISU to a 19-12 overall record (9-7 in Big XII) in 2004-2005. They also advanced to the Final 32 of the NCAA Tournament. As for 2005-2006, ISU stands at 12-5 overall, led by Stinson, Blalock and others. They appear to be headed into another March Madness scenario. Wayne Morgan looks to be the right man for the task in Ames.

In assessing Larry Eustachy, I found much of the accepted commentary on him to be misleading at best. His overall record at ISU from 1998-2003 was 101-59, but he was only 42-38 in Big XII play. Additionally, after losing Tim Floyd’s prized signees Fizer and Johnson, Eustachy’s ISU teams were only 54-39 overall, and 22-26 in Big XII play. After Floyd’s last player left (Paul Shirley), Eustachy’s ISU teams went 29-33 overall and 9-23 in Big XII play. Finally, in has last 3.5 seasons in coaching, Eustachy is 37-61 overall.

Other aspects of the report above are worth taking note of. Shane Power went on to be a very important component of a successful run at Mississippi State. Though he was very reserved and gracious upon leaving, Eustachy providing the now well-known verbal harrassment of a player who moves on from his program. As you know, he has done that a number of times since arriving at USM in 2004. He also fell to a new low by pushing out a proven star in Jasper Johnson. Johnson was huge in Eustachy’s signature win --- a victory over LSU in 2004 --- at Southern Miss.

Another pattern I notice is Eustachy‘s penchant for “the JUCO lottery” approach. It mostly failed at ISU, with the major exception of Jamal Tinsley. I believe Eustachy must have thought he had repeated that coup when he got Rashad Carruth to come to USM from the JUCO ranks. The former McDonald’s High School All American eventually played on a Golden Eagles team that went 11-17 overall and 2-14 in Conference-USA before leaving Hattiesburg. He continues to rely heavily on this approach now at USM.

Bottom line, Eustachy wins with NBA-level talent, and loses without it. The problem is that he shows no ability to attract that type of talent to anywhere. In short, it’s all smoke and mirrors. But, I could be wrong.