Williams and Blum Podcast
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The WB Show: February 23

7:14 PM


Williams and I chat about I-State's ugly loss to K-State, Hilton Magic "vanishing," Baylor's struggles and Craig Brackins starring in the Matrix. Click to listen.
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The WB Show: February 17

4:33 PM


Williams and I discuss I-State's guard problem, Dom Buckley's PT and the Brackins to the NBA chatter.
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The WB Show: February 15th

11:36 AM

Williams and I discuss last night's NBA Dunk Contest, which former Cyclone would be the best in a dunk contest, Shawn Taggart's cell phones, Shaq's wife and Blum being dunked on by a former I-State football player. Click to listen. 

 
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My New Broadcasting Hero

4:51 PM
As you all know...Williams and I are both broadcasters for our day job. But...needless to say neither of us are anywhere near the talent level of Florida Panther's broadcaster Randy Moller. Just listen to this awesomeness. 



I am anxiously awaiting Williams to break one of these out for the girls regional final in Southwest Iowa this week. Make it happen CW.
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Don't Get Buffaloed

4:10 PM





It has been far too long friends. Lately, we've been about as active on here as Shawn Taggart playing defense. My apologies.

But onto the topic at hand.

The Colorado Buffs come to Ames tonight. This usually equates to good things. Even in the Chauncey B-B-B-Billups days the kids from Boulder never had success.

I distinctively remember a ranked Colorado team visiting Ames in 1997. My 12 year old self was in attendance in section 124 and roaming the concourse behind me was then Milwaukee GM Mike Dunleavy, closely following him was Dallas' Don Nelson and also in attendance that night was Jerry Krause (who surprisingly was not eating a ho-ho.) I was quite proud of the fact I recognized three NBA GM's, while other twelve year olds were playing Sonic the Hedgehog on their underrated game gear. (Game Boy Color was just a Game Gear hater.)

Turns out they were there to see Mr. Billups, Mr. Cato and as we would find out Tim Floyd as well. Thanks Jerry!

#13 ISU won the game that night 65-54 over #19 CU, as Shawn "The Forehead" Bankhead did a number on the All-American Billups.

That was part of a 15 game winning streak at Hilton for the Clones over the Buffs. That streak ended in 2005, in a 54-52 OT loss to CU in a game that was an early indicator of the demise Wayne Morgan would see the next season. This was the Andy Osborn game...you remember him, the clown who wore the long socks and who I could all but guarantee is familiar with Michael Phelps' water-bong activities. "Osbong" hit a three in OT to give CU the two point win in one of the most lackluster performances I have seen from an Iowa State team. That was not fun.

ISU has since won three straight over the Buffs. Win four tonight would be a huge shot in the arm. These guys need a victory in the worst way. It's been almost a month since the last one. Confidence is so fragile for most of these guys, I don't want to envision what being swept by a bad Colorado team would do. Positive thoughts.

I won't be able to watch the game because the Magic host Denver and of all people Chauncey Billups. If only the Magic had "The Forehead" Bankhead on the roster.




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I'm Sick and Tired of Losing to K-State!

11:31 PM
This speech by Robert Montgomery Knight always makes me feel better after an Iowa State loss. Just insert the team Iowa State lost to in for Purdue and you're set. In this case it's K-State. 

(Warning, very extreme language)


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A Ridiculously Long Collection of Thoughts

9:41 AM

What a start to the week. I still can't get over the fact that the last play in the Super Bowl wasn't reviewed. All of my referee friends agree (Yes, I have lots of referee friends)...I received about a dozen text messages within seconds of the end of the game, saying to some extent, "How the eff was that not reviewed!?!?!"


I had the same feeling after the 2001 Independence Bowl, where I still maintain Tony Yelk's kick was good. That still pisses me off to this day.

Onto other Iowa State matters....not looking forward to the result tonight in Manhattan. Very little good has happened there for the good guys. They haven't won there in eight years!! And back in the early part of the decade, K-State was rolling players out there like Pervis Pasco and Gilson DeJesus. (K-State always has some of the Major League (the movie), "Who are these effing guys?")

I don't have fond memories of Bramlage Coliseum either. Last year, while broadcasting with the women's basketball team I got lost in the bowels of that god-forsaken place while trying to leave. The signage is very poor in the Bramlage basement. I ended up taking a wrong exit, got locked out, circled the outside of the place while carrying all of the radio equipment in sub zero temperatures, before finally locating the only entrance to the media parking lot. It was disastrous.

Let's hope the men can break the Bramlage hex tonight and John Walters and Eric Heft escape the place in an efficient manner.
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This may deserve it's own post at some point, but I stumbled across some interesting info in regards to Iowa State's ability to get to the free-throw line. As my fifth grade AAU coach told me, "Blum, since you can't make a shot ....at least try to get fouled." That coach was more than likely being sarcastic, but he had a point. The Cyclones I'm sure have been told similar things, yet they don't seem to be reacting to said information. Check this out:


In 96-97 ISU was 86th in the nation in FT's attempted
97-98: 90th
98-99: 187th
99-00: 10th
00-01: 123rd
01-02: 228th
02-03: 213th
03-04: 13th
04-05: 76th
05-06: 24th
06-07: 196th
07-08: 244th
This year: 326th!!!

Brackins and DG have combined for 207 of the 322 FT's this season. Only Justin Hamilton is averaging any more than 1 FT a game (23 attempts in 21 games).

I relate free throws in basketball to a Johan Santana in baseball. They can stop the bleeding and end draughts. Most great teams get to the line regularly. (UCONN is #2 in the nation in FT's attempted, Oklahoma is #4, Xavier is #9 Marquette is #10, North Carolina #13.)

That's where Colvin and Gilstrap will greatly help next season.
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Now for your Craig Brackins draft update. Brackins helped himself quite a bit Saturday in his matchup with Blake Griffin and OU. Although, Blake only guarded CB about a dozen times, Brackins showed he could score on a taller, athletic defender. CB took it at him, had a couple and1's and also hit a turnaround on Blake in the post. But, perhaps just as importantly Craig battled on the glass with OU, grabbing a dozen rebounds.

Draft Express (who I think is the most reputable NBA draft site) continued their meteoric rise of Brackins, moving him up to the #8 overall pick in the 2010 Draft. He was in the low 30's 12 days ago. Again, that's the 2010 draft, but needless to say people are starting to notice Craigers.
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-Final thought....With signing day tomorrow, ISU has a chance to sign a guy nicknamed Pooh Bear and another guy named Money. Meanwhile, current Cyclone "Bo" Williams has changed his name on Cyclones.com to Johnny. Henceforth, I want to be known as the Bullet.

And now for the YouTube clip of the day.

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I Wouldn't Hire Bob Knight...

8:59 AM
So the General is talking about making a return to coaching. Yesterday, Knight was quoted saying that if the "right situation" came open; he'd love to coach again. I'd love to see him coach another time. Bob Knight is one of my favorite sports personalities of all-time. Luckily for Knight, he works at ESPN. Yesterday, the worldwide leader reported information about Knight's possible return from an anonymous source. I guarantee you that Knight was the guy feeding this story information. This happens all the time in sports. If a sports figure, usually a big-name, wants/needs something to happen, they call their best friend in the media to file one of these reports. So yesterday, Knight went on the ESPN gauntlet of interviews throwing his name out into the mix for not only the Georgia job, but also any other soon-to-be opening throughout the country.

Though I love the General, I wouldn't hire him if I were a modern day athletic director. Not only is he old, he hasn't been a consistent winner for quite some time. The one thing that Knight can bring to a program right now is a big name. If a program was having problem selling some tickets, bring him on. After all, that's what Tech did when the hired him.

Other than that, I say away from the greatest college basketball coach of all-time.
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Quick Thoughts on Oklahoma Game

9:48 AM
The Clones are taking on 5th ranked Oklahoma later on today and to be brutally honest with all of you, I don't have a good feeling about this one. Actually, I have mixed emotions. Hear me out.

I'm positive because there is absolutely no way that ISU's offensive production can be as bad as it has been the past two games again. The starting back court has combined for 12 points in two games. Lucca has been terrible. Things have to improve. It's inevitable. I think that Lucca will hit some shots today and start to break out of his slump.

I'm negative because other than Craig Brackins and Lucca, there really is nobody on this team who has proven that they can step up and score points consistently. Justin Hamilton has flirted with being consistent but the match-up today certainly doesn't favor the freshman. DG has been horrible lately and has no confidence. Peterson is a role player. Off the bench, I don't see anybody capable of scoring 15 points. In order to pull an upset today, the Clones have to have three players produce offensively. Brackins will do it. I have a feeling Lucca will hit some shots.

Who is that third guy? Does he exist?

I hope so.
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The WB Breakdown: Sammy the Owl

11:20 PM
I consider myself a YouTube veteran. I have watched a number of flash videos in the past several years (no...not talking about THAT kind), but I must say the clip I watched today has to be, if not the best video of all time, in my top three. Here it is if you haven't seen it already.




Let's break this down Ron Jaworski style.

The video starts off in the sparsely populated Rice gymnasium in what is obviously a fantasticly generic Conference USA game. The Owls are apparently nursing a five point lead with just under eight minutes remaining.

:10 in...The Green Wave player goes Dancing with the Stars and takes a few extra steps. A travel is correctly called.

:21 The camera switches and we notice Curtis Shaw is in a conversation with a mascot. Which is hilarious to begin with because mascots aren't supposed to talk when in mascot form.

:22 Great job by the play-by-play guy Carter Blackburn (a young up-and-comer) to quickly identify not only the official, but also to know the Rice Owl mascot is named Sammy. Trust me, this is admirable. And why is the Owl named Sammy? This seems to be quite random. I expected a Riley or a Ollie, but Sammy???

:25 Sammy puts his right wing out in a WTF man gesture. Curtis Shaw responds with the disgusted get outta here finger point. I was hoping for the over-extended arm motion a la a home plate umpire, but beggers can't be choosers.

:26 Shaw points not once or twice, but FOUR times that Sammy is ejected and is clearly motioning for some back-up, while Sammy looks disappointedly at said back-up.

:27 THIS IS THE BEST PART. Sammy, who is satisfied he has put up the good fight takes a step toward Shaw and gives him the "Well, see ya later" salute. This kills me every time. Do yourself a favor and re-watch that several times.

:29 Sammy shakes the hand of the suit administrator, as if to say, "Sir, my job here is done." Meanwhile, pxp guy Carter Blackburn continues to do a great job with his high pitched, "Sammy the owl has been EJECTED from the game!" Former UVA coach and color guy Pete Gillen with a well timed, "Poor Sammy."

:31 Sammy poses to the crowd with the classic two palm up gesture.

Play then continues as usual, Shaw seemingly have no effect from the dramatic ejection. The man has cold blood my friends, ice cold blood.

:43 Luckily, Carter Blackburn won't let it go. He gives a solid :20 second recap of the traumatic events. "Yes, there is an interesting basketball game going on, but that has to be the most memorable moment of the night." (And this is why we televise Rice-Tulane basketball.)

1:05 Pete Gillen, "Curtis is right, I'm proud of him. You can't let the mascot muscle you. That's my philosophy" Is this an ongoing problem you see Pete? Did the Cavalier in Virginia try to gun you down?

1:38 Yes! Replay of the altercation. Everything looks normal until Sammy goes Urlacher on us and lowers the boom on Shaw for no particular reason!!! What is he doing??

1:44 Shaw responds with a "You better step off me Owl" jab step at Sammy.

1:46 Sammy points down like a coach, "Hey man I'm in my box, I'm in my box."

1:58 Reverse Angle! Camera from the baseline shows the disgusted Shaw. Great production work.

2:03 Sammy walks off in slow motion. Look at all the Rice Owl fans in attendance. And just in case Sammy has bad intentions, two suits follow him out of the arena as if they're secret service. Gillen: "No owl food for you tonight."

2:10 Close up of Shaw with the, "That's even a new one for me" look.

2:11 Excellent graphic under Shaw, "SAMMY THE OWL-EJECTED." Purely hilarious.

2:12 Blackburn: "The Owl wasn't so wise." Ahh...awful puns. Broadcasters can't help it.

2:21 Gillen wraps it up, "He doesn't take any baloney from mascots or cheerleaders," while Shaw is glancing around thinking, "Who's Next...you shut your mouth when you're talking to me."

Just a tour-de-force of awesomeness. I'd like to thank Carter Blackburn, Pete Gillen, the CBS College Sports Production Crew, the suits who escorted Sammy out of the arena, Curtis Shaw and most importantly Sammy for the clip of the year. Good night now.
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The WB Show: January 28

8:05 PM
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Williams and I discuss Iowa State's ugly loss in Boulder. And what is going wrong with the men's basketball team.


Visit this link to download the .mp3 file.
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Cyclone Fans: Time to Start Sweating

10:01 AM
I had a high school double-header to call last night and when I got home, I tuned into the second half of the Iowa State-Colorado game on ESPN360.com. I wish that I didn't. I was so frustrated with Iowa State's 55-49 loss to Colorado that I couldn't fall asleep until close to 2 AM Iowa time. The problem is that I do morning drive for my radio station meaning I'm at work by 5 AM.

This season is becoming frustrating on so many levels. First of all, what in the world has happened to Lucca? Ever since that six trey outburst against Nebraska, he's been terrible. That's beside the point.

My main problem with what's going on this season is how I feel the Clones are wasting what could be Craig Brackins' last year in college. Maybe, maybe not. If he'll go pro is still up for debate but I'd hate to throw a player like that's final year down the tube with three conference victories.

All it takes is one other guy to step up and play well. Lucca, DG, Brian Peterson. I don't really care. SOMEBODY else has to step up to help this guy out. The last four minutes of that game last night pushed me to my limit.

Meanwhile, the Clones get Oklahoma on Saturday in Hilton. Two of the best players in the conference (Brackins and Blake Griffin) will match-up and that should be a treat for everyone in attendance.

We'll have more up on the site later today including our picks for tonight and possibly a new podcast. I need to talk to Blum to see if he's going to be able to record. Have a good day!
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Brackins an NBA Player Now

6:53 PM
With today's virtuoso performance by Craig Brackins, the inevitable Brackins to the NBA chatter picked up some steam.

If you have listened to the podcasts recently (check out the January 15th podcast for specifics...about 6 minutes in), you know my feeling that Brackins is destined for the NBA at some point. Today made me sound a lot smarter than I probably am. 42 points and 14 rebounds against Kansas and fellow NBA prospect Cole Aldrich will move Craig from the "intriguing prospect" category to the top of the "must-see" list. (To be fair to Aldrich, he rarely matched-up one-on-one with Brackins.)  

I've spoken with a few NBA scouts over the past month and most had Brackins on their radar, albeit mainly just based on the numbers he had putting up. Not many had seen him in person yet. Expect the credential requests and scout foot traffic to multiply after today. 

Craig is the prototypical perimeter four that a lot of NBA teams are transitioning to. His offensive skill-set is obvious. He can shoot with great range, but what most in the NBA will salivate over is his array of post of moves, which allow him to create space in the block. His ability to face up and hit a jumper, along with the nice turnaround he has developed are hard to come by.

For example, I get to watch the Orlando Magic each and every day. Everyone knows about Dwight Howard. But, what allows Howard to have space to do destruction is the guy that plays with him up-front...Rashard Lewis. Lewis is 6'10, 215 pounds (clearly not very bulky)-and is now the starting "power" forward for the Magic because he can space the floor, but more importantly he does a great job of holding his own against power forwards on the defensive end. Girth in the NBA is a little overrated. Their aren't too many Fizer looking guys in the league that are pure power. Here's a list of comparable guys (style of play-wise) to Brackins that start at the four spot, or get significant "post" minutes for NBA teams. 

Udonis Haslem-Miami Heat
Michael Beasley-Miami Heat
Boris Diaw-Bobcats
Linas Kleiza-Nuggets
Rob Kurz-Warriors
Troy Murphy-Pacers
Darell Arthur-Grizzlies
Hakim Warrick-Grizzlies
Yi Jianlian-Nets
David West-Hornets
Nick Collison-Thunder
LaMarcus Aldridge-Blazers
Matt Bonner-Spurs
Mehmet Okur-Jazz
Charlie Vilanueva- Bucks
Antwan Jamison-Wizards
The Entire Knicks Front-Line

And that's just a preliminary list. I'm not saying Brackins is comparable in skills as all of those guys, although the fact that Rob Kurz has 10 starts for the Warriors this year is somewhat amusing to me. Brackins is quite a bit better than that guy. It's just the style of play a lot of the teams are moving to with their big forward spot. And, thus, moving away from the twin-tower thought process. 

Bottom line, there is a spot on every NBA roster for a player like Brackins

His stock improved today, but it was only a matter of time. Craig's problem with the lack of draft buzz was more to do with the exposure factor than anything. 

That said, it doesn't mean he's going to leave. And even if Craig declares and attends some work-outs he still has the option to return within 50 days of declaring if that's the route he wants to take. There is no more NBA draft camp, so it will be interesting to see how that impacts the way scouts take individual looks at prospects and could make it difficult for the early entrants to decide if they are first round locks or not. Craig would be un-wise to stay in the draft and hire an agent if he didn't feel he was an absolute certainty to be a first-rounder. Only first rounders are guaranteed money. And most second-rounders don't make NBA rosters. 

Selfishly as a Cyclone fan, I want Craig to stay. But, as I will expand on at a later time, it might not be in his best interest to stick around.  
 
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Kansas 82, Iowa State 67 - Instant Analysis

3:11 PM
I hate to break it to you Clones but I have to write this. The fan in me wants Craig Brackins (42 points, 14 rebounds) to come back next season. Every other part of me thinks that he should go pro. That’s the nature of the beast anymore with the NBA. He needs to make his money while he can. Remember Reggie Evans at Iowa? Dude was a lottery pick. Didn’t go after his junior year and then didn’t get drafted after the next season. This year’s freshman class is about the weakest you’ll ever see and if Brackins keeps putting up double-doubles, his stock will continue to rise.

It’s safe to say that today was far and away the worst game in Diante Garret’s basketball career in Ames. In every phase of the game, DG was terrible. Just awful. That says a lot too coming from me. I’ve always been a DG guy. Honestly, I don’t think that I’ve ever written a bad thing about him until right now. That performance today was dreadful. Having said that, DG does have some intangibles that simply make him way too valuable to just write off for the next two years. He couldn’t finish if his life was depending on it but his ability to get to the basket has continued to impress me. Again though, that means nothing if he can’t score.

I have no idea why Dominique Buckley isn’t playing. Especially on DG’s days like today. I know that the staff still likes Buckley. They’ve always high on him.

I think that the KU defense did a phenomenal job of shutting down Lucca today. He simply couldn’t get open. That killed us today.

I’m tired of reading message board threads where some old guy writes “back when I was at Iowa State, the student section was so much better.”

Who cares? Why rip the students for bad play on the floor? That’s ridiculous.

We’ll have another podcast up for your sometime on Sunday probably.
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The WB Show: January 22

7:17 PM

Williams and Blum discuss Iowa State's Saturday game against Kansas. Listen to find out which one thinks ISU can pull the "upset." And also, what Iowa basketball player looks like a member of the WWE's Cryme Time.

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