McDermott: Cyclones will 'get through' hard times

AMES – Greg McDermott is looking on the bright side, even if a lot of Iowa State men's basketball fans aren't.

The Cyclones lost yet another player this week in sophomore-to-be Chris Colvin, which brings the total number of transfers or outright departures this season to six. It's been an annual occurrence in the McDermott era and, to say the least, an increasingly alarming one.

Despite the frustration and public panic over the recent troubles, McDermott remains firm in his belief that the program will get back on its feet under his direction.

“I've gone through far tougher things in my life,” McDermott said during an interview Friday with The Gazette. “This is a bump in the road. We will get through it. If you decide you are going to be a coach for a living, sleepless nights go with it. I've got a good support staff around me who are committed and loyal to this program. Together, we'll keep moving it forward.

“There are naysayers everywhere and they are entitled to their opinion. It's none of my business what they think of me or the job I'm doing. It's not going to keep from doing the job the best way I know how."

Like the team's frustrated fans, the coach is not happy with another major roster overhaul. ISU has six scholarship players and two walk-ons currently on campus.

At least three newcomers will join the 15-17 Cyclones next season.

McDermott thinks he's done seeing players walk out the door.

“As far as I know,” he said. “I've gotten to the point where nothing surprises me.”

The Cyclones are not the only major college program that has been rocked by attrition. Since the season ended last month at the Big 12 Tournament, guards Colvin and Dominique Buckley and center Justin Hamilton were given releases from their scholarship.

Forward Craig Brackins decided to skip his senior season and pursue an NBA career.

Since McDermott took over for Wayne Morgan staring with the 2006-07 season, more than a dozen players with eligibility remaining has left to play at another school.

“There hasn't been anything that's blindsided us except for Justin,” McDermott, who is 59-68 at ISU and 18-46 in Big 12 Conference games, said of this year's exits. “There are situations where people need to go. Sometimes it is their decision. Sometimes it's not a fit and they need to find somewhere else…and we need to find someone who is a better fit for our program.”

The latest moves come on the heels of Lucca Staiger's mid-season decision to leave the team and forward L.A. Pomlee's January dismissal.

McDermott's boss, athletic director Jamie Pollard, e-mailed boosters Thursday addressing the transfer problems at ISU and putting them in perspective with the rest of college basketball.

Pollard believes the “epidemic” is a societal issue as much as anything.

“Unfortunately if a kid's world is not absolutely perfect (in their mind), they run from the problem rather than deal with it,” Pollard wrote.

“Personally I wonder how that generation is going to survive in the real world when mom or dad or AAU coach are not there for them during their first job interview or first job evaluation. The bottom line is life is not a video game, you can't just hit reset if you do not like your initial score.”

In addition to filling out the roster, McDermott has two openings on his coaching staff.

The coach is handling life after what was a tumultuous season the best way he knows how – hard work.

And trying not to allow negativity into his world.

“I've received far more positive notes and emails and phone calls than negative,” McDermott said. “When something happens in your program you evaluate it and try to figure out things you could do different. We will continue to evaluate the way we do things as a staff, the way I do things and try to make it better: better for us, better for our players and hopefully, in the end, better for our fans.”