While some college basketball fans are in a mild, relaxed time of year, the people of Ames, IA are in a continued frenzy trying to figure out if local hero Fred Hoiberg is going to leave to coach in the NBA. The rumors have been around each of the past two summers but were spiked when experts have been saying the Chicago Bulls are looking for a new head coach.
Fred Hoiberg has said that it is his dream to coach in the NBA. He even played for the Chicago Bulls during his 10 year career in the pros.
Although, here is some advice for coach Hoiberg – do not leave Ames.
The Cyclones are on the brink of having their best basketball season in school history (ISU went to the 1944 Final Four.) Lined with a pair of fan favorites that could see themselves become all-Americans, it would not be a long shot to say Iowa State could get that far.
Those all-Americans, Georges Niang and Monte Morris, combined for 27.2 points last season and leading their team to a second straight Big 12 Tournament Championship win.
After that, add the others of have been at Transfer U for a majority of their college careers. Naz Long and the ability he has to sink three pointers, Matt Thomas and how he got late in the season to help ISU pull out some amazing games.
Then we can look at the transfers in the dunk loving Deonte Burton, and Jameel McKay who is living in Ames this summer so he can focus on nothing, but basketball.
Aside from how much potential this team has, it is easy to find more reasons the Hoiberg Era should live on.
College Basketball’s stock has never been higher in the state of Iowa, which saw three of it’s four D1 schools in the NCAA Tournament in 2015. It has never been higher at Iowa State either, which brought in College GameDay for the first time in school history.
The Mayor has brought Hilton Magic back as well, seeing comebacks of 16 and 18 points during the last two senior days in what turned out to be two ESPN Instant Classics if you will.
It brought back the talk of a Big 12 Title, and knocking off Kansas’ impressive streak of 11 straight years where the Jayhawks earned at least a share of the title. And by the way, that has not happened yet.
No one likes being the bearer of bad news, but his last game as a Cyclone would be a loss to UAB in an NCAA March Madness upset.
Fred Hoiberg has his whole life ahead of him to be a coach in the NBA, and he should not weigh one NBA offer over a dream season at his alma mater.
