Journal-Sports

Ten years ago today, what is perhaps the best press conference quote of all time, was uttered by the Philadelphia 76ers’ Allen Iverson.
Reporter: “So you and coach Brown got caught up on Saturday about practice?”
Iverson: “If I can’t practice, I can’t practice. It is as simple as that. It ain’t about that at all. It’s easy to sum it up if you’re just talking about practice. We’re sitting here, and I’m supposed to be the franchise player, and we’re talking about practice. I mean listen, we’re sitting here talking about practice, not a game, not a game, not a game, but we’re talking about practice. Not the game that I go out there and die for and play every game last it’s my last but we’re talking about practice man. How silly is that?
“Now I know that I’m supposed to lead by example and all that but I’m not shoving that aside like it don’t mean anything. I know it’s important, I honestly do but we’re talking about practice. We’re talking about practice man. (laughter from the media crowd) We’re talking about practice. We’re talking about practice. We’re not talking about the game. We’re talking about practice. When you come to the arena, and you see me play, you’ve seen me play right, you’ve seen me give everything I’ve got, but we’re talking about practice right now.” (more laughter)
Reporter: “But it’s an issue that your coach continues to raise?”
Iverson: “Hey I hear you, it’s funny to me to, hey it’s strange to me too but we’re talking about practice man, we’re not even talking about the game, when it actually matters, we’re talking about practice.”
Now one can argue that there may have been better quotes from athletes over the years, but how many of them are famous as “We’re talkin’ ‘bout practice man!”
The whole quote was response to a statement from then 76ers head coach Larry Brown made about Iverson’s practice habits and how he had to act like a team leader.
The funny part about it was Iverson’s emotional rant came just days after the 76ers were eliminated from the Eastern Conference playoffs.
Oh and by the way, Iverson told the media before the press conference before his 30 minute long presser that he did not want to talk.
Iverson did more than just talk, he showed emotion you rarely see from a superstar athlete these days. I mean, I can guarantee you that Lebron James or Aaron Rodgers or David Ortiz would ever go on like Iverson did, though I know I wish they would.
Most of the time interviewing athletes can be tedious and every once in a while you get that great quote that you have to find a way to use.
But more often than not the quotes are standard answers to questions with little to no emotion even shown.
This is why Iverson’s line is so great, it’s an athlete saying what’s on his mind and why 10 years later we are still talking about practice man.

So just two days after losing in the first round of the Big Sky Tournament, ISU athletic director Jeff Tingey announced Monday afternoon that men’s basketball interim head coach Deane Martin would not be retained and that the new coach will be introduced at a press conference on Thursday.
When I first read the press release I was shocked the Martin was not going to be the head coach. Through watching the team and getting to know Deane during his time at Idaho State, I could see that he really cared for the players and was trying to get the most out of what he had. Unfortunately for all involved it was not enough.
When Martin took the job in December the team was a disaster. While it took him and the coaching staff a while to finally get the team to buy into the system he wanted to run, the players responded and won four games in a row, including a double OT win over Northern Colorado and what was no doubt the biggest win of the season over Weber State.
Clinching a berth in the Big Sky Tournament for the first time in three years was a great thing and most Bengal fans and alumni would agree that it could have been a step in the right direction, especially considering the way the season started.
With Joe O’Brien resigning just before conference play, many including myself thought the season was all but over.
Martin ans co. did not give up and worked their way into the conference tournament.
But clinching with with almost three weeks left in the season proved to be too much to handle as ISU lost 7 of its final 8 games, including the final five in a row.
Martin is a good guy and a good coach, but I think the late season collapse and his ties to O’Brien ended up being the difference.
He did a great job making a difficult season exciting for a few weeks. I mean honestly, when was the last time, if ever, you saw people storm the court like they did after the Weber game?
But like most things, I am sure the decision came down to success on the floor and plain and simple, ISU was just not as successful as it should have been and is normally the case, the coach is the fall guy.
I honestly think that when O’Brien left, Martin was never really going to be seriously considered as the next coach. He was just a stop-gap until the next guy could be hired, which is sad because half a season is not enough time to accurately judge a coach.
Now we will see if any of the names thrown around over the last six weeks will be the next head man to lead the Bengals.

As I watched practice Wednesday afternoon in Holt Arena, one thing was evident from the moment I sat down. This team does not look like the same one that we all witnessed at any point during the season.
Interim head coach Deane Martin and his staff have completely changed the intensity level of practice. That change in intensity honestly appears to be paying off because the team looked different than at any other practice I have been to all season.
Sherrod Baldwin told me that the team is more into practice with the increased intensity and that the coaches are putting much more into each one.
When Martin was first introduced as the interim head coach, the question was asked whether or not any noticeable changes would be made. At the time he said there would not be anything major. But since the Weber State game last week, things are not the status quo from before.
Martin has the team playing a much tougher defense than the loose 2-3 zone they played most of the season. While this new defense is still a zone, it’s much more of a pressure zone that does not allow for a perimeter shooter to be left open. Perimeter defense has been an issue for ISU in at least half a dozen games this year that I can remember.
Every player I talked to at practice said that the focus over the last two weeks has been on defense with an emphasis on stopping the ball. While Martin said they are improving at doing so, they still have a long way to go.
Idaho State SID Steve Shaack and I were talking at practice and he told me that I should expect to see a lot more low scoring games like the one at Northern Colorado on Monday. He said the high 50′s to low 60′s would more than likely be the norm due to the team’s emphasis on controlling the game on the defensive end of the floor.
Another thing I noticed was that the team has not given up on the season and may have actually become closer as a result of all the struggles both on and off the court. Baldwin, Grabau and a handful of other players told me at practice that the entire team realizes that Big Sky play is what is important. They said the goal is to win as many games as possible and to get to the conference tournament. Honestly, when O’Brien was the head coach, not one player ever made that statement to me. So whatever Martin is telling the team, they are buying.
Some other notes from practice; Jakub Kusmieruk is still slowed by a shoulder injury and no one would confirm if he would play against Montana State on Thursday. Andre Hatchett got some time playing the power forward position during practice, which leads me to believe that Dejan Kostur’s struggles are continuing. I would expect Andre Hatchett and Garrett Swanson to see increased time if Kusmieruk is out and Kostur struggles early against the Bobcats.
As always leave your thoughts and questions here or come find me at a game. I am always willing to talk and offer my thoughts to you readers. I will be out at practice a lot more often from now on as some family issues kept me away a lot longer than I would have liked.

Jason

Commentary by Jason Enes

During Monday’s press conference announcing the resignation of ISU men’s basketball coach Joe O’Brien, interim head coach Deane Martin said that you never want to see a friend quit the business, but that it was good to see him leave in his own terms.
As someone who has interviewed O’Brien countless times over the past five years, first as a student reporter at ISU and now working for the Journal, I echo Martin’s statement.
O’Brien was nothing but a class act while at Idaho State. No matter how good or bad things were on the floor, he never lost his cool while dealing with the media and the public.
Sure I can remember times when he snapped at a reporter after getting asked a question he may not have liked, but everyone does that from time to time.
The news of O’Brien’s resignation was a shock to myself and I would guess to most Bengal fans as well. But if you look back to the last few seasons, maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that he decided to call it quits.
When O’Brien arrived in Pocatello six years ago he brought a resume of success at the junior college level, including being one of only 11 coaches to have won three Junior College National Championships.
He immediately brought hope to Bengal fans that ISU could possibly compete for Big Sky Conference championships.
For the first three years of the O’Brien era, he did just that .
O’Brien led the Bengals to three consecutive Big Sky Tournament appearances including back-to-back semifinals, and it appeared that maybe the Bengals were on the doorstep of bigger and better things.
But in the 2009-10 season things went in the opposite direction.
The Bengals went just 18-42 in the next two seasons despite having a load of talented players.
Amorrow Morgan, Broderick Gilchrest, Deividas Busma and Austin Kilpatrick were all members of those teams and each could have started on any team in the conference.
I have heard and read arguments from people that O’Brien could not recruit and I think that is far from the truth. O’Brien got talented players from all over the country to come to Pocatello, but for whatever reason the players could not perform on the court as he wanted them to.
I have little doubt that the struggles from the past two years were a factor in O’Brien’s decision and I would not be surprised if the games last week at Loyola and Utah sealed his decision to leave.
But we all need to remember that O’Brien has done a lot of good things while at ISU. The team’s APR scores are improving and not once can I remember any of his players being arrested or doing anything to disrespect O’Brien or the team.
While most people only look at wins and losses, O’Brien had a lot on his plate as head coach. The 2-8 start to the season may have given some the impression that he jumped off a sinking ship, but remember that the Bengals have not played a conference game yet. Many of the players on the team say that is when the regular season really begins.
While you never want to see a coach resign midseason, I am glad O’Brien felt good enough about leaving when he felt it was right.
Good luck in your future endeavors Joe, it’s been a privilege to know you.