Royce White had another monster game. Melvin Ejim and Associates got the best of Thomas Robinson. Iowa State upset fifth-ranked Kansas.
Everything Saturday ? except the Jayhawks? 13-2 run of points early in the second half ? went according to the blueprint drawn up by T.J. Otzelberger,> The Mayor?s top Lieutenant.
?That game?s now like ancient history to me, now,? Otzelberger said Sunday morning while watching video of Saturday night?s Oklahoma upset of Kansas State.
As Cyclone fans basked in celebratory hangover of their team?s first upset of a top-five opponent at home since beating third-ranked Kansas in 1995, Otzelberger planned strategy for the Wildcats, Tuesday?s 8 p.m. Cyclone opponent at Hilton Coliseum.
Big 12 Conference standings | Rankings
He actually started looking at Kansas State tape the day before Iowa State ended a 13-game losing streak against the Jayhawks, he watched a little Wildcat tape on Saturday, and by Monday, he was full-go with a plan.
Top recruiter one day, ace strategist the next.
?I?ve pretty much done everything,? said Otzelberger, 34, who works with the scout team this year, like former assistant Bobby Lutz did during Hoiberg?s first season as the coach.
?The experience that I?ve had since the day I walked in here is invaluable as someone who aspires to be a head coach someday.?
That was before the 2006-07 season, Greg McDermott?s first as Iowa State?s head coach. Otzelberger had connections to Milwaukee, where he?s from. He had a junior college and an AAU background.
?I was the young recruiter back then,? Otzelberger said. ?I embraced that challenge.?
He was responsible for Craig Brackins, Diante Garrett, Marquis Gilstrap, Mike Taylor, Scott Christopherson and Melvin Ejim, among others, becoming Cyclones.
He?s all about strategy now, as Matt Abdelmassih fills the recruiter role.
?Everybody knows what kind of job T.J. has done recruiting players,? said Christopherson, of LaCrosse, Wis. ?Now, everybody?s getting to see the job he?s doing in more of a role preparing game plans.?
Lutz left to become an assistant at North Carolina State. Otzelberger moved to the bench seat next to Hoiberg.
"Had to have him," Hoiberg said when he made Otzelberger his first staffing hire. "T.J. was being pulled in about eight different directions when it came out that coach McDermott was possibly going to go to Creighton."
That's no exaggeration ? the day McDermott left, Otzelberger displayed a cell phone that had 232 missed calls or messages within a 12-hour period.
"T.J. has connections in every place in the world," Hoiberg said.
His world now is watching video of opponents and working with the scout team daily, instead of traipsing the country for players.
?I?m really I liking my new role,? Otzelberger said. ?You?re around the guys every day; you?ve got a better pulse what?s going on with the team.?
Everything Saturday ? except the Jayhawks? 13-2 run of points early in the second half ? went according to the blueprint drawn up by T.J. Otzelberger,> The Mayor?s top Lieutenant.
?That game?s now like ancient history to me, now,? Otzelberger said Sunday morning while watching video of Saturday night?s Oklahoma upset of Kansas State.
As Cyclone fans basked in celebratory hangover of their team?s first upset of a top-five opponent at home since beating third-ranked Kansas in 1995, Otzelberger planned strategy for the Wildcats, Tuesday?s 8 p.m. Cyclone opponent at Hilton Coliseum.
Big 12 Conference standings | Rankings
He actually started looking at Kansas State tape the day before Iowa State ended a 13-game losing streak against the Jayhawks, he watched a little Wildcat tape on Saturday, and by Monday, he was full-go with a plan.
Top recruiter one day, ace strategist the next.
?I?ve pretty much done everything,? said Otzelberger, 34, who works with the scout team this year, like former assistant Bobby Lutz did during Hoiberg?s first season as the coach.
?The experience that I?ve had since the day I walked in here is invaluable as someone who aspires to be a head coach someday.?
That was before the 2006-07 season, Greg McDermott?s first as Iowa State?s head coach. Otzelberger had connections to Milwaukee, where he?s from. He had a junior college and an AAU background.
?I was the young recruiter back then,? Otzelberger said. ?I embraced that challenge.?
He was responsible for Craig Brackins, Diante Garrett, Marquis Gilstrap, Mike Taylor, Scott Christopherson and Melvin Ejim, among others, becoming Cyclones.
He?s all about strategy now, as Matt Abdelmassih fills the recruiter role.
?Everybody knows what kind of job T.J. has done recruiting players,? said Christopherson, of LaCrosse, Wis. ?Now, everybody?s getting to see the job he?s doing in more of a role preparing game plans.?
Lutz left to become an assistant at North Carolina State. Otzelberger moved to the bench seat next to Hoiberg.
"Had to have him," Hoiberg said when he made Otzelberger his first staffing hire. "T.J. was being pulled in about eight different directions when it came out that coach McDermott was possibly going to go to Creighton."
That's no exaggeration ? the day McDermott left, Otzelberger displayed a cell phone that had 232 missed calls or messages within a 12-hour period.
"T.J. has connections in every place in the world," Hoiberg said.
His world now is watching video of opponents and working with the scout team daily, instead of traipsing the country for players.
?I?m really I liking my new role,? Otzelberger said. ?You?re around the guys every day; you?ve got a better pulse what?s going on with the team.?
