If the rumors are true that Iowa State Men’s Basketball coach Greg McDermott is on the hot seat, then the temperature of his posterior got cranked up a notch tonight with an uninspired performance against in-state rival Iowa. 

The loss dropped Iowa State to 6-3 on the season.  With Big 12 games just around the corner, one has to wonder if they are enough wins left on the schedule to save McDermott?

Lured away from Northern Iowa three years ago, McDermott was seen as a coach that could restore the luster to ISU basketball.  However, wins have not come easily, especially in the Big 12 where the Cyclones are just 10-22 during McDermott’s tenure.

A solid 6-1 start to this season has now been tarnished with back-to-back losses.  If Cyclone fans were angry about Tuesday’s home loss to Drake, they are going to be furious over tonight’s debacle in Iowa City.  A 25-4 Iowa run to start the second half turned a tight game into a romp, and left ISU fans red-faced.

Under normal circumstances, McDermott’s success at Northern Iowa should have bought him more time to grow the Iowa State program. But injuries, eligibility issues, and defections, including the transfer this season of Wesley Johnson to Syracuse, have cost McDermott all of his political capital.  The only way to gain any influence back is by winning some games.

Fortunately for McDermott, ISU’s next six games are against Jacksonville State, South Dakota State, Houston, Mercer, SIU-Edwardsville, and Houston Baptist.  With the exception of Houston, all the games are at home in the friendly confines of the Hilton Coliseum.  Six wins in six winnable games will right the ship. A loss or two, and McDermott will have “For Sale” signs placed in his front yard.

William Jennings Bryan opined, "Destiny is a matter of choice, not a matter of chance.  It is a thing to be achieved, not a thing to be waited for."  If ISU is McDermott’s landing spot—his destiny—then he needs to begin achieving because Cyclone fans are done waiting.

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