Johnny Orr wasn’t worried.

His first three years as an ISU coach saw little success. A record of 2-12 in the Big Eight in 1980-81 was followed by back-to-back years of 5-9 in conference, adding to an overall record of 32-50 in three years as Iowa State’s head coach.

“Any time we won in the first couple years we were happy,” Orr said from his Florida home last weekend.

That happiness, however, was not easily displaced with worry. Orr knew the wins were on the way.

“I never thought about how long it was going to take or anything like that,” he said. “I wasn’t bothered with early winning. I figured we were going to do it or I wouldn’t have gone out there.”

And the wins came for the Cyclones. Although it took until Orr’s sixth year to have a winning conference record, Iowa State went to the National Invitational Tournament in year four and the NCAA Tournament in year five. Year six? The Sweet 16.

“I think it takes time when you go in and you don’t have much,” Orr said.

This year’s version of Cyclone basketball is caught in its own struggles. Iowa State (12-11, 1-7 Big 12) appears to be on its way to a third-straight losing conference record under third-year coach Greg McDermott, whose overall record is 41-45, but only 11-29 in conference.

Sound familiar? It does to athletics director Jamie Pollard.

“I think Cyclone fans have very fond memories of the Johnny Orr era, but if they had judged it after six years, they may not have been around the later years, so I think you have to have that kind of perspective as well,” Pollard said.

Actually, Iowa State still made the NCAA Tournament in years five and six, but the underlying sentiment is still there. Pollard expects noticeable improvement in McDermott’s fourth year, as does former ISU basketball player Gary Thompson, who helped Pollard in the hiring process for McDermott.

“I think from the start Mac’s been dealt a short hand coming in when everybody left the program,” Thompson said. “Next year will be the first year that he’s going to have some continuity to the basketball program, where he’s going to have guys who are going to remain on his team that he’s going to be able to build around with the recruits coming in.”

Part of the problem has been keeping players during the first three years. Seven players have either left or been removed from the team, most notably Wesley Johnson at the end of last season, who surprised the coaching staff with his abrupt departure.

That has also led to Iowa State losing two basketball scholarships to the NCAA’s Academic Progress Rate, as some of the players were academically ineligible when they left. Iowa State also lost a scholarship when the NCAA determined Jiri Hubalek had received extra benefits.

As a result, Pollard really sees this as McDermott’s first year, and said he sees a good future with a core like sophomores Craig Brackins and Diante Garrett, and freshman Justin Hamilton to build around.

Pollard said he would not put a timeline on how long it should take to turn the basketball program around. Pollard fired Wayne Morgan after Morgan’s third season. Morgan led the Cyclones to an NCAA Tournament birth in his second year as coach, but the team failed to return to the tournament with almost the entire lineup back the next season.

Orr, who retired in 1994, said fans expected immediate results during his coaching years, something that hasn’t changed.

“I don’t think that’s changed at all,” Orr said. “I think when I was at Michigan, Northwestern had four or five [different coaches]. I don’t think that’s changed any. Naturally they want you to win.”

A timeline of expectations is different with each program and each situation, and — given the circumstances — McDermott needs more than three years, Pollard said.

And Pollard said the fan support is still there.

“Our loyal fans, the fans that pay the bills and buy season tickets, the majority of them understand,” Pollard said. “I know there’s people who post things on the Internet and all that, but those people don’t pay the bills.”

In fact, the posts are out there. There is no “firegregmcdermott.com,” but forums such as Cyclone Fanatic have had scattered posts questioning McDermott’s job status, including one started on Saturday labeled “Please fire Greg McDermott NOW.”

McDermott admits that he gets some negative feedback from “Monday morning quarterbacks.” He sees that as part of the job, but is quick to note that for every negative e-mail he gets, he receives 10 positive e-mails.

“That’s what makes Iowa State a special place and a great place to work and a wonderful place to coach, is that people care so much,” McDermott said. “And that’s what motivates me every day is that people are passionate about the Cyclones. They want to be successful, and they will stick with you through some tough times.”

Thompson said people who “understand basketball a little bit” probably agree with his opinion that the growth will just take time.

“I don’t see any letdown in the team when I go to practice,” Thompson said. “I don’t see any kids hanging their heads and whatnot. I think the effort is good there.”

After Saturday’s loss to Missouri, Iowa State’s sixth in a row, McDermott said, “It’s no fun, and I say that because I know how hard these guys are working at practice.” He went on to say the challenge would be to “continue to move the team forward.”

It’s that kind of attitude that Pollard is measuring the most.

“It’s critical. I gauge the attitude of the student-athletes, and the attitude of the student-athletes is very positive,” Pollard said. “Everybody would like wins and immediate wins, but in the end, you’ve got to pay attention to the process, and if the process is good, in the long run you will get the outcome you want.”

Pollard said McDermott, in the third year of a six-year contract, would likely not see a contract extension after the season because “there’s no need to extend it right now,” but said he fully supported McDermott.

As coach at Northern Iowa and Division II Wayne State, McDermott’s teams saw a significant record improvements in his third year at the helm. While it will take longer at Iowa State, Pollard has confidence.

“Prior results are usually an indication of future results. He didn’t get this job because he hadn’t done anything,” Pollard said. “I’m very confident that we’ll get to where we want to get to.”

McDermott reiterated that every job is different depending on the circumstances. He said he knew from the time he interviewed for the job that it wouldn’t be a “quick fix.”

“Losing isn’t any fun, but I also understood the challenge that I took over,” McDermott said. “I knew it was going to be a challenge before certain things transpired.”

As for former coach Orr, he knows it just takes time. And in his opinion, Iowa State has the right guy to devote that time to.

“I hope they support him,” Orr said, minutes before watching the latest loss on Saturday. “I think they’ll be happy they did.”