Better team - this year or last year?
- Thread starter CurvedAir
- Start date
Let me ask you guys this question: Are you enjoying this year more than last year? Many of us were disappointed after the conclusion last season, and I made a point to sit back and enjoy this year. I find that this year has a better vibe to it just because I told myself that I was going to have fun.
Disappointing early losses and some success in Lawrence make me think warm, fuzzy thoughts.
Disappointing early losses and some success in Lawrence make me think warm, fuzzy thoughts.
As CyJack13 said, it's too early to tell, because other than KU, the competition hasn't been great.
Last year, Royce White was often the best player on the floor, and sometimes by a significant margin. He could command double/triple teams (which often led to easy, open looks for the other guys). And when necessary, he could get to the basket and score. He was a good rebounder. RW just got it done. It's a huge advantage for any team to have the best player on the floor night after night.
So far this year, I really don't see anybody on the floor for ISU who is doing all the things that Royce did last year, or who approaches his talent level. We'll see how they do do in this upcoming stretch against the better Big 12 teams. I've seen some good things that indicate the team could come out just fine. And I've seen some other problematic things that could make this an ugly stretch of games.
For me, I really don't have a good feel for where this team is yet. I guess we'll see. So for right now, my vote is with last year's team.
Last year, Royce White was often the best player on the floor, and sometimes by a significant margin. He could command double/triple teams (which often led to easy, open looks for the other guys). And when necessary, he could get to the basket and score. He was a good rebounder. RW just got it done. It's a huge advantage for any team to have the best player on the floor night after night.
So far this year, I really don't see anybody on the floor for ISU who is doing all the things that Royce did last year, or who approaches his talent level. We'll see how they do do in this upcoming stretch against the better Big 12 teams. I've seen some good things that indicate the team could come out just fine. And I've seen some other problematic things that could make this an ugly stretch of games.
For me, I really don't have a good feel for where this team is yet. I guess we'll see. So for right now, my vote is with last year's team.
Feel free to take a look for yourself. Here's one set of computer ratings (of course there are many)
USA TODAY
TCU and Tech blow. Texas and WVU arent anything special. (though i dont know that you could call them "MAC caliber".) The other 6 most certainly are not "MAC caliber" though.
Why don't you just tell me who you think is any good? Outside of Kansas, KState and I'll even throw ISU in there, even though ISU is marginal.
Who is any good anywhere? The margin between most teams in CBB is small.
This is definitely a down year, but not like when the BIG or SEC are down.
You missed half my post. The numbers back up that 6 teams are most certainly not "MAC level", and most think that the big 12 will get half the conference into the NCAA tourney. It has 6 top ~40 teams (depending on the model used). The problem is that most of them after KU fall in that 30-40 range. Thats hardly "MAC Caliber"
Last year is better until we have someone step up and be more consistent on offense. We have had huge lulls the last 2 games that honestly would have lost us the game had we played decent teams. I think we have more talent, its just still gelling. Last year we had Scotty and Royce that things could run through when the going got tough. I love that we have more balance this year but as the games start to get tougher and matter more, we need to find the guy who can carry us through those lulls.
Last year I cussed Royce almost as much as I praised him for games like Texas twice, Baylor the 1st time. He looked drugged and lethargic (which he was). I also cussed Chris Allen a lot. That dunk against Kentucky made me ask where the hell was that explosion all year? I just dont think Royce could have kept it together this year I just don't. Its my opinion.
I agree with you. I feel that ISU is getting more attention for what we didn't do against KU than how poorly we have played against WV and TCU. I think there is an argument that ISU is maybe the 4th or even 5th team in the conference at the moment.
Oh, clonedude. Last year's team was better. The other comments were in regards to the discussion in posts #4-#6 about how RW would fit on this year's team.
The worst of the Power conferences? The SEC has Florida and Kentucky, The Pac 12 has who? "Crickets Chirping". Arizona maybe. The Big 12 is not great but neither are the other 2 conferences I mentioned. The Big East/Big Ten and maybe even the ACC is far better sure I will give you that.
Ku, ISU, KSU, OU, OSU are all very solid. KU is the class of the field but the rest I mentioned are not heaping piles of dung. Everyone else... Ya they suck.
Right now, I would have to say last year's team was better....especially if you look at how good they were at the end of the year.
I'm just not sold on this year's team yet. Loads of talent.....probably more than last year's team had....but they don't seem to have a lot of energy sometimes.......and often they seem to lack leadership on the floor. The most energetic player comes off the bench. The team has a point guard who often seems to forget what he has been taught, and what his coach wants him to do. Also, too often, they go into lulls, particularly against bad teams, and play down to the level of the team they are playing. I was impressed with what they did at KU until the last minute of regulation. They played well at home against Texas....but these last 2 games have been anything but impressive. Outside of KU, they have really not played a good game away from Hilton, and I'm not sure if you can call KU a good game considering it was still a loss.
Last year's team was fun to watch most of the time......this one can be too, but too often they are frustrating to watch.
I'm just not sold on this year's team yet. Loads of talent.....probably more than last year's team had....but they don't seem to have a lot of energy sometimes.......and often they seem to lack leadership on the floor. The most energetic player comes off the bench. The team has a point guard who often seems to forget what he has been taught, and what his coach wants him to do. Also, too often, they go into lulls, particularly against bad teams, and play down to the level of the team they are playing. I was impressed with what they did at KU until the last minute of regulation. They played well at home against Texas....but these last 2 games have been anything but impressive. Outside of KU, they have really not played a good game away from Hilton, and I'm not sure if you can call KU a good game considering it was still a loss.
Last year's team was fun to watch most of the time......this one can be too, but too often they are frustrating to watch.
KU is solid, KSU is solid. OU, ISU and OSU are all decent bubble teams. Oklahoma hasn't beat anyone, the only two teams they have played with a pulse were Gonzaga which they got blown out 72-47, and KSU, which they lost 69-60. OSU beat NC St which was a huge win, but haven't beaten anyone else. I'll concede that they are a good team, probably 3rd best over ISU. And ISU hasn't beat anyone with a pulse all year. Sure, they played KU tough and should've won which would've been insane, but they didn't. They have shown multiple times this season they can't close. I still think they are the 4th best team in the conference. That being said they got beat down by Iowa, in a game that the score was a lot closer than what actually happened on the court, and they still won by 10. And keep in mind, Iowa is probably the 8th best team in the Big 10.
Yep.
Recall who Taco roots for. Let him have his day in the sun. The BIG went through a decade of being a horrible basketball conference.
Hmmmmm.... would this year's team be better with one of the all-time great Cyclones on it and an NBA talent. Gee, I'm not sure!