Big game Wednesday night

[Cyclonepride]

Isn't this team 4-1coming off a loss (not counting today, but then KU was more of a theft than a loss). Not sure what, beyond a negative outlook, would lead anyone to think 0-2 next week. I do agree that a win over OSU will probably give them a boost for WVU.

 

[ken]

Unbelievable this team has made it all season without laying a total egg until now.... Have to take it in stride.

You must not have watched our game in Lubbock, or you are trying to pretend it never happened, but it did.

 

[rochclone]

There are multiple keys to Wednesday night but these are just a few in my humble opinion.


Matchups:

Smart--guarded by Babb. Babb must stay out of foul trouble and keep Smart out of the lane.

Forte--guarded by Lucious. I feel that Korie has been a disappointment on the defensive end. Coming from an Izzo-coached team I really expect a little more toughness on the defensive end. He seems to get beat a ton off the dribble.

Brown--guarded by Clyburn. Actually I think this is a decent match-up for Will but once again I don't feel Will has been as effective on the defensive end as I had hoped earlier in the year.

Nash--guarded by Ejim. Should be a decent match-up for Melvin.

Cobbins--guarded by Niang. Georges need to hold his own in the paint.


The defense has looked awful in the last couple meetings but it is a direct result of two things. (1) Fred is very leery of foul trouble to Melvin or Georges because of how it impacts us on the offensive end. As a result neither Ejim or Georges is fronting the post and rather just allowing the entry pass. Then the guard of the weakest shooter (i.e. normally Lucious) is doubling down. This can work for a few possessions or against the likes of Scott Drew but not for forty minutes and not against coaches like Self or Lon K. (2) Because our guards are constantly helping the post defenders we are in constant rotation on the outside which leads to (a) an open shot and (b) difficulty in boxing out because of the constant rotation.

Bottom line is that for our defense to be better our bigs need to be aggressive and hold their own on the interior.

Offensively, I like Niang's match-up with Cobbins and I would expect that whoever is being guarded by Forte has a solid night with some open looks. We will need to make 3's but I this is a game that means a ton more to us that Oklahoma State. I would expect a huge effort and I hope I am right.

 

[cloneteach]

We shot out of our minds. Better make some shots on Wednesday. OSU is more athletic than us at every position and if they are hitting shots, it will be very tough.

They also shot extremely well....at home. They have to go small against us making Jurick practically useless and them a jump shooting team. It should be entertaining but I don't see how ISU doesn't shoot well again at home.

 

[Wesley]

Bubu will be driving the lane like crazy if we cannot hit our threes.

 

[SouthTulsaPoke]

If people say we can't beat them and they are a terrible matchup then why wasn't the game in Stillwater a blowout for OSU?

One major difference this time around will be the addition of Brian Williams to the line up. Williams sat out 18 games with a broken wrist. His first game back was against you in Stillwater. He played six minutes and the only stats he put up were two personal fouls. While he was on the court, he looked totally lost and had to be pulled.

If you aren't familiar with him, Williams was slated to as starter during pre-season, and he is our top defender. However, he is also very good offensively, able to both take it to the hole, as well as hit outside. He ended his RSFrosh season, last year, with a 9.6 points per game average.

It has taken him several games to get back to full health and Williams is now starting to add production for us off the bench, averaging just under double figure scoring over the last three games. But it is his defense that is helping us the most.

Here's what Williams says in the above linked story:

"When I first got back and started practicing, I was not where I wanted to be," Williams said. "I was kind of out of shape. My shots weren't falling. I wasn't defending like I wanted to.


"But every week has gotten a little bit better, and today it's almost where I was when I finished the season last year. I'm feeling really confident about my progress."


In other words, we have five more fouls to give, and more minutes to spread around without any drop off in talent. Williams has been a difference maker for us in this run where we have won 9 out of 10 games since his return. The only loss was by one point in double OT against Kansas.

We're not the same team you played on Jan. 30th. We're gaining depth and our young players are much more mature.

Look forward to the game on Wednesday. :smile:

 

[Wesley]

One major difference this time around will be the addition of Brian Williams to the line up. Williams sat out 18 games with a broken wrist. His first game back was against you in Stillwater. He played six minutes and the only stats he put up were two personal fouls. While he was on the court, he looked totally lost and had to be pulled.

If you aren't familiar with him, Williams was slated to as starter during pre-season, and he is our top defender. However, he is also very good offensively, able to both take it to the hole, as well as hit outside. He ended his RSFrosh season, last year, with a 9.6 points per game average.

It has taken him several games to get back to full health and Williams is now starting to add production for us off the bench, averaging just under double figure scoring over the last three games. But it is his defense that is helping us the most.

Here's what Williams says in the above linked story:

"When I first got back and started practicing, I was not where I wanted to be," Williams said. "I was kind of out of shape. My shots weren't falling. I wasn't defending like I wanted to.


"But every week has gotten a little bit better, and today it's almost where I was when I finished the season last year. I'm feeling really confident about my progress."


In other words, we have five more fouls to give, and more minutes to spread around without any drop off in talent. Williams has been a difference maker for us in this run where we have won 9 out of 10 games since his return. The only loss was by one point in double OT against Kansas.

We're not the same team you played on Jan. 30th. We're gaining depth and our young players are much more mature.

Look forward to the game on Wednesday. :smile:

We have Bubu back at full speed.

 

[scyclonekid]

Got to come out swinging in this one, Iowa State has to play lights out defense no ******* around like they did at OU.

 

[scyclonekid]

Okie state will definitely be ready hope we are.

 

[isuforlife]

Bubu will be driving the lane like crazy if we cannot hit our threes.

You can't be serious

 

[trav68]

You can't be serious

Wesley, I believe ISU needed to win the conference tourney from 06 to 11. Not exactly a new thing.

 

[WastedTalent]

If you aren't familiar with him, Williams was slated to as starter during pre-season, and he is our top defender. However, he is also very good offensively, able to both take it to the hole, as well as hit outside.:

Geesh, sounds like an all-around stud.

Like a poor man's LeBron?

 

[MartyFine]

Need to bring it at home.... I'm over this one already. Unbelievable this team has made it all season without laying a total egg until now.... Have to take it in stride.

Wednesday night is the biggest game in Hilton in a long, long time.

Lose and this season is essentially over (we may have to go through the indignity of losing to eiu at home in the NIT). Win and we're back in business. It is that simple.

 

[CycloneErik]

Geesh, sounds like an all-around stud.

Like a poor man's LeBron?

No. LeBron is more of a poor man's whoever the poke was talking about.

 

[mjhavlo76]

When we played OU last Saturday it was their Senior night I believe. I know we played badly, but Oklahoma was pumped up and played great.

Wednesday night's tilt against OSU is our Senior night. I would like to believe that Iowa State is going to bring that intensity as well. I am not going to make a prediction, but the seniors are going to give it all they got our last home game!

Would be surprised if we get blown out.

 

[mjhavlo76]

Not saying we are going to the NIT for sure, but if we do I have already went on record as saying we would draw a
first round matchup with Indiana State at Hilton.

Wednesday night is the biggest game in Hilton in a long, long time.

Lose and this season is essentially over (we may have to go through the indignity of losing to eiu at home in the NIT). Win and we're back in business. It is that simple.

 

[SouthTulsaPoke]

No. LeBron is more of a poor man's whoever the poke was talking about.

Well. God knows, he's no Bubu. He's not even really Yogi, either.

Is Mr. Ranger your nutritionist, keeping an eye on the pic-uh-nic baskets?

 

[DenverCat]

ISU very much needs a quality win - need to put the KU game in the past where it belongs.

 

[EddieISU]

I'm nervous about this game just because of the ramifications if we lose. Though, I am confident because we are playing at home and this team has played to hard all year long not to put forth the same effort. Us, the fans need to be the loudest and go crazy the whole stinking game, no let downs on our part!

 

[CyTwins]

I think things are in our favor to win this one. After two losses people are starting to throw this team under the bus. Yes it was disappointing to lay an egg Saturday but people tend to forget that minus that screw job we'd be talking about the winning streak in Hilton and I don't see us losing at Hilton. I'd take us at home against anybody in the country on senior night