This Team's Expectations
- Thread starter BodeClone
- Start date
I seriously doubt we go undefeated in non-conference next year. That feat is going to be awfully hard to duplicate. I anticipate 2-3 loses going into conference play, which is still damn good. Honestly, I have got a good feeling that we can win the conference outright. I think we see a few wrinkles in non-con and then turn it up from there.
Agreed. Very tough to pull out all the close games that we had last year. Usually you have a game or two where you sort of sleep walk though or just look really rusty. Those games (Iowa and UNI) last year, we ended up coming back late and winning. You can't count on that happening again.
With that said, even though the B12 should be as good or better overall than last year, we still have room for improvement to make up for 1-3 OOC losses in league play. Obviously the B12 tourney doesn't leave any room for improvement.
I could see us being as good or better and still ending up a 5-6 seed.
I don't see 2-3 teams on ISU's non-con schedule that should have a decent chance of beating ISU. @Iowa might be ISU's "toughest" non-con game of the year.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Antoine Mason @ Auburn would make that game better, if it happens.
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebas...44/niagara-transfer-antoine-mason-sets-visits
http://www.cbssports.com/collegebas...44/niagara-transfer-antoine-mason-sets-visits
One of the "nation's most sought-after transfers" and his visits are Auburn, Providence, and Boston College? That has to be disappointing. He probably shouldn't have waited so long to decide to transfer. A lot top programs are probably full on scholarships. ISU is full. Kansas is full. I'm sure a bunch of others are too.
And I'll say it again, Bruce Pearl is trying to be Fred Hoiberg 2.0 and rebuild Auburn with transfers. He's involved in almost every single transfer since he took the job.
Maybe the media hype machine is just getting a little carried away calling him one of the "nation's most sought-after transfers."
It's all about "potential", and not "expectations" IMO.
This team has the "potential" to win it all IMO, but I'm not going to be expecting that at all. I expect to make the NCAA Tourney, but after that, it really is a crap shoot. There is a lot of luck involved.
The NCAA Tourney, although great, and I wouldn't change it, it's still not a good way to find out who is the best team in the country IMO. Take UCONN this year. St. Joes had them beat in the first round. Completely outplayed them and UCONN needed a miracle to win that game. Most everyone that saw the game concluded that St. Joes was the better team. But yet, UCONN then goes on to win the whole thing.
You have to be good, but you have to catch a lot of breaks too. I think there were a good 10 or more teams that were better than UCONN last year for sure, but UCONN got hot and also caught some breaks too. For instance, I think Wichita State was one of the best teams I saw play all of last year, but they had to play a red hot Kentucky team in the 2nd round, and they lost.
But the positive thing is that I think we are capable of winning it all. I thought we were last year too, before Niang went down. That says everything about what Fred has already done here.
This team has the "potential" to win it all IMO, but I'm not going to be expecting that at all. I expect to make the NCAA Tourney, but after that, it really is a crap shoot. There is a lot of luck involved.
The NCAA Tourney, although great, and I wouldn't change it, it's still not a good way to find out who is the best team in the country IMO. Take UCONN this year. St. Joes had them beat in the first round. Completely outplayed them and UCONN needed a miracle to win that game. Most everyone that saw the game concluded that St. Joes was the better team. But yet, UCONN then goes on to win the whole thing.
You have to be good, but you have to catch a lot of breaks too. I think there were a good 10 or more teams that were better than UCONN last year for sure, but UCONN got hot and also caught some breaks too. For instance, I think Wichita State was one of the best teams I saw play all of last year, but they had to play a red hot Kentucky team in the 2nd round, and they lost.
But the positive thing is that I think we are capable of winning it all. I thought we were last year too, before Niang went down. That says everything about what Fred has already done here.
I agree with this. @ Iowa is the only I'm concerned about non conference. All the other games are either against bad teams, potential losses if they weren't at Hilton, or are played in Hilton south. Having anymore than 2 losses in non conference would make me feel very concerned about the season.
Melvin and Kane were such great competitors. At times they seemed to will the team to victory even when we were not playing great. That will be tough to replace, but I think players like Niang, Houge and Morris can assume similar roles for us next year. I don't think we will not need to have as many ugly wins. I look at our offense and I have to believe we will be significantly better than last year. Even though we scored a lot of points last year, it was not always easy. Next year I think we will have ton of scoring options. Our outside shooting should improve with Niang, Houge, Thomas, Morris, and Long all being in the program another year. Then add Nader and DeJean-Jones and I think our ability to space the floor will be much better than last year. It potentially could be scary good. Now consider how good our low post offense can be with Niang, McKay, Houge, and Nader. Speed us up, slow us down, I don't see were it matters with the personnel we have. We have so many different talents that Fred can use to create matchup issues, it will be a nightmare for other teams. He has to be loving the possibilities.
Will this turn into a record year? We don't know because many things can happen, but it seems like we are going to have another really fun season.
Will this turn into a record year? We don't know because many things can happen, but it seems like we are going to have another really fun season.
[ QUOfirstinloneworld;4045233]My expectations are to make the NCAA tournament again and then see what happens. As we know, the tournament involves luck, draw, how you are playing at the moment, injuries, etc.[/QUOTE]
Absolutely. It's hard to put anything in stone when dealing with a one-and-done tourney. One nice thing about the NBA playoffs is each match is a best of 7. In that scenario you can feel confident about the better team prevailing.
Edit- best of 5 in first round
Absolutely. It's hard to put anything in stone when dealing with a one-and-done tourney. One nice thing about the NBA playoffs is each match is a best of 7. In that scenario you can feel confident about the better team prevailing.
Edit- best of 5 in first round
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Expectations are simply that we'll be darn good. Predicting 'how good' is impossible and leads to too much koolaid drinking...... No McKay til Dec. 20th, Nader may miss some games, unknown on how BDJ fits scheme, two 'potential' second round NBA draft picks and team leaders gone, no Coach Sadler, etc. But... now for the better view...... a rim protector, a more experienced Monte /Dustin/ Matt and Naz in basically their second contributing year, a versatile Nader, a super athletic wing in BDJ, two Georges', and a partridge in a pear tree.
....I'll maybe have an idea by Jan/Feb '15, when the team has actually played.
With about 18 minutes left on Senior day this past season, something like a Sweet 16 appearance seemed pretty unlikely, so that may not be the route to go.
I do, however, feel comfortable predicting a school-record 4th straight NCAA tourney appearance. That not happening would mean something went very wrong.
Chemistry and things like Niang being 'the guy' will be telling.
Football team: still 4 wins, if they get the breaks. Tops.
With about 18 minutes left on Senior day this past season, something like a Sweet 16 appearance seemed pretty unlikely, so that may not be the route to go.
I do, however, feel comfortable predicting a school-record 4th straight NCAA tourney appearance. That not happening would mean something went very wrong.
Chemistry and things like Niang being 'the guy' will be telling.
Football team: still 4 wins, if they get the breaks. Tops.
I don't think we can overestimate how important it was for Kane to come in new as a team leader yet still be such a team player.
Look at all the different personalities that have gelled in recent years. Hoping it will continue, but can't take it for granted.