True... but when you look at what the players have done in the NBA and overseas you have to wonder how we lost more than a game or two...
Reasons for Optimism (or, Don't Burn Your Tickets Yet)
- Thread starter CascadeClone
- Start date
True... but when you look at what the players have done in the NBA and overseas you have to wonder how we lost more than a game or two...
I can understand the fact that the players just aren't all that great at basketball at this point in time. What I can't understand is the fact that I haven't seen one bit of emotion or leadership from any of them .
I've had season tickets since Fred's first year. There's a hell of a difference in watchability between that bad team and the one we currently have. At least they were fun to watch in a loss with how they tried to play hoiball. You could see what they were working on and striving to be.
So 2nd in conference and bounced by a 14 seed is a better season? Please. What you did during the regular season means next to nothing. What you do in the conference tournament means next to nothing. The only thing that matters is the dance when you don't do anything of note during the regular season (AKA win the conference regular season title).
Get bounced in the first round of the tournament? That's the worst kind of underachieving. To not even really be competitive in the game? That's underachieving.
We had growing pains when Prohm started. That's to be expected. Especially when we went from "just try to outscore them" to "try to be a well rounded team built for long-term success."
It's typically much easier to pick out some bright spots to hang your hat on, but that one had breakdowns all over the court on both ends.
We looked more coherent in what we tried to do against Missouri, and had some moments where we had some real fight after a rough first 10-15 minutes. I do believe that Prohm coaches with an eye to what helps us win later much more so than what helps us win now.
Having two more players in the rotation should help, as the guys who really aren't quite getting it can sit and watch instead of being forced into action. I think having Lard on the back end will erase a few mistakes too, and Brase will be a guy that you can count on to know and execute his responsibilities.
We looked more coherent in what we tried to do against Missouri, and had some moments where we had some real fight after a rough first 10-15 minutes. I do believe that Prohm coaches with an eye to what helps us win later much more so than what helps us win now.
Having two more players in the rotation should help, as the guys who really aren't quite getting it can sit and watch instead of being forced into action. I think having Lard on the back end will erase a few mistakes too, and Brase will be a guy that you can count on to know and execute his responsibilities.
This is DEAD ON. Hoiberg was more concerned about moving to the Bulls in his last year+ than recruiting = our current mess.
You definitely have to look at all aspects. I’d argue that was our best team ever on paper. If it wasn’t the best it was a close second best. They finished t5th lost in the first Big 12 Tournament game. They did win a fun two games in the tournament but that also has to be taken in context. They were double digit seeds. I look at that season and at minimum I think they didn’t reach their full potential.
Compare that to the year before and the game against UAB was really disappointing but that team wasn’t as talented and had serious chemistry issues. There are things I would have done differently but I think they pretty much reached their potential.
At the end of the day the goal should be winning the Big 12 Tournament and NCAA tournament but that doesn’t make the rest of the season irrelevant.
We didn’t get our top two grad transfer targets, we didn’t get our top spring recruit. Just try to take a lump without being a huge ***** because the lumps are coming. Next year will be much better.
Meh, that game never matters and it's at least a P5 opponent.
Watching a beatdown by UWMKE is worse even in November. They didn't even have to work for it.
Hoiberg always found a way to win with the players he had available. You would think with 2 years notice, he could’ve prepared for this.
Goes to show how important recruiting is... Fred made it look easy and didn’t miss.
Didn’t Prohm miss on a few senior transfers for this season. I recall that they settled for Beverly and Brase.
100% true. Guys, Milwaukee made the tourney last year but they had an RPI in the 200s. They were the KenPom 259th best team last year. This year isn't going to be much better for them. This is probably the worst home loss since... I don't know. You guys tell me.
Made me think of the Nebraska game under McD where we scored 12 in the 1st half.
We've hit rock bottom by our program's standards. It's happened a lot sooner than many of us thought.
So now, with no expectations, my excitement is to see what Prohm can get out of these guys. Theoretically, many goals can still be accomplished. It'll be fun to watch at least knowing that it's already been bad, so just focus on the little things to get better.
So now, with no expectations, my excitement is to see what Prohm can get out of these guys. Theoretically, many goals can still be accomplished. It'll be fun to watch at least knowing that it's already been bad, so just focus on the little things to get better.
I knew this was going to be a down year, but the first 2 games are even worse than I imagined. I still expect to see improvement and a big step forward when all eligible players are actually playing.
That said, my daughter's tournament basketball season has started, and as of now I don't expect to be recording many of the Sat games I'll miss if it looks like this.
That said, my daughter's tournament basketball season has started, and as of now I don't expect to be recording many of the Sat games I'll miss if it looks like this.
That team was the most underachieving team that I can remember in Cyclone history, including 2000-2001. What could have been. Ugh.
Well, there is very little reason for optimism. Sorry folks, no talent, no leadership and no enthusiasm. We have one shooter, and he cannot create a shot. We currently have 8 very limited role players. Besides not shooting well, we foul and turn the ball over. Not sure that will change much over the season, although I do expect Wigg to adapt. Let’s say we were down one point and had the ball with 10 seconds left. Who would you give the ball to? Lard will help with depth and possibly defense, but will not do much for our lack of offense. Our only hope is that Hans is Larry Bird reincarnated. Maybe he is. I had optimistically stated my opinion that 8th place was our high end. That may be much more optimistic than I thought. I do not see this team getting 10 wins this season. I will not sell my tickets and will be at every game cheering, but it’s not going to be a good year. I expect some epic beat downs this year. I think is was easy to see that we would not be very good this year. Right now we are under performing my low expectations. We will unquestionably be better next year ... not great but better.
I have been going to games since 1969. This might be the least talent I have seen on the floor for an ISU team. Seems like, even in bad years, we had a least one very good player.
McDermott had talent like Prohm did his first two years and still didn't make the tournament.
I remember that NE game, as I was there. That was brutal, but we came back and won in the 2nd half.
I need to keep telling myself that it's only 2 games, but that subset is showing me the worst team since I graduated from ISU in the 90s.