Reasons for Optimism (or, Don't Burn Your Tickets Yet)

[IcSyU]

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.

He was hired June 8th of 2015. He had no chance to put together a class the first year (which is the players who needed to be developed for now). Now you're stuck with
SR Shayok (transfer in)
SR Beverly (transfer in)
SR Brase (transfer in)
SR Jackson (Juco)
JR Talley (transfer in)
JR Jacobson (transfer in)
JR Weiler-Babb (3rd year in program)

and those are all of your upperclassmen. Two have Big 12 experience. How many schools not named Kentucky just toss a bunch of freshman and sophomores on the floor and have success?

Fred was one of the first coaches to embrace the transfer culture. Now? Most coaches do. The program was loaded up with talent because many coaches wouldn't take transfers. Now the competition makes it more like free agency. To sustain long-term success you have to develop your own recruits. You can plug a hole with a transfer (see: Kane, DeAndre) but it's all but impossible now to just "reload" with that talent. This ship had far too many holes to plug.

 

[FinalFourCy]

This is DEAD ON. Hoiberg was more concerned about moving to the Bulls in his last year+ than recruiting = our current mess.

His last year? More like two years imo.

Hoiberg did great things, but he left two years too late

 

[cycjob]

I keep thinking back to what Johnny said when he first got to ISU and didn't have the players to win. Paraphrasing: "If you aren't good enough to win, at least play an entertaining brand of basketball or the fans won't have a reason to keep coming."

Last night was not entertaining.

 

[Playboi Carti]

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.

I don't see how we could get any worse; this years team might not break double digit wins. Can't wait for next year.

 

[CyJeans]

Someone on this team needs to step up and take control of the huddle. We need leadership first and foremost and we need those guys out there to play with some emotion. There are many problems right now but we are lacking any swagger and energy. There is a lot that can be blamed on coaching and lack of experience at this point but we need one of these guys to grow some nuts and become an alpha out there.

Don't get me wrong, last night my greg mcdoormat PTSD was real bad, but my hope is this will light a fire under someones ass and we can have at least one guy playing like he gives a ****.

 

[Cyclonepride]

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.

You are totally confusing talent with execution. I've seen far less talented teams play and win. In fact, Milwaukee is a recent example. They knew what they were trying to do, and they did it. That's the point that we need to get to.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Is it too early in the season for a players only meeting? I'm asking for a friend...

 

[Nelcyn]

Brett Prahl looked like a guy from a pickup game at the Y and I am not talking Niang Y. This guy dominated us, yikes.

 

[SpokaneCY]

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.

Perhaps we could revisit the many undefeated seasons given us by the fallen one?

 

[inCyteful]

Is it too early in the season for a players only meeting? I'm asking for a friend...

I think an open letter from someone on here or maybe even a letter to JP is the next step.

 

[Cyclad]

You are totally confusing talent with execution. I've seen far less talented teams play and win. In fact, Milwaukee is a recent example. They knew what they were trying to do, and they did it. That's the point that we need to get to.

Yes, UWM executed well.
However , they are at least as talented as we are. They drove around us all night, and made shots. I am not sure we would have one player who would start for them.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Yeah, we haven't had a year start quite like this one for quite a while, but let's not act like people weren't up in arms ******** about him every time we had a game that was worse than expected.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Yes, UWM executed well.
However , they are at least as talented as we are. They drove around us all night, and made shots. I am not sure we would have one player who would start for them.

That's ridiculous.

 

[riceville98]

Why does this team lack so much in fundamentals?

Did you forget how young we are? Fundamentals take time to develop. This year is not about wins or losses, it's about improvement (Yes I admit there was none last night except at the FT line). I plan on enjoying the ride this year, watching these guys improve and watching the great game called basketball!!

 

[Penguin]

If only Fred had bothered recruiting his last two seasons....

 

[Cyclad]

That's ridiculous.

Name one of our players who would start for them.

 

[Doc]

We shot 75% from the line. I thought we were supposed to win when we did that.

 

[harimad]

There's no reason to polish a turd. This game is clearly that.
Don't spin positives on a performance like this. Just accept that it's terrible and move on from there.

I was going to say, this thread may work on the average CFer, but no way it works on the original ticket burner himself!

 

[Nelcyn]

I just realized that I usually only post when I want to ***** about something. Thank goodness for a forum that allows us to post our thoughts to the public.

 

[riceville98]

Someone on this team needs to step up and take control of the huddle. We need leadership first and foremost and we need those guys out there to play with some emotion. There are many problems right now but we are lacking any swagger and energy. There is a lot that can be blamed on coaching and lack of experience at this point but we need one of these guys to grow some nuts and become an alpha out there.

Don't get me wrong, last night my greg mcdoormat PTSD was real bad, but my hope is this will light a fire under someones ass and we can have at least one guy playing like he gives a ****.

You are correct. I believe Brase will be that guy starting this weekend you could see him trying to lead from the bench last night