*** Official Iowa State Season Thread ***

[BryceC]

Well it was certainly a frustrating game. For me I think it was frustrating because of how close we were. At times it looked like we were playing some of our best basketball and then we got lulled into a false sense of security.

Observations time. Conditt played his best game of the season I thought. Wasn’t fouling much, grabbing boards on both sides. Shame he got injured because I think was the difference in this game for us. Walker played well. That was the offensive growth I wanted to see from him, downside he had two bone headed turnovers that were costly (but fixable). Want to see more passing from him as I think that’s open up more for conditt too. Rasir was Rasir, lovely to see him get to the line like he has in the past. Johnson looked gassed out there, probably to due with him coming back from quarantine. Love the 5 assists and 1 T/O, would like to see one or two more rebounds. Upsetting thing for me about him is that he was making strides with his shot selection and this game was just oof which is a shame because elsewhere he was good. JCL has been frustrating to watch the last few games. I think he is forcing 2-3 shots a game and making dumb fouls. If I were to put on my coaching hat I’d criticize Steve for not taking a timeout earlier in the second half. He called one around 5-6 minutes left and I think it should been around the 7-8 minute range. That’s when our offense was breaking down and our ball movement was stagnant. Last thing I noticed and really liked seeing was after the game was done. Rasir was going around trying to cheer everyone up and encouraging everyone. That is the leadership I was looking from him earlier in the year. I can’t imagine how hard it is for the players, and I think Rasir understands the situation. For him to be that enthusiastic at the end just stood out to me. Anyone else notice that?

I did. I will continue to be a staunch defender of his and extremely grateful for his contributions.

He was playing an absolutely fantastic game until there were about 10 minutes left in the game, and from that point the offense just broke completely down. The only shots we got were off of ISO situations and they starting blocking what seemed like every shot. I just can't help but feel like he could be having an absolutely fantastic season if he were in a functional offense.

 

[Statefan10]

I can give you the first half. TCU had some nifty sets and passing going on.

It's easy to dissect why we were good in the first half. We were hitting shots and TCU was struggling to figure out their offense. Once they figured out that all they had to do was dribble drive / kick, it was a cake walk the rest of the game.

 

[Messi]

It's easy to dissect why we were good in the first half. We were hitting shots and TCU was struggling to figure out their offense. Once they figured out that all they had to do was dribble drive / kick, it was a cake walk the rest of the game.

Jamie Dixon is a good coach in a tough job at TCU

remember when he was rumored to be interested in ISU in 2015?

 

[Tlyon]

I can give you the first half. TCU had some nifty sets and passing going on.

Overall I’d say the first half was mostly well played and well officiated. I believe we had 10 first half assists too, that was fun. Then the last part of the second half happened. Officials started calling more on both sides while neither team could get a bucket. Just ugly on both sides

 

[Tlyon]

It's easy to dissect why we were good in the first half. We were hitting shots and TCU was struggling to figure out their offense. Once they figured out that all they had to do was dribble drive / kick, it was a cake walk the rest of the game.

I wouldn’t say cake walk. Just like us, TCU was struggling late in the second half to get anything down.Plus it was a three point game. Not like it was one sided game

 

[Cat Stevens]

I wouldn’t say cake walk. Just like us, TCU was struggling late in the second half to get anything down.Plus it was a three point game. Not like it was one sided game

I didn’t get to watch much of it. But it’s weird with this group. There have been moments the last three games they look decent.

then, I wouldn’t say they look poorly coached. It’s more like they look not coached at all.

honestly, I don’t think tj is a great X’s and O’s guy, but Fred really wasn’t either, so I hope he hires a coach that’s strong at that phase of of job

 

[Halincandenza]

I am curious as to why Dubar hasn't played the past two games? Did he get injured? Seems like he at least tries to rebound.

 

[Clonefan32]

It's easy to dissect why we were good in the first half. We were hitting shots and TCU was struggling to figure out their offense. Once they figured out that all they had to do was dribble drive / kick, it was a cake walk the rest of the game.

Defensively they figured out we have one guy who can get to the rim. Everyone else is either taking a 3 or a contested 15 footer. So they gave us the JBo treatment and guarded us tight and dared us to go around them, which resulted in forced 3s or bad step-back 15 footers.

 

[Cat Stevens]

I am curious as to why Dubar hasn't played the past two games? Did he get injured? Seems like he at least tries to rebound.

It really seems like he has a hard time getting away from his guys, vets he starts the season with. Then when new players kind of earn their way into playing time, they’re playing for like one spot in the rotation, because all the rest are already filled.

 

[CT clone]

The rebounding is especially bad when you look at our frontcourt (Young, Conditt and Johnson) had a total of 6 defensive rebounds while their top 3 frontcourt players (Samuel, O’Bannon, and LeDee) had 13 offensive rebounds. I have never been a fan of Robinson as a coach since the McDermott days and his hiring was a huge red flag when Prohm came on. You can’t win if you don’t rebound.
Since the Florida A&M loss last year, we are 7-27 with 9 losses (33%) being at 20 or more points. We are 7-10 at home with 4 of those losses (40%) by 20 or more. Coach Prohm seems like a good person but if I am in Jamie’s shoes, these #’s tell me all I need to know.

 

[Cycl1]

It really seems like he has a hard time getting away from his guys, vets he starts the season with. Then when new players kind of earn their way into playing time, they’re playing for like one spot in the rotation, because all the rest are already filled.

Jenkins was in the game during crunch time.

 

[CycloneErik]

Jenkins was in the game during crunch time.

Words I'd never like to see again.

 

[Halincandenza]

It really seems like he has a hard time getting away from his guys, vets he starts the season with. Then when new players kind of earn their way into playing time, they’re playing for like one spot in the rotation, because all the rest are already filled.

I think there are times I would have liked them to go really small last night. When TCU takes Samuel out they put LeDee in and he is only 6'8 or 6'9 and I think that would be the perfect time to put Dubar in at the 5 with Johnson, Walker, Bolton and JCL or Harris. I think Prohm is just too slow to think of things like you said he is kind of stubborn with sub patterns and even the style he is playing. Bolton would make a killing in the lane if you didn't have a big down low and would if anybody helps, you have wide open guys. And LeDee isn't an offensive threat.

 

[isu81]

It pisses me off to hear Chris Williams say that Prohm is the unluckiest coach. He does NOTHING to make a team better. It’s fkn theft to impose this void of “coaching” on this school and fan base. A school with strong history and pride. It’s sickening.

It's pretty likely CW was drunk when he said this.

 

[Statefan10]

I didn’t get to watch much of it. But it’s weird with this group. There have been moments the last three games they look decent.

then, I wouldn’t say they look poorly coached. It’s more like they look not coached at all.

honestly, I don’t think tj is a great X’s and O’s guy, but Fred really wasn’t either, so I hope he hires a coach that’s strong at that phase of of job

Fred was actually a fantastic X's and O's guy offensively.

 

[Clonefan32]

I think there are times I would have liked them to go really small last night. When TCU takes Samuel out they put LeDee in and he is only 6'8 or 6'9 and I think that would be the perfect time to put Dubar in at the 5 with Johnson, Walker, Bolton and JCL or Harris. I think Prohm is just too slow to think of things like you said he is kind of stubborn with sub patterns and even the style he is playing. Bolton would make a killing in the lane if you didn't have a big down low and would if anybody helps, you have wide open guys. And LeDee isn't an offensive threat.

And if Solo isn't rebounding you may as well embrace it and go small. Gives you an advantage offensively an likely will not effect the results defensively.

 

[Cat Stevens]

Jenkins was in the game during crunch time.

Yeah, but that wasn’t due to any sort of forethought. It was because he didn’t want rah to foul out.

it was striking, though, that he went and got an o rebound.

 

[Tlyon]

It's pretty likely CW was drunk when he said this.

Well if you look at it, Prohm hasn’t been all that lucky his time here. Not a lot of bounces seem to go his way. Just seems the universe doesn’t want him here

 

[Cycl1]

Yeah, but that wasn’t due to any sort of forethought. It was because he didn’t want rah to foul out.

it was striking, though, that he went and got an o rebound.

I agree with your post, i just dont understand why Jenkins and not dubar was out there. Dubar has started games and jenkins is a walkon. Is dubar hurt, transferring, terrible, whats the deal? Is Jenkins just better?

 

[Cat Stevens]

Fred was actually a fantastic X's and O's guy offensively.

It’s not a slam on him to say he wasn’t. Fred’s X’s and O’s got much better when Deandre Kane showed up on campus, and Melvin Ejim played as close to Jeff Grayer as anyone ever has.

if you remember the year before, they lost every close game, except for West Virginia at home. And that was after they blew a huge lead. Clyburn made a full court play to save that one.

what Fred had was an identity and a system, that was ahead of its time. He was one of the early guys that integrated NBA stuff into the college game.

Steve hasn’t ever established an actual identity. Something that his teams can hang their hats on.