*** Official Texas Tech vs #14 IOWA STATE Game(Day) Thread ***

[Cyinthenorth]

I was cautiously optimistic about this year despite losing Hunter and IB. Thought we’d continue our defensive prowess which we have and thought maybe our offense would be on par because of some of the new pieces and hope the ball sticking less with IB and Hunter gone (two guys that needed the ball in their hands a lot and others tended to stand and watch).

Can’t remember which game early but noticed the ball moving better, but thought “it’s a bad team we’re playing - we’ll see if this continues”.

Could not be more pleasantly surprised at this point and have not seen us score at will like that for a long time. Given some poor free throw shooting and silly turnovers we could have won that game by 40-45.

TCU game was all points in the paint. This time just in fire from outside. Gabe has carried us. Grill has carried us. Other nights it’s been even scoring from like 5-6 different guys. It’s got to be difficult to scheme against because it’s just something different every night and the team seriously seems to just “let the game come to them”. It’s cliche, but I don’t know how else to explain it.

TJ’s coaching is just off the charts. There was a point in the game tonight where there was one returning player from last year (Gabe), two transfers and two freshman and we were just absolutely burying TTU. Not a single one of them a 4 or 5 star recruit. It’s incredible to think what TJ will do with more talented players.

It goes without saying, but with more talent comes more ego. I still like TJs chances of juggling all of that compared to his predecessor, but TJ is 0/1 so far at retaining top 100 recruits. All I'm getting at is more talent won't necessarily result in higher level of play. TJ is doing an outstanding job with this group and I'm just trying to live in the moment

 

[Cyinthenorth]

Tech coach reminds me of Austin Powers.

Still love Lipsey.

We shot better from 3 than free throws. Hope the free throws don’t come back to bite us in a close game. Not even sure who should shoot technicals if one is called other than not Big Rob.

You raise such an important point. Free throws are going to be our kryptonite eventually. The guys that gave the best stroke and rhythm at the line to me are Tamin and Osun. Eli came in and had good form on his 2 makes as well.

 

[twincyties]

It goes without saying, but with more talent comes more ego. I still like TJs chances of juggling all of that compared to his predecessor, but TJ is 0/1 so far at retaining top 100 recruits. All I'm getting at is more talent won't necessarily result in higher level of play. TJ is doing an outstanding job with this group and I'm just trying to live in the moment

It’s a fair point and will be interesting to watch. Not every player and coach work well together. A lot of the really elite coaches are almost like pro coaches in the sense that they’re managing personalities and egos as much as Xs and Os.

I’m more optimistic with TJ than with some because I think he’s what-you-see-is-what-you-get. For example, if you don’t want to play D you probably shouldn’t even bother taking an official visit here unless you’re really dying to see Ames in January.

Joking aside, you never know with these kids. We all forget they’re 17-18 years old or younger when making these decisions and it’s not even that big of a decision anymore when you can transfer anywhere at anytime.

Seems like he’s done a reasonable job thus far and - in fairness to him with the Hunter situation - it wasn’t really his recruits. I’m surprised he even got him here for one year give the coaching turnover the the dumpster fire our team was the prior year.

I don’t have any inside info, but something about the Hunter situation smells fishy. Someone ain’t telling the truth because it doesn’t add up.

 

[Steve]

I owe Big Rob an apology, he has been very good the last few games. If he takes the wide open lay ups and put backs and avoids trying to create a shot which more than not turns into a bad shot/defecto turnover he is very efficient. He has always been a good rebounder and defender. Rob please shoot a minimum of 100 MADE free throws after every practice.

Maybe you overlooked the fact that the last few games included a return to the headband. Headband Rob >>> bun Bob.

 

[Pope]

We owed Tech a beat down. Their student manager wasn’t there to save them this time.

That student manager suspiciously looks like Chris Williams.

 

[Pope]

I owe Big Rob an apology, he has been very good the last few games. If he takes the wide open lay ups and put backs and avoids trying to create a shot which more than not turns into a bad shot/defecto turnover he is very efficient. He has always been a good rebounder and defender. Rob please shoot a minimum of 100 MADE free throws after every practice.

Just as you are advising Big Rob to avoid trying to create his shot, I'm advising you to stop advising Big Rob.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Adams did it with Beards roster. Just like Steve did it with a Fred's. Wheels just coming off a lot earlier in Lubbock.

If NIL is causing locker room issues as has been speculated all year, imagine what it's like now that they have a lot of adversity.

 

[Cyclonepride]

It goes without saying, but with more talent comes more ego. I still like TJs chances of juggling all of that compared to his predecessor, but TJ is 0/1 so far at retaining top 100 recruits. All I'm getting at is more talent won't necessarily result in higher level of play. TJ is doing an outstanding job with this group and I'm just trying to live in the moment

Well, that 0/1 wasn't his recruit, so I'm not worried at all.

The great thing about these first two years is that TJ has already established a strong program identity. Work your ass off and play defense. That's what these recruits are excited about, so I'm not worried about that either.

 

[Frak]

Here are highlights, 18 minutes of 'clone dominance!
Nifty Lipsey behind back pass at around 12:21 in

I can’t decide if that lady who screams after every bucket sounds more like a fire truck siren or a cat getting it’s tail stepped on. I’d be so annoyed if I sat by her.

 

[madguy30]

I owe Big Rob an apology, he has been very good the last few games. If he takes the wide open lay ups and put backs and avoids trying to create a shot which more than not turns into a bad shot/defecto turnover he is very efficient. He has always been a good rebounder and defender. Rob please shoot a minimum of 100 MADE free throws after every practice.

When he gets caught trying to do too much it goes badly but that's the case in general for basketball and he's not alone in doing that at times; it's just easier to see.

But when he keeps it within his abilities he does a nice job. And at the core of it he's always playing his tail off which is what we were all excited to see from the team just over a year ago.

 

[Cyclad]

I owe Big Rob an apology, he has been very good the last few games. If he takes the wide open lay ups and put backs and avoids trying to create a shot which more than not turns into a bad shot/defecto turnover he is very efficient. He has always been a good rebounder and defender. Rob please shoot a minimum of 100 MADE free throws after every practice.

I love Big Rob.
But your request for him to make 100 free throws in practice is unrealistic - as he would exhaust his eligibility before that happened.

 

[Statefan10]

It’s a fair point and will be interesting to watch. Not every player and coach work well together. A lot of the really elite coaches are almost like pro coaches in the sense that they’re managing personalities and egos as much as Xs and Os.

I’m more optimistic with TJ than with some because I think he’s what-you-see-is-what-you-get. For example, if you don’t want to play D you probably shouldn’t even bother taking an official visit here unless you’re really dying to see Ames in January.

Joking aside, you never know with these kids. We all forget they’re 17-18 years old or younger when making these decisions and it’s not even that big of a decision anymore when you can transfer anywhere at anytime.

Seems like he’s done a reasonable job thus far and - in fairness to him with the Hunter situation - it wasn’t really his recruits. I’m surprised he even got him here for one year give the coaching turnover the the dumpster fire our team was the prior year.

I don’t have any inside info, but something about the Hunter situation smells fishy. Someone ain’t telling the truth because it doesn’t add up.

I heard Hunter didn’t like Ames or Iowa State and Haliburton was essentially the only reason he ended up here.

 

[madguy30]

Well, that 0/1 wasn't his recruit, so I'm not worried at all.

The great thing about these first two years is that TJ has already established a strong program identity. Work your ass off and play defense. That's what these recruits are excited about, so I'm not worried about that either.

Yeah the recruits have plenty of film on Youtube to see what they're walking into and it's exciting that they're about it.

 

[madguy30]

I heard Hunter didn’t like Ames or Iowa State and Haliburton was essentially the only reason he ended up here.

Which is fine. I enjoyed watching him and got no impression that he wasn't bought into the success of the team while he was here so whatever.

Looks like the program moved on and next Tuesday will be quite a challenge.

 

[Statefan10]

Which is fine. I enjoyed watching him and got no impression that he wasn't bought into the success of the team while he was here so whatever.

Looks like the program moved on and next Tuesday will be quite a challenge.

I’m reading between the lines a bit here, but I think he was a guy who did care a ton about his stat line, which is why lately you’ve heard our guys talk about the fact that every guy on this year’s team doesn’t care about that. I think they’re taking “subtle” shots at Tyrese.

Either way I had fun watching him last year and am glad he helped the team make the Sweet 16. The sting hurts far less with Lipsey being as good as he is.

 

[madguy30]

I’m reading between the lines a bit here, but I think he was a guy who did care a ton about his stat line, which is why lately you’ve heard our guys talk about the fact that every guy on this year’s team doesn’t care about that. I think they’re taking “subtle” shots at Tyrese.

Either way I had fun watching him last year and am glad he helped the team make the Sweet 16. The sting hurts far less with Lipsey being as good as he is.

That's interesting. But there's been plenty of players over the last several years that it was much more obvious so again, whatever.

Hopefully ISU's players just keep the stone face and play their game next week.

 

[Statefan10]

That's interesting. But there's been plenty of players over the last several years that it was much more obvious so again, whatever.

Hopefully ISU's players just keep the stone face and play their game next week.

I’m sure TJ and staff will have them ready. Let the crowd and students get into his head and we just need to treat him like any other good player we’ve faced.

 

[RezClone]

I’m reading between the lines a bit here, but I think he was a guy who did care a ton about his stat line, which is why lately you’ve heard our guys talk about the fact that every guy on this year’s team doesn’t care about that. I think they’re taking “subtle” shots at Tyrese.

Either way I had fun watching him last year and am glad he helped the team make the Sweet 16. The sting hurts far less with Lipsey being as good as he is.

See Caleb Grill interview on Inside The Eye @
1:15 mark

 

[Torks Pub]

They interviewed Holmes on the post game locker room show and I thought some of his comments were interesting. He said the players returning this year remembered the beat down they got in KC last year from Tech and this game was personal for them. Also said they have a saying in the locker room: "Enjoy playing the tambourine". Not everyone can be a lead singer, and not everyone can be the lead scorer, so when it's your night to play the tambourine enjoy doing it. Fits this team to a T. Amazing chemistry and unselfish play with these guys.

Can Cyclone Alley bring tambourines to future games?

 

[CloneLawman]

Can Cyclone Alley bring tambourines to future games?

What we need is...