*** Official IOWA STATE vs #7 Baylor Game(Day) Thread ***

[Cyinthenorth]

This game shows why Caleb should have been in street clothes recovering the last 3 weeks. Proud of the boys for being tough and together. Best wishes to Caleb on starting his road to recovery.

I really wonder if it was a deal where Caleb was insisting on playing thru the injury. TJ finally put his foot down, Caleb didn't like it and said something out of character. Or maybe many things out of character, considering he did sit out a handful of games down the stretch

 

[allfourcy]

Today was just fun to watch. Helped having no expectations of winning. I posted in the OU game at half that even though we were up it didn’t seem like anyone on the team was having fun.

Agree. THe sharing of the ball. THe playing time and 'contribution' by the whole bench. The response on the road after Baylor cut it to 4. I'm in heaven.

 

[jsb]

I really wonder if it was a deal where Caleb was insisting on playing thru the injury. TJ finally put his foot down, Caleb didn't like it and said something out of character. Or maybe many things out of character, considering he did sit out a handful of games down the stretch

Maybe, but TJ doesn't have to play him. Caleb wasn't putting himself in the games.

 

[allfourcy]

I really wonder if it was a deal where Caleb was insisting on playing thru the injury. TJ finally put his foot down, Caleb didn't like it and said something out of character. Or maybe many things out of character, considering he did sit out a handful of games down the stretch

We will never know. Even guys that leak something will get twisted somehow as it travels thru the conversation road. Main thing is, our guys had fun again. And our coach has to feel rewarded.

 

[BigLame]

WTH was that? We have not seen that good of defense and shooting for a month and a half. Not that it was great shooting, but it has been so bad lately, even decent shooting is a vast improvement. Happy for the players and the coaches. It's been a rough stretch and a really rough week for those guys.

There's times I feel coaches 'over-coach'. For instance, I like changing up defenses after time outs, but I don't like when it is into a sagging 1/4 court zone of some kind. I think Otz does this too often & we give up buckets, most times 3's.

Well, I think Baylor should not have played any zone against us at any time. None. We are a much better team offensively when we are able to, or allowed, to get our passes off & move the ball around without dribbling. KU is that way this season, too. Not that they play zone, but they don't have lock down denial on the perimeter. Those teams who guard us tight on the ball combined with denial to the rest of the perimeter & force us to have to dribble to initiate any offense are the ones who disrupt us the most. BU playing zone played into our strength & today we were even more prepared to get it inside - which was awesome. Watson, who is being praised & rightly so, was fantastic today & very comfortable

 

[HFCS]

Hate to look ahead to next year but man Watson and King looked good today playing together…

King
Watson
Omaha
Milan

Pretty pretty good at the forward spot.

Just heard Watson in post game interview, impressive in how he described how he approached the season waiting for his time.

 

[HoustonClone]

Watson gives a really good interview. Impressed.

 

[jsb]

Another thing is that we appear to matchup really well with Baylor. Last year we played them well both times. This year we dominated them both times.

That doesn't take away from a really great coaching job and really great effort from the players because the team that lost at home against OSU and OU would have been blown out by Baylor today. But the matchup is a good one for us.

 

[singsing]

I like Watson! Enjoy watching him now, but am always thinking he's gonna be really good with some time. I figure we're bringing in some guards, but I wouldn't count him out or be too disappointed if he started next season if he can improve his shooting a bit.

 

[madguy30]

Unpopular opinion: I don't care if these guys lose on Thursday in Kansas City, whoever we play. I think they would benefit more from extra rest going into the NCAAs than some other ISU teams of the past.

Any win after this is straight gravy/icing.

 

[Die4Cy]

What was different about today? Everything went like it always does, start a little slow, build a big lead, immediately surrender it at the top of the second half. And today they responded and put it back into double digits in four straight possessions when they've struggled to do that otherwise.

I think the ball movement was elite today and that was the difference.

 

[JP4CY]

Jaren just gave a classy and leader based interview to Heft in the post game.

 

[Clone95]

The best part of the win is no player on the team did anything amazing that they can’t do every night. Not like they made 15 threes or anything. The 3 keys were sharing the basketball and making Baylor work so hard to score and rebounding. I don’t remember a single Baylor fast break.

 

[fsanford]

I am going to guess with margin of victory on the road against a top 2 seed ISU moved back to like 20-22 in Net and maybe back to 5 line. I think 6th is now a lock

 

[BigLame]

Going to sound weird here, but I think Watson has some tremendous grip strength. When he gets his hands on the ball no one is taking it from him. I feel our bigs have lacked this & this is why it seems we have position & hands on the ball, yet in the battles for boards it gets tipped around multiple times & we miss out on possessions.
King seems solid, too, but Rob, Shoon, Kunz & Ward lack some in this area.

 

[SolarGarlic]

Another thing is that we appear to matchup really well with Baylor. Last year we played them well both times. This year we dominated them both times.

That doesn't take away from a really great coaching job and really great effort from the players because the team that lost at home against OSU and OU would have been blown out by Baylor today. But the matchup is a good one for us.

They love to dribble and hunt shots one on one. Our help defense is made for that style. As long as we kept it a half court game, they were going to struggle unless they made a bunch of tough shots.

 

[madguy30]

Jaren just gave a classy and leader based interview to Heft in the post game.

Cliff notes version please?

 

[BigLame]

Shane powers hit it too.

There's a couple more in there, too - I just recall the biggest one in my mind

 

[madguy30]

The best part of the win is no player on the team did anything amazing that they can’t do every night. Not like they made 15 threes or anything. The 3 keys were sharing the basketball and making Baylor work so hard to score and rebounding. I don’t remember a single Baylor fast break.

They were smart late too. Baylor pressed and ISU took their time to just secure the ball.

Lots of demons warded off today.

 

[CloniesForLife]

Another thing is that we appear to matchup really well with Baylor. Last year we played them well both times. This year we dominated them both times.

That doesn't take away from a really great coaching job and really great effort from the players because the team that lost at home against OSU and OU would have been blown out by Baylor today. But the matchup is a good one for us.

Baylor's guards are great shooters and scorers but not as big or as physical as the guards on other teams. Much better matchup for our defense and not as much ball pressure on our offense