hah good luck with that. diante garrett is on an nba roster and 2nd all time in assists at iowa state and he got ripped for four years on these boards.
How about that Thomas kid?
- Thread starter Cyclonepride
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hah good luck with that. diante garrett is on an nba roster and 2nd all time in assists at iowa state and he got ripped for four years on these boards.
Annual whipping boy shifted to Bubu in DG's senior season but your point still stands.
I still don't understand why being critical of him classifies as "bashing"
I think everyone agrees he will be a great player for us, but his game as it is now is under many fans expectations. His main attribute is shooting he the guy has a ton of trouble getting open looks, very hesitant of making a play, and is obviously the worst defender in the 7 deep. With that said, I am fine with him starting but I would feel better if Monte and Naz got more minutes than him.
I think everyone agrees he will be a great player for us, but his game as it is now is under many fans expectations. His main attribute is shooting he the guy has a ton of trouble getting open looks, very hesitant of making a play, and is obviously the worst defender in the 7 deep. With that said, I am fine with him starting but I would feel better if Monte and Naz got more minutes than him.
I don't know why people keep saying this. I played basketball throughout high school and watch quite a bit and like to think I can recognize bad and good defense. Matt may be the worst defender but I don't think it is anywhere close to obvious. As I've stated in other posts I see Naz out there letting guys blow by him and Niang has some lapses as well.
Under many fans expectations? Speak for yourself. He's a freshman averaging 8 PPG, never turns the ball over and plays within the offense. Again, I don't see how anyone can be disappointed in his play right now. Not every starter is going to average double figures in scoring. He wasn't going to shoot 45% from 3 like Tyrus did last year. I think people got spoiled by that. 36% is not bad for a freshman.
Could his defense improve? Absolutely but this is also the first year that he's had to play man to man defense and has already made great strides improving since the beginning of the season
If he's failing to meet your expectations, then your expectations were out of whack to begin with and that's on you, not him..
Those fans have silly, unrealistic expecations. Especially when Matt plays in a rotation with 4 other guys that each are in double figures per game and serious scoring threats.
What?! It's unrealistic to expect a true freshman to come in and shoot three's like McGee and play defense like Babb?
8 points, 4 shots, plays no worse d than anybody else on the perimeter IMO. I would like to see him come off that handoff screen to shoot it 2-3 times a game, seems to be cash in that scenario plus he is a good passer. That entry pass to Niang yesterday was a thing of beauty.
This whole thread is an example when people have to high of expectations. MT is doing just fine for us. He is playing his role, and we are winning. What more do you want from him?
Your facts are detrimental to the whipper's case!
Seriously tho - didn't know that - rather amazing for a freshman. He doesn't handle the ball a ton, but enough to expect at least a few turnovers.
When a team like ISU (undefeated) is able to start a true freshman and have him not make big mistakes that hurt your team - it's huge.
People keep saying it because its true. Niang is another one that has issues on defense but he scores 16 points a game and always has to guard guys bigger than him.
By the numerous people here that have been critical, don't make this into just me. Besides if you fanboys read my whole post, I said the kid will be a good player for us but go ahead and ignore that because there is a bit of criticism in the post. People keep pointing out that he is only a freshman, not ****. He is playin pretty much how I expected him from the jump with exception to his hesitancy to make a play. I understand he has other weapons around him bu did it occur to you that he only has the numbers he does have because other teams are concentrating on Kane, Hogue, Ejim and Niang?
Once again, get off your high horse, if you guys are judging isu as a top ten team, who would you want to see your team exploit the most playing ISU?
I don't disagree.
But if you are going to tell me that Matt Thomas is a great player RIGHT now and feel confident he can guard other exceptional SG in the Big 12, I would disagree. If he was scoring more, I would be more inclined to call it a wash like Scotty C. TTech is one thing, what about when he plays against Wiggins, Brown, etc?
Yes, he is a Frosh so his youth is obviously a huge part of many people's criticism, but that explanation has no baring on wins and losses.
No one has said he is great - no one. But he's clearly a solid player for us - especially as a true freshman. We currently have 4 key players (Kane, Ejim, Niang, Hogue) and others are role players. MT is a role player and is filling his role just fine.
The fan criticism of him is comical and off-base.
Okay, looking over where this thread is headed, let me clarify why I was talking about being critical of Matt Thomas. His play is what you would expect and going down that road wasn't my intention. ISU is now a top 10 team, and I was just trying to be objective looking at the strengths and weakness of the team. I think as a team regardless of age, thomas is a weaker link that gets exploited and will continue to as B12 play goes along. Sure his turnover ratio is great and when he gets a wide open look, he can knock them down. he definitely doesn't hurt the team, but why does everyone freak out about every criticism? Just because we have not lost yet doesn't mean we won't.
I support all these guys and this team has been a blast to watch so far. I do think teams with exceptional guard play are going to cause us all kinds of headaches this season though. Especially if Kane struggles or gets into foul trouble.
I support all these guys and this team has been a blast to watch so far. I do think teams with exceptional guard play are going to cause us all kinds of headaches this season though. Especially if Kane struggles or gets into foul trouble.
+1 to ISUFan22
It's clear that Thomas' on-ball D against driving players isn't great but I'm seeing that they are having him turn guys towards help D. That's fine w/ the amount of athleticism and D awareness of the other players on the floor.
Everybody on this team has a role. The Morris-Long-Thomas rotation will continue to develop as the season goes on and I think all three are showing a lot of progress over the past month.
It's clear that Thomas' on-ball D against driving players isn't great but I'm seeing that they are having him turn guys towards help D. That's fine w/ the amount of athleticism and D awareness of the other players on the floor.
Everybody on this team has a role. The Morris-Long-Thomas rotation will continue to develop as the season goes on and I think all three are showing a lot of progress over the past month.
I'm on your side State43. I've stated before that if this team is going to be able to take that next step we need production from our SG. That doesn't mean we need 15 ppg, but we needed more than what we were getting in the month of December. I could care less if he is a freshman, I'm not ripping the guy, just being objective and saying if we are going to win the Big 12 we need production from that spot. It's almost unfair that Thomas is in that position as a freshman, but that is were we are at. The offense we got from Thomas yesterday was great in the 1st half. Not just that his shot went down, but that he was taking it. I think he rounds into form.
Beyond scoring, he has chipped in with rebounds, passing, some hustle plays - he's not just a shooter. Does he remind anyone of a young Fred? Someone do a stat comparison, I am too lazy.
Was also really impressed with Morris yesterday. Serious ability and confidence. He is going to be something else.
The comparison in my head this morning is Giselle/Woodbury. Which pair would you rather have?
I just hope that he scores 25 in the game that we finally do lose so be cant be the sole blame on this board by many like I think will happen.
Actually, people will probably still blame him and say he shot too much and didn't play within the offense and needs to know he's a role player, not someone who should be taking all of the shots.
Actually, people will probably still blame him and say he shot too much and didn't play within the offense and needs to know he's a role player, not someone who should be taking all of the shots.
I guess we will have to disagree on that point and from some other people's posts, I think they disagree as well.