Imo Thomas seems to be a better rebounder and is a much better passer.
I think Thomas actually is a better ball handler as well. Naz is quicker with the ball, however.
All in all tho, Naz shoots better in games and is less of a liability on D.
Next Season
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Imo Thomas seems to be a better rebounder and is a much better passer.
I think Thomas actually is a better ball handler as well. Naz is quicker with the ball, however.
All in all tho, Naz shoots better in games and is less of a liability on D.
Consistency is Key
As talented as this team seemed to be, we just were not consistent. Morris and Niang were our best players and even their performance, especially at year-end varied from half to half. McKay might have been our most consistent performer, but his contributions were mainly as a defender. If Cyclone basketball is going to progress in 2015/16, we need consistent play among the starting 5.CFH is still learning as a coach and IMO each year he gets better. In 2015/16, I am hoping to see a bigger emphasis on defense. Up to this point we can win one way, outscore opponents. Teams that win conference championships and make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament learn to win on nights when their shots aren't falling. Additionally with the roster we have, it would be nice to add some zone defense to our defensive options. On offense we desperately need a third guy who can create his own shots off the dribble. Hopefully, Cooke or Burton can be that guy. It would also be nice to see our offense diversify, so if Georges is struggling we have other options.
As talented as this team seemed to be, we just were not consistent. Morris and Niang were our best players and even their performance, especially at year-end varied from half to half. McKay might have been our most consistent performer, but his contributions were mainly as a defender. If Cyclone basketball is going to progress in 2015/16, we need consistent play among the starting 5.CFH is still learning as a coach and IMO each year he gets better. In 2015/16, I am hoping to see a bigger emphasis on defense. Up to this point we can win one way, outscore opponents. Teams that win conference championships and make deep runs in the NCAA Tournament learn to win on nights when their shots aren't falling. Additionally with the roster we have, it would be nice to add some zone defense to our defensive options. On offense we desperately need a third guy who can create his own shots off the dribble. Hopefully, Cooke or Burton can be that guy. It would also be nice to see our offense diversify, so if Georges is struggling we have other options.
Think we will have 2 1st team all b12 to start next year in morris and niang and mckay 2nd team. Niang possibly a preseason all American. Yep on the kool-aid already
Can Burton be utilized like Roosevelt Jones for Butler? Maybe Nader could too, but they may not get high enough usage rate.
Next year will be exciting.
Next year will be exciting.
We return nearly everyone, and add at minimum three good players. We will be more experienced and they will have a chip on their shoulder after the early exit. Could be a blessing what happened this year for next year. Also BDJ leaving is addition by subtraction. If he bought in and was a team player he could have been one of our best if not our best player. But he's a selfish baby.
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
This year, IMO, is the first year under Fred that our guys didn't have a chip on their shoulder. They weren't the underdog anymore and got a ton of hype - the entire country was talking about ISU all season long. I hope that the loss to UAB puts that chip back on these guys shoulders, because we saw last year how much tougher (mentally and physically) they became because of it.
I could care less who starts between Matt and Naz. They both play their butts off and on any given night either of them can go off. Lets just hope they become more consistent on both ends of the floor. This team will have FOUR seniors (Niang, Naz, Nader and McKay) and two juniors (Matt and Monte) getting a bunch of minutes, with Cooke, Burton and Williams (why is he not listed on our roster???) as the wildcards. I'm already more excited for next year than any other season in the history of ISU basketball.
I could care less who starts between Matt and Naz. They both play their butts off and on any given night either of them can go off. Lets just hope they become more consistent on both ends of the floor. This team will have FOUR seniors (Niang, Naz, Nader and McKay) and two juniors (Matt and Monte) getting a bunch of minutes, with Cooke, Burton and Williams (why is he not listed on our roster???) as the wildcards. I'm already more excited for next year than any other season in the history of ISU basketball.
demoncore1031
Well-Known Member
Man... I just posted pretty much the same exact thing you did. and agree 100% about BJD.
Agree. I think this was Fred's weakest "bench" from a coaching perspective that he has had at ISU. No Bobby Luth, no Doc Sadler, no Otz.
Yeah, it still stings like getting a bandaid ripped off, but with June comes Cap City League!!!! Anyone have any idea who will be around this summer? Will the out-of-staters be around or going back home for the summer? I know, I know, it's too soon to really know, but I'm ready already.
I've waited a while before commenting on here so I would calm down a bit from the loss.
About that loss and this season......I think we all need to remember that CFH is still learning some things as a coach. He knows that, and we know it too. What was most disappointing to me was that this team never seemed to learn from their mistakes this year. They would act and play like they did for a few games after a loss, but then it would happen again. There was something missing in that leadership in the locker room and on the floor. I'm not sure if it was the players or the coaches, but I hope they figure it out or next year could easily be a repeat of this one.
There are a couple of questions I would love to hear CFH answer, but he will never be asked. First would be what the hell happened with using Edozie? I know he was not an offensive machine, but sometimes that is not what was needed. In the last game, I would also love to know why Thomas did not take Naz' place. Thomas has been a streaky shooter, and it is obvious he was on that day. I think Naz wore down with more minutes played this year, and his shot was off the last 10 games or so, possibly due to tired legs. That can ruin any good shooter in a short time.
Next year.......I hope they will be better, but I am not going to get overly excited unless they do recruit someone like CD. I hope that Williams is as good of a rebounder as Hogue was in the past, and that Cooke is as good of an outside shooter as advertised. I think a lot will depend on how well those 2 recover from their surgeries.
I do think that the loss of BDJ will be good for the team. He was too much for BDJ and not really for the team, imo. Why would he have to tell the team at the end of the year that he was ready to play his best basketball now? Plus, all the legal crap at the start of the year. His antics on the bench sometimes. The comment after the Big 12 tourney about finding the right school......I took that to be him saying he finally found a school worthy of his talents, which was b.s. I think he is probably the biggest transfer failure for CFH so far. Yes, there were others, but none had the potential to be the player that he could have been, imo.
So.......we only have to wait about 4 months or so until we see some of them back in action in the Cap City league. We will know long before that about the recruits though.
I just hope this team has learned to never take ANYONE lightly, and to always just play their best no matter what. No one will ask for more than that.
About that loss and this season......I think we all need to remember that CFH is still learning some things as a coach. He knows that, and we know it too. What was most disappointing to me was that this team never seemed to learn from their mistakes this year. They would act and play like they did for a few games after a loss, but then it would happen again. There was something missing in that leadership in the locker room and on the floor. I'm not sure if it was the players or the coaches, but I hope they figure it out or next year could easily be a repeat of this one.
There are a couple of questions I would love to hear CFH answer, but he will never be asked. First would be what the hell happened with using Edozie? I know he was not an offensive machine, but sometimes that is not what was needed. In the last game, I would also love to know why Thomas did not take Naz' place. Thomas has been a streaky shooter, and it is obvious he was on that day. I think Naz wore down with more minutes played this year, and his shot was off the last 10 games or so, possibly due to tired legs. That can ruin any good shooter in a short time.
Next year.......I hope they will be better, but I am not going to get overly excited unless they do recruit someone like CD. I hope that Williams is as good of a rebounder as Hogue was in the past, and that Cooke is as good of an outside shooter as advertised. I think a lot will depend on how well those 2 recover from their surgeries.
I do think that the loss of BDJ will be good for the team. He was too much for BDJ and not really for the team, imo. Why would he have to tell the team at the end of the year that he was ready to play his best basketball now? Plus, all the legal crap at the start of the year. His antics on the bench sometimes. The comment after the Big 12 tourney about finding the right school......I took that to be him saying he finally found a school worthy of his talents, which was b.s. I think he is probably the biggest transfer failure for CFH so far. Yes, there were others, but none had the potential to be the player that he could have been, imo.
So.......we only have to wait about 4 months or so until we see some of them back in action in the Cap City league. We will know long before that about the recruits though.
I just hope this team has learned to never take ANYONE lightly, and to always just play their best no matter what. No one will ask for more than that.
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I was pretty unsatified with how things turned out with him. When he was focusing on getting out in transition and getting to the hole or getting to the rim in the half court he was very effective. When he just wanted to jack up a shot to get his shots in to try and score he was basically sat for the remainder of the game. He showed signs of so much potential with this team then just let it go to waste. Im really already looking forward to next year already though.
I have to admit, I would like to see what Matt could do in the starting lineup next year unless Cooke blows everyone away. He can be better off the dribble and I think could be every bit the spot-up shooter that Naz is. Naz became a better finisher this year, but I'm having a hard time disregarding his season end shooting slump. He's still a catch and shoot guy, I think Matt can be more of a scorer. And I like Naz's energy off the bench.
For what it's worth, I don't buy the lack of toughness/determination storyline for this year's team. They improved on the road and came back from countless big deficits either to win or make games very competitive. Previous teams would have folded it up in a number of those games. This team just had flaws -- some bone-headedness and cold shooting at the wrong time being the most apparent.
For what it's worth, I don't buy the lack of toughness/determination storyline for this year's team. They improved on the road and came back from countless big deficits either to win or make games very competitive. Previous teams would have folded it up in a number of those games. This team just had flaws -- some bone-headedness and cold shooting at the wrong time being the most apparent.
It's a good thing to have a chip on your shoulder (much like Duke has this year), but one thing this team is going to have to learn how to do is play with hype. ISU is far from being a blue chip, but this team will be largely in the spotlight for as long as Hoiberg remains our coach. As long as he's at ISU, ISU will not be able to fly under the radar.
That's kind of where I'm at with Burton too. He might be a great basketball player, I just don't know? I know he's an amazing dunker, but that's about all I've seen.
And hopefully his attitude will be MUCH better than BDJ's was this year. I fully anticipate it will be. No reason not to think it won't be.
Maybe someone else that has seen more of Burton can describe his game? Because I'm always a bit leery of guys that are known mainly for their amazing dunks, but then come to find out that's about all they are good at.
I've seen more of Cooke's game, and he appears to be a good ball handler, really good shooter, a decent slasher, etc. As long as he's fully healthy, I think he'll do just fine in Fred's system.
If Burton isn't a productive player next year it's a failure on either him or the coaching staff. He has all the physical tools to be a solid player. Might not be the best shooter, but he can get to the hoop well enough that shouldn't make a huge difference.
I'm actually kind of hoping that Cooke becomes the starter at the 2, because I am hoping he is less streaky than Long or Thomas. Thomas is very hit or miss, and Naz is hit or miss, but usually for multiple games at a time. I was hoping Naz was about to enter a "hit" phase at the tournament for about 6 games...