First let me say that I was feeling really good about the victory over Iowa until I read all of the threads on this board saying that ISU couldn't hold a lead and was one of the worst teams in the conference. That leads me to ask what the consensus is as to how the Clones stack up with the rest of the Big 12? Myself, I'm not up to speed on the strengths and weaknesses of ISU's conference opponents, so I'll need to rely on your expertise in predicting how the season will turn out for the home team.
Sizing Up the Big 12
- Thread starter CycloneCurt
- Start date
- Mar 27, 2006
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It's all about consistency, in my opinion. When this team is on, they can play with every single team in the conference, but when they are not, they look awful. I suspect we're going to see a lot of great first halves, only to watch the lead dwindle in the second, or sluggish starts followed up by brilliant, after-halftime performances. What it boils down to, is that consistency is the key. I think we're going to be a tough out at home, and play some stinkers on the road. That said, I'm hoping we pull some things together and go .500 in conference. An NIT berth, while not what a lot of people were hoping for this summer, would still be a significant step forward for the program.
What he said. They will need to gain some consistency or it will be a very miserable year. There aren't many teams you can play and beat in the Big 12 only playing even 3/4 of the game.
I won't be ecstatic but will be happy with the NIT this year. It is progress.
At our current level, 7th, 8th, or 9th. I think we are capable of 5th or 6th.
Not that you can tell a lot about a team from Non-conference slate, but K-State is looking better than most of us thought. Oklahoma will play hard, and won't beat themselves. Okie State has room to improve. KU looked good against Ohio State, but will be without Tyshawn Taylor for 3 weeks or so. A&M and Baylor will be solid. Tech is terrible.
Not that you can tell a lot about a team from Non-conference slate, but K-State is looking better than most of us thought. Oklahoma will play hard, and won't beat themselves. Okie State has room to improve. KU looked good against Ohio State, but will be without Tyshawn Taylor for 3 weeks or so. A&M and Baylor will be solid. Tech is terrible.
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I would put us at 7th or 8th right now. I'm think 5 or 6 wins right now. Hopefully can finish a few games above .500 overall to have a shot at NIT.
Baylor and Missouri are playing great basketball, I would say right now they are 1 and 2. KU is a clear number three and if they clean up their turnover problem and can survive the next three weeks without Taylor they could be right there for another championshipp. A&M and K-State aren't overly talented but they are tough, hard-nosed teams who play good defense and will be tough to beat. Okie State has some good young talent but aren't consistent yet, same with Texas. Oklahoma and Texas Tech are bad and we should definitely finish above them.
I would say that ISU could finish anywhere from 4th to 8th depending how much the continue to improve as the season goes on.
I would say that ISU could finish anywhere from 4th to 8th depending how much the continue to improve as the season goes on.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
What Janny said. It all comes down to consistency.
We have to ability to beat or lose to every team in the conference. Once we've proven (or think we've proven) that we're better than our opponent, our guys lose focus and go on cruise control. If we can fix that, we're a very dangerous opponent. If we don't, we're a frustrating team to watch.
We have to ability to beat or lose to every team in the conference. Once we've proven (or think we've proven) that we're better than our opponent, our guys lose focus and go on cruise control. If we can fix that, we're a very dangerous opponent. If we don't, we're a frustrating team to watch.
Anywhere from 4th to 8th is where I see us finishing in conference.
OU, Tech and OSU are very beatable teams. Should sweep OU and Tech for sure IMO, they straight up blow, and down at the Iba against OSU is always a tough one for ANY team.
Missouri looks great, so does A&M.
I think we can get Baylor up here in Ames.
K-State's alright IMO, but beatable.
KU, Texas will be tough again IMO.
Again though, the Clones need consistency. We have to find ways to score when the 3 ball isn't going for us some nights...Definiatly have to play well and win most of the games at home.
I hope we can figure out all of that for the rest of Non-con right into conference play.
OU, Tech and OSU are very beatable teams. Should sweep OU and Tech for sure IMO, they straight up blow, and down at the Iba against OSU is always a tough one for ANY team.
Missouri looks great, so does A&M.
I think we can get Baylor up here in Ames.
K-State's alright IMO, but beatable.
KU, Texas will be tough again IMO.
Again though, the Clones need consistency. We have to find ways to score when the 3 ball isn't going for us some nights...Definiatly have to play well and win most of the games at home.
I hope we can figure out all of that for the rest of Non-con right into conference play.
Michigan probably wasn't concerned with losing their massive lead to us two Saturday's ago. And along with that, its probably going to end up being a close game, no matter the score after the first half, when there are 21 combined fouls in the first 10 minutes of the second half. Its going to keep games close if there is on average a foul every 30 seconds.
I don't envision having leads like that in the Big 12, either. It could happen once or twice, I guess — but it'd probably take 30 minutes instead of 20.
It would have been a little more encouraging to see the lead stretched to 30-plus for a while in the 2nd half. Even if the margin dwindled and the team lost focus anyway, we'd be having similar conversations but maybe not "great half/poor half."
So hard to tell how we'll do when this team is obviously still growing.
If you made me guess right now, I'd say 7-11 conference record. Maybe the cardinal-colored blinders are on and 6-12 is more likely.
Combine that with 10-3 non-con and 17-14 is what I would say, or at the very least, a winning season. A step in the right direction, for sure.
If you made me guess right now, I'd say 7-11 conference record. Maybe the cardinal-colored blinders are on and 6-12 is more likely.
Combine that with 10-3 non-con and 17-14 is what I would say, or at the very least, a winning season. A step in the right direction, for sure.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
With the # of fouls called, wouldn't they have been much more often than 30 seconds?
Just feeling picky. What a terribly officiated half.
Anywhere from 5-10 in the league is possible, IMO. I do think we're getting better and we have a higher upside than several teams in the B12. If things go well and we keep getting better, we could find ourselves in the 5th/6th spot. If things stay similar to how we look now, I would say 7-9th.
Not beating Iowa by 30 will at least give Fred something to use as teaching points. A blowout might have led to some complacency although I would have preferred it.
Right now I think its:
Tier 1
Missouri
Kansas
Baylor
Tier 2
Texas A&M
KSU
Texas
Iowa State
Oklahoma State
Tier 3
Oklahoma
Texas Tech
I'm thinking we can go 3-1 against Tier 3, 5-5 against Tier 2, and then 2-4 against Tier 1.
10-8 and we're on the bubble.
Tier 1
Missouri
Kansas
Baylor
Tier 2
Texas A&M
KSU
Texas
Iowa State
Oklahoma State
Tier 3
Oklahoma
Texas Tech
I'm thinking we can go 3-1 against Tier 3, 5-5 against Tier 2, and then 2-4 against Tier 1.
10-8 and we're on the bubble.