This is a Final Four team
- Thread starter cyclonenum1
- Start date
I am so confused here today, this is why I stay away from the board the night/ following day after games. One thread is telling me we are missing something; another is telling me we are a final 4 team, while another thread is telling Fred who to play. Then if I come on her Saturday night/ Sunday after we beat KU this will all be for nothing as everything is great. Dammit...ok see you guys back here Saturday night to find out where the national championship celebration is in April
I'm not sure if this is a Final Four team, but it definitely has some potential.
**** Vitale says that a Final Four championship team needs 3 stars and then the rest as role players who understand their role. Last year's team had that.......the stars were Niang, Ejim and Kane, and obviously role players like Naz, Hogue, Morris and even Edozie played did their job.
I don't think this team has figured it all out yet. They are still adjusting to the additions of Nader, BDJ and McKay. Right now.....I don't think we can say who the 3 stars are at this point, but CFH will figure it out in time.
One thing I do not understand about the rotation so far is why Edozie is not getting any minutes. Not getting a lot I can understand, but none at all? Especially when some of the frontcourt players are not doing so well. Did he do something to get in CFH's doghouse or something?
**** Vitale says that a Final Four championship team needs 3 stars and then the rest as role players who understand their role. Last year's team had that.......the stars were Niang, Ejim and Kane, and obviously role players like Naz, Hogue, Morris and even Edozie played did their job.
I don't think this team has figured it all out yet. They are still adjusting to the additions of Nader, BDJ and McKay. Right now.....I don't think we can say who the 3 stars are at this point, but CFH will figure it out in time.
One thing I do not understand about the rotation so far is why Edozie is not getting any minutes. Not getting a lot I can understand, but none at all? Especially when some of the frontcourt players are not doing so well. Did he do something to get in CFH's doghouse or something?
Yeah, about 10% of CF has the emotional stability of a 14 year old girl. It's pretty annoying.
I completely agree. I would add that some of our fellow Cyclone Fanatics seem to have amnesia about the fact that last year's team was really struggling in January and there were meltdowns aplenty right here on this forum.
Fact: Last year's team went 11-7 in the conference (3-6 on the road) and was two miracle shots away from going 9-9 (2-7). I really wonder if the current "Debbie Downers" recall any of this.
Fact: Seemingly out of nowhere, last year's team got blazing hot at the absolute perfect time. We went 3-0 to win the Big 12 tourney and that momentum continued until we had to play a similarly hot UConn team without our most important offensive weapon. Only the most prolific koolaid drinking Cyclone Fanatic saw that March run coming.
Opinion: Yes, we obviously miss Ejim and Kane, but I wish some would stop implying that last year's team was some invincible force that never struggled, because it's just not true.
We better start knocking down free throws. Poor free throw shooting teams get knocked out early.
I think this time has a better D and more offensive potential than last year. But there's a few kinks to work out first . . .
This is an example of a team that sometimes plays like a high 2 seed, but ends up as a 4 or 5, then makes a run to the Final Four.
That isn't what I predict -- too early for that -- just the vibe I get.
That isn't what I predict -- too early for that -- just the vibe I get.
The team showed a lot of heart yesterday when it looked like Baylor was going to blow us out. We played really well the second half, and were within seconds of winning a road game to a ranked opponent. On the whole, I'm not worried about this team at all.
On the other hand, the game was a bit disappointing because I didn't see the defensive adjustments I had hoped to see over the course of the game. All game long, from the opening tip to the final seconds, we just didn't box out well. I think part of that is that we have McKay trying to get a block on every shot, which leaves him out of position to box out and get a defensive rebound. After McKay, who's on the floor who can rebound? Hogue played only 24 minutes (was Fred mad that he got the technical? Is that why he benched him?)
I kind of knew that Baylor's hot shooting to open the game wouldn't last, but I knew that if we didn't make adjustments on rebounding, they were going to kill us on the offensive glass, and they did that for 40 minutes.
On the other hand, the game was a bit disappointing because I didn't see the defensive adjustments I had hoped to see over the course of the game. All game long, from the opening tip to the final seconds, we just didn't box out well. I think part of that is that we have McKay trying to get a block on every shot, which leaves him out of position to box out and get a defensive rebound. After McKay, who's on the floor who can rebound? Hogue played only 24 minutes (was Fred mad that he got the technical? Is that why he benched him?)
I kind of knew that Baylor's hot shooting to open the game wouldn't last, but I knew that if we didn't make adjustments on rebounding, they were going to kill us on the offensive glass, and they did that for 40 minutes.
ImperialClone: "I have had the night to sleep on it and the morning to think about what this basketball team is and I don't think ISU is a final four team. Put me in the something is missing category, but we don't rebound well and defense is lacking. Players are in the wrong spots on defense and I watched many of our players last night just watch while Baylor jacked a three or get a board. Free throw shooting is sub-par at best and this team doesn't value the basketball (taking shots early in the shot clock, silly passes and forcing things). I think ISU is good, but not great. In my opinion, the sweet sixteen would be our ceiling. I would love to be wrong and eat crow, but the pieces we have are not final four level. This is just my opinion and I am just a fan. This team sleep walks sometimes and great teams don't do that."
Imperial, yours is the most realistic of all responses right now IMO. This is not to say that this team can't improve and get a major wake-up call and start doing the things you describe. "Sleep Walking" is a great way to describe not boxing out to rebound, slow to help on defense, not getting down on defensive athletic positioning start to finish, not consistently getting the ball to who has the hot hand, etc. Moreover, they lack a true leader like Ejim or Kane when things get tight. Unfortunately, the sleep walking can take up long portions of a game for some reason; we've seen what they can do when the intensity is there! Let's hope they can shorten the lulls and get to where we all know they can get.
Imperial, yours is the most realistic of all responses right now IMO. This is not to say that this team can't improve and get a major wake-up call and start doing the things you describe. "Sleep Walking" is a great way to describe not boxing out to rebound, slow to help on defense, not getting down on defensive athletic positioning start to finish, not consistently getting the ball to who has the hot hand, etc. Moreover, they lack a true leader like Ejim or Kane when things get tight. Unfortunately, the sleep walking can take up long portions of a game for some reason; we've seen what they can do when the intensity is there! Let's hope they can shorten the lulls and get to where we all know they can get.
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Every year, people say that Kansas is having a down year in the beginning of the season because they drop a couple of non-conference games then they pull all the pieces together and make a pretty darned good team, one of the reasons we all hate Self. Kind of looks familiar, we brought in some new pieces this year, one very late (McKay). Let's give the coach and the players time to work this out and then move on to the Tourny. I think we are already at least as good as last years team.
Remember last year when we lost 4 of 5 games in the start of the season?
Just my thoughts...
Remember last year when we lost 4 of 5 games in the start of the season?
Just my thoughts...
There is definitely something to this. Feels like we have a bunch of really solid guys, but I'm not sure who the actual leaders are. I think for this team to maximize it's success long term, we're going to need Niang, BDJ, and Morris to fill in those roles. If those 3 can continue to step up their games and assert themselves as leaders of the team, I think it will trickle down to everyone else.
Watching us play last night actually reminded me of watching KU play. Your eyes tell you they are getting handled but then you see the score and you're like, "dang".
I watched Duke lose to Miami (at home) and NC State. Saw Kentucky almost lose at home to Ole Miss and @ a bad aTm. Also saw Louisville lose @ North Carolina (where Iowa won)
ISU is good enough to get to the Final Four and win it all. A lot of teams are. A one pt loss on a missed call to a good team on the road isn't a big deal. Can't wait for Saturday.
Please. If Iowa could make it to the tourney after that epic collapse last year, ISU would have to have Morris, Niang and BDJ drop dead to miss the tourney.
We wont be a true college basketball blueblood until we start regularly recruiting 5 star guys, mcdonalds all americans, 1 and doners, etc.
Until then I consider us getting to the elite eight to be extremely surprising.
Until then I consider us getting to the elite eight to be extremely surprising.
Sorry to burst your hypothetical bubble, but even if we do what you suggested, we still won't be a true college basketball blueblood.