Tough day for EIU hoops hopes

[inCyteful]

I don't think it's awkward at all. These players only meetings are monumentally overblown. The media eats it up...and so do fans.

Exactly. Either the team in question is already close and essentially every day is a players only meeting. Or the locker room is fractured and then you can have all the meetings you want but it's not going to help, probably just deepen the division.

If EIU wants to bring a mediocre player from a team that's main purpose in life was to just qualify for the NCAAs - then do nothing when they got there - more power to them. I am completely on board with anything that further deepens the McCaffrey way for that team.

 

[Statefan10]

Things that aren't shocking for $500.

I bet that only added to the 'WTF?ism' for why he played so much with the Murray kids around.

Him and Patrick both. Iowa did fine with having Murray off the bench but there was absolutely zero reason that was happening two years ago.

 

[VeloClone]

I don't think Baylor is that great defensively. In the past of course. That's what's been so weird about them past couple years is that they're a lot different than how they've been with Drew. They're a lot more offensive geared now imo

No, they are not great defensively. However they scouted BYU well and they made it extremely uncomfortable for them to get good looks from 3 last night. And they are long - they are always long - which even if not as good technically, still makes it a bit more difficult to find avenues to score.

 

[VeloClone]

Semantics. Nobody cares.

A players only meeting is about the players holding themselves and each other accountable and fixing the internal issues they are having. If it isn't a players only meeting, don't call it one because it isn't the same thing when it is top down or if they have others in the room. It could still be effective, but it isn't the same atmosphere and it isn't the same thing.

 

[Statefan10]

A players only meeting is about the players holding themselves and each other accountable and fixing the internal issues they are having. If it isn't a players only meeting, don't call it one because it isn't the same thing when it is top down or if they have others in the room. It could still be effective, but it isn't the same atmosphere and it isn't the same thing.

If the players wanted Connor to come in and speak in their player's only meeting, then who cares? The only thing I find weird about it is that he did come in and speak at all.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Friendly Spartan, what kind of a crap show was that? That's a trash Iowa team.

Izzo has been washed since Covid. This team has been mismanaged to a horrific degree and he would be fired if he was any other coach. His seat is an inferno right now and he hasn’t played any of the stud young players we needed.

We had a top 5 recruiting class custom built to fill the holes we had and as an entire class they are averaging less then 2mins per game and less then 2 points.

It’s malpractice and she should be fired if he doesn’t change his staff or way of operating dramatically in the off season. Alumni and fans are livid

 

[VeloClone]

If the players wanted Connor to come in and speak in their player's only meeting, then who cares? The only thing I find weird about it is that he did come in and speak at all.

NOBODY CARES. Just don't call it a "players only meeting." It's not that hard to understand.

 

[trevn]

Izzo has been washed since Covid. This team has been mismanaged to a horrific degree and he would be fired if he was any other coach. His seat is an inferno right now and he hasn’t played any of the stud young players we needed.

We had a top 5 recruiting class custom built to fill the holes we had and as an entire class they are averaging less then 2mins per game and less then 2 points.

It’s malpractice and she should be fired if he doesn’t change his staff or way of operating dramatically in the off season. Alumni and fans are livid

I agree. Losing to Iowa should be a fireable offense for any high major program as well as Eastern Illinois.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

I agree. Losing to Iowa should be a fireable offense for any high major program as well as Eastern Illinois.

When you compare the talent there is no way that game should have been close. It’s all on coaching. Absolutely awful and possibly gave life to Iowa getting in the tournament which is also extremely annoying. Just finding new ways to lose all the time

 

[TClone99]

Izzo has been washed since Covid. This team has been mismanaged to a horrific degree and he would be fired if he was any other coach. His seat is an inferno right now and he hasn’t played any of the stud young players we needed.

We had a top 5 recruiting class custom built to fill the holes we had and as an entire class they are averaging less then 2mins per game and less then 2 points.

It’s malpractice and she should be fired if he doesn’t change his staff or way of operating dramatically in the off season. Alumni and fans are livid

Ben Krikke had 14 rebounds last night. You could make a case to fire Izzo on that fact alone.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Ben Krikke had 14 rebounds last night. You could make a case to fire Izzo on that fact alone.

There is a 6’11 five star freshman and a 6’7 four/five star freshman who can jump out of the area just sitting on the bench for who knows what insane reason

 

[Halincandenza]

No, they are not great defensively. However they scouted BYU well and they made it extremely uncomfortable for them to get good looks from 3 last night. And they are long - they are always long - which even if not as good technically, still makes it a bit more difficult to find avenues to score.

They didn’t really make it difficult for BYU.

 

[NorthCyd]

There is a 6’11 five star freshman and a 6’7 four/five star freshman who can jump out of the area just sitting on the bench for who knows what insane reason

Have you ever heard the name Omaha Biliew? Granted ISU is actually good with talented players in front of him, but the college game is an older players game now.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Have you ever heard the name Omaha Biliew? Granted ISU is actually good with talented players in front of him, but the college game is an older players game now.

Agree to disagree with that one but that’s kinda my point, the veterans are playing like trash so give the young kids more run.

If we were playing like you guys it would be different

 

[GoHawks]

When you compare the talent there is no way that game should have been close. It’s all on coaching. Absolutely awful and possibly gave life to Iowa getting in the tournament which is also extremely annoying. Just finding new ways to lose all the time

Seems like fran's really had his way with Izzo past 4-5 years. Michigan state used to be our kryptonite they'd beat us on the boards by about 15 and play a physical game we're never great at. Anymore the two mostly seem to play Iowa's style. You could argue no coach has been hurt more by the whole idea of the portal than Izzo. It goes against his whole identity of building teams that have been in program for 3-4 years and I think he struggles with trying not to coach his old way in fear of them leaving.

 

[trevn]

Agree to disagree with that one but that’s kinda my point, the veterans are playing like trash so give the young kids more run.

If we were playing like you guys it would be different

The game has passed Izzo by, that much is pretty apparent. Regardless, MSU losing to an Iowa team like that at home is not good. Couple that with how they lost to Iowa in Iowa City last year, and you really start to wonder.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

The game has passed Izzo by, that much is pretty apparent. Regardless, MSU losing to an Iowa team like that at home is not good. Couple that with how they lost to Iowa in Iowa City last year, and you really start to wonder.

Plus the big ten is trash this year. The teams were dropping games to in conference aren’t even that good which makes the losses all the more annoying. Izzo is probably too stubborn to leave on a bad note but the AD is getting some real juice with how amazing his hires have turned out so he might be able to make a move

 

[iahawks]

There is a 6’11 five star freshman and a 6’7 four/five star freshman who can jump out of the area just sitting on the bench for who knows what insane reason

And here I thought Omaha was one of the few five stars not playing. At least Omaha isn’t playing on a current top 10 team so ISU has an excuse.

 

[Statefan10]

And here I thought Omaha was one of the few five stars not playing. At least Omaha isn’t playing on a current top 10 team so ISU has an excuse.

There's definitely a good reason those two guys aren't playing for Sparty. People get caught up in recruiting rankings all the time, including me. They're incredibly fun during the recruiting cycles + offseason but once real games come around, all of that crap is thrown out the window. Izzo might be fading in his career and not doing well but he's not an idiot. If those guys were difference makers they'd be on the floor.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

There's definitely a good reason those two guys aren't playing for Sparty. People get caught up in recruiting rankings all the time, including me. They're incredibly fun during the recruiting cycles + offseason but once real games come around, all of that crap is thrown out the window. Izzo might be fading in his career and not doing well but he's not an idiot. If those guys were difference makers they'd be on the floor.

Strongly disagree and the performance and decisions this year show Izzo is wrong