Weird Coincedence?

[DaddyMac]

Well, I will say this....

All the naysayers in this thread give me reason for hope. The group-think consensus is usually wrong around here.

And I think the sentiment was pretty similar leading into the '00 season as well. What were we picked? 10th or 11th? Fans were equally dejected after no post season and around a .500 record in the prior campaign.

 

[jaretac]

The 2000 team won something like 32 games, this team will likely win around 22 games. I think we will make the tourney, but I wouldn't be surprised if we don't make it past the first round.

 

[PGreen ISU '92]

If Staiger and Boozer come back I think the Cyclones will finish 2nd in the Big XII behind only Kansas and make it to the Sweet 16. (Of course I am one of the Cardinal & Gold flavored Kool-Aide drinkers on CycloneFanatic).

 

[jdoggivjc]

While I don't necessarily agree with the original post, I will make this comment - the 1999-2000 team was expected to finish dead last in the conference. By a lot. While going 32-5, making an Elite 8 run, and finishing the season rated #3 were awesome things, what really made that season sweet was just how "wrong" the experts were about our team that year. I'm pretty sure that year had we gone 24-10 and made the second round of the NCAA Tourney it would have been viewed as a monumental success considering the preseason expectations that year.

The 2009-10 team is already expected to be better than the 1999-00 team was EXPECTED to be - although not necessarily likely, it's not out of the realm of possibility that this team goes 24-10 and pulls out a 9 seed in the NCAA Tourney. 1999-00 if someone guaranteed ISU would have been a 9 seed there would have been a lot of chuckling.

 

[jaretac]

If Staiger and Boozer come back I think the Cyclones will finish 2nd in the Big XII behind only Kansas and make it to the Sweet 16. (Of course I am one of the Cardinal & Gold flavored Kool-Aide drinkers on CycloneFanatic).

I hope your right, I just have a hard time believing.

 

[clonez]

The vast majority of this post is erroneous. :skeptical:

erroneous on all counts!

 

[cykadelic2]

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you come into the season with the expectation that this team will even compare to that team, you're nuts.

Well, if you would have predicted in the pre-season that the 99-00 team was going to win 30 some games and be a national title contender, you would have been declared nuts.

Nobody expected that team to perform like they did. Horton and Tinsley were both new JUCOs with ISU being their only high-major offers. Nurse was coming off a disappointing injury-plagued junior season after coming to ISU from a D3 JUCO. Stevie Johnson had been a mild disappointment for his first 3 seasons. Rancik had showed some promise as a sophomore was well as Shirley. Fizer was the only known quantity.

Now compare that to the 09-10 roster. Brackins' credentials entering his junior season are actually better than Fizer's were at the same point. DG's cred entering his junior season is at least equal to Tinsley's at the same point, nobody knew Tinsley was going to be THAT good. Justin Hamilton has more potential than either Shirley or Rancik at the same point. Gilstrap has more credentials than Horton at the same point. Christopherson and Lucca (if he stays) have similar or better potential than Nurse at the same point. JVB has similar or better potential than Stevie does at the same point.

Get the drift?

Now I'm not saying the 09-10 team will match or outperform the 99-00 team but there are similarities at the same point in time. The key will be PG play. If DG, Colvin, or Buck can at least be an above average PG, I think next season's team should make the NCAAs and maybe do some damage in the tourney.

 

[DaddyMac]

erroneous on all counts!

Crashing (the boards) rule #21

"Do not bring that weak **** in here."

 

[CylentButDeadly]

I'm going to respectfully disagree with any comparison between these two squads. Beside the fact that we don't even have a concrete roster for next year with Lucca, Boozer and Lee considering transfers, I can't see how you can even conceivably imagine that a team with a losing record last year, even with a few new intriguing players, would compare in any way to the one of the greatest (perhaps THE greatest) ISU teams in history.

I like the team that we're putting on the court next year and I think there are some nice players that will be able to get us some big w's, but come one. You can't seriously tell me that DG and Tinsley are comparable.

Also, it's has already been mentioned, but the toughness of that 99-00 squad was unmatched. Those guys got after it. They treated every game like a street fight and they usually came out on top.

I'm excited about next year too, but let's not get carried away.

 

[jhill]

Two things I'm still worried about...How good will our point guard play be? Depth at the 3 if Lucca and Boozer leave? Dendy and maybe Vanderbeken could play some 3 on offense, but I'm not sure about defense.

The nice thing about college ball is that, to some degree, the 2/3 is interchangeable. I would think that Christopherson would be able to play some at the three, particularly if he has decent strength. Plus, if you were forced to do so, more zone could be played with Brackins and Dendy as the wings in a 2/3 zone. They are athletic enough to cover the space.

I also think that if there are more scoring options and athleticism, Garrett will continue to improve and be a solid if not very good point guard. With Buckley and Colvin also able to give minutes, I don't have as much concern with the point as I did going into this year.

 

[CysDoc]

Well, if you would have predicted in the pre-season that the 99-00 team was going to win 30 some games and be a national title contender, you would have been declared nuts.

Nobody expected that team to perform like they did. Horton and Tinsley were both new JUCOs with ISU being their only high-major offers. Nurse was coming off a disappointing injury-plagued junior season after coming to ISU from a D3 JUCO. Stevie Johnson had been a mild disappointment for his first 3 seasons. Rancik had showed some promise as a sophomore was well as Shirley. Fizer was the only known quantity.

Now compare that to the 09-10 roster. Brackins' credentials entering his junior season are actually better than Fizer's were at the same point. DG's cred entering his junior season is at least equal to Tinsley's at the same point, nobody knew Tinsley was going to be THAT good. Justin Hamilton has more potential than either Shirley or Rancik at the same point. Gilstrap has more credentials than Horton at the same point. Christopherson and Lucca (if he stays) have similar or better potential than Nurse at the same point. JVB has similar or better potential than Stevie does at the same point.

Get the drift?

Now I'm not saying the 09-10 team will match or outperform the 99-00 team but there are similarities at the same point in time. The key will be PG play. If DG, Colvin, or Buck can at least be an above average PG, I think next season's team should make the NCAAs and maybe do some damage in the tourney.

I like this post I think it has the optimistic approach we should have while realizing the word "potential" is used a lot.

I think the biggest part of the 99-00 team that no one saw and that can't be stressed enough is the PG of Tinsley. Leading to great chemistry with everyone especially Fizer. My lasting memory from that year is a 3/4 court pass from Tinsley to Fizer- on the money and finished strong.....ah the good times.:smile:

 

[DaddyMac]

I'm going to respectfully disagree with any comparison between these two squads. Beside the fact that we don't even have a concrete roster for next year with Lucca, Boozer and Lee considering transfers, I can't see how you can even conceivably imagine that a team with a losing record last year, even with a few new intriguing players, would compare in any way to the one of the greatest (perhaps THE greatest) ISU teams in history.

I like the team that we're putting on the court next year and I think there are some nice players that will be able to get us some big w's, but come one. You can't seriously tell me that DG and Tinsley are comparable.

Also, it's has already been mentioned, but the toughness of that 99-00 squad was unmatched. Those guys got after it. They treated every game like a street fight and they usually came out on top.

I'm excited about next year too, but let's not get carried away.

Not that I completely disagree with you, but...

Would you like to know the record of the 98-99 team? :wink:

 

[ISU_phoria]

This team could do some great things next year if these things happen:
1. Craig continues to improve
2. We find someone who can put the ball on the floor and break down defenses
3. Our outside shooting is consistently decent (doesn't have to be great, just consistent)
4. Most importantly - Good, consistent point guard play. Run the offense, limit turnovers and play solid perimeter D!

I think #1 is going to happen. #2 is hopefully (optimistically) fulfilled by Gilstrap. #3 can happen with Staiger (if he stays), Gilstrap, and JVB.

#4 is the biggest unknown and the greatest need....hopefully with Diante, Dominique & Chris, somewhere we can fill that need.

 

[warsend]

we finish 7th this year.

We are heading in the right direction but the conference is loaded next year.

1.Kansas 15-1
2.Texas 12-4
3.Oklahoma 10-6
4.Kansas State 10-6
5.Texas A & M 9-7
6.Oklahoma State 9-7
7.Iowa State 8-8
8.Missouri 8-8
9.Baylor 6-10
10.Texas Tech 4-12
11.Colarado 4-12
12.Nebraska 1-15

 

[brentblum]

[QUOTEWhile I don't necessarily agree with the original post, I will make this comment - the 1999-2000 team was expected to finish dead last in the conference. By a lot. While going 32-5, making an Elite 8 run, and finishing the season rated #3 were awesome things, what really made that season sweet was just how "wrong" the experts were about our team that year. I'm pretty sure that year had we gone 24-10 and made the second round of the NCAA Tourney it would have been viewed as a monumental success considering the preseason expectations that year.
QUOTE]

Not to be an a-hole, but this isn't true. Iowa State was picked to finish 6th in the media poll and 7th in coaches poll in the conference in '99. I would say expectations were that ISU would be a borderline bubble team. Fizer was named to the pre-season All Big 12 team, and Tinsely received votes for pre-season newcomer of the year as well.

The year previous the Cyclones ended strong, capped by a win over Kansas at Hilton and they returned virtually everybody and also added Horton, Shirley (medial redshirt), Tinsley, a somewhat heralded Brandon Hawkins, and Richard Evans. Not to mention, Nurse was finally completely healthy after being hit by a car his junior.

Granted, that squad stumbled out of the block against Drake, but NCAA discussions were discussed before the year. Check out the link.

Fizer Selected to Preseason All-Big 12 First Team - Iowa State University Athletics Official Web Site - www.CYCLONES.com - The home of Iowa State Cyclone Sports

 

[Harry]

There is only one player on next years team that would start on the 99-2000 team. Tinsely is far and away better than any point gaurd on next years team. I believe that Horton or Johnson would be the second best player on next years team. I hope what you said is right but I'll have to see it to believe it.

 

[Cydkar]

This entire thread makes no sense to me.

 

[CloneIce]

You forgot about Stevie Johnson. Boy we could use a guy like him.

 

[Cydkar]

we finish 7th this year.

We are heading in the right direction but the conference is loaded next year.

1.Kansas 15-1
2.Texas 12-4
3.Oklahoma 10-6
4.Kansas State 10-6
5.Texas A & M 9-7
6.Oklahoma State 9-7
7.Iowa State 8-8
8.Missouri 8-8
9.Baylor 6-10
10.Texas Tech 4-12
11.Colarado 4-12
12.Nebraska 1-15

If we can beat CU and NU on the road and only lose to KU at home we can be 9-7. :smile:

We have to protect the home court (KU's a beast) and let the chips fall on the road.

 

[CB21]

Either way I think were going to see some sort of post-season next year. Damn Oregon State went 13-17 this year and made it. Baylor went 20-14 but only went 5-11 in the conference and made it. So I think we can easily get near or at 20 wins and go close to .500 in the league well be fine. Altho I'd like to see the big dance which is very possible but Im not going to complain unless I see another 15-17 season.