As long as Niang is here we will be in the tourney. It all revolves around him, that is why his injury was so huge. It showed tonight.
We'll Be Back Better Than Ever
- Thread starter ISUCubswin
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I think we have lots of toughness and leadership returning. Not worried about that aspect with Hogue and Niang back.
MckAy possibly lee are weapons hoiberg hasn't even had at his desposal yet. We know what players like Nader can do, excited to see McKay in this system.
Morris is definitely not lacking in the toughness/cool-as-ice category, but I don't think he'll need to pick up any leadership slack. In fact, I don't think there will be much leadership "slack" to begin with.
Ejim was a rock, and one of the greatest Cyclones ever, but I'm not sure he was the consistent leader of this team. Nor was Kane. We relied a lot on those guys for scoring, but scoring and leadership aren't synonymous. I think next year's team will be Niang's, without a doubt. And they'll be in good hands.
Point Guards in Monte, who can be a freak like we saw tonight and Custer, who's just like Georges when it comes to IQ, Shooting Guards in Naz, who's lights out, and Thomas, who's lights out and both play defense pretty well. Shooting Forwards in Nader, who had 3 steals a game his last season of college ball and 13 points a game, and Hogue, who was 2nd in the Big 12 in rebounding and can light up a score board like he did tonight, and big guys in Niang and McKay, and we all know what they're capable of.
And we still have 2 open schollies.
I think we have more talent next year and the same coach. Naz and Georges are great leaders, and Morris has been a leader his whole LIFE.
If we make NIT next year, that would be a disappointment.
And we still have 2 open schollies.
I think we have more talent next year and the same coach. Naz and Georges are great leaders, and Morris has been a leader his whole LIFE.
If we make NIT next year, that would be a disappointment.
The thing that occurred to me this week was that to rack up accomplishments in the tournament, you need to get there consistently as even great teams can get knocked off, get cold or unlucky. Pretty sure that Fred's expectation is to be there every year.
We are sitting way better in terms of experienced talent than we were last year before the Kane commit, without a doubt.
We are sitting way better in terms of experienced talent than we were last year before the Kane commit, without a doubt.
Assuming you're just hurtin' from the loss tonight. Certainly not thinking clearly. Get back to us when your head clears.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
If we had won tonight, we'd only be halfway to the ultimate goal, needing to win 3 more of these slobberknockers to get that accomplished.
Seeing the other games tonight, there's a reason that these seasons are special. 4 teams are going to have losses tonight that are easily good enough to advance. This tournament is a beautiful and ruthless thing.
I think that's the beauty of how Fred builds our teams. We are versatile enough to play against different styled teams. Other programs, for them to go deep in the tourney need to get fortunate to get the right matchups.....Hoiberg can simply adjust from game to game based on who we are playing.
I can't guarantee we're going to be better next year, but if having Fred is any indication.... we will be better next year.
Give Niang, Morris, Hogue, Naz, Thomas, SDW, Edozie another year under Fred.
Add Nader as a strong inside presence who can also shoot. Add McKay as a true rim protector. Custer coming off the bench. Plus two more schollies?
This team is going to be loaded for the near future, no doubt about it.
Give Niang, Morris, Hogue, Naz, Thomas, SDW, Edozie another year under Fred.
Add Nader as a strong inside presence who can also shoot. Add McKay as a true rim protector. Custer coming off the bench. Plus two more schollies?
This team is going to be loaded for the near future, no doubt about it.
Many people said that we'd have a difficult time replacing Clyburn, Babb, and Lucious from last years team. I don't think we had any problems replacing them. Fred knows what he needs to do. I'm just gonna continue to believe and let me Mayor coach!
If you think that next years team is only going to be a NIT team you are crazy. Guess you didn't watch many games this year and don't believe we have one of the best coaches in the country. We will be a main stay in the tourney with many deep runs in the tourney every year CFH is hear. Non believers get out!!!!!!!
No worries next year. We'll be back in the big dance as long as Niang is healthy for most of the year. Ejim was a great player as was Kane but Monte can slide over to the point (assuming Custer takes a while to adjust and see major minutes) and Nader can fill Ejim's shoes.
Not to play the position game, but...
2013-2014
(1) Morris - reality is double point guards, but you get the idea
(2) Kane / Naz and Thomas
(3) Hogue
(4) Ejim
(5) Naing / with a little bit of Edozie and Gibson
Bench - really only had Naz and Long most of the season
2014-2015 (so far)
(1) Morris / Custer - I expect Morris to make a second year leap like Naz this year, and turn into a "baby Babb" as a defender, shooter, and awesome ball-handler
(2) I would imagine Naz would start right now with the strong finish to the year, but they'll be competition from Thomas and potentially a transfer for a scoring, shooting, or combo guard spot
(3) Hogue - last night proves this is his spot to lose for now
(4) Nader, McKay, Lee, etc., whoever wants it more, all being talented transfers
(5) Niang - his turn for this to be his team
Bench - Custer, Thomas, (2/3) of McKay, Nader, Lee, SDW hopefully takes a Naz leap, whatever other impact transfers
By position
(1) - Kane was all-conference, so obviously hard for Morris and a true freshman to match that level of production, but I imagine Morris will be very good (just in a different way)
ADVANTAGE: this year
(2) - This spot was plagued by inconsistency this year in rotating Thomas/Long/Morris as starters, but Naz had an incredible end to the season and is turning into quite the scorer, and Thomas should make a similar sophomore leap and turn into a "utility man" guard. Adding any scorer or combo guard on the transfer market would be a bonus
ADVANTAGE: next year
(3) - again, last night and a year of experience make this Hogue's spot to lose, and I would imagine his "junior Melvin" role becomes his actual role next year. Just another off-season to work with Fred and the team and the knowledge next year is his has to improve him
ADVANTAGE: next year, plus some of the guys spilling over from the 4 logjam
(4) - Melvin is a legend now, though all of these guys in competition to replace him at the 3/4 are talented and physically bigger. I expect some drop-off in production here, though, Melvin was just too talented and crafty to be replaced that easily
ADVANTAGE: this year
(5) - Georges' spot and team, and I would imagine another off-season to get better and the fire lit under him during the Big XII tournament and *not* getting to help the team in NYC only helps
ADVANTAGE: next year
Bench - I've always thought "depth" in college basketball is overrated--these guys are 19-22 years old, in world-class shape, and only have to play 40 minutes with tons of breaks in the middle. Most of the best teams only play 7-8 guys consistently anyways. However, assuming Naz shifts from sixth-man to starting 2, that leaves you Thomas (fresh/soph leap) and a ton more options and size at the post (still have Edozie and Gibson) plus the incoming transfers with a year to practice or three years of major conference ball on their CV
ADVANTAGE: next year
Two positions take a step back (Kane/Ejim), all others should take a step forward just on experience alone (remember how hard Naz and Niang came on at the end of the year), and we will have more options on the bench (better insurance against foul trouble and injuries), and we'll have a better, more "traditional" size mixture still with potential for mismatches (better defense)
Right now I would probably think we have a team with about the ceiling as this one, but maybe a little lower. The big thing I see missing (right now) from next year is an "it" factor--a killer, never-say-die attitude that Kane and Ejim brought. I am hoping Niang can be that guy (he had a lot of that this year, and he had the ball at the end of games most of the time when it all came down to one possession) and Hogue found some of it last night. Add in some of the new guys... and we might be there again.
We are going to have quite a different offense, too. This year was about Kane driving and dishing, exploiting his mismatch on smaller guards down low, Ejim/Niang flipping the offense from deep or posting up, Ejim/Hogue crashing boards like crazy, and some shooting when available from Thomas, Naz, and Morris. I would imagine next year is going to be MUCH more post-oriented with Morris mostly a distributor, Niang/McKay/Nader/Hogue/Lee* working down low, and more orientation towards the long ball with more/better shooters in Naz, Thomas, and Custer. All-low/all-long is the most efficient way to run an offense, after all. We will miss Kane's ability to "start things" and make his own shot in the Big 12, but I am sure Fred will find a way to design a system around these guys.
I'm already looking forward to this. My minimum expectation would be an NCAA berth and the top half of the conference, but the pieces are there to be about the same next year.
2013-2014
(1) Morris - reality is double point guards, but you get the idea
(2) Kane / Naz and Thomas
(3) Hogue
(4) Ejim
(5) Naing / with a little bit of Edozie and Gibson
Bench - really only had Naz and Long most of the season
2014-2015 (so far)
(1) Morris / Custer - I expect Morris to make a second year leap like Naz this year, and turn into a "baby Babb" as a defender, shooter, and awesome ball-handler
(2) I would imagine Naz would start right now with the strong finish to the year, but they'll be competition from Thomas and potentially a transfer for a scoring, shooting, or combo guard spot
(3) Hogue - last night proves this is his spot to lose for now
(4) Nader, McKay, Lee, etc., whoever wants it more, all being talented transfers
(5) Niang - his turn for this to be his team
Bench - Custer, Thomas, (2/3) of McKay, Nader, Lee, SDW hopefully takes a Naz leap, whatever other impact transfers
By position
(1) - Kane was all-conference, so obviously hard for Morris and a true freshman to match that level of production, but I imagine Morris will be very good (just in a different way)
ADVANTAGE: this year
(2) - This spot was plagued by inconsistency this year in rotating Thomas/Long/Morris as starters, but Naz had an incredible end to the season and is turning into quite the scorer, and Thomas should make a similar sophomore leap and turn into a "utility man" guard. Adding any scorer or combo guard on the transfer market would be a bonus
ADVANTAGE: next year
(3) - again, last night and a year of experience make this Hogue's spot to lose, and I would imagine his "junior Melvin" role becomes his actual role next year. Just another off-season to work with Fred and the team and the knowledge next year is his has to improve him
ADVANTAGE: next year, plus some of the guys spilling over from the 4 logjam
(4) - Melvin is a legend now, though all of these guys in competition to replace him at the 3/4 are talented and physically bigger. I expect some drop-off in production here, though, Melvin was just too talented and crafty to be replaced that easily
ADVANTAGE: this year
(5) - Georges' spot and team, and I would imagine another off-season to get better and the fire lit under him during the Big XII tournament and *not* getting to help the team in NYC only helps
ADVANTAGE: next year
Bench - I've always thought "depth" in college basketball is overrated--these guys are 19-22 years old, in world-class shape, and only have to play 40 minutes with tons of breaks in the middle. Most of the best teams only play 7-8 guys consistently anyways. However, assuming Naz shifts from sixth-man to starting 2, that leaves you Thomas (fresh/soph leap) and a ton more options and size at the post (still have Edozie and Gibson) plus the incoming transfers with a year to practice or three years of major conference ball on their CV
ADVANTAGE: next year
Two positions take a step back (Kane/Ejim), all others should take a step forward just on experience alone (remember how hard Naz and Niang came on at the end of the year), and we will have more options on the bench (better insurance against foul trouble and injuries), and we'll have a better, more "traditional" size mixture still with potential for mismatches (better defense)
Right now I would probably think we have a team with about the ceiling as this one, but maybe a little lower. The big thing I see missing (right now) from next year is an "it" factor--a killer, never-say-die attitude that Kane and Ejim brought. I am hoping Niang can be that guy (he had a lot of that this year, and he had the ball at the end of games most of the time when it all came down to one possession) and Hogue found some of it last night. Add in some of the new guys... and we might be there again.
We are going to have quite a different offense, too. This year was about Kane driving and dishing, exploiting his mismatch on smaller guards down low, Ejim/Niang flipping the offense from deep or posting up, Ejim/Hogue crashing boards like crazy, and some shooting when available from Thomas, Naz, and Morris. I would imagine next year is going to be MUCH more post-oriented with Morris mostly a distributor, Niang/McKay/Nader/Hogue/Lee* working down low, and more orientation towards the long ball with more/better shooters in Naz, Thomas, and Custer. All-low/all-long is the most efficient way to run an offense, after all. We will miss Kane's ability to "start things" and make his own shot in the Big 12, but I am sure Fred will find a way to design a system around these guys.
I'm already looking forward to this. My minimum expectation would be an NCAA berth and the top half of the conference, but the pieces are there to be about the same next year.