2025-2026 MBB computer projections thread
- Thread starter Sigmapolis
- Start date
I honestly don't care about the Big 12 title....I only want to be fully healthy come March and see where the chips fall.
Of course. Being disappointed is one thing, and I know there are a lot of well adjusted adults on here, but it’s when it goes from disappointment and rational to Debbie downer, we suck, might as well give up responses that a few posters get going with that just flat out sucks.
The reality is that Iowa State will never be, or rarely be, as talented as a lot of the elite programs. That's just the reality of it, Iowa State is not a 5 star recruit haven and likely never will be.
What keeps them on that level is cohesiveness and T.J. getting the most out of the talent he has. So far in his tenure he's done an excellent job at keeping them relevant on a national scale which is all we can ask for at Iowa State. It's imperative for a program like this to keep their players for multiple years and become a development program which is why you get a top 10 team with multi-year guys like Lipsey, Momcilovic and Jefferson which as good, and experienced, a trio as there is in the country.
It's not about winning by X amount, it's about executing and performing the way this team can and needs to against good opponents.
Exemplified in Sigs post, this team has the capability of being very good but it doesn't have the top end talent of other teams in our tier so it has to have impeccable execution and focus when they play these top tier teams. So when we have a substantial drop off in our play against barely bubble teams like Baylor it is concerning even though we won because that won't do it against the upper tier.
It would be a shame if this team (which is the best team I think in the history of ISU bball but that's argument for later in a different thread) doesn't top out because it couldn't get the max out of its ability and loses "early" in the tournament against a lesser opponent.
I've rarely agreed with anything more. Would love to make a B12 title run but, gun to my head, I just want to be healthy for the NCAA Tournament. Both, would be great (duh).
I get you completely. I would say that are only two bad performances were the losses. They were not good, no hiding from that, but every other team, save Arizona, has those game scores too. I also believe this team plays its best when its best is needed. I have very high confidence in getting Kansas back at home, getting Houston at home, and taking the BYU game on the road. Lipsey, Jefferson, and Milan are a top trio in basketball. Other teams have to figure that out and of course could catch us cold in a single elimination tournament but even with their 80-90% can and will be a lot of teams until elite 8 territory. And we’ve seen what they can do when they are firing. That 4 game sample after the losses could be first 4 on the tournament for example.
Man it was so much easier to be a fan when we went 2-22. No expectations, no disappointment.
And little to no interest. That was sort of a downside of it, the apathy.
At some point fairly early that season, I realized there was possibility of winning a game here or there, but it wasn't going to mean a whole lot because any postseason was unlikely, and eventually even random W's weren't going to "build promise for next season."
I think the major point was there's a two-day turnaround in each instance, which isn't the case for your example.
Cool but you know that every really good team doesn't execute fully for every game and that concepts like playing the same way for a full 40 minutes are not real, right?
If ISU connects on 3 more 3P's and BU hits 3 less prayers does that mean ISU executed better?
In March all it takes is one bad/mediocre performance and that's it. You go home.
Thanks. I was considering the quality of back-to-back opponents. This makes sense.
Yep, that's part of the deal.
Sometimes a good team doesn't play well.
Every good or even elite/historically relevant program has had it happen.
Against KU, Hou, Ari, BYU, TTU we could play well and still lose.
I still prefer my teams to play well then to be mediocre. Guess I don't get the point.
Who's saying mediocre is a preference? Like do you think they chose to play or shoot mediocre Saturday?
If you don't want to live in the reality that no team plays great every game, go for it.
The good thing is, this are not mutually exclusive things. Us winning the Big 12 regular season not only puts us in an elite spot to make a run in the Dance (e.g., odds are much higher as a 1 seed vs. a 2 or 3 seed) - but we can do so and be really healthy. Us going 5-3 does not magically mean we will be healthy and in great shape for a Final 4 run.
Gun to my head - I want us to win a Big 12 regular season title. Because I know that that makes us a #1 seed in the NCAA tournament and absolutely gives us our best chance to go deep.
In summary, I would be disappointed with 5-3 (and it would be really silly for fans to scold other fans for that opinion). I think the team and coach would be disappointed in a 5-3 finish as well. The Big 12 is grueling, so going 5-3 or even 4-4 or whatever does not mean the sky is falling, but my hope for a magical run would be diminished.
I think sometimes fans misintepret "shooting" and %, as if it is somehow not connected to "playing well" or "executing well".
Sure, there is nuance (like when a team is making a bunch of crap shots out of nowhere), but generally - playing well and executing well usually means you are shooting well. Shooting is a part of executing. So if we are moving the ball well and making good reads and passes, etc. - but we miss a bunch of shots - no, we don't get to say "shots just aren't falling today! - played well though!" - Missing shots and missing free throws absolutely downgrades your execution for that game.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
I expect we lose at Arizona. No harm there at all. I also think we can take them in KC or another neutral court.
I used to write off @BYU, but Arizona and Houston have handled it, so I don't rule it out.
But if we lose one I don't expect, it's a four loss season. Someone's gotta want to complain if a four loss season is a problem.
Teams that play well, are consistent at a high level, are usually consider good teams. Teams that are good and able to string several well played games together usually go far in the tournament.
I prefer my team to go far. If they don't I'll be disappointed. I won't have the welp guess they just played mediocre and better luck next year thoughts. That's the reality I'm in.
