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Why? Just why?

Its tough because the loss of Jefferson hurt without question. Taking the Clones from a top 8ish team to realistically a top 12-20ish team.

I'm a big believer that NCAA Tournament matchups are huge for a lot of teams. Sure every year there are some bullet proof teams like Duke, Michigan and Arizona appear to be this year. They have a lot of roster flexibility. But for the other 60 something teams there is a matchup kryptonite. And Tennessee was such a team for Iowa State, maybe even if we had Jefferson.

We have had really solid teams over the last 5 years, but there's always something missing from a roster composition perspective. So the challenge for TJ is to build a roster that is bullet proof or as bullet proof as a program with Iowa State's financial resources can be.
 
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isucy86 said:
Its tough because the loss of Jefferson hurt without question. Taking the Clones from a top 8ish team to realistically a top 12-20ish team.

I'm a big believer that NCAA Tournament matchups are huge for a lot of teams. Sure every year there are some bullet proof teams like Duke, Michigan and Arizona appear to be this year. They have a lot of roster flexibility. But for the other 60 something teams there is a matchup kryptonite. And Tennessee was such a team for Iowa State, maybe even if we had Jefferson.

We have had really solid teams over the last 5 years, but there's always something missing from a roster composition perspective. So the challenge for TJ is to build a roster that is bullet proof or as bullet proof as a program with Iowa State's financial resources can be.
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Imo what hurt ISU the most this year was Nelson not panning out. He would have made the backcourt as good as any in the country.
 
Thomasrickj said:
Elite 8 and a loss to Michigan would’ve been okay. We never make it out of the sweet 16. We’re statistically the worst team in the sweet 16.
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Thank you Mr glass half empty. I remember going to elite 8 games with us in it. Go Cyclones!
 
GoSTATE71 said:
Toure is very athletic and Batemon is athletic but they’re freshman. We’re missing a Dustin Hogue or Ejim type of player
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Based on any portal subtractions, I feel that is our biggest need. And might be the most realistic from a budget standpoint. If everyone comes back, not sure we have the coin to bring in a big name transfer. But the money could be there for a 10ppg/6ppg defense and rebounding machine like a Hogue, Clyburn, Ejim player. We need a player who can GO AFTER rebounds.

But it looks like TJ has tried to address a lot of our needs in the fall recruiting class. Rinaldo-Komlan looks to be the shot blocking/rim protector we could use. Kiss looks like a skilled, big body 4. And since both are international players and went to prep school, I am assuming they are more advanced than the typical HS post. And hopefully, TJ's eye for perimeter players holds and we have two solid gets in Gray and Wiggins.
 
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deadeyededric said:
Imo what hurt ISU the most this year was Nelson not panning out. He would have made the backcourt as good as any in the country.
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Yea, it's curious how an All-Conference mid-major player can have so little impact. But goes to show the huge difference in P5 posts vs. mid-major.

Also, not sure if the staff knew Mason Williams was hurt when signed, but he would have helped too. Big I thought our biggest missing piece was a shot blocker, this years team could have really used a Robert Jones, Hasan Ward or Osun Osunniyi type post defender.
 
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isucy86 said:
Yea, it's curious how an All-Conference mid-major player can have so little impact. But goes to show the huge difference in P5 posts vs. mid-major.

Also, not sure if the staff knew Mason Williams was hurt when signed, but he would have helped too. Big I thought our biggest missing piece was a shot blocker, this years team could have really used a Robert Jones, Hasan Ward or Osun Osunniyi type post defender.
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I mean you're going to hit on some like Kane or miss in the case of Nelson. I guess it shows there's a difference in the caliber of mid-major conferences. I just think a SR off guard that could have played at an all-big 12 level,(not even necessarily statistically) really was the difference between this team being a true elite team. At the very least I thought he could average 10ppg, hit some 3s, and had the occasional game where he went for 20+. We lacked the a consistent scoring threat in the backcourt.
 
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deadeyededric said:
I mean you're going to hit on some like Kane or miss in the case of Nelson. I just think a SR off guard that could have played at an all-big 12 level really was the difference between this team being a true elite team.
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It was part of the reason the Clones halfcourt offense struggled at times this season. We missed that guard who could beat his guy off the dribble and finish in traffic. It was interesting how Lipsey seemed to develop a finishers mentality as the season progressed by going wrong footed or off-paced. And even Toure made progress.

But we definitely missed a Holmes or even Gilbert type dribble/drive ballhandler.
 
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isucy86 said:
It was part of the reason the Clones halfcourt offense struggled at times this season. We missed that guard who could beat his guy off the dribble and finish in traffic. It was interesting how Lipsey seemed to develop a finishers mentality as the season progressed by going wrong footed or off-paced. And even Toure made progress.

But we definitely missed a Holmes or even Gilbert type dribble/drive ballhandler.
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Im not sure the staff expected Toure to be in the role he ended up being in most of the year. It will be beneficial for the future and his development but I think they really counted on Nelson being that guy. I think Toure is a ******* beast though. I'm as high on that guy and his future as any young player we've had in a while. He was an elite defender as a freshman.
 
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fsanford said:
IF you are like top 30 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, I think that is related to good X and O coaching.

How could you achieve this if your x and o stuff was poor I think it would be difficult but maybe I am missing something.
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How about things like in game adjustments, calling half court sets, exposing other teams weaknesses etc?
 
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deadeyededric said:
I don't think the staff did a good job most of the year calling plays to get Milan open in the "we need a bucket" situations. Backscreens, doublescreens, etc
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Oh, I thought the plan was just to slowly swing the ball with a little dribbling around the perimeter until he was open?
 
GoSTATE71 said:
Every team remaining in the tourney would have wiped us last night. We were absolutely horrid and that isn’t that good of a TN team
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That statement seems silly.

Tennessee is one of the best programs in college basketball today. Rick Barnes is an elite coach and his teams are tough and athletic. They have been to the Elite 8 three straight years, so those players know how to win high leverage games.

The Vols record can be deceiving because they play a tough non-con and the SEC was pretty deep getting 10 tournament teams. Below is who they beat/lost among tournament teams: other than Syracuse:

Non Conference
Wins: Houston by 3, Louisville by 21
Losses: Duke by 7, KU by 5, Syracuse by 12, Illinois by 13

SEC
Wins: Texas, A&M, Bama, Georgia, Vandy
Losses: Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky (twice), Mizzou, Bama, Vandy (twice, 1x in SEC Tourny

With 5 of their 7 SEC regular season losses by 4 points or less. They are a solid team whose approach and roster were going to give ISU a lot of problems with Jefferson's injury.
 
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Last night sucked. I was depressed going to bed.

But I awoke today with fresh optimism. We have a new set of core players (Toure, Batemon, and Pleta) ready to take the next step. Each has shown a lot of potential and they will only get better next year

Then we have Mitchell and Williams. I don’t know much about either, but it sounds like Williams is the slasher to the basket this team needs.

Only thing to add is more length. Hopefully the can get a big or two in the transfer to fit that need.

But I am excited for next season already. I don’t blame anyone for being depressed today. But 67 of the 68 teams will lose their final game. We had a very good season, a season most programs strive to have. I’m ready to see what 26-27 has in store
 
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isucy86 said:
But the money could be there for a 10ppg/6ppg defense and rebounding machine like a Hogue, Clyburn, Ejim player.
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Not just you, but I've seen a few posts like this, wanting an "Ejim type" player. Did we forget he was Big 12 POY? He would have been the best player on this year's team, and probably every year, except maybe senior Niang. And even Niang was not POY in the big 12.
 
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