***Houston @ Iowa State POST Game Thread***

[bawbie]

Fact... This team we played is one of the worst rebounding teams in the country. They have been outrebounded every game by an average of 13.

Fact... They are not a Big 12 team, they were smaller, and they blocked out and outhustled us for the ball on rebounds.

So we out rebounded them by 2??

Fact... they got several clutch rebounds, including 2 that resulted in the game going into the first over time.

Yes, those are facts. We were outrebounded. To meet expectation and their potential, this team needs to rebound better. NO ONE is arguing that.

So using facts I have declared and came to the conclusion that the team was soft against an inferior rebounding team. Based on averages we should of dominated the board.

We did not do that, so it's either the coaching or the players. See that the coach wasn't on the floor rebounding, I'm blaming the players on being lazy and soft today.

Now you have jumped straight from facts to opinions. Your opinion is that they got outrebounded because "they are soft and lazy". But you have no facts to back that up. There are many reasons a team may be outrebounded. Height, quickness, effort, coaching, and on and on.

And really, without being in practice and inside the team, you can't really know why this team has problems rebounding. Yet you feel it is necessary to make the leap past "the team needs to improve rebounding" to questioning their effort and masculinity, which I find rather disgusting.

 

[ISUPIPELINE]

What did you think about Houston's weave - I thought that was pretty effective at creating mismatches, or at least confusing the D for a lil' bit, but you don't see it that much anymore; it's kinda like a poor-man's Motion O.

I absolutely LOVE the weave. Lots of teams run that motion as their first set down the floor. Helps see what the other team is running, and allows a quick 'screen' interchange.

 

[Ames]

Me, too. We shouldn't be giving up 15 of those to that team. With the frontcourt talent that we have, we should have owned the boards against these guys.

I don't know if they just had better position for most of the game, or if there were long rebounds, or what, since I couldn't see over the radio. But we should have out-rebounded this bunch. That's fair to say.

They picked up plenty of fouls going after rebounds. We didn't. We had to foul at the end of regulation just to get into a 1-1 situation. It seems like we are going after some kind of record for not having guys foul out.

 

[CTAClone]

Over the radio, I heard some good battling for rebounds by Lucca, and he finished with 6 of them. That's 6 more than most of us (me, too, most of the time) would have predicted from him.

1st half, I'd agree with pretty much every one that is upset with how the game went. 2nd Half, no way. We buckled down on defense, final minutes of the game we got some strong rebounds (not counting the stupid final possession) and Brackins and Gilstrap took over the game on the defensive end.

The biggest problem I saw all game today was us not being able to handle defensive pressure on our point guard. We rarely worked it inside out, but when we did we were successful. And please please, I'd love to be able to see someone finish around the rim consistently.

 

[TheHelgo]

What did you think about Houston's weave - I thought that was pretty effective at creating mismatches, or at least confusing the D for a lil' bit, but you don't see it that much anymore; it's kinda like a poor-man's Motion O.

i think the weave is/could be effective if done in small doses. it creates mis-matches and can lead to some easy scores. Using it as much as Houston did though exposes the problem with that style of offense - it is too easy to adjust for. Good teams that play good defense will easily shut the weave down if used too much.

 

[cyatheart]

Not having as many fouls is a good thing. We had a huge advantage at the line. Without that we lose the game.

 

[Ames]

What did you think about Houston's weave - I thought that was pretty effective at creating mismatches, or at least confusing the D for a lil' bit, but you don't see it that much anymore; it's kinda like a poor-man's Motion O.

It was interesting. Seemed like it usually resulted in them just going one on one. It didn't get them as many opportunities as I thought it would early on.

 

[everyyard]

Reading between the lines here and your comments at the end of the post-game thread was easy. There is most certainly a mentality here that if we win, everything is fine. The ton should absolutely be a bit negative after a double OT win against a team like Houston, especially when they are horrid at rebounding and had no problems doing it against us.

If fans were not a bit upset after games like this, I'd be worried about our fanbase and just how much (or little) they care about this program.

your gonna catch heck from the cardinal blinded homers but I agree. While I loved the win, it was ugly and Houston isn't great. I have already mentally prepared myself for a brutal year in conference and no NCAA tourney. I guess you can say I pre-distanced myself emotionally from this team as my hopes were so high and it has been so long I don't need the bad affect my usual level of emotional commitment would have lead to with this team and where they are going to likely end up. Hope I am wrong and I hope you are too.

 

[bellzisu]

Every site has its drama queens. Especially former admins...

Well prime example of a drive by trolling... Nothing to say about the game... just attack some one.

 

[ISUFan22]

Did you not see where I posted positives AND negatives from the game? Or did you miss that like you missed today's game?

Please...I can't believe some people are ****** about an exciting 7 point double OT win. I'm freakin' ecstatic. Sure there are things to work on, but come on.

I'm just very concerned for what looms ahead, do you think this team is playing like it's ready for Duke and the Big 12?

I've made it clear I felt this was our year but have been disappointed. I also know if we don't do something special this year, there will be a ton of heat on Greg and I am a fan of his. In addition, if we can't get it done this year with Craig in likely could be his last year and what may be the only season for Gilstrap - when we will we get it done?

These things are not game-by-game things, but season long and program advancing issues for me. We continue to make the same mistakes each week that we have for the past few years. From the sounds of it, we made similar mistakes yet again today.

The nice thing is, unlike in the past, we won a tight game...which is encouraging.

 

[ISUPIPELINE]

i think the weave is/could be effective if done in small doses. it creates mis-matches and can lead to some easy scores. Using it as much as Houston did though exposes the problem with that style of offense - it is too easy to adjust for. Good teams that play good defense will easily shut the weave down if used too much.

Good teams that play good defense will shut down ANY offense if used too much.

 

[Cy Hard]

Is this terrible Houston team due to the win against Oklahoma, or the fact they've lost 6 games now by a average of 6 points per? Or is it them boasting the nation's leading scorer?

 

[kingcy]

I'm just very concerned for what looms ahead, do you think this team is playing like it's ready for Duke and the Big 12?

I've made it clear I felt this was our year but have been disappointed. I also know if we don't do something special this year, there will be a ton of heat on Greg and I am a fan of his. In addition, if we can't get it done this year with Craig in likely could be his last year and what may be the only season for Gilstrap - when we will we get it done?

I agree but with one thing. If this team makes the tourny it is because of CB. It if doesnt it is because CB doesnt preform like he did last year and if that happens he will be in Ames for another season.

 

[isucyfan]

I'm just very concerned for what looms ahead, do you think this team is playing like it's ready for Duke and the Big 12?

I've made it clear I felt this was our year but have been disappointed. I also know if we don't do something special this year, there will be a ton of heat on Greg and I am a fan of his. In addition, if we can't get it done this year with Craig in likely could be his last year and what may be the only season for Gilstrap - when we will we get it done?

These things are not game-by-game things, but season long and program advancing issues for me. We continue to make the same mistakes each week that we have for the past few years. From the sounds of it, we made similar mistakes yet again today.

The nice thing is, unlike in the past, we won a tight game...which is encouraging.

No, I've said we have things to work on, and outlined them in a post that has conveniently been ignored.

The only people I've criticized are the ones who call for the coach's head in the middle of a game. Plus, the ones who apparently don't enjoy winning.

Oh, and the ones that question my intellect.

 

[CTAClone]

your gonna catch heck from the cardinal blinded homers but I agree. While I loved the win, it was ugly and Houston isn't great. I have already mentally prepared myself for a brutal year in conference and no NCAA tourney. I guess you can say I pre-distanced myself emotionally from this team as my hopes were so high and it has been so long I don't need the bad affect my usual level of emotional commitment would have lead to with this team and where they are going to likely end up. Hope I am wrong and I hope you are too.

How can anyone think that Houston isn't a good team?

They have one of the best players in the country on their team and also have the guy that makes more threes per game than any other player in the country.

We dictated the tempo...something everyone has been complaining about us not doing. Yes, we looked bad rebounding for most of the game but we buckled down at the end and looked good. How many shots did we stop Coleman from making at the end of the game and in both OT's? That guy is a machine with scoring points. Gilstrap would have his hand an inch away from his face and he'd still nail the fade away 20 footer. Houston is a good team. I would not want to meet them in the Tourney if I was any team. We caught them on a good night and still beat them. I'm impressed by that.

 

[CTAClone]

Is this terrible Houston team due to the win against Oklahoma, or the fact they've lost 6 games now by a average of 6 points per? Or is it them boasting the nation's leading scorer?

You forgot this...

 

[Wesley]

Still a long road ahead:

RealTimeRPI.com Big 12 Men's College Basketball Rating Percentage Index (RPI) Ratings - A leading sports ratings and resources community on the Internet

 

[everyyard]

How can anyone think that Houston isn't a good team?

They have one of the best players in the country on their team and also have the guy that makes more threes per game than any other player in the country.

We dictated the tempo...something everyone has been complaining about us not doing. Yes, we looked bad rebounding for most of the game but we buckled down at the end and looked good. How many shots did we stop Coleman from making at the end of the game and in both OT's? That guy is a machine with scoring points. Gilstrap would have his hand an inch away from his face and he'd still nail the fade away 20 footer. Houston is a good team. I would not want to meet them in the Tourney if I was any team. We caught them on a good night and still beat them. I'm impressed by that.

They are good, I said they weren't great. What I am saying is if the NCAA is the goal...and IT HAS TO BE THE GOAL, because if not this year when, then our margin for error is ZERO! We can't afford a loss to a Houston, or a Nebraska, or a Missouri at home, etc. And right now, even though they won, I don't think they are playing well enough yet to cover that zero margin for error. We'll see.

 

[Ames]

your gonna catch heck from the cardinal blinded homers but I agree. While I loved the win, it was ugly and Houston isn't great. I have already mentally prepared myself for a brutal year in conference and no NCAA tourney. I guess you can say I pre-distanced myself emotionally from this team as my hopes were so high and it has been so long I don't need the bad affect my usual level of emotional commitment would have lead to with this team and where they are going to likely end up. Hope I am wrong and I hope you are too.

I have a hard time believing that Houston is bad. They had several guys that were real shooters, both big guys did a good job of shoving CB around, and that #11 reminds me of Stuckey.

 

[bellzisu]

Yes, those are facts. We were outrebounded. To meet expectation and their potential, this team needs to rebound better. NO ONE is arguing that.



Now you have jumped straight from facts to opinions. Your opinion is that they got outrebounded because "they are soft and lazy". But you have no facts to back that up. There are many reasons a team may be outrebounded. Height, quickness, effort, coaching, and on and on.

And really, without being in practice and inside the team, you can't really know why this team has problems rebounding. Yet you feel it is necessary to make the leap past "the team needs to improve rebounding" to questioning their effort and masculinity, which I find rather disgusting.

Ok... Lets get back to the facts then...

Fact... We are a taller team

Fact.. We are a more physical team

Fact.. For the season against lesser opponents we are only +4.1 rebounding margin

Some other sad facts..

Opponents against have more steals then us.

We only turn the ball over .9 less times in a game then opponents.

And we are hitting free throws at a lower % then competition.

So... My opinion is they are lazy. When you watch the game, count how many block outs there were. You might only need 1 hand. In high school and even pick up ball, we call that being lazy.

So using facts I come to some opinions. So... what is your theory on us being out rebounded??? Poor boxing out?? No boxing out?? Opponents out hustling us?? We have been bigger compared to our opponents, and we have been more talented. With maybe a couple exceptions.

What is your thought?