Last years team vs this years
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This year's team has been much better than last year about not letting their offense dictate their defense.
Last year if the shots weren't dropping, our guys would let it carry over to the defensive end and the boards a lot more, where as this year's squad (so far) has the look of a team that can grind out a win the ugly way if it's a cold night from the floor..more mental toughness, which is a direct positive reflection on Coach Prohm.
Last year if the shots weren't dropping, our guys would let it carry over to the defensive end and the boards a lot more, where as this year's squad (so far) has the look of a team that can grind out a win the ugly way if it's a cold night from the floor..more mental toughness, which is a direct positive reflection on Coach Prohm.
I'll give you Colorado or Illinois, but not NDSU. Not in Hilton.
Last years team played awesome in Hilton (minus the Baylor game) they seemed to struggle on the road or neutral sites at times.
More than anything else, last years team struggle in dead gyms. They really needed a crowd to get them into the game. Neutral sites, or empty gyms like tech were trouble.
I don't know what the result of this game would have been without Monte. He willed us to the win with his defense while scoring as well. Yes there were plenty of contributions, especially McKay's rebounding, but Monte was the difference, imo. Can't remember seeing Naz struggle shooting the '3' so much in Hilton. Glad he could get some buckets driving to the hoop. And that we can still win by 20 even with the outside shots not falling.
I never thought ISU would lose the Colorado, Illinois or NDSU games. They were closer games than expected but that was due to ISU not hitting good shots, once they started falling a Cyclone run would occur and they closed out the games in each case I felt they were closer to 20 pt blowouts than possible losses.
A good point was brought up in this thread though. Last years team when going through a scoring lull would end up down 10+ points (witnessed it 3X in the B12 tourney in person) only to hit stride and make shots to comeback. (Dangerous way to play as shown by UAB/TT/SC games)
This years team appears much better defensively and able to maintain a least a possession game during the shooting lull's and extend nice lead when the run starts. I think a lot of this is due to McKay shot blocking, Monte, Nader, and Cooke's perimeter defense and Thomas overall improvement. Bonus we will be adding Burton who should be good defensively. Bodes well for the Big12 regular season once the Spring starts.
A good point was brought up in this thread though. Last years team when going through a scoring lull would end up down 10+ points (witnessed it 3X in the B12 tourney in person) only to hit stride and make shots to comeback. (Dangerous way to play as shown by UAB/TT/SC games)
This years team appears much better defensively and able to maintain a least a possession game during the shooting lull's and extend nice lead when the run starts. I think a lot of this is due to McKay shot blocking, Monte, Nader, and Cooke's perimeter defense and Thomas overall improvement. Bonus we will be adding Burton who should be good defensively. Bodes well for the Big12 regular season once the Spring starts.
It's a fine topic to discuss, as far as how it seems to be trending, but it requires a larger sample size.
This year's team may be so good that they award them next years championship just because.
You're saying Monte hasn't taken a big scoring role when he's averaging over 15 points per game to start the season? Get your facts straight. He's definitely shooting the ball more despite having four teammates averaging double digits. This team is the most balanced offensive attack and it's because guys like Monte are getting a lot more aggressive on offense.
And there were times last night where we needed a bucket where Monte knew he could get one and made it. Probably more than he has in previous years.
Monte's baseline stop and pop jump shot is a thing of beauty. Last night whenever we needed something Monte just did it...Special player
That game with Cinci will be a great barometer in my opinion. True road game against a ranked opponent (potentially ranked pretty high if they keep winning) after a really short rest after a tough neutral court game with UNI. If the Clones can pull that one off, I will cede their dominance over last year's version. Should be a heck of a game.
This team overall seems to have more maturity and reminds me of the team we had two years ago with that killer instinct. Seems we get lazy sometimes until we need to turn it on but man when we turn it on its game over.
Differences:
No BDJ
McKay in game shape and available all year
Georges not having to do everything
Monte's defense
Naz's ability to drive
Matt's rebounding and defense
Hallice on D and from 3
Nader stepping up both on D and O
No BDJ
No BDJ
McKay in game shape and available all year
Georges not having to do everything
Monte's defense
Naz's ability to drive
Matt's rebounding and defense
Hallice on D and from 3
Nader stepping up both on D and O
No BDJ
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