So, where do we go from here?

[clonehome]

My guess-
Gabe and Jaz will come back.
IZB and George decide not to return.
Tristan, TJack, and Walker transfer.

I think Tre Jackson comes back in whatever role TJ creates for him. After hearing comments from Tre and his dad before the season, they were grateful that the new staff kept him this season. They seem to have reasonable expectations and are looking for Tre to get a degree from a big public university. If so, good choice. Is it better to get more PT for a year and finish with a degree from Eastern Mid-Major U?

 

[Kinch]

Don't know which thread this goes in, but here goes. Was driving along the Coralville Strip yesterday shortly after noon. A lot of people out. Drove past the Hawk Shop. The only cars in the parking lot were the employees. A half mile later drove past the Hawk Liquor and Tobacco store, lot was full. Maybe you can't read too much into that, but maybe you can.

 

[clonehome]

I think another thing this would help with would be getting more FT attempts. In conference play, ISU was last in FTA. WVU and TTU both attempted nearly 120 more FTs than ISU.

Team FT, sorted by FTA, Conference Games Only​

Index	Team	G	FTM	FTA	PCT
1	West Virginia	18	292	370	0.789
2	Texas Tech	18	267	370	0.722
3	Kansas	18	257	353	0.728
4	Texas	18	263	347	0.758
5	Baylor	18	230	325	0.708
6	Kansas State	18	228	321	0.710
7	Oklahoma State	18	204	302	0.675
8	TCU	18	192	290	0.662
9	Oklahoma	18	203	272	0.746
10	Iowa State	18	166	253	0.656

Damn, last in attempts and last in percentage is not a winning formula. We improve at both with better offensive players.

 

[Kinch]

The better the athletes you have will lead to more free throws. Why? Because you can take it to the hole or feed a big man. We had Niether of these, hence fewer free throws.

Still, we left 40 points left not scored by failing to hit even 74%. Would have been the difference in the one point Kansas loss and maybe one of the Baylor games.

 

[WastedTalent]

I learned something last night when reading up on Gabe. He broke a finger on his shooting hand ending his season a year ago at minnesota. Some may say it's just a finger, but one has to wonder if that factored into his shooting percentage dip this year

His percentage has been going down since his freshman season. It is encouraging that he's improving on his 2pt%. I think there's potential for him to rebrand himself as tough dribble drive, and pull up guy. But he's gotta get stronger, and better at ball handling.

 

[exCYtable]

I'm no shooting guru, but what I have often see is when he rushes his shot it is flatter. A flatter shot is less forgiving and that is why we have seen so many of his shots roll around and out or seemingly go halfway down and pop out.

THIS. Most of Grill's shots seem like 90 mph fastballs or line drives right at the rim. Needs more arc and touch. Hoiberg was really good at retooling guys' shots. Need someone who can help him and Gabe both. Brockingtons shots are similar, too. Lotta line drives.

 

[inCyteful]

Couldnt shoot couldnt dribble couldnt rebound coulcher couldnt standup
Pathetic versus a decent Miami team not a great team

The first thing that comes to mind that was infinitely more pathetic was this troll attempt.

Couldn't spell, couldn't make sense, couldn't make a decent attempt at hiding the troll, couldn't hold IBs jock strap, couldn't be a legitimate Cyclone.

 

[8bitnes]

View attachment 97269
His percentage has been going down since his freshman season. It is encouraging that he's improving on his 2pt%. I think there's potential for him to rebrand himself as tough dribble drive, and pull up guy. But he's gotta get stronger, and better at ball handling.

3pt line was moved starting in the 2019-20 season. That would explain the big drop in percentage from 2018-19 to 2019-20.

The finger injury that later required surgery may have been developing/lingering for the bulk of 2020-21 before the final blow happened in February of 2021. If that's the case, that factored into 2020-21 shooting percentage drop.

 

[clonehenge]

I'm no shooting guru, but what I have often see is when he rushes his shot it is flatter. A flatter shot is less forgiving and that is why we have seen so many of his shots roll around and out or seemingly go halfway down and pop out.

Also look at his feet when he shoots. Most of the time his left foot his way behind his right foot and sometimes it looks like both feet are angling to the left when he shoots.

If he can learn to get squared up when he shoots I think he would be way more consistent.

He needs to watch some old games of Hoiberg shooting in the NBA. That was about as perfect as you can get when it comes to shooting form.

 

[heitclone]

I'm no shooting guru, but what I have often see is when he rushes his shot it is flatter. A flatter shot is less forgiving and that is why we have seen so many of his shots roll around and out or seemingly go halfway down and pop out.

I think Scotty is on to something with his positioning and being ready to shoot. I feel like he does this quick little step thing to get his feet and shoulders set every time, sometimes, that allows guys to get a hand in his face, that's when he especially rushes. The more can get his feet and shoulders ready to shoot before he has the ball, the quicker he gets the ball up and the defender is less likely to get a hand, he doesn't have to rush.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

Still, we left 40 points left not scored by failing to hit even 74%. Would have been the difference in the one point Kansas loss and maybe one of the Baylor games.

Athleticism is different than free throw shooting percentage. That being said, I agree, we were not a good free throw shooting team.

 

[jbhtexas]

The better the athletes you have will lead to more free throws. Why? Because you can take it to the hole or feed a big man. We had Niether of these, hence fewer free throws.

There's more to it than that. I don't think WVU and KSU were that much more athletic than ISU, yet both shot significantly more FTs than ISU did. Certainly athleticism plays a part in getting FTAs, but so does scheme. ISU's scheme involved alot of perimeter passing and not much posting up by anybody...that doesn't generate alot of FTAs.

 

[Mr.G.Spot]

There's more to it than that. I don't think WVU and KSU were that much more athletic than ISU, yet both shot significantly more FTs than ISU did. Certainly athleticism plays a part in getting FTAs, but so does scheme. ISU's scheme involved alot of perimeter passing and not much posting up by anybody...that doesn't generate alot of FTAs.

As pure athletes, WVU has much bigger, quicker and stronger guys...... doesn't necessarily make them better BB players.

I don't know about Kstate.

Yes, there are other aspects.

Name on player on our team, besides Hunter, that could take it to the hole yesterday?

 

[jbhtexas]

As pure athletes, WVU has much bigger, quicker and stronger guys...... doesn't necessarily make them better BB players.

I don't know about Kstate.

Yes, there are other aspects.

Name on player on our team, besides Hunter, that could take it to the hole yesterday?

You are right, better athletes don't necessarily make better BB players, which is why just having better athletes doesn't mean a team should necessarily have more FTA.

Interestingly, ISU was fifth among Big 12 teams in FTA for non-con only games, despite playing a number of good teams.

I don't know who could have successfully driven on Miami, because nobody really tried.

ISU rarely puts pressure on interior defenders. Try it once in awhile, maybe something good will happen. ISU was last in scoring offense in conference, so it really can't get too much worse. You don't have to be a 5* to draw a foul.

If Kunc comes back, I'd like to see him be much more aggressive offensively. A number of times, he has been able to shot fake his defender and get into mid range fairly clear of traffic. He has a nice shot from there which he should take more instead of kicking out, or drive it to the hole and make some contact. Players turn down too many good, open mid-range shots or an open lane to the hoop, looking for the dagger kick-out three-pointer. Kenny and Charles mentioned it several times during the tourney. Even Coach K made the comment last night during his early in-game interview that Duke was turning down too many good open looks, trying to get something better, which he said was not a good strategy against a good defense.

 

[WhoISthis]

You are right, better athletes don't necessarily make better BB players, which is why just having better athletes doesn't mean a team should necessarily have more FTA.

Interestingly, ISU was fifth among Big 12 teams in FTA for non-con only games, despite playing a number of good teams.

I don't know who could have successfully driven on Miami, because nobody really tried.

ISU rarely puts pressure on interior defenders. Try it once in awhile, maybe something good will happen. ISU was last in scoring offense in conference, so it really can't get too much worse. You don't have to be a 5* to draw a foul.

If Kunc comes back, I'd like to see him be much more aggressive offensively. A number of times, he has been able to shot fake his defender and get into mid range fairly clear of traffic. He has a nice shot from there which he should take more instead of kicking out, or drive it to the hole and make some contact.

Good points.

The offense this year was reminiscent of the McD era efficiency. An AdiO of 175 or whatever it was should be up for discussion.

We were extremely perimeter ordinated, with historically bad efficiency on decent volume at the 2 and the 5 position with no perimeter skills spending so a lot time with his back to the basket beyond the 3P line. Getting better players can help, but will we land more talented forwards than Enaruna and Kunc for next year?

Just my opinion-
Year 1, focus on rebuilding the culture. Plenty of comments made that there wasn't the thought on lineup construction or even wins, that you'd normally see. After watching Prohm struggle with talented teams it makes sense to recruit your culture. (although with that in mind, I am sure bringing guys like Hinson and Foster back is totally aligned with that, but nevertheless).
Year 2, I am optimistic/hoping that the staff feels like it has more options and can be more nuanced in building the roster and lineups it plays.

 

[cyfan92]

With the IB news. In order to get the Des Moines site for 2023 March Madness. Here is our lineup

Hunter
Transfer
Transfer
King/Jaz
Transfer

Gabe K
Grill
Jones
Enaruna
King
Watson
Lipsey
Transfer

Lots of work to do! The success of the team and IB are great selling points for ELITE shooting guards! WE NEED to get shooters and a NASTY/Athletic Center

 

[sj4]

I have loved Iowa State since 1964
I cant hide the fact last night was the WORST basketball performance by Cyclone basketball in memory. I see all this love this morning for “bringing us back “ ???
To WHAT? A hideous performance??
I hope this staff can recruit and fast!!

I don't think the team thought they played a great game either. So don't think you're onto something new. And I'm absolutely positive that the Iowa State staff is well aware that they need to recruit and do it quickly. In context with everything else that happened this year your post seems negatively hyperbolic.

With that said can you admit that being disappointed in a loss (this year) is a million miles away from expecting one (last year) ?

 

[Tpups21]

With the IB news. In order to get the Des Moines site for 2023 March Madness. Here is our lineup

Hunter
Transfer
Transfer
King/Jaz
Transfer

Gabe K
Grill
Jones
Enaruna
King
Watson
Lipsey
Transfer

Lots of work to do! The success of the team and IB are great selling points for ELITE shooting guards! WE NEED to get shooters and a NASTY/Athletic Center

Just not convinced Enaruna and Jones will be back. I guess only time will tell.

 

[exCYtable]

With the IB news. In order to get the Des Moines site for 2023 March Madness. Here is our lineup

Hunter
Transfer
Transfer
King/Jaz
Transfer

Gabe K
Grill
Jones
Enaruna
King
Watson
Lipsey
Transfer

Lots of work to do! The success of the team and IB are great selling points for ELITE shooting guards! WE NEED to get shooters and a NASTY/Athletic Center

Agree with some of this. If you think Gabe is coming back and not starting you are smoking crack tho. Depending on who we land, both Tre King and Kunc could start and be more than serviceable.

 

[cyfan92]

Just not convinced Enaruna and Jones will be back. I guess only time will tell.

It's my understanding that both used up their one time "free" transfer. Their next transfer would include a sit-out year. That's why I have them coming back.

If they are eligible to play next season somewhere else. I would revisit the lineup