Reality Check

[ChickenNuggetMan]

Everyone step back from the ledge. TJ has flirted with the top 10 2 years in a row with a rag tag group of players. TJ is an exponentially better coach than Prohm. Yes, we won’t win the Big12 this year. That’s Ok. We will make the NCAA tournament and hopefully do some damage. We have 2 epic recruiting classes coming in. The future is BRIGHT. We will be okay. We will be so much better in the near future. Breathe.

 

[dahliaclone]

I will admit during this game I was as upset as I've been all year mainly because with a win we were still in the thick of things. But to be where we are with this group is still incredible. It's a bummer but I'm over it already. We will be fine and still make the tourney which is awesome.

 

[DoctorZ]

One thing I wish TJ would do is to make sure Rob is sitting on the bench when the opposing team has 6, 7, or 8 fouls to keep him off the free throw line in 1-and-1 situations. Like many here, I'd prefer it if he would play fewer minutes overall than he does, but if you're going to play him as much as you do, TJ, then please play the percentages by keeping his minutes to those parts of the game when the opposing team has less than 6 fouls or more than 8.

 

[NoCreativity]

We have 2 epic recruiting classes coming in. The future is BRIGHT

What are everyone's expectations for next year?

The talent upgrade will be huge but so will the drop off in experience. I guess I'm seeing more a 9-9 type ceiling next year. The Big 12 isn't getting any easier anytime soon.

I think where the real dividends will pay off is in '25 and '26 if he can keep the core group together and then continue plugging holes with quality transfers like Holmes. I think when his 2 classes are freshman and sophomores is when we really start making some noise.

I think people need to keep their expectations in check in 2024 though unless we get a big time transfer to help transition.

 

[madguy30]

One thing I wish TJ would do is to make sure Rob is sitting on the bench when the opposing team has 6, 7, or 8 fouls to keep him off the free throw line in 1-and-1 situations. Like many here, I'd prefer it if he would play fewer minutes overall than he does, but if you're going to play him as much as you do, TJ, then please play the percentages by keeping his minutes to those parts of the game when the opposing team has less than 6 fouls or more than 8.

It's the worst free throw shooting team in the conference iirc and it's not one player.

Give King and Osun foul trouble and the fact that subbing requires stoppage and it's a little more complicated than just 'sit him starting now'.

 

[bluestarcyclone]

One thing I wish TJ would do is to make sure Rob is sitting on the bench when the opposing team has 6, 7, or 8 fouls to keep him off the free throw line in 1-and-1 situations. Like many here, I'd prefer it if he would play fewer minutes overall than he does, but if you're going to play him as much as you do, TJ, then please play the percentages by keeping his minutes to those parts of the game when the opposing team has less than 6 fouls or more than 8.

I seem to remember one of those times Osun was ready to come in, the foul just happened before he could.

 

[clonehome]

Time to lose any significant expectations for this team. Winning 3 more and squeaking into the tourney is a reasonable goal. Would be surprised if we win @ KState, Texas or Baylor. So have to beat OU, WVU and TCU at home. 10-8 should make us a lock and around a 7 seed, maybe a 6 seed given the parity this year.

The reality is that TJ's teams have punched above their weight 2 seasons in a row. We do not have talented offensive players. Not one high level scorer really. TJ has miraculously hacked his way to what hopefully will be 2 NCAA tourney appearances with a very limited roster. His next two recruiting classes are way more talented.

 

[ChickenNuggetMan]

What are everyone's expectations for next year?

The talent upgrade will be huge but so will the drop off in experience. I guess I'm seeing more a 9-9 type ceiling next year. The Big 12 isn't getting any easier anytime soon.

I think where the real dividends will pay off is in '25 and '26 if he can keep the core group together and then continue plugging holes with quality transfers like Holmes. I think when his 2 classes are freshman and sophomores is when we really start making some noise.

I think people need to keep their expectations in check in 2024 though unless we get a big time transfer to help transition.

Personally we will be much younger but so much more talented. Expect more mistakes but a higher ceiling.

 

[cayin]

TJ has done an incredible job. His recruiting ability is amazing. We forget, we don't have the team TJ projected to have, Williams and Green. By the time Green's decision needed to be made it was pretty much to late to bring in someone high caliber, they were off of the market by then. With those two, we can go hard on defense like we do, but would have enough quality depth in the guard court to avoid games where we look worn out. And I think our defense would be even better with a long 6'5 point guard in Williams defending on the perimeter. With those two we can probably continue to play at a high level without many issues if a guy has to sit out some games with injury (Grill). With those two, especially Green, our scoring woes in certain games highly improves. Everyone will have fresher legs. For a lot of the year one of Grill, Kalscheur or Holmes has been able to be "on" to score enough to keep us in games, but there is also a good chance we will lose. When of two those guys are "on" we are tough to beat. If all three are on, forget it, we are unbeatable.

Despite our liabilities, TJ has us competitive enough to keep us in most games until the end, which is great with this group. The frustrating thing is were were so close insuring we could get a top 4 seed and play in Des Moines and blew some games we had great chances of winning. TJ has a great culture and a very good strategy and scheme overall but at times he has struggled with in game adjustments (especially in the second half), and substitution patterns. I also think maybe his staff may have an issue of knowing when the team is fatigued and dialing down things in practice so the guys are fresh for the game (speculation on my part). I say this because listening to the post game interviews, seems like the TJ and the players cognitively know what they needed to do, but physically they just couldn't do it.

 

[goody2012]

Time to lose any significant expectations for this team. Winning 3 more and squeaking into the tourney is a reasonable goal. Would be surprised if we win @ KState, Texas or Baylor. So have to beat OU, WVU and TCU at home. 10-8 should make us a lock and around a 7 seed, maybe a 6 seed given the parity this year.

The reality is that TJ's teams have punched above their weight 2 seasons in a row. We do not have talented offensive players. Not one high level scorer really. TJ has miraculously hacked his way to what hopefully will be 2 NCAA tourney appearances with a very limited roster. His next two recruiting classes are way more talented.

Going 3-3 gets us a 4 or 5 seed, not squeaking in... we're already a lock.

 

[CyBobby]

What are everyone's expectations for next year?

The talent upgrade will be huge but so will the drop off in experience. I guess I'm seeing more a 9-9 type ceiling next year. The Big 12 isn't getting any easier anytime soon.

I think where the real dividends will pay off is in '25 and '26 if he can keep the core group together and then continue plugging holes with quality transfers like Holmes. I think when his 2 classes are freshman and sophomores is when we really start making some noise.

I think people need to keep their expectations in check in 2024 though unless we get a big time transfer to help transition.

Well Now...If this group is as good as advertised WHAT WOULD KEEP TEXAS FROM BUYING MORE PLAYERS FROM IOWA STATE AKA TYRESE HUNTER?

 

[BCClone]

TJ has done an incredible job. His recruiting ability is amazing. We forget, we don't have the team TJ projected to have Williams and Green. By the time Green's decision needed to be made it was pretty much to late to bring in someone high caliber, they were off of the market by then. With those two, we can go hard on defense like we do, but would have enough quality depth in the guard court to avoid games where we look worn out. And I think our defense would be even better with a long 6'5 point guard in Williams defending on the perimeter. With those two we can probably continue to play at a high level without many issues if a guy has to sit out some games with injury (Grill). With those two, especially Green, our scoring woes in certain games highly improves. Everyone will have fresher legs. For a lot of the year one of Grill, Kalscheur or Holmes has been able to be "on" to score enough to keep us in games, but there is also a good chance we will lose. When of two those guys are "on" we are tough to beat. If all three are on, forget it, we are unbeatable.

Despite our liabilities, TJ has us competitive enough to keep us in most games until the end, which is great with this group. The frustrating thing is were were so close insuring we could get a top 4 seed and play in Des Moines and blew some games we had great chances of winning. TJ has a great culture and a very good strategy and scheme overall but at times he has struggled with in game adjustments (especially in the second half), and substitution patterns. I also think maybe his staff may have an issue of knowing when the team is fatigued and dialing down things in practice so the guys are fresh for the game (speculation on my part). I say this because listening to the post game interviews, seems like the TJ and the players cognitively know what they needed to do, but physically they just couldn't do it.

There was a statement from one of the announcers that the team was practicing hard yesterday before the game. If you are fatigued, especially after the WV turnaround, why practice them hard on game day? That doesn’t make sense to me.

 

[madguy30]

There was a statement from one of the announcers that the team was practicing hard yesterday before the game. If you are fatigued, especially after the WV turnaround, why practice them hard on game day? That doesn’t make sense to me.

Settles was saying the team practices hard. It was cleared up in another thread that he didn't say or mean that the team practices hard right before games.

They may need to taper off a bit here in the final stretch though.

 

[1UNI2ISU]

Loss of coaches go to short, hard practices this time of year. You go hard but only go 45 minutes or so. Get done what needs to get done and get out

 

[BCClone]

Settles was saying the team practices hard. It was cleared up in another thread that he didn't say or mean that the team practices hard right before games.

They may need to taper off a bit here in the final stretch though.

Thanks, I didn't catch that correction. I was baffled in why you would do anything more than a walk thru the day of. That Mizzou game is looking more and more to be a lost opportunity to rest several of the players. Once you lose your legs, it is difficult to get them back, it is a balancing act to practice hard and not wear out, no matter what condition you are in.

 

[Aduhbolu15]

 

[madguy30]

Thanks, I didn't catch that correction. I was baffled in why you would do anything more than a walk thru the day of. That Mizzou game is looking more and more to be a lost opportunity to rest several of the players. Once you lose your legs, it is difficult to get them back, it is a balancing act to practice hard and not wear out, no matter what condition you are in.

Yeah ISU went through a similar phase last year although I thought it was worse.

I thought both teams looked like they were struggling with energy last night. OSU just was and is better with better players.

 

[ISUTex]

What are everyone's expectations for next year?

The talent upgrade will be huge but so will the drop off in experience. I guess I'm seeing more a 9-9 type ceiling next year. The Big 12 isn't getting any easier anytime soon.

I think where the real dividends will pay off is in '25 and '26 if he can keep the core group together and then continue plugging holes with quality transfers like Holmes. I think when his 2 classes are freshman and sophomores is when we really start making some noise.

I think people need to keep their expectations in check in 2024 though unless we get a big time transfer to help transition.

Who can come back next year? From my understanding ISU can bring Grill T. King, and Jones back? Ward? Bring in Williams to go along with Lipsey. If Watson and E. King stay. Add Omaha, Fish, Hamilton and Milan. Add a transfer big or wing? Should be the makings of a tournament team at a minimum.

 

[CYEATHAWK]

He is exactly right............especially in the order. Consumed by officiating.

You think what happened at WVU gets to fans. Imagine playing in that. It wasn't like a couple bad calls at the end of the game. It was the entire game. While you are getting hand checked and bodied all night by Huggyball no less.

Hopefully last nights game purged the WVU debacle (especially Grill) and they can get back to what they do best.

 

[ChickenNuggetMan]

I feel like this needs a bump