Offense > Defense
- Thread starter ClonesFTW
- Start date
Gilbert even said is his postgame interview that ILL came out more physical than they were expecting
Yep, props to them buckling down on defense. They’ve been playing better D lately which is helping their success imo.
You make a profound statement so what evidence do you have that shows elite defense wins in March more than elite offense? I'm legitimately curious. I'm talking about college basketball as a whole, not just Iowa State teams.
Here are the offensive and defensive ranks entering the tournament for national champions the last 3 years. Feel free to explain your claim on how elite offense being more important than elite defense is "asinine".
| Year | Team | Offensive Rank | Defensive Rank |
2023 | Uconn | 6 | 18 |
2022 | Kansas | 6 | 29 |
2021 | Baylor | 3 | 44 |
Illinois defense was not anything great last night. And not even during their “run” have they been a good defense.
Iowa State’s offensive woes are well documented and unfortunately the 1st half was the exact offensive half that they’ve been prone to do. They’ve seen defenses far more physical than that one. Once the adjustments were made (far too late), the offense was fine. Except for the mental mistakes missing countless bunnies.
For Iowa State, that’s a team you have to beat and should expect to beat. Very disappointing to drop that one against a lower seeded team.
Since 2002 only 3 teams that won a championship weren’t a Kenpom top 10 offense. Syracuse and UConn twice. Top 10 offense with a combined with a top 25 defense wins championships in college basketball.
Hoibergs teams were barely top 100 defense.
Sounds like you need a top offense AND a top defense to win a national championship, who would have guessed?
They did something I haven't see any other teams do, it was especially clear in the second half, where they were mucking up the screens away from the ball during the dribble handoff. You could see Jones/Ward standing all alone at the top of the key, where they defender dropped into the lane, and the cutter on the far side couldn't get through the screen. It did cause 2-3 fouls on Ill, but it messed up a lot of timing as well. They were really physical on those screens and curls and cuts.
And Otz's first two years weren't Top 100 offenses. This year was, which is why this teams was closer - but not quite there yet. To get to the Final Four, you don't need a Top 10 offense, but you do need one that's Top 30
I wouldn’t say that, but you do need favorable matchups. For example, San Diego State was 75 in offense last year and made it to the championship game because of matchups (FAU). Then got blown out.
we have been through multiple 4 plus minute droughts without any FGs. A lot of the time we get away with it because we won the game. But you are right, when the offense is struggling that bad, needs to addressed. It was obvious our guys were tight, nervous, not juiced up. TJ should have recognized that and called an early time out to get everyone settled down. Yes, I know I am Monday morning QBing. LOL.
The ironic part is that to me, besides Illinois' size (which was an issue all night), the biggest mistakes were the three passes intercepted and run back for uncontested slam dunks stuck out to me. Great anticipatory defense by Illinois. Doesn't really matter though. It was an even game and would be a fun 7 game series. However, in the one game that counted, Iowa State could have won the game with a little more of this or that, but Illinois deserved to win because of their little more of this or that. The Offense vs. Defense strengths / weaknesses evened out in my opinion.
oh don't confuse the absolute pansy players at Wisky with the majority of the big 10.
I'm not. I watched quite of B1G bball.
It's not 1996 or whatever and there's more finesse than anything.
Haven't read through the thread, but are people being realistic about the fact that TJ and staff obviously knows we have to be better on offense and that's why it's improved so much each year under him? Also, this year proved you don't have to simply give up on being elite on defense in order to improve your offense. I am confident we'll be an improved offense next season and still a great defensive team.
