*** Official #3 IOWA STATE vs Arizona Game(Day) Thread ***

[bawbie]

They have to start making free throws.

This is one of the best FT shooting teams in ISU recent history, especially when you combine rate and volume - they are at 75% and almost 18 makes a game. And they've generally been really clutch at the end of close games - Jefferson's miss yesterday was obviously costly, but it was also rare.

Yesterday was only the third time that this team shot under 70% in a game this year (two years ago they were 67% as a team)

I looked up some stats. This year they are making 17.8 FTs per game - last year was 14.5 and the three years before that were all under 11.

Also, the fateful '20-'21 season is the only one in the last 30 years with a percentage higher higher than this year - and that was on only 9 makes per game.

you have to go back to the Eustacy years in '01-'02 and '00-01 to find a time with more makes per game. The % was pretty close then too, around 74-75%.

And the Hoiberg years ('94 & '95) had a higher volume and percentage.

but, in general, this is a greatly improved FT shooting team

I'll look at some "clutch" numbers next

 

[AuH2O]

They are shooting 75 percent as a team.

Agreed - ISU shot 67% last night. Jefferson is a 78% FT shooter, and he hit 1/2 at the end. Obviously we can say hit more FTs. But it wasn't like either the team shooting 67% for a road game or JJ going 1/2 on one trip to the line is some egregious choke job or outlier.

There are tons of little things you can point to every loss.

I'd point to the turnovers and getting destroyed on the glass when Arizona was on offense as the causes for the loss. And some of that is to be expected given all the factors of a road game on short turnaround vs. a good team.

Besides, in-season you're probably not boosting your FT percentage much. There are plenty of improvements that this team can get in-season, mostly around getting better looks and cutting down on turnovers. The offensive glass was tough because Jackson was coming off to help more than usual. Guards didn't have a great game keeping U of A from getting into the lane.

No reason to believe this team and coaching staff won't take a big step forward after this loss.

 

[2forISU]

Basketball is and always will be a game of runs. Some of the best teams of all time have given up big runs. That is how the sport is.

It was a tough road environment with only one days rest and a team still piecing things together after one of their starters was injured. You’re being over critical it happens to ALL teams

As I stated, if you want to make it to the elite 8 or final four you have to limit these runs. Auburn had a 18-0 run, Arizona had a 16-0 run, even Iowa there was 12-1(good thing they aren't good).

At quick glance it looks like the biggest runs on Auburn and Houston are the following:
Auburn vs ISU 11-1 run
Houston vs Alabama 9-2 run

Runs happen but big swings or long periods on no baskets is a little concerning.

 

[blood94]

WUT?!

Are you kidding. it was a miracle shot on Arizonas home floor. And we are still with Milan and curtis had a very off night and we still almost beat a team that had wont like 94 games at home in the last few years. Go Away

 

[rochclone]

You have 5 players to cover 4, Arizona had two in the back court, so they only had two players in the front court. The odds are not good that you can make a full court pass, and catch it outside the 3 point line and shoot and make the shot in 2.2 seconds. I would rather chance that, then letting one of their guards shoot the ball.

Actually you have a much better chance of a full court pass and a kick to a guard for a normal 25 foot 3 pointer then forcing them to in bound in the backcourt and make a 55 footer.

 

[cyclones500]

That defense was really bad. And people are mad that we forced them into a 60 footer.

Yeah, that was horrendous defensive plan. One defender w/ three offensive players even past half court.

 

[AllInForISU]

Actually you have a much better chance of a full court pass and a kick to a guard for a normal 25 foot 3 pointer then forcing them to in bound in the backcourt and make a 55 footer.

Not only did they inbound it below the FT line, but have their momentum not going toward the hoop when they get the pass. Usually when this happens you see the looping run to get momentum toward the hoop they are shooting at. Just a total fluke

 

[67CY]

Don't be angry. Is that what gatekeep means? I don't know who Rob Gray is, is he a good free throw shooter?

I believe he writes for CF. Don’t know about his free throw shooting

 

[Statefan10]

They had two players in the front court, for what you are saying, one of the guards would have to run into the front court and either set a screen or be the shooter of the ball. The clock starts the moment the guy in the front court catches it, so how is the guard or the other big man suppose to catch the ball, pass it to someone else, while we have players there and get the shot off with 2.2 seconds on the clock?

No, up three the last thing you want to do is what we allowed, a guard to catch the ball, dribble it once or twice, get squared up to the hoop with his momentum going towards the basket and shoot the ball.

That's not what I'm saying. BLOB guy throws the ball to half court, that guy catches it and flips it to a guard that was in the backcourt running full speed for a shot. That play is very effective at generating a good look and not only a good look, but an actual shot. Not a heave where the guy has to put his entire body weight into it to get it there.

Arguing hindsight is moot as well. Right now anybody and everybody can up with a multitude of different ways in which we should've done something different. There's actually a much higher chance that we would've fouled someone on accident had they thrown it up to half court than them throwing in that shot. That's how low percent that shot is.

 

[rochclone]

I wouldn't want to be KSU on Saturday, I think they'll play pissed off and hungry.

Perhaps. But this is going to be a pretty big hangover. It would be that way for any team. I would love to punch KSU in the mouth and win by 30 but this has the feel of a meat grinder for 30-35 minutes before winning by 7-10 points.

 

[Statefan10]

Perhaps. But this is going to be a pretty big hangover. It would be that way for any team. I would love to punch KSU in the mouth and win by 30 but this has the feel of a meat grinder for 30-35 minutes before winning by 7-10 points.

Maybe, however last year we lost in a similar fashion @ Baylor and followed it up 3 days later by winning @ Texas. At home vs. a weak Kansas State against a coach who accused us of cheating last year in this exact game? I don't think TJ or the players forgot about that one.

 

[RagingCloner]

Maybe, however last year we lost in a similar fashion @ Baylor and followed it up 3 days later by winning @ Texas. At home vs. a weak Kansas State against a coach who accused us of cheating last year in this exact game? I don't think TJ or the players forgot about that one.

I believe Hilton will be downright hostile for the mildcats on saturday

 

[rochclone]

Maybe, however last year we lost in a similar fashion @ Baylor and followed it up 3 days later by winning @ Texas. At home vs. a weak Kansas State against a coach who accused us of cheating last year in this exact game? I don't think TJ or the players forgot about that one.

We were down by 4 with 2 minutes to go in Waco last year. I understand the Milan shot being waived off angle but I think it is a slightly tougher gut punch here. I also think this is about as mentally strong of a team as we have had in 25 years. I would love a 30 point win on Saturday but it isn’t going to alarming to me if we are sluggish on Saturday. Hopefully the crowd is engaged from the outset.

 

[Statefan10]

We were down by 4 with 2 minutes to go in Waco last year. I understand the Milan shot being waived off angle but I think it is a slightly tougher gut punch here. I also think this is about as mentally strong of a team as we have had in 25 years. I would love a 30 point win on Saturday but it isn’t going to alarming to me if we are sluggish on Saturday. Hopefully the crowd is engaged from the outset.

I think you're right on it being slightly tougher last night, however Milan's shot was a tenth of a second from being good. The game was won, until they reviewed and it wasn't. I wouldn't be surprised if we start out sluggish but I would bet we'll cover whatever spread is put up and it could be a route. It's also going to be sold out and hostile because of it being K-State and Tang.

 

[Malone]

The goal is to be prepped for the Big Dance and all these conference games serve as a litmus test.

I can’t help but think that the way our games were officiated in Morgantown and Tucson (incredibly physically in favor of the home team) are far removed from the mean. It’s just not how NCAA Tournament games are called. I posted in the gameday thread at least 6 missed blatant fouls on Arizona in the first half. Wildly blatant. Stopped counting in the second half.

Almost every Curt/Keshon drive resulted in arm slapping. You could see it in both of their faces “what do I have to do to get a damn foul call?” This is not basketball.

Outside of the officiating that’s out of our control, we are doing everything that a team with final four aspirations needs to do. We blow out inferior teams at home. We comfortably beat inferior teams on the road. We come back from deficits. We respond to adversity quite well. We’re successfully navigating a major injury.

When on the road in a quality conference, you’re going to face adversity. Talent is usually comparable. What sets us apart is maturity and patience when it really counts. It’s why I was calm when there were 4-5 minutes left. This team has shown that it saves its best for last. Arizona LUCKED into the two things it needed to beat us: have the refs swallow their whistles (egregious) and hit an incredibly lucky shot.

It sucked. But it’s so far outside of what will be allowed in the games that really matter. We’re primed for a deep run and Morgantown/Tucson didn’t change that.

 

[Statefan10]

The goal is to be prepped for the Big Dance and all these conference games serve as a litmus test.

I can’t help but think that the way our games were officiated in Morgantown and Tucson (incredibly physically in favor of the home team) are far removed from the mean. It’s just not how NCAA Tournament games are called. I posted in the gameday thread at least 6 missed blatant fouls on Arizona in the first half. Wildly blatant. Stopped counting in the second half.

Almost every Curt/Keshon drive resulted in arm slapping. You could see it in both of their faces “what do I have to do to get a damn foul call?” This is not basketball.

Outside of the officiating that’s out of our control, we are doing everything that a team with final four aspirations needs to do. We blow out inferior teams at home. We comfortably beat inferior teams on the road. We come back from deficits. We respond to adversity quite well.

When on the road in a quality conference, you’re going to face adversity. Talent is usually comparable. What sets us apart is maturity and patience when it really counts. It’s why I was calm when there were 4-5 minutes left. This team has shown that it saves its best for last. Arizona LUCKED into the two things it needed to beat us: have the refs swallow their whistles (egregious) and hit an incredibly lucky shot.

It sucked. But it’s so far outside of what will be allowed in the games that really matter. We’re primed for a deep run and Morgantown/Tucson didn’t change that.

You, me and a lot of other Cyclone fans share the same opinion here. I also saw a few CBB analysts say similar things this morning. Goodman said something along the lines of that loss changes nothing in his mind as far as Iowa State competing for a national title. He, and others, think we're legit. Hell, Fran Fraschilla said it too which ended up being a huge jinx but Love throwing in a 60 foot miracle doesn't negate that.

 

[cyclonestunners]

The Tuesday morning qbing is strong with this one.

They had two players in the front court, for what you are saying, one of the guards would have to run into the front court and either set a screen or be the shooter of the ball. The clock starts the moment the guy in the front court catches it, so how is the guard or the other big man suppose to catch the ball, pass it to someone else, while we have players there and get the shot off with 2.2 seconds on the clock?

No, up three the last thing you want to do is what we allowed, a guard to catch the ball, dribble it once or twice, get squared up to the hoop with his momentum going towards the basket and shoot the ball.

M

 

[Thomasrickj]

View attachment 142067

Oops. Realized that a little too late.

 

[Thomasrickj]

Anything happen in between the West Virginia and Arizona games? Did the Kansas game not happen? UCF?


Worst post of the thread.

Okay, sure we were great in those games but going 2 for 4 is why I’m concerned. Maybe I’m overreacting a little, but we have to be more consistent. With two losses already it’s looking like we aren’t winning the conference.

 

[NoCreativity]

Anything happen in between the West Virginia and Arizona games? Did the Kansas game not happen? UCF?


Worst post of the thread.

To be fair, the Kansas game was before West Virginia.