Twister Sister Summary - good things are going on in Ames

acoustimac

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Jan 8, 2009
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Can anyone ever get used to watching good basketball? That’s all we’ve seen this year from the twister sisters – good basketball. This group plays as a team and we are seeing assists, rebounds, and ball movement like we have not seen in quite some time. I think of all The times are used to grouse about watching players stand and set spots around the three-point arc. In recent years I complained about Carlton being a volume shooter. I complained about the lack of an inside presence. No more. Well mostly.

I’ve said it before and it’s worth saying again, this group puts a capital “T“ in the word team. They play well together. They play off of each other. They are always looking for that extra pass to an open teammate. For once we have depth on the batch with very little drop off. Coach appears to have found a rotation that just works.

The game today was more of what we have been seeing. As usual our star senior Carlton lead the way doing a little bit of everything. She had some amazing drives inside and scored when she was covered like a blanket. She stepped outside to hit from deep. She rebounded. Kristin Scott continues to show that she is a force to be reckoned with. She’s not really a post player even though that’s where we often find her. She is undersized, but still finds her baskets underneath and steps out and has one of the prettiest three point shots of anyone on the team. Currently she leads the nation in two point basket percentage. Wow. Today was not her best shooting day, but she still managed to put in 17 points. It was fun to see Joens show that she is more than just a three-point shooter. She had several nice drives inside that kept the Oklahoma State defense on their toes. Middleton rebounded with a fine game. Was also nice to see Burkhall get some quality minutes and make the best of it.

It’s kind of surprising that the team really pulled away in the second half and it wasn’t by using the three-point shot. As a matter of fact, the three point shooting in the second half was really pretty bad (14%). What we did see was a team that was moving up and down the court, passing the ball, slicing the lane, and scoring. The team dominated on the boards and in my opinion, the best part, met the maxim of our coach by making as many free throws as the other team attempted.

It’s really been difficult to try to write my normal summaries because typically you can highlight one or two players who were outstanding. While we all know that Carlton is a step above most anybody else in the conference, these are simply team wins. There were very few mistakes.

Every time you listen to a post game interview with the opposing coach there is a common thread. “This is one of Iowa State’s best teams.“ We can hope the winning goes on as long as possible. If the ladies continue to play in the manner we are currently saying I have no doubt they will do some damage in the big 12 tournament and in the NCAA tournament. I would not be surprised to see this team reach at least the round of 16 or better. It’s going to be fun watching it unfold.
 

geewago

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Jan 1, 2013
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So what kind of weather are you boys going to provide for the upcoming weekend? You have a big game coming up Saturday (23). It's supposed to be in the low 70's down here in Central TX on that day. Will it be in the 20's there? I'm thinking about coming up there again. It's becoming a yearly tradition I hate to break. Tell me I wont run into an arctic blizzard.
 

kentkel

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Apr 12, 2006
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I remember the Hall & Oates song "So Close, Yet So Far Away" - that described my day today. My wife and I planned on attending today's game - but one of my daughters was chosen last week to perform at today's HS All-State large group speech festival in the Scheman Center. AND, of course, her performance time was DURING the ISU game. SO, we were "next door" to Hilton, but were unable to go to the game. SO thanks, acoustimac, for the great summary!
 

NWICY

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Sep 2, 2012
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So what kind of weather are you boys going to provide for the upcoming weekend? You have a big game coming up Saturday (23). It's supposed to be in the low 70's down here in Central TX on that day. Will it be in the 20's there? I'm thinking about coming up there again. It's becoming a yearly tradition I hate to break. Tell me I wont run into an arctic blizzard.

I'll give you an update midweek. Forecasts aren't worth a hoot this far out. Congrats on the win over the Sooners.
 

Bipolarcy

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Oct 27, 2008
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I don't get why Oklahoma State is so bad. They have two of the best players in the conference on their team, and they're only sophs. The supporting cast must be gawdawful. If I were their coach, and anyone but Vivian Gray or Braxtin Miller shot the ball, except on a rebound putback or a fastbreak layup, I'd bench them. The others can just set screens, rebound, defend and get the ball to those two.
 

ISU40

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Jan 8, 2012
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Ames
So what kind of weather are you boys going to provide for the upcoming weekend? You have a big game coming up Saturday (23). It's supposed to be in the low 70's down here in Central TX on that day. Will it be in the 20's there? I'm thinking about coming up there again. It's becoming a yearly tradition I hate to break. Tell me I wont run into an arctic blizzard.
Well I am currently watching the snow fly on top of the 4 inches we already gotten. Hoping for some melting because I'm done with snow.
 

geewago

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Jan 1, 2013
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Well I am currently watching the snow fly on top of the 4 inches we already gotten. Hoping for some melting because I'm done with snow.
Probably be my luck you have a big foot blizzard this weekend. Last year I began to see snow on the ground in NE Kansas and it stayed about the same till I crossed the Iowa line. It was a little deeper then all the way to Des Moines, but when I turned north to head to Ames there was three times as much snow. It was even affecting the traffic on the road some. maybe I'll call up Al Gore and get him to dial up some of that "global warning climate change" for the weekend".
 
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BoxsterCy

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Just saw Texas lost to KSU so ISU and WVU are only half a game out of 2nd. WVU has Baylor remaining and ISU has Baylor and Texas (road). Both likely lose to Baylor. ISU will need to beat Texas and hope Texas loses another one.

Iowa beat Maryland and is now tied for first in the Big 10. Pretty much ices them hosting in the NCAA.
 
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geewago

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Just saw Texas lost to KSU so ISU and WVU are only half a game out of 2nd. WVU has Baylor remaining and ISU has Baylor and Texas (road). Both likely lose to Baylor. ISU will need to beat Texas and hope Texas loses another one.

Iowa beat Maryland and is now tied for first in the Big 10. Pretty much ices them hosting in the NCAA.
Aint it amazing. TX has now lost 4 conference games and 3 of them at home. This is why I was so put out with the sisters for losing that game against TCU. One poster even said I was over-reacting. Well I make no apologies for my disappointment. That was a must win. It's going to come back to haunt them I'm afraid. I really believe ISU can beat TX at Austin. That would have been the battle for outright 2nd place if it hadn't been for that Frog loss. But the way TX is playing it may still work out. I don't much think Texas will get by Baylor in Waco. Heck they may even lose to TX Tech the way things are going.
 
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psyclone51

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I don't get why Oklahoma State is so bad. They have two of the best players in the conference on their team, and they're only sophs. The supporting cast must be gawdawful. If I were their coach, and anyone but Vivian Gray or Braxtin Miller shot the ball, except on a rebound putback or a fastbreak layup, I'd bench them. The others can just set screens, rebound, defend and get the ball to those two.
In answer to your question, they are missing what "mac" calls "T" as in team. And I think that starts with the coach; probably the worst dressed coach we've seen in WBB this year - along the line of Huggy Bear. And it is clear that the coach focuses everything on Gray. Even left her on the court at the end of the game longer than the other starters, presumably to pad her numbers, which she did. They have other talent, but they wilt when things start to go against them.But you are right, Gray is something special. She shot lights out.
 

CycloneBob

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Aug 9, 2010
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I would not be surprised to see this team reach at least the round of 16 or better. It’s going to be fun watching it unfold.

Personally, I'm looking for a ISU vs Baylor in the tournament final.
 

Buster28

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Dec 3, 2011
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Iowa beat Maryland and is now tied for first in the Big 10. Pretty much ices them hosting in the NCAA.

Watched the end of that game. Very disappointing that Brenda couldn't find a way. How down does the Big 10 have to be for Iowa to be in first place at this point in the season? Bluder is certainly the most modestly-talented coach in that league. Who else could be a D-1 coach since 1990 and have advanced past the NCAA second round exactly 1 time? Likely that team will make it a second time this year, but I would do a little dance if they choked (again).
 

kcdc4isu

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In answer to your question, they are missing what "mac" calls "T" as in team. And I think that starts with the coach; probably the worst dressed coach we've seen in WBB this year - along the line of Huggy Bear. And it is clear that the coach focuses everything on Gray. Even left her on the court at the end of the game longer than the other starters, presumably to pad her numbers, which she did. They have other talent, but they wilt when things start to go against them.But you are right, Gray is something special. She shot lights out.

That is his style of coaching. He gets a shooter/scorer and hopes she can carry them. I wonder how long the other players put up with being the ones who must pass the ball to Gray so she can score. She is a very good scorer but as noted you need a "Team" to win.
 

BoxsterCy

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Watched the end of that game. Very disappointing that Brenda couldn't find a way. How down does the Big 10 have to be for Iowa to be in first place at this point in the season? Bluder is certainly the most modestly-talented coach in that league. Who else could be a D-1 coach since 1990 and have advanced past the NCAA second round exactly 1 time? Likely that team will make it a second time this year, but I would do a little dance if they choked (again).

I hope they do well and hope they are not in the same regional with us. Same for Drake. I'm not going to be begrudge them some earned success. Gustafson is a terrific once every 20 years or so player for them that I'd like to see make the 16. They also had some bad luck with their point guard the last couple of years getting those knee injuries.

Big 10 is now looking to be down this year as the Big 12 has looked down all year. Little hard to compare the leagues unless you just subtract Baylor and go from there. Michigan State and Rutgers will both drop out of of the Top 25 this week. Less Baylor the two leagues only have four ranked teams out of 26. Woof! Gophers and WVU are maybe playing their way in. I thought the Gophers were done and then they run off six straight or so and are back in the mix for the NCAA's. I do want to see Whalen succeed.
 

Three4Cy

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Jan 19, 2010
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Just saw Texas lost to KSU so ISU and WVU are only half a game out of 2nd. WVU has Baylor remaining and ISU has Baylor and Texas (road). Both likely lose to Baylor. ISU will need to beat Texas and hope Texas loses another one.

Iowa beat Maryland and is now tied for first in the Big 10. Pretty much ices them hosting in the NCAA.

And their best win of the season is beating us.
 

StClone

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Dec 17, 2009
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I don't get why Oklahoma State is so bad. They have two of the best players in the conference on their team, and they're only sophs. The supporting cast must be gawdawful. If I were their coach, and anyone but Vivian Gray or Braxtin Miller shot the ball, except on a rebound putback or a fastbreak layup, I'd bench them. The others can just set screens, rebound, defend and get the ball to those two.
Gray is one of my Big Twelve favorites-appears to be good teammate, and great multi-talented player with good size. Wonder if she'd be willing to sit out a year via the so-called "transfer conduit" in a G-Iba Arena egress to Hilton access (humor)?
 
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StClone

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Dec 17, 2009
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I hope they do well and hope they are not in the same regional with us. Same for Drake. I'm not going to be begrudge them some earned success. Gustafson is a terrific once every 20 years or so player for them that I'd like to see make the 16. They also had some bad luck with their point guard the last couple of years getting those knee injuries.

Big 10 is now looking to be down this year as the Big 12 has looked down all year. Little hard to compare the leagues unless you just subtract Baylor and go from there. Michigan State and Rutgers will both drop out of of the Top 25 this week. Less Baylor the two leagues only have four ranked teams out of 26. Woof! Gophers and WVU are maybe playing their way in. I thought the Gophers were done and then they run off six straight or so and are back in the mix for the NCAA's. I do want to see Whalen succeed.
I'll be the antithesis of a good sport and hope Iowa and Goose have a pleasant but brief NCAA run. Drake gets my blessings.
 
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