This is the biggest game that Iowa State has had in 10 years. Will we be able to get over the hump, or get stuck at the Sweet 16 again? I expect the 'Clones to win because we have a better team and have accomplished more over the season.
Given the number of collective apology letters our two schools have gotten from our conferences... the whole "unstoppable force vs. immovable object" narrative this game has going on could creep up in a very different way.
Does anyone know where Iowa State was at defensively and offensively ranked when they went against Virginia in 2016 in the Sweet 16? This game against Illinois reminds me of that game so much for it's potential, except now we're on the other side.
I think the game will come down to turnover rate in a huge way. Illini do not force turnovers so I don't see them getting to play in transition very often. Over under at 16 turnovers. We force more than that we win. If we force under that we probably lose this one.I've been thinking about this comparison a lot as well. In 2016 Iowa State was #7 in adjusted O and Virginia was #7 in adjusted D. I really like our chances to slow down and frustrate Illinois. If they try to play fast we will just slow the game down even more. Offensively we should be able to grind out long efficient possessions and score.
probably the equalizer there will be rebounding, Illinois is #11 in the nation in rebounding margin and Iowa State is 170th.I think the game will come down to turnover rate in a huge way. Illini do not force turnovers so I don't see them getting to play in transition very often. Over under at 16 turnovers. We force more than that we win. If we force under that we probably lose this one.
I'd also be okay with Tamin being one rebound shy of a triple double...I'd be okay with a similar score
UCLA UCLA/Iowa State Iowa State Men's College Basketball recap on ESPN
UCLA UCLA/Iowa State Iowa State recap for Thursday March 23, 2000.www.espn.com
We are not a great rebounding team when I watch us rebound, but that rebounding statistic is bad for us because we force turnovers, as opposed to getting rebounds.probably the equalizer there will be rebounding, Illinois is #11 in the nation in rebounding margin and Iowa is 170th.
Types of turnovers matter to me, I think you guys will win the overall turnover battle, we'll get extra possessions off the boards. If it's a very low tempo game and you're turning us over in the halfcourt that is bad news, we can open up the game and lose the ball a few times being aggressive I'm not sure that would bother me much.
I'm not as concerned on the rebound front. Our rate isn't fantastic, but we play some of the better offensive rebounding teams in the country ie Houston prior to injuries. I think you also have to look at rate vs sheer number of offensive boards. Illini put up probably like 10-15 extra shots a game just based on pace of play over the entire year which leads to inflated number of offensive boards per game. Where as Iowa State leads the country in turnover percentage which means they also limit their opponents to fewer shots even with a lower pace of play.probably the equalizer there will be rebounding, Illinois is #11 in the nation in rebounding margin and Iowa is 170th.
Types of turnovers matter to me, I think you guys will win the overall turnover battle, we'll get extra possessions off the boards. If it's a very low tempo game and you're turning us over in the halfcourt that is bad news, we can open up the game and lose the ball a few times being aggressive I'm not sure that would bother me much.
Just to expand on this, I think there is the first few minutes of shock having never faced something like the ISU pressure. That usually results in a Cyclone lead. Then the other team figures it out and claws back into the game. ISU then comes out of the half on a tear and shocks them again. Then the opposition wears down and ISU pulls away.And honestly this applies even during the game.
The way our defense wears teams down, we often are the worse team early on before the defense has had its effect. But then in so many games we reach a point where our D just breaks them, usually sometime in the second half.
We will do what we do, they will try to do what they do. It's much easier to slow a game down than speed a game up, which favors us. We have to keep them off the line/stay out of foul trouble and rebound reasonably well. That being said, it will be tough to get offensive boards because of how much they like to run.
We win by generating extra possessions, so assuming we don't get a ton of offensive rebounds because we're sending people to get back on defense, we need to turn them over. It's a familiar tune for us. Teams beat us by being patient and disciplined to attack our defense. We'll see if Illinois can be patient and disciplined for 40 minutes. I don't think they can.
Comparing how teams do against a common opponent is always a bad idea. Let's also not forget that ISU split with BYU this year so it isn't like there is no way ISU could beat them.but that 6th best team in the A10 beat the one team in the Big 12 that many feel is ISUs kryptonite. Then Illinois went on to destroy them, so that is concerning.
Which time, the first time we beat them or the second time we beat them?Hey now, I'm not picking against us, but we got our work cut out for us. Agree, we need to bring our "A" game we had against Houston.
Really should be 'dunky do things' like she said.Imma call it those dunky things from now on