My "argument" is simply how ISU plays on the floor, particularly in the Big 12. ISU's Big 12 play hasn't been very good for the last three years, and with one exception, hasn't been very stellar back to the early 2000's. I know there are many, many issues involved in that, but I think summer "conditioning" has at least something to do with it. Significant player particiaption in the CCL is one common thing that runs through all those teams. You disagree, and that's fine.
As far as GMac, quite simply, he hasn't yet posted a winning season in the Big 12. Perhaps he is still learning the Big 12 as well. Just sayin'... Hopefully, this will be the year for a winning Big 12 season.
So, this upcoming season, lets check out a few things that might provide some insight into this issue. Lucca is playing in a different league. So, early in the season, let's watch if Lucca seems to be developmentally and fundamentally ahead, level, or behind the others who played in CCL. When playing early pre-conference games against major and mid-major teams, let's see how ISU looks developmentally and fundamentally against those teams. Let's see how ISU fares in early Big 12 play...will they be on par with the competition right away, or will it take them several games to "catch up"?