Before the season...curious

[BryceC]

Before the season started, what were you hoping for with this team? Were you bullish? Bearish? Just curious.

Knowing we had Lipsey, Jefferson, and Milan and Heise coming back, I thought while we had a great core, we'd have a solid season but nothing spectacular due to so many new faces coming in which can be a situation where they never mesh like we thought. Even preseason rankings I thought we might be pegged a bit too high. Maybe I wasn't giving our big three enough credit. I thought we'd make the NCAAs but somewhere in the 5-6 seed range.

We haven't even hit conference play, so can things change? Yes. Can injuries happen? Yes. Still a lot of variables. But given our schedule with the neutral game against MSU and the three neutral games in Vegas with a bunch of new players, and playing at #1 Purdue and a rivalry game against Iowa, I thought being 7-3 after ten games would be ok...not great but fair. 8-2 is solid. 9-1 is fantastic and 10-0 just wan't in the cards.

This is a TEAM. Every single player and position just...makes sense and compliments everyone so ******* well. We have incredible basketball IQ at every position. Our depth is insane.

Are we going to stumble and lose games? Yes. I think we're still looking at 5-6 regular season losses...this league is tough as hell. But so far, this season has to exceed almost all of our expectations, right? Not sure many would have said we'd be 10-0.

I knew we had a good core of players. I also knew we had TJ. I expected good things this year.

 

[GoodOleDays]

I hope that's true but it's not how TJ usually roles with his roster. Be great if we had Pleta and Bateman emerge late in the year though.

Pleta has already been established as the rotational back-up 5 since Vegas. It was close at first but since then Mulder has only gone in during garbage time and injuries.

Nojus was already cut from the rotation by this time last year. Batemon is still getting first half minutes with stints guarding Stirtz and Smith. TJ’s last presser he said he likes his defense and shot making and basically said second half will depend on how the games going and what skillset is needed but he’s gonna keep playing. His arch is just a bit more similar to CuJo’s first year under TJ

 

[Westside clone]

To me, he and Pleta are about the same level of development. Pleta is probably less valuable in a clutch situation due to lack of experience but as far as role and physical ability they seem pretty similar. It makes sense to give Pleta the minutes as he has 4 years to improve. Mulder will be nice late in the season when we need to fill minutes.

I like them both but Pleta has much more upside. You won't see Mulder breaking with the ball down court. Pleta also has more range.

 

[NWICY]

Eye test wise Pleta might still be growing into his body but he’s already better at defending without fouling because he walls up well at 6’11 whereas Mulder’s a bit undersized for a big 12 5man.

As a 21 year old German pro he probably has as much or more total experience than Mulder just a different style. The way the TJ talks about his rate of improvement, I don’t think he’s waiting on upside just the next few years but expecting more by March this year as he adjusts and general cardio catches up

They had Pleta on a post game interview the other week, he said the physicality of college play is the biggest transition from euroball

 

[Psiclone]

Before the season started, what were you hoping for with this team? Were you bullish? Bearish? Just curious.

Knowing we had Lipsey, Jefferson, and Milan and Heise coming back, I thought while we had a great core, we'd have a solid season but nothing spectacular due to so many new faces coming in which can be a situation where they never mesh like we thought. Even preseason rankings I thought we might be pegged a bit too high. Maybe I wasn't giving our big three enough credit. I thought we'd make the NCAAs but somewhere in the 5-6 seed range.

We haven't even hit conference play, so can things change? Yes. Can injuries happen? Yes. Still a lot of variables. But given our schedule with the neutral game against MSU and the three neutral games in Vegas with a bunch of new players, and playing at #1 Purdue and a rivalry game against Iowa, I thought being 7-3 after ten games would be ok...not great but fair. 8-2 is solid. 9-1 is fantastic and 10-0 just wan't in the cards.

This is a TEAM. Every single player and position just...makes sense and compliments everyone so ******* well. We have incredible basketball IQ at every position. Our depth is insane.

Are we going to stumble and lose games? Yes. I think we're still looking at 5-6 regular season losses...this league is tough as hell. But so far, this season has to exceed almost all of our expectations, right? Not sure many would have said we'd be 10-0.

I try not to get too excited and remember we were #2 in Jan. last year. Plus, as you've pointed out, we haven't started conference play yet. Biggest concern is FT% where we're 15th out of 16 teams. Too many games will be decided by free throws in the last two minutes. Last year we were 4th in the conference.

 

[BigJCy]

 

[madguy30]

 

[cyclones12321]

Before the season started, what were you hoping for with this team? Were you bullish? Bearish? Just curious.

Knowing we had Lipsey, Jefferson, and Milan and Heise coming back, I thought while we had a great core, we'd have a solid season but nothing spectacular due to so many new faces coming in which can be a situation where they never mesh like we thought. Even preseason rankings I thought we might be pegged a bit too high. Maybe I wasn't giving our big three enough credit. I thought we'd make the NCAAs but somewhere in the 5-6 seed range.

We haven't even hit conference play, so can things change? Yes. Can injuries happen? Yes. Still a lot of variables. But given our schedule with the neutral game against MSU and the three neutral games in Vegas with a bunch of new players, and playing at #1 Purdue and a rivalry game against Iowa, I thought being 7-3 after ten games would be ok...not great but fair. 8-2 is solid. 9-1 is fantastic and 10-0 just wan't in the cards.

This is a TEAM. Every single player and position just...makes sense and compliments everyone so ******* well. We have incredible basketball IQ at every position. Our depth is insane.

Are we going to stumble and lose games? Yes. I think we're still looking at 5-6 regular season losses...this league is tough as hell. But so far, this season has to exceed almost all of our expectations, right? Not sure many would have said we'd be 10-0.

As long as TJ is at the helm, ncaa tournament bid is always my expectations. I thought maybe 13-3 at this point with losses St. John’s, Purdue and Baylor

 

[EnkAMania]

I was optimistic because of the core returning players and the hype of Batemon. I didn't think we'd be this good.

 

[NetflixAndClone]

After the CU and NU exhibitions I was really worried about our 3 point shooting and if we had someone that could step up to be a closer for tight games.

Milan has been a revelation this season, we might have the best freshman class under TJ, Buchanan is a massive hit in the portal, and Jefferson is playing like a first round draft pick.

 

[NENick]

Penn St. is not as good as Michigan, but should've beat them. Wisconsin is not better than Michigan, but did beat them.
College players can believe the headlines and rankings, resulting in loses to inferior teams. It's possible the Cyclone could lose to KU or even someone like Colorado.

However, this team seems too mature to have that happen. The returning core of 4 has played a lot of basketball and has now played together in a lot big games. I'm pretty confident they will be ready tomorrow night.

 

[rosshm16]

As long as TJ is at the helm, ncaa tournament bid is always my expectations. I thought maybe 13-3 at this point with losses St. John’s, Purdue and Baylor

I figured it would be a 21-10 regular season kind of year. Still could be, but now that would be a big disappointment rather than meeting expectations! Fun ride so far.

 

[cyclones12321]

I figured it would be a 21-10 regular season kind of year. Still could be, but now that would be a big disappointment rather than meeting expectations! Fun ride so far.

Agreed, if we finish that now no doubt that would be depressing. 5-10 to finish would not bode well for this fan base

 

[cyclones12321]

Penn St. is not as good as Michigan, but should've beat them. Wisconsin is not better than Michigan, but did beat them.
College players can believe the headlines and rankings, resulting in loses to inferior teams. It's possible the Cyclone could lose to KU or even someone like Colorado.

However, this team seems too mature to have that happen. The returning core of 4 has played a lot of basketball and has now played together in a lot big games. I'm pretty confident they will be ready tomorrow night.

I agree. Might be the first time since Purdue we came out firing. At least I hope. The only two knocks on us that I can think of are, slow starts and allowing offensive rebounds. If we get those cleared up and the refs allow us to play our style then we are veeeeeery hard to beat