BLUM: Always a spectacle

[CyCloned]

in both the TX and the TT games the opponent just shot out of their minds, it happens. Remember Naz making 4-5 3's in a row to bring ISU back into games? The TT game was particularly maddening because as a whole they are horrible shooters, as they showed against OU this week. Could the defense have been a little better in those games? Sure, it could, but sometimes guys are just making shots, and with TT and TX it made no sense extending the defense out to half court because the chances of them putting those strings together was pretty unlikely. The TT game was bad because the clones had a good chance to stay in the game had they settled down on the offensive end of the floor in the first half instead of jacking up 3s like there was 3 minutes left in the game.

 

[clonedude]

I know this will be shocking, but I question Blum's article a bit. Not whether it's accurate or not, because it's definitely accurate, but I question whether this "behavior" is a bad thing or not?

IMO, high expectations are a great thing for any athletics program. It means you've been successful, and the fans want to continue seeing you be successful. It sure beats apathy any day, that's for sure. Just ask the football program. We have absolutely no expectations from the football team anymore, how does that feel? Not good IMO.

In regards to this site, I have no idea why Blum, or CW, or anyone else with ties to this site would be upset about all the nit picky fans on here? Isn't this site about drawing hits and viewers? A lot of fans are on here arguing about just how good our basketball team really is. Isn't that a GREAT problem to have? Especially when your website depends on viewers. Like I said above, it sure beats apathy and having no viewers at all on here.

As for the team.... I understand we need to appreciate what we have. Trust me, I really do. This beats Wayne Morgan or GMac's teams any day. However, there is nothing wrong with a fanbase being upset about losing to TT, who got beat by OU last night 81-36. Sorry, it was unacceptable. And the team and Fred knew it.

And against Texas, the 21 pt lead with 8 mins left was great, but then we came within one shot of losing that game in those last 8 mins. That is also unacceptable IMO for a team that has national title hopes, and they are the ones that spoke of winning national titles, not me. Fred and the team have both put those expectations on themselves. Teams that want to win it all don't lose 21 pt leads with 8 mins left.... they usually win by 20 or 30, or at least by 10.

But as I've said many times already.... high expectations and fans arguing about just how great of a team we have is a WONDERFUL thing. Especially for someone running a website depending on fans. So why write an article wondering why there is so much hype and expectations? Doesn't make sense IMO. But we are all free to believe what we want.

 

[singsing]

I can relate to the ******* and moaning. I found myself not even enjoying games this football season, imagine that, and really was suffering through games not enjoying them. I had to take a step back and just relax. I think, for whatever reason, maybe because a lot of us are alumni we get a little to emotional about the programs. CPR, Coach Fennelly, Coach Jackson and Fred are passionate about Iowa State. It is easy to get caught up in it.

It's appropriate to cheer and enjoy the games for the fans, but not to suffer and analyze every detail. That is more appropriate for the Coaches. I've taken a step back and would highly recommend it to others.

A good litmus test will be after the next game in Phog Allen. If we lose at KU and you are calling out players and Coaches for it you are not being realistic.

edit: Also, being a fanatic should mean cheering for your team and players not against.

Win or lose I love watching our basketball team. Win or lose I fish on Saturdays in the fall. Just bad football to watch. Hard to even compare the two sports and your amount of enthusiasm.

 

[dirtyninety]

Boring.

 

[Wesley]

I know this will be shocking, but I question Blum's article a bit. Not whether it's accurate or not, because it's definitely accurate, but I question whether this "behavior" is a bad thing or not?

IMO, high expectations are a great thing for any athletics program. It means you've been successful, and the fans want to continue seeing you be successful. It sure beats apathy any day, that's for sure. Just ask the football program. We have absolutely no expectations from the football team anymore, how does that feel? Not good IMO.

In regards to this site, I have no idea why Blum, or CW, or anyone else with ties to this site would be upset about all the nit picky fans on here? Isn't this site about drawing hits and viewers? A lot of fans are on here arguing about just how good our basketball team really is. Isn't that a GREAT problem to have? Especially when your website depends on viewers. Like I said above, it sure beats apathy and having no viewers at all on here.

As for the team.... I understand we need to appreciate what we have. Trust me, I really do. This beats Wayne Morgan or GMac's teams any day. However, there is nothing wrong with a fanbase being upset about losing to TT, who got beat by OU last night 81-36. Sorry, it was unacceptable. And the team and Fred knew it.

And against Texas, the 21 pt lead with 8 mins left was great, but then we came within one shot of losing that game in those last 8 mins. That is also unacceptable IMO for a team that has national title hopes, and they are the ones that spoke of winning national titles, not me. Fred and the team have both put those expectations on themselves. Teams that want to win it all don't lose 21 pt leads with 8 mins left.... they usually win by 20 or 30, or at least by 10.

But as I've said many times already.... high expectations and fans arguing about just how great of a team we have is a WONDERFUL thing. Especially for someone running a website depending on fans. So why write an article wondering why there is so much hype and expectations? Doesn't make sense IMO. But we are all free to believe what we want.

Speaking about expectations, when will you award someone a thumbs up or is that too much? 556-0 is quite a difference?

 

[clonedude]

Speaking about expectations, when will you award someone a thumbs up or is that too much? 556-0 is quite a difference?

Wut? What does "thumb's up" have to do with anything?

Personally I don't care if anyone gives me a thumbs up or not, and I doubt if anyone cares if I give them one either.

 

[Clone_12]

People are different. Some people on here are happy with us just getting to the NCAA tourney because "remember the McD years" or are just happy because "it's hoiball and fun to watch so win or lose let's enjoy it". That's not the makeup of some other people on here. Some people hate losing more than they love winning. That's what makes this forum fun, we get to see so many different perspectives. We all love the cyclones, even the Negative Nancy or the Positive Peggy.

Amen! I wouldn't trade Fred for any coach in the country. And I wouldn't trade our players for any other group out there. I also don't have any problem with the people that don't get upset with the team after games like Texas Tech...but the Texas Tech game DID upset me, as did the end of the Texas game.

Texas Tech's last 5 games they have scored 51, 42, 43, 78 (against us) and 36! They didn't just "shoot out of their minds". It was that combined with awful defense.

Texas got white hot down the stretch and some of the shots they hit were very difficult shots...that being said. They scored 38 points the last 8 minutes! It wasn't just Texas getting hot, a lot of it was that combined with bad defense.

I love this team, and have been coming to games since I was five years old in the Orr days. I've seen a lot of good basketball and a lot of bad basketball. What I want the most for this team is to live up to their potential, and I worry about whether we'll be able to do that because of our inconsistency at the defensive end of the court. I don't think that makes me a crappy fan...or unreasonable.

 

[DesignerClone]

Amen! I wouldn't trade Fred for any coach in the country. And I wouldn't trade our players for any other group out there. I also don't have any problem with the people that don't get upset with the team after games like Texas Tech...but the Texas Tech game DID upset me, as did the end of the Texas game.

Texas Tech's last 5 games they have scored 51, 42, 43, 78 (against us) and 36! They didn't just "shoot out of their minds". It was that combined with awful defense.

Texas got white hot down the stretch and some of the shots they hit were very difficult shots...that being said. They scored 38 points the last 8 minutes! It wasn't just Texas getting hot, a lot of it was that combined with bad defense.

I love this team, and have been coming to games since I was five years old in the Orr days. I've seen a lot of good basketball and a lot of bad basketball. What I want the most for this team is to live up to their potential, and I worry about whether we'll be able to do that because of our inconsistency at the defensive end of the court. I don't think that makes me a crappy fan...or unreasonable.

Incredibly honest post, and you are in the camp of many of us here. Some want to make this out to be the positive crowd versus the negative crowd, but it's not that easy. Just like you, I was ****** off at the TT loss because it was obvious the team was overlooking them for a good part of the game, and this was substantiated by post game interviews.

On the other hand, if they leave it all out on the floor, IMO as fans, we owe it to them to be supportive win or lose. Texas was brutal in the last few minutes, but it was a win and it wasn't due to a lack of effort. I've come to enjoy this team for who they are; amazingly talented offensive team players who can, at times, play some good defensive possessions. Here's to hoping they can increase the incidents of "good defense" while thrilling us with the offensive superiority.

 

[VeloClone]

After the Tech bball game I was reminded of something the OKState coach said after our biggest football win ever. (loosely quoted) "I remember when people would beat us and then didn't even care. At least now they are rushing the field". When is the last time a team beat ISU and then rushed the court??? I honestly don't even know the last time it happened. I totally agree with Blum as well as Ridley Scott, "ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?" We have the most watchable and intimate basketball experience in the history of the program. ND and UCONN had to copy us to compete. And duh we will probably make the tourney 4 years in a row FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER! It's called the big picture and it's the one that really matters.

It was Saturday.

 

[othercy]

True, but they do happen, and to highly ranked teams that go on to be successful year after year, in every conference, in equally odd fashion; so to isolate this like it's a "2014-15 ISU basketball problem" is where it goes off the rails for me. All of those games you described could be summed up by Kurt Ferentz if he were a basketball coach, "That's basketball". You win games in weird ways and lose games in weird ways. Don't drive yourself insane saying ridiculous things like, "if we would have shot so and so & from the FT line or made our average from 3 we would have won" that is Hok talk.

Go ahead, have a bad feeling about it, but when we go out of the tournament in the Elite 8 what is going to give me a bad feeling will be seeing all of the "I knew this team didn't have it when they lost to TTU" or "We should have seen this coming after SC loss" threads that are going to pop up.

Very well stated.

 

[othercy]

Agreed. We are a fan base not used to the level of hype we've seen this year and IMO it shows. I bought in too much in the beginning as much as the next fan, but in the end, these are young adults trying to find their way in a very public fashion. For me, I have the expectation that the team plays with intensity and effort and from that point on, whatever may be is whatever may be. Disappointment and vitriol (cruel and bitter criticism) are two different things.

Good post DC. I also like gunner's reminder to not cross over into the dark world of hok-dom - a place where cruel and bitter criticism of their players happens much too much. As a result they lost two excellent basketball coaches who regularly had them playing deep into the post season. Hok-dom ia a place where their players have to shush their own fan's criticism during a game. Cy fans are not anywhere near that level - but let us learn from the bad fans who cheer for that yellow and black chicken.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Speaking about expectations, when will you award someone a thumbs up or is that too much? 556-0 is quite a difference?

Wow nice catch bot. clonedude doosh level up.

 

[CYlent Bob]

557-0 now. Turnovers to assists ratio: infinite.

 

[CYKOFAN]

I know this will be shocking, but I question Blum's article a bit. Not whether it's accurate or not, because it's definitely accurate, but I question whether this "behavior" is a bad thing or not?

IMO, high expectations are a great thing for any athletics program. It means you've been successful, and the fans want to continue seeing you be successful. It sure beats apathy any day, that's for sure. Just ask the football program. We have absolutely no expectations from the football team anymore, how does that feel? Not good IMO.

In regards to this site, I have no idea why Blum, or CW, or anyone else with ties to this site would be upset about all the nit picky fans on here? Isn't this site about drawing hits and viewers? A lot of fans are on here arguing about just how good our basketball team really is. Isn't that a GREAT problem to have? Especially when your website depends on viewers. Like I said above, it sure beats apathy and having no viewers at all on here.

As for the team.... I understand we need to appreciate what we have. Trust me, I really do. This beats Wayne Morgan or GMac's teams any day. However, there is nothing wrong with a fanbase being upset about losing to TT, who got beat by OU last night 81-36. Sorry, it was unacceptable. And the team and Fred knew it.

And against Texas, the 21 pt lead with 8 mins left was great, but then we came within one shot of losing that game in those last 8 mins. That is also unacceptable IMO for a team that has national title hopes, and they are the ones that spoke of winning national titles, not me. Fred and the team have both put those expectations on themselves. Teams that want to win it all don't lose 21 pt leads with 8 mins left.... they usually win by 20 or 30, or at least by 10.

But as I've said many times already.... high expectations and fans arguing about just how great of a team we have is a WONDERFUL thing. Especially for someone running a website depending on fans. So why write an article wondering why there is so much hype and expectations? Doesn't make sense IMO. But we are all free to believe what we want.

You make some good points, but I just don't think losing a big lead to a talented team like Texas is much to get upset about. I don't think we were ever one shot from losing down the stretch. I think the closest Texas got was 3 a couple of times, but we had the ball and extended the lead until their final last second shot that brought it to 3. And I admit I'm a little touchy on lumping the Morgan and GMac years together as there was nothing similar about those tenures, from style of play to results.

 

[DesignerClone]

You make some good points, but I just don't think losing a big lead to a talented team like Texas is much to get upset about. I don't think we were ever one shot from losing down the stretch. I think the closest Texas got was 3 a couple of times, but we had the ball and extended the lead until their final last second shot that brought it to 3. And I admit I'm a little touchy on lumping the Morgan and GMac years together as there was nothing similar about those tenures, from style of play to results.

Nicely done. On all points, see below:

 

[Wesley]

Not that upset about the UT game. Really upset at TT since we spotted them twenty points and almost tied it in the end. We spent more effort in the last six minutes than we did the first half.

 

[SpokaneCY]

Blum says, "It is one thing to win games and make NCAA tournaments, but what endeared us all to the Hoiberg era in the first place was the entertaining brand of basketball."

Nope! What endeared me to Hoiball was winning games and making the NCAA tournament. I could give a rats *** about style and entertaining as long as there are results. Most people I see with critiques are just hoping the team improves for tournament time. I have great expectations and with this team they are not unwarranted. Some believe people are buying into the media hype. I see a team that has all the components to go to a final four and then it is anyone's to win. I won't lower my expectations because some have so little.

We all define beauty differently. Personally I'm a fan of toughness and defense. Winning is the goal obviously but doesn't mean we all can't have different things we enjoy or miss seeing.

 

[CascadeClone]

I think it's ok to be unhappy about a loss, when it happens. But when the emotion wears off, as other have said, you're gonna lose some games. Maybe a fair amount of games. You're not getting through the Big12 without some scratches. (And I really was bummed about the Tech game, that was a missed opportunity).

What bugs me is when people go off on players in a personal way. In the sense of "BDJ should only get 10 minutes per game" or "Thomas needs to transfer to DMACC" and crap like that. Guys have bad nights. Nobody is 100% performance, 100% of the time. "Georges had a bad night handling the ball" or "Naz just couldn't hit any 3s tonight" or "our defense was terrible tonight" doesn't bother me. It's when people start making it more personal, and taking it to extremes. That's garbage, and I don't think it's acceptable.

BDJ had a couple dumb plays at the end of the Texas game. But he had a really great game overall. Rebounds, made shots, defense - all very good. If he took a bad shot early in the shot clock, with 4 minutes left and a 12 point lead, then okay, that was dumb and he needs to learn. But don't tell me he should be benched for it, or sent to bed without supper, or exiled to North Korea. Good lord, some people see 1 mistake and want the guys head on a pike.

Maybe I am just saying it's a line between analyze and criticize, and it's not THAT fine a line.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

People are different. Some people on here are happy with us just getting to the NCAA tourney because "remember the McD years" or are just happy because "it's hoiball and fun to watch so win or lose let's enjoy it". That's not the makeup of some other people on here. Some people hate losing more than they love winning. That's what makes this forum fun, we get to see so many different perspectives. We all love the cyclones, even the Negative Nancy or the Positive Peggy.

There is a big difference between being a Negative Nancy and being non-supportive ********. We have crossed that line often in the past couple of months.

 

[Wesley]

There is a big difference between being a Negative Nancy and being non-supportive ********. We have crossed that line often in the past couple of months.

Actually football taught us well.