Bottom Line

[Cyclad]

We statistically won that game. Which means we were right there with a team that was 7-1 in conference, and doesn't lose at home... much like us. I'd say we played up to our potential, it was just a freak coincidence we lost.

Our losses are a tip in to the #1 team in the nation on a neutral court, a loss @ WVU on Jerry West day where they didn't call fouls, and a loss @Arizona on a fluke 3/4 court shot.

I'm not sure there is anything we need to "work out". We're playing great basketball.

I agree with this 90%.
I do think our turnovers have hurt us lately. Seems like we have gotten a little loose with the ball. I could easily argue that cost us the Arizona game - not discounting the miracle shot for Arizona. We need to be in the attack mode to be our best. That can create some turnovers of aggression. But , overall we need to win the turnover battle with our opponent.

 

[NYCYFan]

Houston is going to be hard to catch looking at the remaining schedules of ISU, UA, KU and Houston. They get most of the better team left to play at home, while we still have to go to Houston and KU, plus Arizona again at home.

They play at West Virginia (where Iowa State lost), make the Arizona trip which we all know is tough, at Texas Tech which we all know is extremely tough and at Baylor. Those are tough, tough games.
Then at home they play Iowa State, Kansas, Texas Tech, and Baylor.
That's not an SEC-like gauntlet but in terms of what the Big 12 is right now, that's just about as tough as it gets. That's a 2-3 loss schedule IMO.

For the Cyclones, while at Houston and at Kansas are tough as it gets in the Big 12, the rest of the schedule is manageable.
They get the Arizona revenge game at home, Kansas State, TCU, Cincinnati, Colorado and BYU at home with UCF and Oklahoma State on the road. Split with Kansas and Houston and we're likely looking at a 4 loss, 3 in conference Iowa State going into the Big 12 tournament and a strong case for a 1 seed barring an early tournament exit which at Hilton South is really unlikely.

 

[isuno1fan]

Guessing HOU wins by 10+ tonight. Really don’t think it will be close.

 

[cyclones500]

I was looking at Duke, Louisville, and Clemsons schedule today. It's very possible Louisville could win out and finish 19-1. They have the easiest remaining schedule I've ever seen. I think they have 8 games left against sub-100 teams.

Louisville remaining schedule. Four of next five are on the road, teams lose away from home, but opponents all beatable. Gets luxury of finish season with three straight home games. Only opponent currently projected for NCAAT at-large: Pitt. Almost none of the others is even close, maybe Stanford could creep upward toward it (and that's the season finale at home).

at Georgia Tech
at Boston College
Miami
at N.C. State
at Notre Dame
Florida State
at Virginia Tech
Pittsburgh
California
Stanford

 

[Psiclone]

Of course I am totally bummed out we lost that game, just like I was after West Virginia. However, we just haven't played up to our potential for many games. I would be interested in people's opinions as to WHY.
IMO it's not losing Milan, I hadn't been impressed with him, at all. Preseason TJ said Milan would be a first-class shot hunter......I didn't see that.
Obviously we aren't taking care of the ball, maybe we need to have the ball in Tamin's hands the majority of the time? I realize he has had turnovers also, but he is much calmer and makes good decisions, most of the time.
This is not a bitchfest, or a negative, I believe our fantastic coaches and these hard-nosed players can work it out, just curious on people's thoughts.

Not impressed with Milan, our leading 3-pt. shooter (44.3%) who opens up the floor for the rest of the team? LOL

 

[Psiclone]

We statistically won that game. Which means we were right there with a team that was 7-1 in conference, and doesn't lose at home... much like us. I'd say we played up to our potential, it was just a freak coincidence we lost.

Our losses are a tip in to the #1 team in the nation on a neutral court, a loss @ WVU on Jerry West day where they didn't call fouls, and a loss @Arizona on a fluke 3/4 court shot.

I'm not sure there is anything we need to "work out". We're playing great basketball.

I also think having one day off between games plus the travel had to affect the team, especially in OT.

 

[NoCreativity]

17-3 Houston finish. I agree with the above poster we end 15-5.
Question is where does Zona land?

I think regular season titles are a thing of the past with these super-conferences with unbalanced schedules. 5 years ago I would have been excited but I think I'd rather win the BTT or get a higher seed.

Arizona doesn't really matter unless you are worried about winning the regular season. In the grand scheme I feel like their ceiling is probably a 3 seed. We won't be competing with them for NCAA seeding purposes.

 

[IASTATE07]

I think regular season titles are a thing of the past with these super-conferences with unbalanced schedules. 5 years ago I would have been excited but I think I'd rather win the BTT or get a higher seed.

Can you explain how not competing for a conference title will lead to a higher seed?

 

[NoCreativity]

Can you explain how not competing for a conference title will lead to a higher seed?

Ok, probably not the best wording on my part but you understand what I mean. You're just trying to be difficult and get me riled up.

I meant if I had the choice between getting a #1 seed or winning a regular season title I'd take the #1 seed. Let's say Arizona wins the regular season title at 17-3 and we go 16-4. I'd be willing to bet we'd still be seeded higher on Selection Sunday.

Another example would be Duke-Louisville. It's possible Louisville could win the regular season title and if they did they would be seeded well behind Duke on Selection Sunday.

 

[1SEIACLONE]

Ok, probably not the best wording on my part but you understand what I mean. You're just trying to be difficult and get me riled up.

I meant if I had the choice between getting a #1 seed or winning a regular season title I'd take the #1 seed. Let's say Arizona wins the regular season title at 17-3 and we go 16-4. I'd be willing to bet we'd still be seeded higher on Selection Sunday.

Another example would be Duke-Louisville. It's possible Louisville could win the regular season title and if they did they would be seeded well behind Duke on Selection Sunday.

Would totally matter how each team did in the conference tournament. Arizona is still a larger name in MBB than ISU, so they will get the benefit of the doubt from many if they won the regular season title and both schools finished at the same point in KC. Say both get beat in the semi final game.

 

[IASTATE07]

Ok, probably not the best wording on my part but you understand what I mean. You're just trying to be difficult and get me riled up.

I meant if I had the choice between getting a #1 seed or winning a regular season title I'd take the #1 seed. Let's say Arizona wins the regular season title at 17-3 and we go 16-4. I'd be willing to bet we'd still be seeded higher on Selection Sunday.

Another example would be Duke-Louisville. It's possible Louisville could win the regular season title and if they did they would be seeded well behind Duke on Selection Sunday.

Except if we won the conference regular season title, we'll more than likely be a 1 seed. I don't understand the mental gymnastics of trying to downplay the significance a regular season championship. Especially when it comes to Iowa State and the path we would have to go through to get it.

 

[cyfan964]

I agree with this 90%.
I do think our turnovers have hurt us lately. Seems like we have gotten a little loose with the ball. I could easily argue that cost us the Arizona game - not discounting the miracle shot for Arizona. We need to be in the attack mode to be our best. That can create some turnovers of aggression. But , overall we need to win the turnover battle with our opponent.

Sure, but that's being pretty damn nit-picky. Every team can get better at things. I'm sure the '72 Dolphins could have done a lot of things better and they never lost a game.

To say that we aren't playing incredibly good basketball right now would be foolish. We could tighten up in some areas, but all teams can.

 

[Bo Darville]

Except if we won the conference regular season title, we'll more than likely be a 1 seed. I don't understand the mental gymnastics of trying to downplay the significance a regular season championship. Especially when it comes to Iowa State and the path we would have to go through to get it.

I think people are just coming to terms with the fact that we aren't winning it. Same reason that we'll hear that a 2 seed is basically the same as a 1.