NBC Sports has all sorts of New York City connections and Diallo plays high school basketball, do they have the in and know Diallo is coming to Iowa State?
CBS: Ridiculously early top 25 (and one)
- Thread starter cyclones500
- Start date
My way-too-early would have Iowa State at 8 on the high end, 15th at the low.
That is not my 'official-official' too-early.
:smile:
That is not my 'official-official' too-early.
:smile:
We have plenty of depth. One more backup post would be nice (right now we've got more guards, only Nader/Niang/McKay for down low) and maybe another point guard, but we're not done constructing our roster yet. But, hey, most would acknowledge we've got eight solid guys already. Same as last year.
Just to illustrate the point, these three teams are ISU, Duke, and Wisconsin's "top eight" men from last year in terms of MPG...
Team A
---
35.8
33.8
30.3
29.0
21.7
21.3
19.3
10.5
Team B
---
33.5
32.9
32.8
30.9
28.7
24.7
16.1
7.6
Team C
---
33.9
30.7
27.5
27.2
26.2
23.0
16.4
15.3
Duke
Wisconsin
ISU
Having great and really good players matters more than having ten viable options. Not many teams are going to have a better threesome than Niang, Morris, and McKay next year, and we've plenty around them to support them.
Just to illustrate the point, these three teams are ISU, Duke, and Wisconsin's "top eight" men from last year in terms of MPG...
Team A
---
35.8
33.8
30.3
29.0
21.7
21.3
19.3
10.5
Team B
---
33.5
32.9
32.8
30.9
28.7
24.7
16.1
7.6
Team C
---
33.9
30.7
27.5
27.2
26.2
23.0
16.4
15.3
Duke
Wisconsin
ISU
Having great and really good players matters more than having ten viable options. Not many teams are going to have a better threesome than Niang, Morris, and McKay next year, and we've plenty around them to support them.
Way overrated. Until ISU figures out the mental side of the game, they'll be around 15th. This team is way to dependent on home crowds and plays down or up to opponents.
I was thinking Top 10 lock, Top 5 with Diallo. This team will be better than last years, and we still have room to add players and get even better.
I personally think that aspect is overplayed and near-impossible to accurately judge. For me it's interior defense, rebounding, and more slashing to the hoop that's needed. Hopefully Cooke, Burton, and maybe an unnamed future roster addition add more slashing to the hoop and Diallo and/or (unnamed future roster addition
Specific to ISU:
ESPN's summary includes Williams on returning roster (I imagine these very-early rankings were in-process several weeks ago). CBS synopsis doesn't mention Williams at all (possibly updated from early list). Just guessing on those details.
Obviously will be changes on these rankings after departures/returns/post-dead period movement.
I’ll be surprised if Iowa State is ranked top-5 in major polls come fall, won't be shocked to be outside the top 10.
But the national cred clearly has reached a new level.
Here are some of the notable programs ranked below ISU in CBS & ESPN April projections, with respective rankings.
CBS (ISU at No. 6)
Gonzaga (8)
Michigan State (9)
Villanova (11)
Indiana (12)
Arizona (14)
Duke (15)
Wisconsin (17)
Michigan (18)
ESPN (ISU at No. 4)
Maryland (5)
Villanova (6)
Gonzaga (7)
Kansas (8)
Duke (11)
Arizona (12)
Indiana (16)
Louisville (19)
Texas (21)
Michigan State (24)
Wisconsin (25)
As hype grows, it becomes more challenging to live up to it. This is a lot more fun than reading preseason magazines and seeing Iowa State picked to finish in lower division of the Big 12, and barely NIT-level.
ESPN's summary includes Williams on returning roster (I imagine these very-early rankings were in-process several weeks ago). CBS synopsis doesn't mention Williams at all (possibly updated from early list). Just guessing on those details.
Obviously will be changes on these rankings after departures/returns/post-dead period movement.
I’ll be surprised if Iowa State is ranked top-5 in major polls come fall, won't be shocked to be outside the top 10.
But the national cred clearly has reached a new level.
Here are some of the notable programs ranked below ISU in CBS & ESPN April projections, with respective rankings.
CBS (ISU at No. 6)
Gonzaga (8)
Michigan State (9)
Villanova (11)
Indiana (12)
Arizona (14)
Duke (15)
Wisconsin (17)
Michigan (18)
ESPN (ISU at No. 4)
Maryland (5)
Villanova (6)
Gonzaga (7)
Kansas (8)
Duke (11)
Arizona (12)
Indiana (16)
Louisville (19)
Texas (21)
Michigan State (24)
Wisconsin (25)
As hype grows, it becomes more challenging to live up to it. This is a lot more fun than reading preseason magazines and seeing Iowa State picked to finish in lower division of the Big 12, and barely NIT-level.
I gave you a Like, even though it's a bittersweet Like ... something to anticipate, but gawd it's a long way off. (Even the 7-month delay until regular season begins seems like years).
Agree about interior defense, but it's easy to measure the mental aspect. UAB, Texas Tech, and South Carolina. Never mind the disgusting effort against Maryland or the lack of 1st half effort all season. Until they stop reading their own press clippings and taking everyone seriously, they'll never get to the elite level.
National media is so clueless. Rothstein #5.
Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein 32m32 minutes ago 15-16 Top 25: 1. UVA 2. UK 3. UNC 4. Maryland 5. Iowa State 6. Oklahoma 7. Duke 8. Wichita State 9. Nova 10. Baylor 11. Kansas 12. WVU
Jon Rothstein @JonRothstein 32m32 minutes ago 15-16 Top 25: 1. UVA 2. UK 3. UNC 4. Maryland 5. Iowa State 6. Oklahoma 7. Duke 8. Wichita State 9. Nova 10. Baylor 11. Kansas 12. WVU
Those elements have proven true at times the past few seasons. ISU also has bucked it several times during the same period.
Iowa State had ruts in 2014-15, but also swept three teams in Big 12 that made the tournament (WVa, OSU and Texas), requiring road wins, plus won at Iowa. Hilton South may have been "de-facto home environment," but beat three tournament teams (including a 3 and 2 seed).
ISU was 14th in both major preseason polls, and that's roughly where NCAA Tournament seeding landed. Picked fifth in B12 coaches poll, finished tied for second.
Cyclones didn't outreach expectations, but other than bitter early exit, can't be accused of falling short by most measures.
