Comparison to last years team

[cyclone19702]

When do we honestly consider this years team better than last years team? I am just looking for opinions on this.
Do we have to make it past the sweet 16 or finish higher in the big 12 which we are likely to do?

I think finishing top 3 in the big 12 and making it into the second weekend in the tournament will seal it.

 

[CyinCo]

We beat top 3 programs several times last year. Not saying this team isn't better. But our resume last year was incredible.

 

[Cyclonepride]

This year's team has made it into the conversation with last year's team anyway, and this last three game stretch will decide whether it's even or actually better. Both were their best going down the stretch (thanks, Coach Prohm). I tend to discount the tournament though, as it's all match ups and avoiding the hot team or down game. Anything can happen, good or bad, once you get there.

 

[acgclone]

Head to head, I would take last year's team simply because in the last minute, Monte + Niang >>> Monte + Burton.

Plus McKay would eat our posts alive.

With that said, Monte is probably better this year, and Naz is playing some of the best ball of his career.

The way we're playing now, I think this current team would advance to the Sweet 16 if they had the same path as last year.

 

[allfourcy]

When do we honestly consider this years team better than last years team? I am just looking for opinions on this.
Do we have to make it past the sweet 16 or finish higher in the big 12 which we are likely to do?

I think finishing top 3 in the big 12 and making it into the second weekend in the tournament will seal it.

I don't think its fair to compare them at all. Obviously we were much stronger in the paint, hands down. We had a go-to-guy, a guy that won the Malone Award and we ran everything through him. Just think while we were limited off the bench, we still had a little more margin for error than this team does.

And to judge by how far we go in the tournament, is too iffy. Our two opponents in Denver may not be as good as who we'll face this year, who knows?

This year's team is better with regards to depth however. Foul trouble (like last night) was almost doomsday last year.

 

[ZB4CY]

Here is this from a statistical standpoint... on the left is up until 02/19 of this year and the right is last years team. Just how we rank in what category.

 

[SCyclone]

For comparison's sake, it's evident that CSP has put his stamp on this year's team. CFH's philosophy was basically "we're going to outscore you". (And this is NOT a criticism of Fred, just an observation, so please don't get all wadded up right away.) CSP's thought is "we're going to make you work for what you get" and "we're going to put pressure on you on our end".

It has certainly been a work in progress, but we are now starting to see the fruits of that progress. Last night they won without playing their "A" game (although you could argue the first 10 minutes was pretty efficient), and that bodes well for them.

 

[chuckd4735]

The improvement this team has show through conference play is greater than last years team. I felt like the team that played game 1 in conference last year was the same team that played in game 18. No way we will say the same thing this year.

However, last years team would beat this years team.

 

[jkclone]

This team has a higher ceiling and lower floor. If we are on this year we are almost unstoppable. Last year I thought there was a clear ceiling to how well we could play.

 

[CycloneWanderer]

Holy balls our defense has improved.

 

[knowlesjam]

Two very different teams despite multiple players spanning both teams. This year's team has more grit and desire...they don't like to lose and they will rely their defense to keep them in games. Think what last year's team would have been with a healthy Naz...or this year's team with Lard and/or Malou. A match up between the two teams would be a fun one to watch...

 

[ZB4CY]

Another thing that surprised me was how many categories we are 1st in when it comes to the conference rank. Granted, not all of them are good to be 1st in..BUT!

 

[cyclone19702]

Head to head, I would take last year's team simply because in the last minute, Monte + Niang >>> Monte + Burton.

Plus McKay would eat our posts alive.

With that said, Monte is probably better this year, and Naz is playing some of the best ball of his career.

The way we're playing now, I think this current team would advance to the Sweet 16 if they had the same path as last year.

I agree with this for the most part, but I think a lot of people have a misconception of Mckay from last year. A good majority of the year last year he was not great. I think Solomon right now is playing better post defense then Mckay ever did last year. His free throws often killed us as well.

 

[fsanford]

I think last year the inmates kind of ran the asylum and I do believe it was by design. I think this year the guy running the asylum has taken back more control especially the last couple of months.

And it also goes to show how handicapped this team was without any kind of offensive post threat, or post defense. That said Young was brought along the right way, built his confidence, did not throw him to the wolves early on. He sure seems to be a steal of a recruit.

 

[madguy30]

The entire season last year if ISU needed a bucket, everyone in the place knew who it was going to, and it generally worked out.

This team is still finding out who to go to when, but it's coming together and it's maybe more dangerous if more people are sharing the duties of making the needed play.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

I like them both

 

[ISUCY23]

The improvement this team has show through conference play is greater than last years team. I felt like the team that played game 1 in conference last year was the same team that played in game 18. No way we will say the same thing this year.

However, last years team would beat this years team.

Yeah, mainly because who guards Georges? Burton? That's not a good match up.

 

[allfourcy]

The entire season last year if ISU needed a bucket, everyone in the place knew who it was going to, and it generally worked out.

This team is still finding out who to go to when, but it's coming together and it's maybe more dangerous if more people are sharing the duties of making the needed play.

Partly agree, but we're still going to one main guy down the stretch, which is Monte. Rightly so. But he had to take some contested end-of-shot clock shots last night because Tech knew it too. Smothered him to the point that Monte had to force something up or give it to Nick to take our shot. Tech also did a great job of double teaming him last night right before we got the center line violation. Hope we can get more options on plays down the stretch when clinging to a small lead, but its hard not to want Monte to be the one that gets the looks and either makes the play or not. Still smile when I think about him taking it to the rim, and dishing it out to Donovan for the three at KU.

 

[allfourcy]

Holy balls our defense has improved.

Agree for the most part. Just think how good it would be if we had the personnel to rebound better and more consistently? Wow.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

This team has a higher ceiling and lower floor. If we are on this year we are almost unstoppable. Last year I thought there was a clear ceiling to how well we could play.

Imo last year's team had a higher ceiling and higher floor due to having 4-5 playmakers. although it's nice to have a couple guards off the bench this year and it took awhile for McKay to realize his role. It's unfortunate it was Year 1 of Prohm. I'd like to see what Prohm could do with a team like 2013-14.