It will be a miracle if this team is 100% healthy in March. It is a relentless pounding that these guys experience throughout the season with our style of play. Last year we were almost guaranteed a f4, then injuries to Milan, Tamin, and Gilbert left us with a 1 and done team. Both teams 100% healthy are e8- f4 teams. I think we had the 6th man of the year last year in Cujo . Shooting might be a little better this year.
Higher Ceiling - 2024-2025 or 2025-2026?
- Thread starter ForeverIowan
- Start date
I will get wrecked for this but I'm one with a huge man crush on TJ's program, so it's not an indictment on that...
Anyway, a year ago the narrative was very strong that ISU was a FF contender, everyone's getting along and playing free, ball movement is great, etc., and then the whole season happened. Things changed in several ways which can happen for anyone.
I also thought that the tourney showed a bunch of teams more athletic than ISU really crank it up a notch in March/April and I'm not sure if even a healthy ISU would have hung around.
This team seems to have potential to be more 'multiple' and has more speed and length out front and off the block. Love how things have come along so far and I'm curious to see how it goes after they have a tough game/stretch or teams guard ISU in a way that 'gets the book out' in conference play.
That's when you can find out a lot about a group.
Imo that Purdue game will be great for the team one way or another.
Anyway, a year ago the narrative was very strong that ISU was a FF contender, everyone's getting along and playing free, ball movement is great, etc., and then the whole season happened. Things changed in several ways which can happen for anyone.
I also thought that the tourney showed a bunch of teams more athletic than ISU really crank it up a notch in March/April and I'm not sure if even a healthy ISU would have hung around.
This team seems to have potential to be more 'multiple' and has more speed and length out front and off the block. Love how things have come along so far and I'm curious to see how it goes after they have a tough game/stretch or teams guard ISU in a way that 'gets the book out' in conference play.
That's when you can find out a lot about a group.
Imo that Purdue game will be great for the team one way or another.
I think this year is higher. Milan and Jefferson both have taken noticeable strides IMO. You can see Pleta getting better with each minute he plays. Toure looks like one of the best freshman we've ever had, and Batemon seems to always make positive contributions but our guard court is so deep he's kinda buried at the moment. Buchanan is just the type of guy we need starting at the 5. This season is so exciting both for current and future success of the team. We are already a solid defensive team and that side of the ball is going to continue to improve. If we can just get some damn luck with Tamins health we can win the conference this year.
If I'm comparing "roughly this point in the season" for each team, I can't say for sure.
A year ago, we were a couple of months away from the start of injury/illness stretch. After MTE concluded in '24, I thought sky might be the limit.
If we cross fingers and this team stays (relatively) unscathed in that regard, AND we can get a consistently healthy Tamin back into the fold, I'd put the ceiling slightly higher because of a little more dynamic with depth and higher end for Lipsey, Jefferson, Heise and Milan as the core. Obviously Toure's potential bumps it a notch or two.
A year ago, we were a couple of months away from the start of injury/illness stretch. After MTE concluded in '24, I thought sky might be the limit.
If we cross fingers and this team stays (relatively) unscathed in that regard, AND we can get a consistently healthy Tamin back into the fold, I'd put the ceiling slightly higher because of a little more dynamic with depth and higher end for Lipsey, Jefferson, Heise and Milan as the core. Obviously Toure's potential bumps it a notch or two.
Sometimes the sum is better than the parts. I think schools like Kansas found out quickly it is not optimal roster building to go out and buy 8-9 guys who all expect to average 15+ ppg.
This team is led by Lipsey, Jefferson, and Momcilovic. The team will go as far as those three take them. Toure is an absolute wildcard on a crazy upward trajectory. The rest of the rotation for the most part are accepting high level role players. Which is great and exactly what we need.
This team is led by Lipsey, Jefferson, and Momcilovic. The team will go as far as those three take them. Toure is an absolute wildcard on a crazy upward trajectory. The rest of the rotation for the most part are accepting high level role players. Which is great and exactly what we need.
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Pleta is the good version of JT Rock (?) that we hoped he would grow into.
Hardly an expert...hardly.
What I've seen these past two games? An entire dismantling of our foes.
Can't say I saw that, last year.
As well, Jefferson is an entirely different/better player this season.
This "head to the rim," play after play, unexpected.
Keshon offered some insane drives to the hoop, yet...
Toss MM into this equation.
Better/more expanded player this year.
Heise will kick in offensively.
Buchanan. Vastly exceeding my expectations.
Bateman (sp)...close
Toure...waaaay beyond my expectations.
Rough shot, like Tyreese
It is hard to say about last year. We had several games where we had to practice and prepare withoout knowing who was going to be able to practice or be in the lineup. If that team would have stayed healthy, they would have had a chance to really gel. But losing Milan for a few weeks, Gibert's nagging injury from January on, Jones missing two conference games, Jeffersons sore knee. Lipseys hand injury and then the pulled groin, they never got the chance to build consistency. Tough deal. I think that team though had the higher ceiling.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
I think Nelson really fits this team. When Iowa State goes on our inevitable scoring droughts he's a great spark to come in and just get a basket.
Close high scoring games he's not going to play a ton (ie. St Johns) as he's not our best defender. But when we are down a lot or just need to run up the score I think he's a perfect fit. I just hope he is ok with that role.
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Or keep them from getting "tired" in February.
Or Fizer or Tinsley or Niang or Hoiberg or Kenny Pratt.
Think of the possibilities!
Recency bias makes this hard.
I think the natural offensive talent on last year’s team was higher, but offensive talent doesn't matter as much if guys can’t withstand the physical defensive grind required from a TJ team.
A team of 9-10 truly playable guys (read: non-Hok derpth) gives this year’s squad the ability to be more consistently defensively engaged and, thus, a higher ceiling.
I think the natural offensive talent on last year’s team was higher, but offensive talent doesn't matter as much if guys can’t withstand the physical defensive grind required from a TJ team.
A team of 9-10 truly playable guys (read: non-Hok derpth) gives this year’s squad the ability to be more consistently defensively engaged and, thus, a higher ceiling.
This year’s team has a higher ceiling. They have a lot more depth. Last year if there was a player out they were down to a six man rotation. Also, with three freshmen in the rotation, I expect them to keep improving between now and March. We’ve already seen improvement from them in seven games.
A healthy Cujo, Gilbert, Milan, Lipsey, and Jefferson were final four material. The ceiling on offense was higher last year if comparing both teams on all cylinders. Water under the bridge, this team has the pieces to get past the S16 in March.
I'll be a happy warrior this year if we get the kind of post-game attitude that Patino displayed.
