***Houston @ Iowa State POST Game Thread***

[bellzisu]

How can anyone think that Houston isn't a good team?

They have one of the best players in the country on their team and also have the guy that makes more threes per game than any other player in the country.

We dictated the tempo...something everyone has been complaining about us not doing. Yes, we looked bad rebounding for most of the game but we buckled down at the end and looked good. How many shots did we stop Coleman from making at the end of the game and in both OT's? That guy is a machine with scoring points. Gilstrap would have his hand an inch away from his face and he'd still nail the fade away 20 footer. Houston is a good team. I would not want to meet them in the Tourney if I was any team. We caught them on a good night and still beat them. I'm impressed by that.

Ok... Did we dictate tempo or did they by running down the shot clock every play and not getting into a running match, but instead breaking us down 1 on 1 with little time on the shot clock. They looked very content running the weave, which other teams in the past few years have ran against us and had success(Missouri and Nebraska come to mind).

Also... OT 2 they had their best two and highest rebounders out because of fouls. Did we look better because the guys played better or because they were out.???

 

[ISUFan22]

I agree but with one thing. If this team makes the tourny it is because of CB. It if doesnt it is because CB doesnt preform like he did last year and if that happens he will be in Ames for another season.

This could be true, which would be very disappointing for him. Lottery picks should be completely dominating at this level (see Durant, Beasley, etc). Craig isn't and I'm really not sure why. He certainly can, but...just - doesn't?

No, I've said we have things to work on, and outlined them in a post that has conveniently been ignored.

The only people I've criticized are the ones who call for the coach's head in the middle of a game. Plus, the ones who apparently don't enjoy winning.

Oh, and the ones that question my intellect.

I apologize for that. I have not seen the other post made, I simply quoted the one I saw. But there is most certainly a mood here that being critical of the team is frowned upon after a win (and to some extent, after a loss too).

As I noted in the "next 10 games thread", this team has the potential to win 8 of those, but the same time win only 4 of 'em. I'd ask based on the play thus far, which of these two scenarios does everything think is more likely?

 

[Ames]

So... what is your theory on us being out rebounded??? Poor boxing out?? No boxing out?? Opponents out hustling us?? We have been bigger compared to our opponents, and we have been more talented. With maybe a couple exceptions.

What is your thought?

We don't foul. They had some key guys foul out today and it hurt them down the stretch. A lot of those rebounds were possible because they were more willing to foul.

 

[kingcy]

This could be true, which would be very disappointing for him. Lottery picks should be completely dominating at this level (see Durant, Beasley, etc). Craig isn't and I'm really not sure why. He certainly can, but...just - doesn't?

I dont get it either. When he wants to he can take a game over, but it seems he doesnt alwasy seem to want to, almost too laid back. He should want the ball. It seems now that MG is that guy right now and the gameplan should change to reflect that.

 

[CTAClone]

Ok... Did we dictate tempo or did they by running down the shot clock every play and not getting into a running match, but instead breaking us down 1 on 1 with little time on the shot clock. They looked very content running the weave, which other teams in the past few years have ran against us and had success(Missouri and Nebraska come to mind).

Also... OT 2 they had their best two and highest rebounders out because of fouls. Did we look better because the guys played better or because they were out.???

I'd say we dictated the tempo. Their offense was suppose to create bad match ups but most of the time we defended it really well and Houston would throw up a well defended shot and make it. I can't complain about anything we did on the defensive end and our transition basketball.

I'd say we started rebounding well the final 5 minutes of regulation and both OT's. But yes, I am concerned about it. I want to see the toughness I saw at the end of the game the entire game.

 

[Ames]

Also... OT 2 they had their best two and highest rebounders out because of fouls. Did we look better because the guys played better or because they were out.???

My point exactly. They got rebounds because they were willing to foul. It would have been fine if Houston won in regulation, but didn't work in OT. Most of our guys looked better because of Houston losing players. Gilstrap was an exception, he just manned up and played lights out in that second OT; you could see it in his face he was going to win.

 

[bellzisu]

We don't foul. They had some key guys foul out today and it hurt them down the stretch. A lot of those rebounds were possible because they were more willing to foul.

So... Is that a way to say, they were more aggressive then us???

Or that we didn't need the rebounds cause it might result in fouls, so we let them have them??

Being aggressive will result in more fouls, but I'd rather have a more aggressive team then a passive, non fighting team. Trust me, I think my high school team has the most non aggressive babies in the history of high school basketball.

Maybe that is why we hold the state record for the most loses in a row.

 

[bellzisu]

My point exactly. They got rebounds because they were willing to foul. It would have been fine if Houston won in regulation, but didn't work in OT. Most of our guys looked better because of Houston losing players. Gilstrap was an exception, he just manned up and played lights out in that second OT; you could see it in his face he was going to win.

You got this in before mine... Good point.. If they won regulation it worked great, but overtime not so much. Although we can't be playing for overtimes.

 

[usedcarguy]

The Box Score I'm reading on Yahoo had Houston with 44 ribbies vs 42 for us.

They had 15 Offensive ribbies to our 11. I really would like to see that improve; it's not the first time this season.

On the board inside of Hilton, it showed at least 50 for Houston, and maybe 43 or 44 for us. Can't remember at which point of the 2nd OT that was.

 

[hoosman]

I thought overall, we played OK. We beat a pretty good opponent today and the defense was very good. I am disappointed with CB - his outside shots were horrible today. No way does he look like an all american. MG won the game. His defense was good and his offense is hard to stop. DG is very impressive - he has improved tremendously this year. I also think LS has improved this year with his all around game.

Most of our concerns are about our rebounding problems - we have already lost a couple of winnable games due to rebounding. Did anyone else notice that we only had 1 rebounder for some of our free throw attempts? 1 player vs 4 players? Why? I also agree that Hamilton plays like a girl. You would think that free throws/rebounds would be an easy fix - but we're not showing much improvement.

 

[bellzisu]

I'd say we dictated the tempo. Their offense was suppose to create bad match ups but most of the time we defended it really well and Houston would throw up a well defended shot and make it. I can't complain about anything we did on the defensive end and our transition basketball.

I'd say we started rebounding well the final 5 minutes of regulation and both OT's. But yes, I am concerned about it. I want to see the toughness I saw at the end of the game the entire game.

See I thought they dictated it most of the game. Although we did have some good solid stands from time to time that forced them to take crazy shots that went in. What scared me the most was them doing the weave so much, that they got alot of Brackins vs PG looks that resulted in either Brackins getting burned going to the bucket or a shot resulting in a rebound for them and put back.

Alot of rebounds I will admit was because of Brackins getting pulled away from the bucket, but the other bigs needed to step up.

 

[isuforlife]

ok fellas we just beat a high scoring team, a very well coached team, these guys are very athletic, we just need a leader to step up!!! Brackins,Gilstrap, Garrett ,which one can do it?

 

[singsing]

Every player on this team needs to get more touches, passign the ball around will do wonders for this team. Why since one player doesnt see the floor means he will trans, he is one injury away from seeing the floor a lot. CB started slow last year as well, we will see how the rest of the season pans out.

Craig's shooting 49% from the field and for a post player that is pathetic. He's shooting 10% better from three point range. Maybe he needs to be that post player that stretches the D for our other post players to get their shots in the paint. Ham's shooting 79% on the season with no attempts from behind the arc. I know Mac is trying to make CB a post player, but he doesn't do it very well. Poor rebounding may also be a clue he doesn't need to be in the paint. Buckley's more than just one injury away from seeing the floor a lot and with the addition of Phillips next season will drop farther in the rotation. Players come to schools to play and if it doesn't look like you'll play most transfer. That's all I'm saying. I'm not knocking anyone, I just think Mac needs to start rethinking some of his players rolls. Particularly CB.

 

[RayShimley]

Stopped reading after four pages of posts, so forgive me if someone mentioned this..but did you guys listen to McD's post game interview? I thought it was interesting that Houston basically changed their entire playing style for this game from fast break run and gun to holding the ball for 25 seconds on each possession and really slowing the game down. McD said the team prepared for an entirely different gamestyle all week and had to make some major adjustments at half. I know Houston was coming off of some bad losses, but this is still the team that dropped 100 on Oklahoma (and won) and has one of the best scoring guards in the NCAA right now.

I was at the game and I thought the crowd's energy was decent considering we trailed almost the entire game and it was during break. The place got pretty damn loud at the end of regulation when we were up by 2, I still don't know how we managed to give up TWO offensive rebounds and a layup during that possession...

That said, I think this team can play with anyone (that means playing up or playing down btw..), and I'm really hoping for a good game on Wednesday.

 

[twojman]

Gilstrap is ISU's MVP so far this season. Throw #'s for CB at me, I do not care.

ISU just beat a C-USA team at home in double OT that is now 7-6, this is not a huge win or big win. If anything ISU was exposed big time in this game. Houston was 332 in the country in rebounding and OUTREBOUNDED ISU. This has been consistant under this regime.

 

[cyclonenate]

phew!

 

[singsing]

I dont get it either. When he wants to he can take a game over, but it seems he doesnt alwasy seem to want to, almost too laid back. He should want the ball. It seems now that MG is that guy right now and the gameplan should change to reflect that.

Finally a post I agree with. Everyone says this team is hurting without JVB to stretch the D, but we have Craig who's shooting 60% from the 3 and Macs not using him in that role. He obviously doesn't want to be in the paint because he doesn't do the stuff like box out that you need your post players to be doing. It's time to quit trying to put a square peg in a round hole.

 

[tee1up]

I love GMac, and have been ****** off at all the negativity directed at him. But he did say some things after the game that bothered me.

We always seem to react to what the other team does. He said they went small, with 4 guards, so that made it difficult for us to rebound because MG and CB were pulled away from the basket. That should be something we exploit..MG and CB should have dominated inside, forcing Penders to say "we couldn't go with 4 guards because of their big guys".

I guess I wish we just played our game, and make them adjust to what we do. What do you guys think?

 

[scyclonekid]

Nice win and over coming adversity. Ummm who the hell wants to rebound on this team? anybody? We do this again in three days we will get blown out BIG TIME. Practice all you want, but the players have to be disciplined to do it when the whistle blows. I really think this team is missing the boat on alot of things so far this season, rebounding is a big part of the game it opens up so many other things on the court. We fans know the coaches know it, but for some reason the players are just not grasping on to it and I am VERY WORRIED.

 

[singsing]

I love GMac, and have been ****** off at all the negativity directed at him. But he did say some things after the game that bothered me.

We always seem to react to what the other team does. He said they went small, with 4 guards, so that made it difficult for us to rebound because MG and CB were pulled away from the basket. That should be something we exploit..MG and CB should have dominated inside, forcing Penders to say "we couldn't go with 4 guards because of their big guys".

I guess I wish we just played our game, and make them adjust to what we do. What do you guys think?

+1