Metrics still say otherwise. We are still only one of 9 teams with a top 30 offense and defense. That's what you need for a championship.This team's ceiling is a sweet sixteen anyway
Metrics still say otherwise. We are still only one of 9 teams with a top 30 offense and defense. That's what you need for a championship.This team's ceiling is a sweet sixteen anyway
It almost seems like they are a little too unselfish at times as well. They are so focused on making the extra pass sometimes that they pass up open looks.Maybe a little but like last night, as soon as ISU got things going, there were maybe 2-3 possessions with turnovers or hurried shots.
It's apparently really tricky for this group to 'make the simple play' as TJ says.
This was Oklahoma States first Q1 win of the entire season. The rest of their wins are against the bottom of the Big 12. This is by far the worst loss we've seen since the Pitt game in 2023.
Actually when you look around college hoops you see quite a few teams this time of year tired and with the tank on "E". Purdue comes to mind. Illinois is another whose play and stock have tumbled. KU as well.Other teams don’t seem to run out of gas so it’s logical to wonder why TJ’s teams continue to struggle in February and early March. But as long as this team turns it on in mid and late March, that’s all that really matters. If you aren’t going to win a conference title, nothing else really matters until March.
I'm more optimistic than CW, but maybe it's wishful thinking. I think the careless handoffs and other passes at the top of the key can be cut down. Same with indecisive and inaccurate entry passes. Opponents know ISU wants to kickstart sets off the dribble, and are being very physical out there, but if you're patient and decisive enough, those shouldn't be automatic turnovers. easy for me to say, but I think those things are more of a mindset that players can control, before the game. Last night, I think the whole team was mentally on the plane home, thinking even with a C+ game they'd walk away with a win. But we are in crunch time, and I'm sure the staff will hammer that home, i.e., every guy in every pregame locker room should feel a sense of primal desperation, there's no more "managing the schedule" or thinking about how other teams' performances may benefit you. Kansas is a good defense, and ISU had single-digit turnovers in the game in Lawrence. And the ball was still moving okay, so they weren't just dribbling to dribble. Houston was a bit sloppy in the 1H, but they're even better than Kansas and you were really up against a wall roster wise, had a walk on playing real minutes. So, we've seen them play with their heads on straight.Do you think the turnover issues get corrected this season? Or is that who we are at this point?
Agree, maybe overconfident from playing Houston so close without Jones/Gilbert, plus OSU losing by 30 to KU. You'd think they would have learned by now that ISU is the hunted now with the high rankings. Other teams are going to be up for them.Agreed. The team came out flat last night. It just seemed like they thought they could I show up and win. Focus to detail was not there for the first half. Many sloppy turnovers.
I reviewed the play by play and ISU had 7 turnovers in their first 10 possessions. That alone just illustrates the teams lack of focus entering the game
Do people realize ISU is 16-16 in February under Otz? Other than last year his record is under 500 in February. It’s combination of talent, strategy, fatigue, and injuries. I also believe his stubbornness of an 8 man rotation can lead to some of the fatigue this time of year. They typically recover and have a good March so I’m not going to overreact.We know how grueling TJ’s regimen is for his team starting with summer workouts. It’s allowed him to take patchwork teams to 3 straight tourneys including 2 Sweet 16s, with this year’s team ranked in the top 10 all season and seemingly poised to go even further. Unprecedented in the history of ISU basketball, by a ways.
But this team seems tired and starting to crack. Injuries and illness have crept in and there seems to be a lack of joy among the players. This is starting to feel like 2000-2001 which ended badly. I think TJ should back off, give his players some days off the rest of the way, shorten practices and let his guys return to having fun.
So the difference between 1 day's rest and 4+ days rest pencils out to less than one game per NBA season.This is for NBA but relevant :
Days restWin Pct:
0 days rest 44%
1 day rest 51%
2 days rest 52%
3 days rest 51%
4+ days rest 52%
So the difference between 1 day's rest and 4+ days rest pencils out to less than one game per NBA season.
Houston is almost unwatchable on offense at times,in my opinion.The entire Big 12 is playing terrible right now except Houston and BYU. I really think a part of it is this ridiculous schedule. Hopefully they go back to 18 and have a bye week somewhere.
This is really interesting. almost goes hand in hand with @VeloClone's fantastic point that perhaps we're looking through the wrong end of the telescope, that Otz teams are slightly (or materially) overperforming the first ~2/3 of seasons, then paying a price due to the effort required. As pessimistic as I've been since Tuesday (and probably still am), they're not trying to lose games in February. And I don't believe his teams suddenly stop giving effort. But the staff is probably aware of this annual lull, which makes me wonder if they're willing to accept the trade-off. After all, you put in most of your work building a résumé November through JanuaryDo people realize ISU is 16-16 in February under Otz? Other than last year his record is under 500 in February. It’s combination of talent, strategy, fatigue, and injuries. I also believe his stubbornness of an 8 man rotation can lead to some of the fatigue this time of year. They typically recover and have a good March so I’m not going to overreact.
This exactly. You could tell right away which team showed up on Tuesday. The look in their eyes was one of pure disengagement. The early post passes were very timid and hesistant....the feeder and post were just standing in place hoping to thread a pass in there. Then we just gave up on that and started jacking threes. Look at the great ball movement in the Houston game prior. Basketball is a game where margin can vary widely just based on effort. I expect we will see full effort in the AZ game and a win.I'm more optimistic than CW, but maybe it's wishful thinking. I think the careless handoffs and other passes at the top of the key can be cut down. Same with indecisive and inaccurate entry passes. Opponents know ISU wants to kickstart sets off the dribble, and are being very physical out there, but if you're patient and decisive enough, those shouldn't be automatic turnovers. easy for me to say, but I think those things are more of a mindset that players can control, before the game. Last night, I think the whole team was mentally on the plane home, thinking even with a C+ game they'd walk away with a win. But we are in crunch time, and I'm sure the staff will hammer that home, i.e., every guy in every pregame locker room should feel a sense of primal desperation, there's no more "managing the schedule" or thinking about how other teams' performances may benefit you. Kansas is a good defense, and ISU had single-digit turnovers in the game in Lawrence. And the ball was still moving okay, so they weren't just dribbling to dribble. Houston was a bit sloppy in the 1H, but they're even better than Kansas and you were really up against a wall roster wise, had a walk on playing real minutes. So, we've seen them play with their heads on straight.
I do think the purposeless drives may just be where they are. Lipsey seems to do it out of exhaustion or desperation (and, really, the two are related), and until everyone is healthy there will be offensive lulls when he's tempted to force something. I'm hoping it was because he was playing hurt, but Gilbert got away from his floater, and was kind of just weakly jumping into post defenders hoping for a foul. He needs to look to score, indecisiveness is when he gets stripped. Jones needs to stop trying to back people down, teams are doubling him and very few college players have the handles to beat a double on their own
I mean outside Houston and Auburn, plenty of teams have taken losses. Shoot Florida got smacked by Georgia the other night. My concern is how inconsistent this team can be, and when we look bad it’s usually a total lack of effort. Losing games is fine if you competed and at least tried playing smart. The unforced turnovers are killing us and most of them are stupid like dribbling into double teams and the lane and getting swatted.