ISU: Sleeper Final Four Team (Athletic Article)

[RonBurgundy]

Both Brian Hamilton and Dana O'Neill of the Athletic peg ISU as a sleeper Final Four team, especially if we get DSM/KC/MSP road. Shout out to our drinking ability as well.

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https://theathletic.com/806764/2019...he-curse-of-brian-hamilton/?source=dailyemail

 

[Cardinal2001]

They are setting us up. I just know it!

*drinks more Kool-Aid

 

[cycjob]

It would be a dream scenario for the Clones to play in DSM/KC/MSP Might have to add an extra lane to I-35

 

[EnkAMania]

Dare to dream, I have tickets to the final 4

 

[FinalFourCy]

It would be a dream scenario for the Clones to play in DSM/KC/MSP Might have to add an extra lane to I-35

A once in a generation type dream setup for a non-Blue blood

 

[MTCyclone43]

This team is very talented; however, they still do not know how to play as a team. Very lackluster performance at home against TCU with a chance to make a statement in the Big 12- they get to the precipice and then meh. I see them possibly getting clipped in the Round of 64. This team needs a dynamic PG.

 

[bosco]

**** changes fast.

 

[awd4cy]

Too many flaws and inconsistencies with this team to make the final four. Still will finish as a good year though. 11-7 in conference and sweet 16 hopefully.

 

[Cyclonepride]

**** changes fast.

Same team we were this morning. You can be a final four sleeper and still lose a game.

 

[bosco]

Same team we were this morning. You can be a final four sleeper and still lose a game.

Agree with your second part. That was not the same team we saw the last few games.

 

[CloneFan4]

Well that aged well

 

[allfourcy]

Don’t think we’ve played well since the OleMiss win, even tho we’re 2-1 since then.

 

[CoKane]

Poor timing on that one

 

[acgclone]

I had a bad feeling about TCU after I saw all the hype last week. ISU just doesn't handle that type of stuff well.

 

[Remo Gaggi]

Final four? Ummm, not happening, not this year.

 

[BillBrasky4Cy]

Iowa State getting put into the Midwest region is a pipe dream and even beating TCU wouldn't have probably changed that. The committee made it pretty clear on Saturday that they are going to protect the 1 and 2 seeds so unless Iowa State moves up to the 2 line KC won't happen. Same goes for Kansas.

 

[IP Guy]

This team needs a dynamic PG.

PG is the least of our concerns this year. NWB was really the only player that looked the part against TCU. He was the only one that could guard Robinson and Davis.

The problem was he couldn't guard both, such that the other would easily drive by whomever was defending him.

We will continue to be susceptible to teams with two shorter, quicker guards until our taller, long-armed guards focus on moving their feet quickly rather than reaching. That may be tougher to correct than you'd think.

The other piece against TCU was the off-ball defenders not understanding how to both: (a) play ball you man (e.g., know when to help, but not let their offensive player back cut for an uncontested layup); and (b) close out to three point shooters under control (too many wild close outs (either flying by or jumping on pump fakes) that led to a simple ball rotation and open look or a easy drive to the hoop). However, I think that was just lack of focus / attention to detail, and I suspect that will be cleaned up.

To me, the former is the bigger long term defensive concern as opposed to the latter.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

It's effort. Gotta train the foot movement into their subconscious and get them to buy in on good defense effort. Sometimes they look amazing on defense, but it's starting to get spotty, and when you're shooting as bad as we are without getting rebounds then we all know what happens.