Jaz Kunc has a Broken Finger

[Cyinthenorth]

I would unironically take Bowen born

He's been great for UNI. I don't think he fits the mold for what TJ wants at ISU. He is small, and not sure if he defends well, but even at his size, you can technically be a good defender and have it not matter due to how small you are. See Tyler Harris for reference.

 

[cyfan92]

I agree that a lineup featuring Grill and Gabe both could be a bit brutal, especially if both were having cold nights. I was just speculating that while Tre King continues to get into form, it might be the best option in the interim. Not trying to knock on Watson, but we won't win many Big 12 games where he plays 20+ minutes. He is a net zero on offense, and in regards to shooting, he is no better than Gabe with a much smaller sample size. Hopefully with T. King he just needs 2, maybe 3 games of coming off the bench and gradually getting more minutes to then be ready to thrust in the starting lineup.

Definitely don't see Watson getting 20+ minutes. Just a lineup when you want to attack a situation or change things up for a stretch. My preferred lineup, until Jaz returns is:

Lipsey
Grill
Holmes
King (Probably a 20-25 min cap until he gets his legs back)
Big Energy and Osun going 50/50

Gabe
Watson
Ward

Grill and Holmes should be 36+ minutes a game as they are the best offense we have.

 

[Sigmapolis]

I would unironically take Bowen born

He's been great for UNI. I don't think he fits the mold for what TJ wants at ISU. He is small, and not sure if he defends well, but even at his size, you can technically be a good defender and have it not matter due to how small you are. See Tyler Harris for reference.

He’s been better than most Prohm guard recruits from the same era. I wouldn’t want him out there 30+ minutes per night because he’d be hard to hide on defense, but if his job was to play 12 minutes per night and go 3/5 from three in the process against the opposing team’s bench, then I wouldn’t object. It would have been funny getting Green and Born as a package deal from Northern Iowa.

 

[CascadeClone]

Holmes is the X factor that will make us go. We don't need him to be Brockington, but need him to win big games

In his 3 worst games this year (UCONN, ND, Iowa), Holmes has a combined 22 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 9 TO's, and 5 made free throws.

In his 3 best games this year (SJ, UNC, Nova). Holmes has a combined 48 points, 12 rebounds, 14 assists, 7 TO's and 10 made free throws.

Agree. He is a guy who can bull his way to the hoop and has the strength to finish.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Agree. He is a guy who can bull his way to the hoop and has the strength to finish.

I think we need to find ways to get him the ball when he's already going downhill. He struggles beating people off the dribble, but once he gets a shoulder in front of you, you're done.

 

[BWRhasnoAC]

Cut it off!

 

[madguy30]

I think we need to change the way we play on offense. We have a lot of size inside and at guard so time to get really physical and aggressive on the offensive glass, which we have not been so far. IMO it must be intentional. Baylor and TT have been monsters on the offensive glass because they send bodies and position themselves well. We don’t have shooters, even less with Jaz out, so we need to get buckets inside on putbacks and free throws. It’s shocking to me how poor we’ve been at offensive rebounding so far this season.

If ISU does that on offense I would expect defensive lapses.

Baylor and Tech has had the dudes to do both.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Cut it off!

Ronnie Lott approves of this method

 

[CycloneWarrior]

Who's going to open things up?

Yes. Fewer shooters is exactly what this team needs to open things up.

He’s zero threat to dribble/drive and we don’t run him off screens, which makes him essentially useless on offense. Plus, it’s not like he’s that much better than our true wing shooters.

 

[Drew0311]

Glad we got King finally. So losing Kunc is not quite as big of a loss but still stucks.

 

[ForbinsAscynt]

Maybe mentioned but for times sake. Which hand, which finger?

 

[madguy30]

He’s zero threat to dribble/drive and we don’t run him off screens, which makes him essentially useless on offense. Plus, it’s not like he’s that much better than our true wing shooters.

Who will replace him and be a threat to dribble drive?

ISU gonna replace his defense and rebounding?

 

[JimDogRock]

He’s zero threat to dribble/drive and we don’t run him off screens, which makes him essentially useless on offense. Plus, it’s not like he’s that much better than our true wing shooters.

Useless on offense?
Lowest turnovers per 100 possessions on the team, 3rd in assists, highest true shooting %, gets offensive rebounds, makes 3ptrs.
I wish we had a couple more of him.

 

[farm85]

Prekleto!

 

[cayin]

Respect your opinion, but strongly disagree. Watson can be a stud. Just needs more time.

im not seeing that at all, I think he has a long ways to go

 

[CloniesForLife]

Respect your opinion, but strongly disagree. Watson can be a stud. Just needs more time.

I like Watsons hustle and potential but he's a big drop off from Kunc at this point. Especially entering our toughest stretch of the year. There is a reason Jaz plays so much. Hopefully Tre can fill in and be really good rebounding because we already can struggle rebounding and Jaz does a lot there

 

[NENick]

We were all happy about the front line depth for 2 reasons: fouls and injury. We got the latter. Glad there's depth. This isn't an insurmountable problem.

Tre King will get the majority of Jaz minutes, but I'd like to see Ward get an uptick in minutes. I wish he were further along offensively, but he can be disruptive on defense in bursts. I'd guess TJ will backup King with Ward and Watson, based on their performance and game flow.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I think we need to change the way we play on offense. We have a lot of size inside and at guard so time to get really physical and aggressive on the offensive glass, which we have not been so far. IMO it must be intentional. Baylor and TT have been monsters on the offensive glass because they send bodies and position themselves well. We don’t have shooters, even less with Jaz out, so we need to get buckets inside on putbacks and free throws. It’s shocking to me how poor we’ve been at offensive rebounding so far this season.

Can’t have it both ways with our squad. expend that energy crashing the offensive boards means less energy to expend defending and rebounding on the other end.

 

[t-noah]

I think Gabe is what he is at this point. There will be 2 games where he is lights out awesome, but there will be way more games where you just can't even put him on the floor.

I think he would be "less bad" if he just stopped shooting 3s entirely. Just play defense and make layups. He is 20% from 3 against teams not named McNeese and IUPUI; yet leads the team in attempts. That has to stop.

Agree. If he hasn't made any of his first 2 or 3 trey attempts, then he is not hitting that night (most nights are like this with him), and he should not be shooting any more 3's. Stick with the short and midrange game and his stellar defense.

Giving him 2 or 3 trey attempts, every game, in the first half, in rhythm, is not going to kill us if he is missing. Him continuing to shoot the 3, when he's not shooting well and missing, will.

 

[simply1]

Going to hurt not having him, but nothing you can do about it. Anyone thinking we might be better with him out is nuts.