This team will always have a chance if they continue to lock in on D. They will have a few bad nights but they have already surpassed all expectations. I wouldn’t take a game away from their heart right now.
I want to see us play a really well coached and talented team before I make a judgment. Penny does not have that team playing together. I think Creighton and Iowa will be a good measuring stick for us. I don't know enough about Xavier's coach to know if he's a good coach. McDermott is a good coach, so if we out scheme that man, I will be chugging kool-aid.Right now Texas...Kansas and Baylor would be the only three I would say our guys may not get. But that was said by 98% of the people before last night. We don't lay an egg (which is what it will be because they aren't better) against Creighton or Iowa this group will be 12-0 and ranked come the Baylor game....in Hilton. And outside of an injury or two.........they will compete for one of the top 4 spots in the conference and will be a single digit seed in the dance. What happened in New York wasn't an accident. You don't take a team with that type of talent on the floor and the bench to the woodshed because "the sun has to shine on a dog's a** sometime". Right now we are looking at a 20+ win team who can compete with anyone. Enjoy!
Complete hypothetical because I realize there's a good chance of a loss against either or both of Creighton and Iowa, both of which have played well... and we're in love with this team now but they did play sloppy against Alabama State before pulling away to win by eight, so stubbing the toe against one of the cupcake opponents is possible... Jackson State is probably at least going to make them work for it...
All that throat clearing aside, however...
What's the team ranked if undefeated going into the Baylor game on New Year's Day?
Anything special that might come from that -- ESPN showing up or something?
One big difference last night was after calls, ISU basically just accepted it and regrouped for the next play. Memphis complained and bitched non stop to the refs and each other about stuff. Mentally, our team is much stronger than it’s been for a while.
We should definitely expect to beat Iowa at home. It comes down to Creighton, win that one and we’re undefeated going into conference.
This is a perfect time to play them. They are similar to Memphis in they are very young and inexperienced.Creighton did not look good last night. They are very young and we can take them.
Yeah, they're still really good. Kansas looks like they're very beatable. Maybe it's my bias, but in the one game I saw UT play, they still look Charmin soft to me.
Expect 'definitely? I say we have just as good as chance as anyone, but Iowa's offense far surpasses what Memphis was doing out there. My main concern is I think Iowa will play alot of different zones and dare us to hit from outside. So we do need to shoot decent. (I'm also with the guy above who doesn't want to see Bohannon go off and look like the worlds greatest 3 pt. shooter vs. us. )
Iowa has been lighting up some real bad competition. But then there is this...
Memphis-90 NC Central-51
Iowa-86 NC Central-69
Up until they played V. Tech, Memphis was almost doing 90 a game. It is amazing what happens when you play a good defensive team.
I think a team like Memphis can absolutely overwhelm a low major team athletically while Iowa cannot. Iowa is going to execute offensively MUCH better than Memphis. Clearly Iowa is going to be much worse defensively, but ISU got a lot of early offense off of Memphis TOs and long rebounds. Iowa will be a good offensive team. ISUs D will need to be on, and some shots have to fall.Iowa has been lighting up some real bad competition. But then there is this...
Memphis-90 NC Central-51
Iowa-86 NC Central-69
Up until they played V. Tech, Memphis was almost doing 90 a game. It is amazing what happens when you play a good defensive team.
Kinda fun to look forward to Wednesday and feel like it's a long ways away.