*** Official Colorado vs #8 IOWA STATE Game(Day) Thread ***

[Chitowncy]

The game tonight that shot Tech up a bit, even though they lost, was BYU thrashing Kansas. Tech won at BYU earlier in the year, we haven't played BYU yet. That pair of home games against BYU and AZ will be huge metric boosts if we can win them both.

Heck, the thing about these computer metrics is that close loses against really good teams will give you a boost as well. Thus, even if we lose at Houston (in a close one, mind you), we will jump up in the metrics. For example, our current KenPom ranking is 26.84 points better than the average team, but Houston is at 35.20 better than the average team!! And, we're playing at their place. So, if we lose by even a couple we will receive a boost.

Man, I hope the team we all know shows up and we take it to Houston and beat 'em in their gym. Will be fun to watch.

 

[madguy30]

He's getting the absolute **** beat out of him on those much more so now than earlier in the season. There was more than one occasion last night where he was drilled hard multiple times before a foul was called.

I don't think it's nearly as bad as is being implied. If the defense isn't put out of position the call likely won't be made unless it's an obvious slap to the arm or wrist.

 

[fsanford]

I'll probably get ripped for saying this, but Keshon needs to step it up if ISU is going to go on a run in the tournament. Over the last seven games he has more turnovers (32) than he has either assists (27) or field goals (28). I love his passion and how hard he plays, but he needs to take better care of the ball if he's going to be our primary point guard.

He stopped shooting and that is a problem.
He is trying to be too unselfish. Making passed he doesn't need to make

 

[1SEIACLONE]

If you look at Colorado's record they started out 9-2, but lost to MSU by 16 and us by 18 in Hawaii, and only beat UCONN by one in Hawaii and really played no one else worth a damn until they got into conference play. Its been all down hill since then. I get that they lost 3 players to the NBA, but their replacements have not done enough to get it back on track.

 

[bosco]

Heck, the thing about these computer metrics is that close loses against really good teams will give you a boost as well. Thus, even if we lose at Houston (in a close one, mind you), we will jump up in the metrics. For example, our current KenPom ranking is 26.84 points better than the average team, but Houston is at 35.20 better than the average team!! And, we're playing at their place. So, if we lose by even a couple we will receive a boost.

Man, I hope the team we all know shows up and we take it to Houston and beat 'em in their gym. Will be fun to watch.

The problem is how many times has the team we know shown up? It's the usual they're pretty good but still have lapses in execution.

It's all unrealized potential right now and this late in the season it's concerning that we'll be one of those teams with all the potential in the world but it never comes into fruition.

The tune up games are over. It's nut cutting time.

 

[madguy30]

Confidence is a funny thing in college sports. Have it, and you can play a few levels above where you should. Lose it and you can play a few levels lower.

See NC State last year as a prime example.

I don't even think they were an NIT lock (lost last 4 games of the regular season, 17-14/9-11 conference in a bad ACC) entering the ACC tourney.

It took some luck but they also just started flying around and wah-lah, 9 game win streak and a Final Four banner.

 

[madguy30]

The problem is how many times has the team we know shown up? It's the usual they're pretty good but still have lapses in execution.

It's all unrealized potential right now and this late in the season it's concerning that we'll be one of those teams with all the potential in the world but it never comes into fruition.

The tune up games are over. It's nut cutting time.

It's a different deal since the 14-15 team just kind of seemed dysfunctional but there's a similar theme of 'we just need to fix this' when it keeps happening.

That group's issue was starting to play well, then going out and flailing around and not being able to get out of a slog and saying 'this was a wake up call'; this group's is impatience and turnovers and not consistently being able to slow down a bit and find the look.

 

[Frak]

It is pretty obvious to me that Keshon does not have the explosiveness he had earlier in the year. His legs may be fatigued or he may be dinged up. I hope he can get his explosiveness back because he is a game changer. He is a competitor and can be a difference maker at the end of games.

Yeah, kind of to be expected when you spend 20+ games flying into the lane to pick up fouls. My biggest concern isn’t really offense, it’s defense where he’s not staying in front of guys like he used to. But, Gilbert kind of strikes me as a guy who can turn it on when he needs to and he didn’t need to vs CU. Lispsey has one gear and it’s full go. I don’t really think that Gilbert is built like that. He’s kind of similar to Tinsley in that regard…half the time it looked like he didn’t even care, but when it was time to be dialed in he would be.

 

[Cyclonepride]

The problem is how many times has the team we know shown up? It's the usual they're pretty good but still have lapses in execution.

It's all unrealized potential right now and this late in the season it's concerning that we'll be one of those teams with all the potential in the world but it never comes into fruition.

The tune up games are over. It's nut cutting time.

They're on a four game winning streak coming off a pretty devastating stretch that took a lot of internal fortitude to overcome. Many Cyclone teams I've watched would have gone into a bit of a tailspin after that.

Almost every Cyclone team I've ever watched has struggled from time to time in beating teams that they should beat in the dog days of the season. This team is doing that, and in pretty comfortable fashion. Now that they've righted the ship, I expect the focus to be dialed in for the final five game stretch (with the possible except of @OSU)

 

[Cyclonepride]

Yeah, kind of to be expected when you spend 20+ games flying into the lane to pick up fouls. My biggest concern isn’t really offense, it’s defense where he’s not staying in front of guys like he used to. But, Gilbert kind of strikes me as a guy who can turn it on when he needs to and he didn’t need to vs CU. Lispsey has one gear and it’s full go. I don’t really think that Gilbert is built like that. He’s kind of similar to Tinsley in that regard…half the time it looked like he didn’t even care, but when it was time to be dialed in he would be.

Yeah, it wouldn't surprise me to see Gilbert drop a few 20 point games in the postseason when it really matters.

 

[MJ271]

The problem is how many times has the team we know shown up? It's the usual they're pretty good but still have lapses in execution.

It's all unrealized potential right now and this late in the season it's concerning that we'll be one of those teams with all the potential in the world but it never comes into fruition.

The tune up games are over. It's nut cutting time.

I don't disagree with your sentiment, but I think it's worth keeping in mind how good this team is. Barttorvik has a game score metric which is essentially a single-game corollary to the overall Barthag that ranks teams. Since Milan is back, Iowa State's game scores have been 100, 97, 93, and 97. Ranking those among all teams in terms of Barthag would be #1, #4, #15, and #4. Iowa State does not need to play a perfect game anymore in order to beat top teams.

Obviously it would be preferable if they do clean up the turnovers and get everything clicking leading into the tournament. But it's nice to know (for me, at least) that they can have a chance to win against anyone, even while not playing perfectly.

 

[Texbudman]

If you look at Colorado's record they started out 9-2, but lost to MSU by 16 and us by 18 in Hawaii, and only beat UCONN by one in Hawaii and really played no one else worth a damn until they got into conference play. Its been all down hill since then. I get that they lost 3 players to the NBA, but their replacements have not done enough to get it back on track.

We beat them by 28 in Hawaii but point taken. The don’t seem like a very well coached team at times

 

[burn587]

Give me auburn again. They ain’t beating us twice.

 

[bawbie]

They're on a four game winning streak coming off a pretty devastating stretch that took a lot of internal fortitude to overcome. Many Cyclone teams I've watched would have gone into a bit of a tailspin after that.

Almost every Cyclone team I've ever watched has struggled from time to time in beating teams that they should beat in the dog days of the season. This team is doing that, and in pretty comfortable fashion. Now that they've righted the ship, I expect the focus to be dialed in for the final five game stretch (with the possible except of @OSU)

Not sure if it was mentioned here - but I saw on the ESPN scroll last night that this is the first time in school history we've won 4 straight conference games by double-digits. That's pretty amazing.

 

[Drew0311]

Heck, the thing about these computer metrics is that close loses against really good teams will give you a boost as well. Thus, even if we lose at Houston (in a close one, mind you), we will jump up in the metrics. For example, our current KenPom ranking is 26.84 points better than the average team, but Houston is at 35.20 better than the average team!! And, we're playing at their place. So, if we lose by even a couple we will receive a boost.

Man, I hope the team we all know shows up and we take it to Houston and beat 'em in their gym. Will be fun to watch.

I can't stand the way they judge wins and losses. It's totally bad for the sport. They don't allow the backups to come in and play getting experience. You basically have to risk losing your best players to injury on blow outs. Wish they could take that away from the process.

 

[iseedit]

I think you also just described the funk Gilbert is in right now.

The curse of SlamU?

 

[hoosman]

Gilbert seems determined to get his turnovers. Now that driving into double teams has been eliminated, he is traveling, passing to no one, palming the ball. Morphing his weakness into unforced turnovers and lazy defense. Uncoachable .

 

[drlove]

If you look at Colorado's record they started out 9-2, but lost to MSU by 16 and us by 18 in Hawaii, and only beat UCONN by one in Hawaii and really played no one else worth a damn until they got into conference play. Its been all down hill since then. I get that they lost 3 players to the NBA, but their replacements have not done enough to get it back on track.

yes they lost 3 to the NBA. 6 of their top 7 players from last year could have come back. Wasn't likely, but replacing guys that went to NBA, NBA, NBA, Louisville, GT, and Syracuse with guys from NAIA, D2, WashingtonState wasn't a good trade. Ouch

 

[madguy30]

I can't stand the way they judge wins and losses. It's totally bad for the sport. They don't allow the backups to come in and play getting experience. You basically have to risk losing your best players to injury on blow outs. Wish they could take that away from the process.

This always comes up and I get it in a way but isn't an injury at risk at any time?

 

[Drew0311]

This always comes up and I get it in a way but isn't an injury at risk at any time?

Yeah. However, if their are two minutes left and we are up 30 and Curtis Jones or Milan turn an ankle. The first thing out of my mouth and your mouth is "Why are they even in the game at this point". So we lose a player because we need to beat someone by 28 or it's a bad loss. That is stupid. Not only that but the guys that work hard all week don't get to sniff the game because we need to win by 30 points instead of 20 points.