One thing is very obvious...

[CySmurf]

...after watching these elite teams...
ISU has to get WAY better defensively than what we have been.We can compete scoring points with anyone...but these teams that get back to this point year after year...Wisconsin, Michigan State, Louisville...Kentucky...they play really hard and tough defense.

 

[MartyFine]

We should foul more like those teams. Game is called like 94 NBA at this point, so foul away.

 

[Beyerball]

Yep. We don't have the physicality inside and the defense to get to the FF IMO. It's funny but the other thread on D Burton and what his game is like brings me to this point. While Burton may not be a prolific scorer(hard to tell) what he is is a physical specimen who hopefully defends and hits the boards with his size. We really need Diallo. If we can't land him I'm hoping CFH can grab a 5th yr big who defends well and rebounds like a machine.

 

[Luth4Cy]

Need to be able to grind more on offense too. Notre Dame has a spread offense that focuses on the high pick and roll, similar to Iowa State's, but they showed a much better ability to grind it out in a slow tempo ball game. Physicality and toughness will be huge for Iowa State to reach the next level.

 

[Malone]

Cheick plus 10 pounds would be a very good start!

 

[mb7299]

Totally agree defense needs to improve a great deal. I do hope that the NCAA does clean up the game once again because a couple of teams left just refuse to move their feet and hack away no one wants to watch teams like msu-lou play again, scores in the 50's is not attractive to anyone.

 

[cyclones12321]

...after watching these elite teams...
ISU has to get WAY better defensively than what we have been.We can compete scoring points with anyone...but these teams that get back to this point year after year...Wisconsin, Michigan State, Louisville...Kentucky...they play really hard and tough defense.

Only reason Louisville is still in it is strictly their easy bracket. They suck offensively

 

[Wally86]

Only reason Louisville is still in it is strictly their easy bracket. They suck offensively

I would think this year taught us an easy bracket is no guarantee.

 

[Clonefan94]

Fred needs to come out next year and just claim that he has built a "physical" team for next year. Seems that's all you need to do to only get a real foul called once every 4 times down the floor. If you are known as a finesse, offensive team, they'll call you on everything.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

We are under-muscled in the post and backcourt. We lack guard help for Morris. Really need to get a bigger post and scoring guard to contend IMO.

 

[cyclones12321]

We are under-muscled in the post and backcourt. We lack guard help for Morris. Really need to get a bigger post and scoring guard to contend IMO.

Diallo would fill half this problem

 

[atlantacyclone]

It seems to me that in most of our losses the D wasn't the problem. The O went cold....

 

[SpokaneCY]

It seems to me that in most of our losses the D wasn't the problem. The O went cold....

Isn't that when you NEED defense to keep things tight? You can win games by scoring lots of points or win games by limiting the other team to points. Would be cool if we could do both.

 

[Skidoosh]

Isn't that when you NEED defense to keep things tight? You can win games by scoring lots of points or win games by limiting the other team to points. Would be cool if we could do both.

This. Offense wins games, defense wins championships.

 

[temperflare]

...after watching these elite teams...
ISU has to get WAY better defensively than what we have been.We can compete scoring points with anyone...but these teams that get back to this point year after year...Wisconsin, Michigan State, Louisville...Kentucky...they play really hard and tough defense.

They also have size and the athleticism to go with it. And not just one guy like that.

 

[temperflare]

We are under-muscled in the post and backcourt. We lack guard help for Morris. Really need to get a bigger post and scoring guard to contend IMO.

Bingo

 

[dinger]

This. Offense wins games, defense wins championships.

That's deep

 

[Rural]

I pretty sure the average NBA game isn't as physical as the NC State-Louisville game was.

You are really playing a totally different game than regular season.

 

[SCarolinaCy]

One thing is very obvious --it will be a very long time before 7 teams from the Big XII and 4 with 2/3 seeds will be in the NCAA's again.

 

[Jsievers24]

We should fire our defensive coordinator!