Reality check?

[UnCytely]

At the very beginning of this season, I think all of us would have been extremely satisfied and perhaps even elated if a time-traveler told us, with no other information, that this team would go to the NIT. Now all of a sudden that would be a disappointment?

 

[NorthCyd]

At the very beginning of this season, I think all of us would have been extremely satisfied and perhaps even elated if a time-traveler told us, with no other information, that this team would go to the NIT. Now all of a sudden that would be a disappointment?

It's OK to say that after the start to this season failing to make the tournament would be disappointing while also acknowledging that the coaching staff and players overall did a great job exceeding all of our pre-season expectations. Unfortunately there's a group that has an axe to grind with TJ (really Pollard) that will treat failing to make the tournament like an epic failure.

 

[DrShip]

Need to show what we did against Baylor and get the ball inside. We are not a shooting team, and barring a odd hot night by someone, that isn't going to change. Playing that way should help us get to the line a bit more, too.

I think the team looks tired; it's been a brutal stretch for them and that showed against TCU. I think some of that is playing Tech...their style just gasses the opponent, and our next game against OU we looked dead for 10 minutes. Still a fun team to watch and I love watching them!

 

[ISU_Guy]

Need to show what we did against Baylor and get the ball inside. We are not a shooting team, and barring a odd hot night by someone, that isn't going to change. Playing that way should help us get to the line a bit more, too.

I think the team looks tired; it's been a brutal stretch for them and that showed against TCU. I think some of that is playing Tech...their style just gasses the opponent, and our next game against OU we looked dead for 10 minutes. Still a fun team to watch and I love watching them!

I know people are tired of hearing about the team looking tired, but this does make sense to me.

one of the common things for missing shots is tired legs.
I am seeing us not coming off screens hard, lazy passes and shots not falling. that translates to being lazy/bad or tired. I don't think we are bad.

Its like we are all in on Defense and have nothing left for anything else. Combine that with a limited bench and an absolutely brutal schedule.
after the start we had, I expected us to be 4-3 right now in conference (and we should be) so we have a lot to work to get back. The mental roadblock for me is I had us sweeping OSU, TCU and KSU. Now I would be happy with just a split and we just got spanked at home by TCU.

TJ has some serious coaching to do the next couple weeks or this team could spiral.
2-5 could easily turn into 2-9. if you are 2-9

 

[CascadeClone]

"Go back to the beginning of this season. What were your expectations for this team? Hoping for a half dozen wins and looking improved?"

My expectations really were they would be a not very good P6 bball team. But they would be "normally" not good, not completely uncoached, rudderless, and clueless - like we had seen the last few years.

They would win the buy games (no more losing to FAMU FFS). They would struggle against other average teams. But they would beat other bad to average teams in Hilton. Maybe get a big upset.

I thought they would be right around .500: 15-16. And 6-12 in conference.


They are much better than I expected. They play hard af. They are very good defensively. They have an identity. But the problems are there and not hard to see. Its disappointing of course when they lose, especially at home to a middle team like TCU. That stings, losing at home to anyone who isn't Top10. But overall I am just happy they aren't the clueless hopeless helpless dumpster fire they were.

The only thing I am really concerned about longer term is in-game coaching.
Example: ISU cut the lead to 3 and had all the momentum. Dixon calls timeout, they set something up, and they came out and scored easy 3 possessions in a row. Ballgame. That's happened in a couple other games too I think, even games ISU has won.
The Big12 has some really really great coaches, and that isn't going to change. Maybe TJ needs an in-game tactical genius on the bench for a few years to help him (or another asst) learn to be that guy.

 

[Halincandenza]

Offense was always going to be an issue but you can't afford to drop games at home to TCU if you want to go to the tournament. Now they have to get one back somehow. Hopefully, they can get this OSU game.

 

[intrepid27]

When we were in the non-conference schedule I was always pleased that the team played hard AND looked like they were having fun. But even they I had concerns about keeping up that intensity level into conference play

Now they are still playing hard but they do look a bit beat down both mentally and physically. I know the Big XII is a meat grinder and I hope they can figure out some things on offense. That said, they re still an easy team to cheer for.

 

[JM4CY]

Okie isn’t by a must win, but boy it kind of feels like it is.

 

[Clonefan32]

You've pretty correctly identified where I am at. At the end of the day, the fact that we've been competitive with a cobbled together roster of guys who had marginal success at prior schools and a freshmen point guard is pretty remarkable. We play in a tough conference with proven coaches who are playing with proven teams. It's a hard league. So no matter how this season plays out the effort and purpose we play with will bode well if/when we can get more offensive talent.

 

[cyclonepower]

Let's break this down:

Iowa State needs 20 wins to make march madness (at large bid) Not that I dont have confidence of winning the Big12 tourney, I just think it's very very tough with Baylor, Kansas, Texas Tech, Iowa State and then West Virginia, TCU and Oklahoma not being bad. That being said 20 wins gets them in the dance as a 6 or 7 seed. 22 wins gets them in a top 4 seed and 23 or more wins would be a 1 seed.
Currently sitting at 14 wins
Wins we should be able to get:

Vs Missouri
Vs Oklahoma State
Vs Kansas State
Vs Oklahoma
VS - Opponent in 1st round of Big 12 tournament

That puts us at 19 which means we need one more which should be easy. I think we finish with 21 wins with the last 2 coming against:
@ TCU -payback for the embarrassment at Hilton
@Kansas State

Also Wednesday's game @ Oklahoma State would be a big win if we can steal that one on the road! Were already 5-4 against quad 1 teams so the resume looks impressive. Just need to stay .500 from here on out and we will be just fine!

Prediction- Iowa State 66 Oklahoma State 62

Keys to getting back to success:

1. REBOUNDING!!!! WE NEED 3 GUYS GOING UP FOR REBOUNDS ON THE DEFENSIVE END EVERY TIME
2. PRESSURE DEFENSE- JUST LIKE WE HAVE DONE ALL SEASON ONLY DO IT FOR 40 MIN NOT WHEN WE'RE BEHIND!
3. NO MORE THAN (15) 3POINTERS ATTEMPTED IN A GAME (DOESN'T MATTER IF THEY'RE FALLING OR NOT) THE FURTHER YOU'RE AWAY FROM THE BASKET THE MORE YOUR ODDS GO DOWN FOR SCORING!
4. DRIVE THE LANE AND CREATES FOULS AND KICK OUTS FOR JUMP SHOTS
5. MAKE YOUR FREE THROWS!
6. STAY OUT OF FOUL TROUBLE (KUNC, CONDITT)----> IM POINTING AT YOU!
7. MAKE CUTS TO THE BASKET!!!!! MAKE CUTS TO THE BASKET!!!! MAKE CUTS TO THE BASKET!!!!! DID I SAY IT ENOUGH? THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT! IT DRAWS DEFENDERS IN AND HAS THEM FACING SIDEWAYS OR BACK STEPPING!

you realize that we will probably get like a kansas, baylor, tech in the first rd of the big 12 tournament right? i mean we definitely could win but putting it in the should win is questionable...

 

[cyclones500]

you realize that we will probably get like a kansas, baylor, tech in the first rd of the big 12 tournament right? i mean we definitely could win but putting it in the should win is questionable...

I guess we could avoid those opponents if we're in the 8/9 game but ... your point stands.

In addition to that, I stand firm on this every year: Don't rely on "getting an additional win in the conference tournament" to secure a tournament bid. We have 11 conf games + Missouri remaining in regular season -- If ISU can't churn enough wins from among those, what makes us think we’ll just “take care of it in KC”?

 

[spitfyr36]

Need to show what we did against Baylor and get the ball inside. We are not a shooting team, and barring a odd hot night by someone, that isn't going to change. Playing that way should help us get to the line a bit more, too.

I think the team looks tired; it's been a brutal stretch for them and that showed against TCU. I think some of that is playing Tech...their style just gasses the opponent, and our next game against OU we looked dead for 10 minutes. Still a fun team to watch and I love watching them!

This is it, 3’s we’re not falling during that BU game and they switched to an inside game.
This team should not be shooting almost 30 3’s a game. Go back to attacking the hoop, get to the line and beat the other team down with our defense. You can tell the guys are worn out, and that could make it harder to get inside and settling for the deep ball.

 

[Big_Sill]

At the very beginning of this season, I think all of us would have been extremely satisfied and perhaps even elated if a time-traveler told us, with no other information, that this team would go to the NIT. Now all of a sudden that would be a disappointment?

Yes, once we started the season 12-0 and had the resume of a 1 seed... the expectations and goals changed. It would be disrespectful to the team and coaches to NOT raise the level of expectations for this season.

 

[nowncarolina]

ISU +3.5 +140 O/U 127 for OSU game.

 

[allfourcy]

"Go back to the beginning of this season. What were your expectations for this team? Hoping for a half dozen wins and looking improved?"

My expectations really were they would be a not very good P6 bball team. But they would be "normally" not good, not completely uncoached, rudderless, and clueless - like we had seen the last few years.

They would win the buy games (no more losing to FAMU FFS). They would struggle against other average teams. But they would beat other bad to average teams in Hilton. Maybe get a big upset.

I thought they would be right around .500: 15-16. And 6-12 in conference.


They are much better than I expected. They play hard af. They are very good defensively. They have an identity. But the problems are there and not hard to see. Its disappointing of course when they lose, especially at home to a middle team like TCU. That stings, losing at home to anyone who isn't Top10. But overall I am just happy they aren't the clueless hopeless helpless dumpster fire they were.

The only thing I am really concerned about longer term is in-game coaching.
Example: ISU cut the lead to 3 and had all the momentum. Dixon calls timeout, they set something up, and they came out and scored easy 3 possessions in a row. Ballgame. That's happened in a couple other games too I think, even games ISU has won.
The Big12 has some really really great coaches, and that isn't going to change. Maybe TJ needs an in-game tactical genius on the bench for a few years to help him (or another asst) learn to be that guy.