Something is missing

[CycoCyclone]

Niang has been cold

 

[bawbie]

Didn't play particularly well against a ranked team on the road, and somehow had a lead with five seconds left... after beating a ranked team on the road.... does there really need to be something wrong?

this.

 

[CyAllIn]

McKay has been an absolute beast. This offense hasn't looked like last years since opening tip of the first game. The fluidity and the unselfishness is there sometimes but sometimes it's lacking. If this team figures out the brotherhood part like last years team, we will see this team take the program to new levels, otherwise we are a sweet sixteen team and a 3rd or 4th place finisher in the b12

 

[Cyclonesince78]

Correction, Naz and Bryce shot well from 3. Rest of the team was 5/14.

Not going to win many games giving up 19 offensive boards. Played well just to have a shot.

Bryce went 2-5.

 

[CyStalker]

I really like this team, but I think we are missing a little bit of mental toughness. I believe Fred will get them there, but to me that is a little bit of what is different from last year to this year. A little Tinsley "Not in my gym" or "The Phog is just another gym" mentality. Not cockiness, just a state of mind.

 

[MattSquires]

Percy

 

[Luth4Cy]

I personally don't think the ball movement is as good as it needs to be, but this team is second in the nation in apg, so what the hell do I know?

 

[Goothrey]

Didn't play particularly well against a ranked team on the road, and somehow had a lead with five seconds left... after beating a ranked team on the road.... does there really need to be something wrong?

In the grand scheme of things, it's not the end of the world.

But troubling trends appear to be developing that will most certainly be an issue if they continue.

 

[kingcy]

I thought our offense looked really good early in the year, but something has just been different since McKay got into the lineup. Ball movement and shot selection is a little different. Not as much of the drive and dish, less open looks from 3, less of those very easy layups for Hogue. The drop in FT% doesn't help either. I agree that we will be ok and win a lot more games, I was just trying to figure out why our offense looks so much different the last couple of weeks.

They are playing better teams now. I also think if BDJ can figure out his place things will be a lot better. He made some strides tonight.

As for the OP. What is missing is Niang just struggling out there to do his thing. Teams are putting big bodies on him and it is hurting his game.

 

[CyArob]

It's probably the 2 All-Americans we had last year.

 

[MartyFine]

We're not the '97 Bulls like some fans expect is the main ingredient missing from this team

 

[everyyard]

You mean you can't just replace a big XII player of the year and big XII newcomer of the year?? Shocked.

 

[Cycopath]

It is evident what is missing. An impregnable defense and our free throw shots.

 

[ISUFan22]

Didn't play particularly well against a ranked team on the road, and somehow had a lead with five seconds left... after beating a ranked team on the road.... does there really need to be something wrong?

This.

 

[bozclone]

We were missing a taser, that was the only thing that was going to keep Gathers and his buddies off the glass.

 

[kingcy]

The biggest thing missing was not getting Long the ball for the last shot.

 

[Thompsonclone]

Hogue rebounding.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

I'm not sure what it is, but the offense is just not flowing like it used to. We actually shot pretty well tonight (10-19 from 3) but there is still something missing. Anyone got any ideas?

A larger sample size


Kane is a huge loss. Ejim's three-point shooting has not been replaced. You go from two pgs that can create and 3 mismatches with Kane, Ejim, and Georges to just one. We knew this would be the case, but were hoping guys like Thomas, Nader, and Hogue would step up to fill the losses. Look at the games where Thomas, Hogue, or Nader have stepped up:
-@Iowa went better than a year ago when we were at Hilton
-@WVU went better than a year ago
-Ok St at home did not need OT this year

The fact is the neutral game against Maryland was a bigger challenge than any non-conference game we had a year ago and we were very, very close to having several South Carolina losses in last year's non-conference.

Also you have to be able to admit that luck is a huge part of it. Chery misses or gets called for the push off and you have a road win we did not have a year ago.

 

[IAStubborn]

I thought our offense looked really good early in the year, but something has just been different since McKay got into the lineup. Ball movement and shot selection is a little different. Not as much of the drive and dish, less open looks from 3, less of those very easy layups for Hogue. The drop in FT% doesn't help either. I agree that we will be ok and win a lot more games, I was just trying to figure out why our offense looks so much different the last couple of weeks.

There is. One less guy on the perimeter effects out spacing. We made that trade for a rim protecter. We lost probably 5 points a game on offense on average and maybe picked up 10 on defense. Its a net gain especially on the road. It is effecting niang the most because when he is in with McKay he isn't creating the mismatch pulling their big to the perimeter instead usually a 3 or 4 guarding him and he doesnt have the speed, plus the zone can close in on him now onnhelp.defense with a guy in the middle taking away the driving lane. We will get used to it more and be able to.adjust back and forth more as the season goes on but considering we will only get better I love the upside of this team!

 

[isulive2train]

Fred's tie. We know.