Something is missing

[AuH2O]

We're fine nothing is missing. Played two pretty solid games on the road against quality opponents. The train is just picking up speed for March, no worries.

While I worry about play vs physical teams but overall I agree, ISU is going to be very good by March. To me if we show up even remotely ready to compete at the start of the game this is a fairly easy win. The other problems are to be expected now and then during he season, especially on the road. This is the best defensive team under Fred and the offense will continue to improve as everyone figures out how to play with McKay in the lineup. It takes time.

 

[RoseClone]

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? I think maybe we are missing that toughness that Ejim and Kane had last year. Overall, I guess I am just not sure what to make of this team right now. I mean, it was a great effort to fight back from 17 down and have a chance to win at the end, but we shouldn't have gotten down by that much in the first place.

On that note, good game by Naz. 5-5 from 3! BDJ looked solid for the first time in a couple weeks. Morris had 11 pts, 7 rebs and 9 assists.

I loved Ejim and Kane but they were also on a team last year that got pounded @ WV by 25 (not that close) and @Baylor by 13. My guess is they were described as not being tough enough after those games by people on this very board. Kane was repeatedly called selfish by many.

 

[CYKOFAN]

Some guys are going to have to get their feelings hurt and some guys are not going to be happy. Can't keep playing everyone for 15 minutes.

Fred needs to figure out who is going to play and who isn't. McKay brings nothing on offense and his minutes have to go down. He is fine defensively but if you want to play the way Fred wants to play McKay minutes have to go down. It allows you to put your 4 on George and that matchup is better for the opposition.

BDJ. He just isn't that good. he's fine, but you can't have him in the game for long. He doesn't play hard enough for long enough. Defensively he is a liability, he gets lost, and the ball stops with him a lot. His spacing is off and plays out of control half the time. Way to often he has no idea where he is supposed to be. As far as I am concerned the BDJ experiment failed. You just can't have him on the floor instead of Naz Long.

BDJ gives you nothing. Nader and Long are better defenders, better ball handlers, better shooters and can play hard for a long time. BDJ just isn't mentally strong enough to give you more than a few minutes. Nader needs more minutes. It's just insane to have BDJ out there instead of Nader.

Naz Long has to be on the floor, Morris has to be on the floor. Almost at all times. Nader has to play.

Make a decision if you are playing Houge or McKay, get Nader on the floor, tell BDJ it ain't working and lets get this going again.

Just no reason to lose that game last night. This team is playing like garbage right now.

If you lose against KU Saturday you are 3 games back of them, and it's over.

Actually our offense struggled at the beginning of each half when McKay wasn't in there. And if after Saturday KU is 4-0 and we are 2-2, how does that put us 3 games back and it's over? Some of us said there will be an adjustment period for McKay and the team after he started playing, and the offense isn't as smooth as it will be come Feb-March. And so far this team is playing better on the road than last year's team when we got pounded at WVU and Baylor. If we beat KU on Saturday we are in the thick of the title race, and the winner will probably have 4-5 losses this year anyway.