When Iowa State played Pine Bluff we were on the tail end of injuries, i.e. Naz, Monte. We are a tad bit healthier today also have the addition of Burton.
I'm not pulling chains. I watch more basketball than is probably healthy for a 33-year old single dude who rarely leaves his house. It's pretty much all I do. Tech is well coached but really has no business being in the game past halftime at Hilton. If this was @TTU I would give them the benefit of the doubt and say they could give us a competent challenge. Speaking of giving the benefit of the doubt, time to give our guys the benefit of the doubt. We are better team than last year and so are they. Our bench is lacking but that shouldn't be a problem with this team. We beat them by 40 in Hilton last year so I'm really giving them a 20-point swing. TTU hasn't played a top 50 team besides Utah, who they lost to. TTU had a similar record this time last year and then they got into conference play and moved to the cellar quick. I'll say they are better than the big XII cellar this year. They could claw up to 7th if they play really well as often as they can.
My prediction is this will be a 20 point win for ISU. I'll be upset only if we lose, though. A W is a W and this is college basketball.
Yeah, I looked at that before I posted. Didn't really change my opinion of the team. Something to note, of course, about the system being used is that Texas Tech is #4 by that metric at this point in the season. Texas Tech.Tech is 2-1 vs. Top 50 and 5-1 vs. Top 80. They're #4 RPI.
Source: http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rpi/_/teamId/2641
Anything other than stellar play for all 40 minutes against the current #4 team in the RPI and we question their heart, right?As Monte said last year after a poor loss (paraphrased), throwing our uniforms on the court isn't enuff.
Huge game tomorrow regarding the heart of this team.
Yeah, I looked at that before I posted. Didn't really change my opinion of the team. Something to note, of course, about the system being used is that Texas Tech is #4 by that metric at this point in the season. Texas Tech.
We'll see tomorrow!
We are not as deep as last years team and although I appreciate the 20 point swing, we will not win by 20. If we get up 20 we will put our other two players to get them some time and experience on the court and that will cost us 10 pts. I hope I'm wrong if we even have that chance.I'm not pulling chains. I watch more basketball than is probably healthy for a 33-year old single dude who rarely leaves his house. It's pretty much all I do. Tech is well coached but really has no business being in the game past halftime at Hilton. If this was @TTU I would give them the benefit of the doubt and say they could give us a competent challenge. Speaking of giving the benefit of the doubt, time to give our guys the benefit of the doubt. We are better team than last year and so are they. Our bench is lacking but that shouldn't be a problem with this team. We beat them by 40 in Hilton last year so I'm really giving them a 20-point swing. TTU hasn't played a top 50 team besides Utah, who they lost to. TTU had a similar record this time last year and then they got into conference play and moved to the cellar quick. I'll say they are better than the big XII cellar this year. They could claw up to 7th if they play really well as often as they can.
My prediction is this will be a 20 point win for ISU. I'll be upset only if we lose, though. A W is a W and this is college basketball.
Nobody on Illinois, Oklahoma, Colorado, Iowa, or Cincinnati had a guy that gave Niang fits. I really don't think Texas Tech is going to be the team that finally shuts him down.
What is your preferred system? Kenpom ranks Tech only 3 spots below Baylor at #39. A Top 40 team is a solid opponent. I am taking issue with you saying "They are a bad team." Of course I think we will beat them, but the data indicates they are not a terrible team and in fact a top 40 team. They also beat Texas who of course beat top 10 North Carolina and KSU tonight. Even if we win by 20 that doesn't mean they're not a top 40 team.
Ok just for kicks what will be considered giving him fits? Under 15?
I was one of the few in November saying Tech is better than people thought and better than they were last year. Glad others have come around and realize Tech is a quality team.
Like Pride said, confidence is key. I also think playing Tech now, when they're confident and winning games, could prove harder than playing them in late February or March when they might be beaten down and possibly out of NCAA Tourney contention. I think it's more likely though that they'll be close to or be a true bubble team come selection Sunday though with 7 - 8 Big XII regular season wins.
Will be a tough game and I hope the crowd is loud and involved from the tip - which usually isn't the case when the students are gone and most of the fan base thinks a game will be a cakewalk.
Not really. Same team I've watched all season. They might have played a little worse than usual, actually. I think they finish about 7th in the conference as I said before with a shot at moving up to 6th.UraMallas, have you changed your position on Texas Tech yet?
Not really. Same team I've watched all season. They might have played a little worse than usual, actually. I think they finish about 7th in the conference as I said before with a shot at moving up to 6th.
They impressed you tonight, then?
Well, I definitely don't think they are a good team. I would be willing to upgrade them to skirting the line between bad and mediocre. Will that do for you?You called them a "bad team." Bad teams don't finish #7 in the best conference in the nation and be on the bubble or in the NCAA tourney. I don't think they're a top 25 team but their #39 kenpom seems about right. Their defense frustrated our team.