Anyone else like the ISU early schedule?

**CyCloned** · 11-13-2006, 08:33 PM

I like the fact that the Clones played 3 games in three days and then have a week off to work on problems. (It also helps that none of these teams was real good, confidence is needed early) This is great for a very new team. I won't say young, because evey though there are some freshman playing, there are also several juniors out there. All these player look very athletic and unselfish, but really need to get use to each other.

Three games that close together means lots of mistakes and G-mac has plenty of things to talk about this week in practice.

**JokersWild** · 11-13-2006, 08:40 PM

I was just happy to see 3 wins. Woo hoo! I fully expected we might drop 1 or 2 of those.

**LindenCy** · 11-13-2006, 08:42 PM

It does set us up nicely, because I am sure that GMac will have us improving quite a bit as he implements his system and molds the new guys.

**Jeremy** · 11-13-2006, 08:46 PM

I really like the easier schedule we have this year in the pre-season. At first I was a little disappointed because we all like the "named" schools but it ends up working out good for everybody. We end up with a better record witch makes us look better nationally and for future schedules, but we also get a lot of experience in all types of situations. The players will grow, the fans will get accustomed to the new style, and we'll look good all around.

**Stormin** · 11-13-2006, 08:49 PM

We play AT Minnesota pretty soon. I like that. Big Ten team that is beatable and not far away. Should be a good matchup.

**Drew21** · 11-13-2006, 08:53 PM

I like that it gets Jiris suspension out of way painlessly

**Drews79** · 11-13-2006, 10:19 PM

I like the early schedule as well. Although, I am looking forward to what our defense can do against some high caliber teams with good scorers. I think we will really shut some people down this year. We may not win a bunch of games but we definitely won't go down without a fight.

**Johnny8** · 11-13-2006, 10:36 PM

I also liked the fact that we played three games in a row. The thing I like most about our team so far this year is the fact that we have won the close games. That was one thing we had trouble with last year. We had the offense to score when we needed to, but could NEVER keep the other team from scoring on the defensive end when we really needed to. With this team, I would rather have us up by 1 and on the defensive end for the last 10 seconds than down by 1 and on the offensive end for the last 10 seconds. I'm excited to see everybody improve, and see what they can do with this year.

**Cyclone_Power** · 11-14-2006, 12:09 PM

Normally I wouldn't be too thrilled with our early schedule, but I agree with the others here. With the team that we've got and GMac coming in, I think it's a good way to gel and play as a team.

**BenEClone** · 11-14-2006, 04:08 PM

I think I heard GMac comment that he'd rather have had more time between these early games for pedagogy purposes. But, he got a good look at his team - I'm sure there is a lot of teaching going on this week.

**CTAClone** · 11-14-2006, 04:46 PM

I also like the early schedule. That's what Eustachy had in his first season. I remember him stating that it got the team used to winning which helped in Big XII play. A strategy I agree with, when you have a big ? mark about the quality of your team.

**frontrangeclone** · 11-14-2006, 05:25 PM

ISU does play at Ohio State correct? OUCH! I saw footage of their freak freshman on ESPN last night when Steven Smith was talking to Fran Fraschilla (sp?) and dear god it should almost be illegal to have such size and talent at his age!

Who knows, maybe ISU can rise to the challenge and then beat both MN and Iowa to sweep the Big 11.

**Cyclone_Power** · 11-14-2006, 05:45 PM

Yeah and Ohio State is that good without Oden playing...thats scary. I still think it was not wise to schedule a home and home with tOSU when our 'home' game is actually in DSM.

**MidwestZest** · 11-14-2006, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclone_Power

Yeah and Ohio State is that good without Oden playing...thats scary. I still think it was not wise to schedule a home and home with tOSU when our 'home' game is actually in DSM.

we stayed in that game for a looonnnng time last year though. I think it's gonna be a good trip for our green team to go over there and play them though. They're gonna learn real fast what the big-time game atmosphere is like, before they start conference play. with mcd at the helm, i can't help but view a game like this against a national powerhouse as an amazing learning/teaching opportunity....as corny as that may sound...

**Kramer** · 11-14-2006, 07:22 PM

The coaching staff now has 3 games worth of tendancies to examine. Granted...those teams weren't great but they did expose some weaknesses that I'm sure GMac and his staff are working on. If he can get MT under control, he can be a solid Big XII player. Thank heavens that GMac is coaching him and not WM. Our post play will not be great or maybe even good but the game begins and ends with the guards.