Mike Taylor

[JJ4ISU]

This guy is hard to watch. I'm not sure I've ever seen an ISU player more out of control with the basketball...it's frustrating to watch!!!

[m7nick]

I don't remember us looking this bad. I sure it will get better.....but we don't have a lot of talent on the floor. The next few recruiting classes will bring us back to the promise land!

[madcityCY]

I'm soo pumped about Boozer, Brackins, Staiger, etc...

[Prone2Clone]

This could be a year where I block out all the upper classmen (including Rashon) and just focus on the development of WJ, CJ, an Dodie. I am excited about that core...if they develop...and we can add two solid classes to them. In a couple of years, we'll be tough again.

Taylor is going to give you at least 20 every night...we just won't know if the 20 will be points or turnovers.

[m7nick]

We will win with Boozer, Brackins, and Staiger! This season is a throw away....give us a few years and nobody will be able to touch us!

[Kramer]

Originally Posted by m7nick

We will win with Boozer, Brackins, and Staiger! This season is a throw away....give us a few years and nobody will be able to touch us!

No way! No season is ever a throw-away.

[zdorr40]

We still need a banger with a Homan body. I must have posted this 20 times. Brackins is great, but still pretty slight. After watching this team, it will be nice to have big guards coming in, eg Staiger 6'5" and Garrett 6'4" at point. Then you get WJ at 6'7" Brackins at 6"10. Bring in a 7 footer from Compton or somewhere and you've got an NBA size lineup.

[iccyfan]

Originally Posted by Kramer

No way! No season is ever a throw-away.

This one might be if Mike Taylor continues as our primary ball-handler! 4-15 from the floor with 8 TO's - Awful, I would have guessed he had a dozen! And this against the likes of Mike Henderson and Tony Freeman; it could be ugly in Big XII play!

Even worse than his ball-handling is his defense, which is just horrific. He finishes with only two fouls and I'll bet the guy(s) he was "guarding" combined for thirty points. They definitely had him scouted as the one to attack; no matter who he matched up with, that person immediately went on a roll; Freeman, Henderson, Haluska - Taylor is a sieve!

For the record, this is the first game all season that I've watched in total; I happened to be present at this one.

On the plus side, I saw some good things from Dodie Dunson and Wesley Johnson...

[madcityCY]

Originally Posted by iccyfan

This one might be if Mike Taylor continues...

literally!

[MaxPower57]

I agree with the conclusion everyone is getting at. Wes Johnson is going to be a force in the Big 12 in the years to come. Dunson is showing some good signs. He is more in control and lets his points and opportunities come to him rather than forcing things. He also is a better defender than Taylor. I also think when it is all said and done that Cory Johnson will be a solid player. He is about the only player I see that tries to post up more than just for show. He WANTS the ball down low. With that drive he should become better with more strength and experience.

Also, watching Taylor makes me sick to my stomach.

[toneloc34]

I just don't get how Mike Taylor fits into what we are trying to do. How are the rest of the guys going to learn the system if Taylor is "running" the show.

I know it won't happen, but I think the team would benefit if Taylor came off the bench until he bought into the offense.

[CyCloned]

Originally Posted by toneloc34

I just don't get how Mike Taylor fits into what we are trying to do. How are the rest of the guys going to learn the system if Taylor is "running" the show.

I know it won't happen, but I think the team would benefit if Taylor came off the bench until he bought into the offense.

I think Taylor and the team would be better off if they got him off the point. He has shown he can be a great shooter, but has trouble getting good shots from the point and would be more effectve as the off guard. The hawks did a great job of picking Taylor up at half court and getting him off his game.

[ISUAlum2002]

I think the main problem is that we don't have any true power forwards and we definitely don't have a center.

Clark is kind of a tweener. He's not a power forward, but he's not a guard. W. Johnson has a chance to be a good power forward, but he isn't there yet, same with C. Johnson. Hubalek wants to be a finesse forward rather than a center.

So basically, we're playing with a bunch of guards and light forwards with little power. Not a formula for consistency.

I guess the way I see it is kind of like in football where if you don't have a decent running game, you're not going to win consistently....in basketball, if you don't have decent post play, you're not going to win consistently.

[Balls]

Originally Posted by CyCloned

I think Taylor and the team would be better off if they got him off the point. He has shown he can be a great shooter, but has trouble getting good shots from the point and would be more effectve as the off guard. The hawks did a great job of picking Taylor up at half court and getting him off his game.

Agreed. I think not having Taylor at the point would be a big help. Have him use his energy crossing through on the baseline, always have him on the move. Then when he gets the ball on the move, either take the open shot, pass to an open guy who was opened up due to his movement through the lane causing a defender to get confused, or else right back to the point if nothing is there for a open shot or a quick assist. Having him control and keep the ball is not the correct approach.

On defense he needs to guard the spot shooter, not a slasher. He's quick, but not in reacting to another player.

I think he could be a great player if used correctly.

[Logic Police]

Yeah, I can't wait for 2009