Tempering my expectations for next year

**CloneState1028** · 01-29-2011, 10:44 PM

And I suggest many of you do the same. Without a doubt, there's reason for optimism. But make sure you keep it somewhat grounded. Anyone labeling next year's team as an NCAA Tournament lock is probably being unrealistic. I will say we have a chance at making a run towards it, but we will see what happens.

I've come to realize that no matter how well we play for 38 minutes, it's what happens in the final 2 minutes that can change a ball game and change a season. If we have players next year who can finish games, we'll be happy every night after games like this. If we don't, we'll live through it again. I really, really hope we have gamers next year who can close out a ballgame. These kind of losses are really beginning to wear on me...I'd prefer losing by 10.

**CycloneWanderer** · 01-29-2011, 10:46 PM

Depth (fresh legs) and a bona fide inside presence. Now GTFO.

**JUKEBOX** · 01-29-2011, 10:46 PM

Hopefully next year doesn't disappoint.

**Clones21** · 01-29-2011, 10:46 PM

No. I am hypeing up next season, because thats all i give. WE HAVE TO BE DECENT NEXT YEAR or i really do give up on our basketball program. I will just follow football if we don't put up a decent season next year.

**nj829** · 01-29-2011, 10:47 PM

Hearing how the scout team whips the starters in practice is much easier to buy now that we have seen Big 12 competition handle them.

**CyCrazy** · 01-29-2011, 10:48 PM

Originally Posted by Clones21

No. I am hypeing up next season, because thats all i give. WE HAVE TO BE DECENT NEXT YEAR or i really do give up on our basketball program. I will just follow football if we don't put up a decent season next year.

Strange your on the ledge again.

**cstrunk** · 01-29-2011, 10:49 PM

I'm not really tempering my expectations for next year yet. We have a short bench this year and have (supposedly) better players coming in next season. We'll be able to play with a full team. Right now it's like playing with one arm tied behind our back: you might be able to beat a 3rd grader in basketball, but won't be able to beat the big boys.

Next year will be different. Hopefully some of our coaching decisions will be different after adding more players to the bench as well.

**Clones21** · 01-29-2011, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by CYCRAZY

Strange your on the ledge again.

Listen, i love Fred. But if he can't do anything with that talent next year, then he won't do anything with any talent.

**mustangcy** · 01-29-2011, 10:50 PM

You guys realize how incredibly close we are from being 4-3 in Big 12 play? I fully understand that we are not but c'mon...this team is just one puzzle piece away from serious post season play talk.

**Cyclonepride** · 01-29-2011, 10:51 PM

If our players quit as easily as our fans do, we'd really have something to ***** about.

**bostrem00** · 01-29-2011, 10:52 PM

With all the hype, we are setting ourselves up for a huge fall...

**Clones21** · 01-29-2011, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by bostrem00

With all the hype, we are setting ourselves up for a huge fall...

What else do we have to lose?!?! Us fans are getting desprate. Who cares.

**Peter** · 01-29-2011, 10:56 PM

We will crush people next year. Can't say I have a good reason to believe it but it just makes me feel good. At least let fantisize about Royce White jumping over three Kansas defenders for a backwards two handed ally-oop. It's all I have left at this point.

**cstrunk** · 01-29-2011, 10:58 PM

There was a coach somewhere that talked about the progression of improvement after a change has made. Something like:

Year One: Lose big.
Year Two: Lose close.
Year Three: Win close.
etc.

I hope that all of these close losses translate into wins next season, and I think they will.

**arganbright2** · 01-29-2011, 11:00 PM

Call me crazy but I had this team going 13-17 so everything from here on out is gravy...Also, I think it is good for these young guys (Ejim and Godfrey) to be put in pressure situations as freshman. At many other schools, these guys wouldn't be counted on nearly as much. ISU only had 3 players back (4 if you count Bubu), a first year head coach, and we lost our two best players. Our fanbase will build the same way this program will.

If you want to blame anybody, blame Natty light---I firmly believe that was the demise of ISU basketball