Let the hype begin...

**CloneState1028** · 03-09-2011, 06:02 PM

My three biggest concerns for next year as follows:

1. Winning close games/finishing teams off
2. Overall team defense
3. Point guard play

In no particular order, those are going to be HUGE if we are going to be successful next season.

**Rhoadhoused** · 03-09-2011, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by Skyh13

Even if we only win 3 more games next year, the past 5 years have set the bar so low, that that'd be a good season by those standards.

I wouldn't be satisfied with anything under 20 wins.

I would be satisfied with at least a winning Big 12 record (10-8) and then depending on the difficulty of the non conference schedule 10 wins or more. We play UNI and Iowa at home next year along with Virginia at home. I think if we do the same thing we did this year and don't drop any "gimmies" to bad teams we could have a similar non conference record to what we had this year only with a tougher schedule. That could be tough though. Maybe 12-2 or 11-3 non conference.

Maybe I'm being too optimistic in non-con and not optimistic enough in conference?

**Cydkar** · 03-09-2011, 06:06 PM

Originally Posted by Yes13

Teams in the Big 12 I think we are better than. TTech, OU, Baylor, KSU, maybe OSU, Maybe even KU (if they lose Robinson, the Morris twins, Selby).

I'll believe a B12 team is better than KU when a B12 team is better than KU.

**Rhoadhoused** · 03-09-2011, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by CloneState1028

My three biggest concerns for next year as follows:

1. Winning close games/finishing teams off
2. Overall team defense
3. Point guard play

In no particular order, those are going to be HUGE if we are going to be successful next season.

I think our defense will be better just because of the infusion of athletes we have coming in Royce and Booker will be huge improvements over JVB defensively. Allen and Babb are both highly regarded defenders. Plus with more depth our players will be less tired. We will be able to press more with that depth as well.

I agree with the other two and one thing I will add is rebounding. How many second chance points and easy buckets did we give up because we had a lack of size rebounding. I think that could be huge next year.

**crash_zone** · 03-09-2011, 06:09 PM

Originally Posted by bostrem00

Isu will go 19-13 next year....I'm not buying the hype with the addition of 3 role players...

Who do you consider a role player?

**Nihawk** · 03-09-2011, 06:11 PM

Excitement is good but fans must also remain realistic.

**Yes13** · 03-09-2011, 06:14 PM

Originally Posted by Cydkar

I'll believe a B12 team is better than KU when a B12 team is better than KU.

Very true. I personally think the Big 12 will be down.

Texas Tech is gonna struggle
OU is gonna struggle
KSU is losing Pullen (basically their team), and Kelly
OSU is losing Moses, but is getting one of the best recruits in the nation
Baylor is losing Dunn and Jones. Has some top recruits, but Baylor's freshman haven't been Beasley or Durant good, which they'll need from those guys
A&M will be pretty good, but not overwhelming
Texas, who knows who is gonna return. They have a lot of NBA prospects
Mizzou will be pretty good. They might actually get their top recruit from last year to play.
KU is always good, but they might be losing a lot off their team. Only recruit so far is Nadiir Tharpe (who will be a pain in the ***), but he isn't enough to make up for the whole team.

We picked a good year to load up.

**Tillweezy** · 03-09-2011, 06:22 PM

Watch the box scores while we're playing our games in Italy. All we have right now is that we look good on paper. At least in August we can start talking personnel.

**Aclone** · 03-09-2011, 06:26 PM

Originally Posted by CloneState1028

My three biggest concerns for next year as follows:

1. Winning close games/finishing teams off
2. Overall team defense
3. Point guard play

In no particular order, those are going to be HUGE if we are going to be successful next season.

Hmm. You guys do realize that with the addition of more talent and depth, those seven or eight "close games" become not "close games", but clear wins?

Sure, team defense can improve (additional talent and depth will help there was well), but what I have been most concerned about is point guard play. DG leaves a big hole, and if it proves to be "point guard by committee", so be it.

I think the latter is simply the difference between a very good season, and a great one.

**bostrem00** · 03-09-2011, 06:35 PM

<div class="pre-quote">
Quote de <strong>bostrem00</strong> </div> <div class="post-quote"> <div style="font-style:italic"><acronym title="Iowa State">Isu</acronym> will go 19-13 next year....I'm not buying the hype with the addition of 3 role players...Who do you consider a role player?</div> <table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="3" align="right"> <tbody><tr> <td valign="top" align="center"><a href="http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/" name="vB::QuickEdit::2172327"><img src="http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/images/buttons/edit.gif" alt="Edit/Delete Message" border="0"></a></td> <td valign="top" align="center"><a href="http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/mens-basketball/116024-let-hype-begin-2.html#" onclick="vbform.message.value = '

' + document.getElementById('post_message_2172327').innerHTML + '

\n\n';vbform.message.focus();return false;"><img align="right" border="0" src="http://www.cyclonefanatic.com/forum/images/buttons/quote.gif"></a></td> </tr> </tbody></table> <br> </div>

Babb, Allen, booker...white is the exception

**Tillweezy** · 03-09-2011, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by bostrem00

Babb, Allen, booker...white is the exception

Everyone is a role player on Michigan State. Expectations are pretty high for Allen. Especially after Bobby Lutz said that he was the best college basketball player he's ever been around.

Booker I agree is potentially a role player. (However, we've still yet to see him in an ISU uniform.)

Chris Babb is going to thrive in our system.

**Rhoadhoused** · 03-09-2011, 06:44 PM

Allen just isn't a role player. Hoiberg is on record saying that he will be the DG of next year. He will be greenlighted to try to score whenever he wants and will be expected to be a leader next year.

**cyguytillidie** · 03-09-2011, 07:05 PM

I'm so pumped for next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I just hope that the combination of the down season and next season's expectations doesn't create the perfect storm for the biggest let down I've ever experienced.

**ajk4st8** · 03-09-2011, 07:10 PM

Next year shoudl be a lock for the NIT at least if things go well.

Im not sure on the production difference between the new guys we bring compared to Jake and DG, but hopefully its just enough to put us over the hump.

I think people next year will really get how good DG was.