Feelings about rest of season?

[cyguytillidie]

I like how the schedule is set up for us. First two conference games will be Texas and TCU every year. Texas seems to be young just about every season so that should always be a winnable game and TCU should always be a winnable game.

[ajk4st8]

We need to finish +1 in the category of

+1 for road win
-1 for home loss.

[gwoodclone]

I don't want to over-react like the idiots who were predicting us to go 2-16 or 3-15 last week, but it's hard not to be optimistic right now. Win against Mizz or KU and I'll starting buying into tourney hype.

There are four teams that look like tournament teams in the Big 12 right now (BU, KU, KSU, MU). We're 2-0, and if the league is going to get 5 in, the opportunity to be the fifth is right there in front of us...if the team keeps improving, we may just take advantage of it.

If ISU managed to beat Mizzou and @KU, bubble status would ensue.

Too soon to dream about it, but at least it's possible to dream about it.

IF we beat Mizz AND win in Lawrence, I'd be hoping for a lot more than "bubble status". With oSu and @TT as our next two games after that, a 4-0 start should turn into 6-0.

[Cydkar]

KU at KU ain't happening but the MU game is extremely intriguing. Do we slow the pace or run track?

[Cyclonepride]

Cautiously optimistic. I want to see continued improvement that's all. No expectations other than that.

That is where I am at. Just trying to enjoy the process of the rebirth of ISU basketball.

[cyclones500]

My annual post about tournament bids: Any mention about a conference tournament win putting a team over the top — don't rely on it.

Assess tournament games as regular-season matchups. If it's a bubble team, first-round wins don't hurt, but a loss to a lower seed can add to "bad losses" on the resume.

Example: Last season, Colorado couldn't afford an opening-round loss to Iowa State. Winning that game didn't improve CU's chances.

Individual conference tournament games hold no more weight than regular season.

[jdoggivjc]

I think they can go .500 in league. .500 should get u into the dance.

I thought the same

].500 would put us at 19-12 going into the Big 12 tourney. I don't think that gets us in. We need 21+.[/B]

I feel like they are going to be really competitive in the big games: Texas, KU, Baylor, Mizzou. But they will play really poorly in the less important games: OU, TTU.

It's not just the 19-12 record, it's that we played an absolutely pathetic noncon schedule. Had our only loss in the noncon been to Michigan, a 9-9 conference record would have been a BARE MINIMUM to get into the NCAAs.

If ISU wants to go dancing this year, they're going to have to go AT LEAST 10-8 in conference with a run in the conference tourney. If they want to put away doubts they had better win 11 games.

[cyclones500]

KU at KU ain't happening but the MU game is extremely intriguing. Do we slow the pace or run track?

I don't know what the best approach is for Mizzou. I assume ISU cannot turn the ball over a lot — I think Iowa State could win a track meet at home, even vs. Missouri, but is it better to make the game methodically half-court?

I'll withhold my analysis of whether winning @KU is out of the question until after the Missouri game.

[cyclonedave25]

The Drake and UNI loss is going to come back and bite us in the butt, especially the Drake loss. UNI needs to turn things around ASAP! Drake is stuck in suck mode. Because of those 2 losses, I guarantee we need to be above .500 to even be on the bubble.

Look at Colorado last year, they went .500 in conference, 21-13 overall, and a trip to the Big 12 semi finals and didn't make it in. Because their crappy non-conf schedule and some bad losses. (and that was during a year that the Big 12 was good, this year the league is down)

[Clones21]

The Drake and UNI loss is going to come back and bite us in the butt, especially the Drake loss. UNI needs to turn things around ASAP! Drake is stuck in suck mode.
Because of those 2 losses, I guarantee we need to be above .500 to even be on the bubble. Look at Colorado last year, they went .500 in conference, 21-13 overall, and a trip to the Big 12 semi finals and didn't make it in. Because their crappy non-conf schedule and some bad losses.

We still would make NIT even though we all want NCAA.

[cyclonedave25]

We still would make NIT even though we all want NCAA.

That's true, which I would be very happy with.

But dammit, I want to get back to the NCAA tourney NOW!

[BryceC]

depends on the wins. 19 against all tourney teams w/ no good road wins probably not enough.

[isuforlife]

the chemistry is starting to work!,players are understanding what Fred wants, . I think this team has unlimited upside

[CYEATHAWK]

Feelings about rest of the season.......hmmm, lets' see. I think what we will see is every win over someone that is not considered worthy, i.e. JayHawk, Tiger, Laker, Heat etc. will be brushed off as "not proved anything yet". And EVERY loss will be a "see I told you so".

[CapnCy]

the chemistry is starting to work!,players are understanding what Fred wants, . I think this team has unlimited upsdie

I agree...it's obvious when the chemistry is clicking, this team can play with anyone. My memory is too good to forget a couple of our past games to be 100% bought in, but I hope Fred can keep the team clicking like they are now. I will say, I think it's obvious Royce has great court vision and we may seem more isolation where he drives and finds the open guy as defenses collapse on him....that can't be our only way of scoring, but I think defenses have to respect his ability to drive and as long as he hits open guys (either near the hoop or for the open 3), that could continue to create. We can't live/die by the 3.

Like many of you, I hope Royce continues to polish his overall game...and the former NBA Exec in coach helps him understand one more year of polishing and he has potential to be Big 12 POY and increase his payday for the future.