Blog: Rick Barnes says these Cyclones are better than last year's

[ChrisMWilliams]

Williams Blog: Rick Barnes says these Cyclones are better | News | Men's Basketball | Cyclone Fanatic

[CYUL8R]

So now we have both Bill Self and Rick Barnes scared...good start to conf play ;-) Huggy Bear, you're next...get those post game quotes ready....

[acgclone]

Once we pass or look like we're on course for 13 conference wins, I'll consider that this team is better. It wouldn't shock me, but it's a lot easier for coaches who were either just blown out by us, or barely squeaked by with a last second bank shot to say it.

[CYUL8R]

Once we pass or look like we're on course for 13 conference wins, I'll consider that this team is better. It wouldn't shock me, but it's a lot easier for coaches who were either just blown out by us, or barely squeaked by with a last second bank shot to say it.

Or you could just wait until we win the conference?

All kidding aside - when you have top-level coaches singing your praises (instead of dragging their own efforts down) it speaks volumes. Says "ISU beat us" and not "We gave the game to ISU".

Major difference.

[Clones85']

Coaches praised McDermott as well. Not saying Hoiberg and this team don't deserve it, but you will rarely hear one conference coach say anything but positive about another coach

[acgclone]

Or you could just wait until we win the conference?

All kidding aside - when you have top-level coaches singing your praises (instead of dragging their own efforts down) it speaks volumes. Says "ISU beat us" and not "We gave the game to ISU".

Major difference.

I guess my point is, we won 12 conference games last year, in a league that was definitely at least a notch or two higher than the B12 this year. We had a NBA first rounder, who could take over games, and did so in the first round of the tourney.

So far, we have played a very likely high seed into OT, and dominated a Texas team at home without their two best players. That's a good start, but I need to see more before I'm ready to say we're better.

Coaches praising other teams in their league right after an OT win and/or blowout loss, is not uncommon.

[psychlone99]

Definitely a hot start, and I think we're clearly playing very well as a team right now. We share the ball well and we've shown tremendous balance in our scoring, which makes it difficult for opponents to defend us. In that sense, perhaps we're a better team.

My biggest fear is what will happen when a team with talented big men decides they're going to make a concerted effort to take it at us inside. I'm not quite sure how we'll defend that, but I'm anxious to see it.

[benjay]

Definitely a hot start, and I think we're clearly playing very well as a team right now. We share the ball well and we've shown tremendous balance in our scoring, which makes it difficult for opponents to defend us. In that sense, perhaps we're a better team.

My biggest fear is what will happen when a team with talented big men decides they're going to make a concerted effort to take it at us inside. I'm not quite sure how we'll defend that, but I'm anxious to see it.

We'll foul a lot, and hope to god they miss their free throws.

[Dryburn]

Or you could just wait until we win the conference?

All kidding aside - when you have top-level coaches singing your praises (instead of dragging their own efforts down) it speaks volumes. Says "ISU beat us" and not "We gave the game to ISU".

Major difference.

I don't disagree with what you are saying, but Barnes did not seem very happy, or impressed with his team in yesterday's press conference. In fact, I think I would have to say he was much more disappointed in his own team's efforts than he was overly impressed with ISU.

I definitely think ISU has the potential to be a better team than last year's......I just don't think they are quite there yet. IMHO, if Percy and Booker can pick it up and play well consistently.....especially on defense and rebounding.......then this will easily be a better team than last year's.

[isucyfan]

Definitely a hot start, and I think we're clearly playing very well as a team right now. We share the ball well and we've shown tremendous balance in our scoring, which makes it difficult for opponents to defend us. In that sense, perhaps we're a better team.

My biggest fear is what will happen when a team with talented big men decides they're going to make a concerted effort to take it at us inside. I'm not quite sure how we'll defend that, but I'm anxious to see it.

I am concerned about this, too. But I am guessing we pull the big guys out with Niang like we did against Withey. That was a beautiful strategy.

[pulse]

Barnes' opinion carries as much weight with me as Scott Drew's. Just noise.

[Clone5]

We are remarkably better with our perimeter defense and we are also better at pushing tempo now that we have a traditional point guard.

[whirlybirds]

Coaches sometime say this to buy themselves time while their sitting on the hot seat. This means nothing to me.

[Wesley]

Rick is 7-7 and worried.

[MJ271]

Definitely a hot start, and I think we're clearly playing very well as a team right now. We share the ball well and we've shown tremendous balance in our scoring, which makes it difficult for opponents to defend us. In that sense, perhaps we're a better team.My biggest fear is what will happen when a team with talented big men decides they're going to make a concerted effort to take it at us inside. I'm not quite sure how we'll defend that, but I'm anxious to see it.

The good thing, however, is that the only Big 12 team who can match the size and athleticism of Texas inside is Baylor, and Scott Drew isn't smart enough to go inside against us