Seems like something special is happening with the MBB team.

**Koolman** · 01-13-2013, 12:19 PM

I love the way this team is playing right now!

**acgclone** · 01-13-2013, 12:53 PM

Originally Posted by jsb

I don't really think we played down to too many non-con opponents.

I don't really get this claim either. We maybe had two games where we played down with them for periods of time but the bottom line on the season is that we've blown out almost all if the average or worse teams and lost to most of the good teams.

That doesn't equate to playing to your opponent IMO

If you're playing down to your opponent you squeak by bad teams and look bad doing it. Then you beat teams that you shouldn't.

**mitten1975** · 01-13-2013, 01:06 PM

I think they start the year with a different philosophy, and work hard trying to figure out the strengths and weaknesses of players and how they can best be employed game time. That causes some of the games to look a little messy and perhaps even allows a game or two to get away. Basketball is all about the NCAA and so you want your team peaking at the end of the season. Hoiberg works to get his team to peak at the end of the season. That is smart coaching.

**azepp** · 01-13-2013, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by Wesley

KL has simplified his game.
Clyburn is starting to take better shots.
Melvin is being even a bigger nusiance on the opponents boards.
Tyrus is helping out everywhere.
Georges is taking over the middle with his moves.
Gibson is starting to also play defense.
Lots of options means less pressure on any one player.

I think that bolded part is very important. Less pressure on individual players and tougher matchups for opponents.

**NATEizKING** · 01-13-2013, 01:20 PM

I think the special thing happening is Hoiball. CFH game planning is outstanding and execution seems to start with the beginning of conference play.

**VeloClone** · 01-13-2013, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by NATEizKING

I think the special thing happening is Hoiball. CFH game planning is outstanding and execution seems to start with the beginning of conference play.

Huh? I thought Cyclone teams were supposed to peak with their Super Bowl early to mid December.

**BallSoHard4Cy** · 01-13-2013, 01:28 PM

If someone on your team smacks your nuts and you laugh about, than you know there's chemistry.

**heitclone** · 01-13-2013, 01:58 PM

No offense to any of the players but to me its about Fred, he's basically had to reinvent his team each of his 3 seasons. He's brought in a lot of talent via transfer, and that's worked great but in a way he was sort of making the best of what he has to work with, rather than a group of guys who were all recruited by him to play in his system. Each year he's gotten closer to what he'd like personnel-wise and that's made it easier for him to mold them into his type of team. I think you can see a lot of Fred's NBA influence in the way his teams have developed, the last 2 years the non conference has almost looked like preseason, we've shown different lineups, and strategies and never looked quite "in sync" but as big 12 play drew closer things solidified, the rotation got more established and all the sudden we see what we've got. Turns out we've got a pretty solid team again...and a great coach.

**cyatheart** · 01-13-2013, 02:24 PM

I think it is just how basketball works if you have some talent and a good coach. Up to Christmas the games really don't mean much. Yeah a good win or a bad loss there can help or hurt you a bit, but the real hay is made in the conference season for the power conferences. Teams get better as the year goes on. In Janauary you look completley different than you did in November, and in March you look completely different than you did in Janaury. It is a long year, and it takes time to figure out where everyone fits. Some teams never figure it out. This particular team seems like they were behind plan around Christmas, then improved greatly with the time off and figured some things out, now I actually feel like this team is ahead of where I thought they would be at this time.

Freddy changed quite a few things between Iowa and KU games and like a good coach he kept tinkering until he found where to put everyone, what roles everyone was going to play....etc. A big jump was made, they now have a nice base to work off of, and they can get better from here. Really excited to see how this year pans out.

**NATEizKING** · 01-13-2013, 02:50 PM

Originally Posted by VeloClone

Huh? I thought Cyclone teams were supposed to peak with their Super Bowl early to mid December.

If it was our Super Bowl we surely would have won it. We win all the Super Bowls.

**CYUL8R** · 01-13-2013, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by NATEizKING

If it was our Super Bowl we surely would have won it. We win all the Super Bowls.

Well that settles it once and for all. Someone tell the Hoks that it wasn't our superbowl and then they'll finally stop using that lame-a55 response.

Or not.

**jdoggivjc** · 01-13-2013, 05:23 PM

Originally Posted by NATEizKING

I think the special thing happening is Hoiball. CFH game planning is outstanding and execution seems to start with the beginning of conference play.

Anyway, I'll definitely agree with "the something special is going on" if we end out "0-for-in-the-state-of-Oklahoma during the Big 12 era" this year.

**CycloneErik** · 01-13-2013, 05:27 PM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Anyway, I'll definitely agree with "the something special is going on" if we end out "0-for-in-the-state-of-Oklahoma during the Big 12 era" this year.

We won at Oklahoma last year, 77-70, the game where Royce chose not to score but dominated anyway.