A lot of good things yesterday

**Rickybaby** · 12-18-2007, 09:22 AM

I was really impressed with Cameron Lee; neve seen him before. Really tenaous on "D" didn't see a lot on offense but with the personel in their at the time would have been hard to run anything crisp. Maybe he can help out the PG situation.

**jbhtexas** · 12-18-2007, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

Our RPI dropped 11 spots from beating Bethune Cookman by 20. I know McD probably didn't have a choice because of the tournament setup, but we probably should stay away from these god awful teams in the future when we really are fighting for the NCAA's. They are absolute RPI killers.

Either stay away from them, or really take care of business and blow them out by 40+.

**jdoggivjc** · 12-18-2007, 09:26 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

Our RPI dropped 11 spots from beating Bethune Cookman by 20. I know McD probably didn't have a choice because of the tournament setup, but we probably should stay away from these god awful teams in the future when we really are fighting for the NCAA's. They are absolute RPI killers.

Just imagine what would have happened if we lost to them

**jbhtexas** · 12-18-2007, 09:33 AM

Originally Posted by MJAnderson

I agree that this was a "taking care of business game". But you have to give these guy's some credit, thats exactly what they did.

ISU won the game, but didn't exactly "take care of business". See BryceC's post on ISU's RPI drop after last night's game. In college MBB, as far as getting an invitation to post season play goes, it's not only wins that matter, RPI does matter too.

**cyclonenum1** · 12-18-2007, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by MJAnderson

I agree that this was a "taking care of business game". But you have to give these guy's some credit, thats exactly what they did. They may not have played perfect but they did do a lot of things well. We seemed to be in the right spots at the right time and knew what we were doing. Give them credit for coming into the game focused and executing the game plan.

As far as talent goes, I think McDermott has done a fine job. We have at least two potential NBA players on the team and I think we would be very competitive right now if everybody that signed with us in the last two years would have worked out.

I'm always reminded of that old saying..."if IFS and BUTS were candy and nuts..."!

**jdoggivjc** · 12-18-2007, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

ISU won the game, but didn't exactly "take care of business". See BryceC's post on ISU's RPI drop after last night's game. In college MBB, as far as getting an invitation to post season play goes, it's not only wins that matter, RPI does matter too.

I think our RPI was going to drop after last nite just based on who we were playing (I think someone noted yesterday that Bethune-Cookman had the 3rd worst RPI in the nation - winning by 50 wasn't going to help that scenario). I think if we had actually scheduled this game there'd be something to complain about, but since it was part of a tourney, and considering where this team is at this year, I'm more inclined to say that a win is a win, especially when it was by the margin that it was.

**BryceC** · 12-18-2007, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by jbhtexas

ISU won the game, but didn't exactly "take care of business". See BryceC's post on ISU's RPI drop after last night's game. In college MBB, as far as getting an invitation to post season play goes, it's not only wins that matter, RPI does matter too.

I could be wrong, but I don't think Margin of Victory has that big of an effect on RPI. It's mostly just playing a team that bad with that low of an RPI hurts your team.

**StLouisClone** · 12-18-2007, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by cyclone#1

Personally, I don't think it is wise to judge players on these type of games. The hard-working but less-talented players always appear to be better than they really are when you play inferior competition (Peterson, C. Johnson, etal). Unfortunately, when you get back to playing high majors / Big 12 competition these type of guys struggle and then many of you wonder "why doesn't he play like he did against Bethune-Cookman".

I have yet to see C. Johnson significantly struggle in a game... any game. The guy gives us great minutes whenever he comes in. That includes our game last year against Ohio State. Cory seems to be the only guy on our team that can consistently finish around the basket. He's got a real quick release and soft touch on his layups... something I wish he could teach Hubalek.

**BryceC** · 12-18-2007, 10:10 AM

We must not be watching the same games. His defense was better yesterday against weak competition, but he really struggles on defense and he's finished a lot of games with very few rebounds.

He is a skilled offensive player but has also had his shot blocked several times.

I like CJ and I think he'll be the first post guy off the bench next season. But to say he's never struggled in a game is way off. There is a reason Thompson gets more minutes ahead of him even though he struggles offensively, it's because he plays very good defense and is probably the best post defender on the team.

I do like what all those guys bring to the squad though.

**Steve** · 12-18-2007, 10:24 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

We must not be watching the same games. His defense was better yesterday against weak competition, but he really struggles on defense and he's finished a lot of games with very few rebounds.

He is a skilled offensive player but has also had his shot blocked several times.

I like CJ and I think he'll be the first post guy off the bench next season. But to say he's never struggled in a game is way off. There is a reason Thompson gets more minutes ahead of him even though he struggles offensively, it's because he plays very good defense and is probably the best post defender on the team.

I do like what all those guys bring to the squad though.

My thoughts exactly. CJ will never be more than a role player unless he finds a way to rebound. He only plays about 10 minutes per game, but 12 rebounds in 9 games isn't going to cut it for an inside guy. I had hoped that a year in the S&C program would help, but he still doesn't seem to win any battles for the ball.

He brings enough on the offensive end to earn the time that he gets. He needs to rebound much better to justify any additional playing time.

**isuno1fan** · 12-18-2007, 10:27 AM

CJ will be a 8-15 min/game guy for his career. Pretty solid on that.

**MJAnderson** · 12-18-2007, 10:37 AM

Originally Posted by cyclone#1

I'm always reminded of that old saying..."if IFS and BUTS were candy and nuts..."!

I was just implying that coach McDermott has recruited talent thats all.

**snowcraig2.0** · 12-18-2007, 10:39 AM

I think when we press, we need to do it with a lineup of Garret, Haluska, Johnson, Clark, and Brackins. That puts all of our best defenders on the floor, and all guys that can recover quickly.

Cameron Lee might have earned himself some additional playing time.

It felt good to see us impose our will on a weaker team.

Wes J is the cog that makes this team roll. I was and am in the camp that we beat Minny and Bradley if he is healthy, and I still think I was underestimating what he means to the team.

Haluska has been knocking down that pull up 17 footer at the top of the key fairly consistently the past 3 games. Hopefully he keeps it up.

Cory Johnson needs to figure out how to play against guys taller than him. We saw what he can do against teams where he is as tall as the opposing post players. I think he will learn how to use his big body to clear space against taller players. It is a tough adjustment going from being the tallest guy on the floor in high school to being shorter than most players you are playing against. He will put it together though. He has a really soft touch on his jumper, once he learns how to clear space he will be more reliable offensively, and he will also be a better rebounder for it.

**ISUFan22** · 12-18-2007, 10:50 AM

CJ looked good last night because he was basically defending a guard at times. He can do ok there against a guy on the dribble - better than Alex or Jiri can.

So if teams go small on us like they did last night, his minutes will increase and he'll likely do well. Few teams that we face are going to be that limited at the post position though.

**nickwc** · 12-18-2007, 11:02 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

Our RPI dropped 11 spots from beating Bethune Cookman by 20. I know McD probably didn't have a choice because of the tournament setup, but we probably should stay away from these god awful teams in the future when we really are fighting for the NCAA's. They are absolute RPI killers.

RPI right now doesn't matter. RPI doesn't matter till feburary, hopefully within a couple years we will be playing for a spot in the tourney come that time.