Reality check

[1100011CS]

This is the same logic Hawk fans get in trouble for when talking about playing MSU at the Breslin.

"MSU hasn't shot like that since then, so I'd love a re-match."

The difference is they don't "readily admit that they are a better team this year and especially at that time when they played us." No team is ever better than the hawks

[wonkadog]

I see...well if they shoot well above their season average every time they play there then I would see how it would be frustrating. The Drake game was particularly bad because the 3-pointers weren't just completely wide open looks and then to watch them not be able to hit the broad side of a barn in Iowa City made it worse.

[SplitIdentity]

The difference is they don't "readily admit that they are a better team this year and especially at that time when they played us." No team is ever better than the hawks

It's true though

Anyways, back on topic, ISU is improving - as they should. The team is healthy, and the talent is starting to show through. Beating teams by 20+ points is different than last year for the most part, and is different than a lot of times this year.

I don't think I'd expect a win over UNI or Drake, but I don't think it would be a 35 point loss.

[1100011CS]

I think it's pretty hard to judge our improvement based on the last two opponents as has been said in this thread already. The next two will be good tests.

[Aclone]

I don't feel too bad about this team. It's similar to how the football team was in the early season--there have been lots of changes, in this case in terms of players rather than system. And it takes time to build teamwork, chemistry and familiarity.

Look at the starters--the most settled from last season is Rahshon, and he's stepped up his game at times. His 'spectacular' seems more focused. Jiri is next for similarity to '06-'07, and he's put on twenty pounds. That's just not the same player--not to mention the time that he missed in the preseason due to injury. Then there is Wesley, who is not only adapting to the diametrically opposed position to where he was at as a freshman, but is seriously hampered by an injury, besides all of the time that he missed--which again, affected chemistry. I think that we'd all agree that we're seeing a shadow of the player that he should be. Then there is Corey, who is working to be a role player, and Thompson, who while around last season redshirting, has also put on twenty-odd pounds, and is struggling to adapt to it. The rest of the guys, including the other two starters and the rest of the depth, are all newcomers. With all of the injuries, it's simply going to take more time for everything to shake out, for everyone to settle into their intended roles and learn to trust one another. No wonder there were so many turnovers early in the season--nobody knew where anyone else was going to be.