Random Basketball thoughts

kingcy · 03-08-2008, 10:19 PM

Did the NCAA not allowing Lucca to play screw ISU out of a NCAA tourny birth. If the team could have got 5 more conference wins they would have a good shot at getting in. There are at least 5 games where another 3 point shooter would have helped keep the game close and maybe allow them to pull off a win.

This team never gives up and works very hard, its too bad it doesnt show in wins.

Who says McD and this staff cannot recruit. The two freshmen they recruited are sure looking good and getting the McD system. If Lucca is as good as people say he is McD's first real class looks like a good one.

The team will need to find 35 pts a game next year (losing Jiri and Clark is 25 and if they had 10 more pts they would be in more games)
I think Wes can give 10 more, CB 5 more, DG 5 more, Lucca 10 and 5+ more off the bench or from another post starter.

I maybe drinking too much Cy-aid but I think this team is close to turning a big corner. We have saw what the freshmen can do, we know what a healthy Wes can do, add in a few new players and next year maybe a fun year. The Big 12 is so close and so good this year (we think), but being a top 6 team doesnt seem so far away. If they can play a whole game and learn to finish good things can happen.

Jiri and Clark will be missed. Thanks for staying and thanks for hte memories. Go get them at the Big 12 tourny.

cyismydog · 03-09-2008, 09:18 AM

Craig and Diante look like they could be all conference by next year, considering how fast they are improving, and they both are thinking a lot more.

isucyfan · 03-09-2008, 09:20 AM

Originally Posted by cyismydog

Craig and Diante look like they could be all conference by next year, considering how fast they are improving, and they both are thinking a lot more.

Whoa, slow down there! They have improved over the course of the season, but it's quite a leap to make them all-conference, IMO.

What they need most: Weight training, and consistency development.

isucyfan · 03-09-2008, 09:24 AM

Originally Posted by kingcy

Did the NCAA not allowing Lucca to play screw ISU out of a NCAA tourny birth. If the team could have got 5 more conference wins they would have a good shot at getting in. There are at least 5 games where another 3 point shooter would have helped keep the game close and maybe allow them to pull off a win.

This team never gives up and works very hard, its too bad it doesnt show in wins.

Who says McD and this staff cannot recruit. The two freshmen they recruited are sure looking good and getting the McD system. If Lucca is as good as people say he is McD's first real class looks like a good one.

The team will need to find 35 pts a game next year (losing Jiri and Clark is 25 and if they had 10 more pts they would be in more games)
I think Wes can give 10 more, CB 5 more, DG 5 more, Lucca 10 and 5+ more off the bench or from another post starter.

I maybe drinking too much Cy-aid but I think this team is close to turning a big corner. We have saw what the freshmen can do, we know what a healthy Wes can do, add in a few new players and next year maybe a fun year. The Big 12 is so close and so good this year (we think), but being a top 6 team doesnt seem so far away. If they can play a whole game and learn to finish good things can happen.

Jiri and Clark will be missed. Thanks for staying and thanks for hte memories. Go get them at the Big 12 tourny.

Love the optimism, but I don't think WJ will give us 22 ppg, 10 more than this year.

I also don't think missing Lucca cost us 5 games. I think the injuries and Lucca situation cost us maybe 3-4 wins, which makes us decent.

We have challenges again next year, but you can tell that if we get some breaks, gel as a team earlier in the year, and work hard in the offseason, good things can happen.

Bobber · 03-09-2008, 09:47 AM

Originally Posted by isucyfan

I also don't think missing Lucca cost us 5 games. I think the injuries and Lucca situation cost us maybe 3-4 wins, which makes us decent..

I'd say your definetly cutting hairs...

isucyfan · 03-09-2008, 09:49 AM

Originally Posted by Bobber

I'd say your definetly cutting hairs...

It's "splitting hairs", and my point was that I added in injuries to Lucca's absence.

The injuries early in the year were far more of an issue than missing Lucca. These two things, IMO, cost us 3-4 games.

BryceC · 03-09-2008, 09:51 AM

Originally Posted by kingcy

Did the NCAA not allowing Lucca to play screw ISU out of a NCAA tourny birth. If the team could have got 5 more conference wins they would have a good shot at getting in. There are at least 5 games where another 3 point shooter would have helped keep the game close and maybe allow them to pull off a win.

pulse · 03-09-2008, 10:01 AM

Its possible we could have had that many more wins. Staiger is suppose to have good passing ability, which we sorely missed and could have made a huge difference. It might not be the passing per se, but he's 6'5 which combined with good passing would have allowed us to get out of trouble (traps) much better and deliver entry passes which were a big problem. Lack of depth in the front court next year is now going to be our problem... should be interesting. Wes should probably be moved to the 4 or Cory J needs to really step up as a junior.

isuno1fan · 03-09-2008, 10:05 AM

First of all, Lucca is hurt right now with a bad back. Let's all hope that doesn't become an injury that nags him throughout the rest of his career.

NIT bubble next year with this team IMO. Looking at 16-20 wins.

twojman · 03-09-2008, 10:10 AM

Originally Posted by BryceC

agreed with this post.

A freshman that has not played any div 1 basketball is the difference between ISU finishing 11 or 12 in the Big 12 to an NCAA tourney team? Wow, that is a leap of faith I am not willing to take unless his name is Beasley or Durant. I think you need to step back and be prepared to be very disappointed next season if you are thinking like this.

kingcy · 03-09-2008, 10:19 AM

I was just looking at the close games and the games this team was in until the end. One more shooter changes a lot of things for this team. If this team wins 9 conference games it would have a shot at the NCAA. Look at the games that they were in until the end. Texas, Missouri, Colorado, Nebraska, Baylor, and KSU if they had one more shooter who knows what could have happened.

So what if it drink a lot of Cy-Aid its better than being negative all the time.

cygrads · 03-09-2008, 10:45 AM

I know I have said this many times before but GMac can coach. You see all the close games this year against teams with twice the talent we have and that alone is enough for optimism. CB and DG have improved and will keep improving. I'll go out on a limb and say we make to NCAAs next year - barring injury. This also goes along with GMac's normal timetable (1st year ok, 2nd a step back & 3rd major step forward).

Pass the Kool-Aid!!

isuno1fan · 03-09-2008, 10:51 AM

If this team makes the NCAAs next year, I will be almost as shocked as if I won Powerball.

Bobber · 03-09-2008, 10:54 AM

Well UNI fans said the same thing and he took them to the dance 3 times. And the UNI dome was one of the poorest places to watch or play basketball around.

twojman · 03-09-2008, 11:35 AM

Originally Posted by Bobber

Well UNI fans said the same thing and he took them to the dance 3 times. And the UNI dome was one of the poorest places to watch or play basketball around.

The dome could have been one of the best home courts around because of its set up.