What NC Games Do We Lose?

**CycloneErik** · 11-18-2008, 11:48 AM

Originally Posted by cgwarrior33

South Dakota State could be a tough game. They gave UNI troubles last year up in Brookings. I don't think we have proven enough yet to say we can come away with 2-3 losses. I know its a cliche...but we do have to take games week by week. This weekend was good, but we need to build upon it. Also, if we are undefeated in the NC, we will be ranked....wins over Mercer and Houston would be huge. The Mercer game with be tough as both the AP and Coaches have given them votes recently in the polls.

We should almost create a travelling all-sports trophy with the Jackrabbits. The Cy-Bunny Trophy? The Blown-Away Bunny Trophy? Maybe it could have a bunny being swept up by a Cyclone!

**ZJohnson** · 11-18-2008, 12:15 PM

Please tell me the people that think we could lose to Drake are kidding? I was at their game on Saturday and they looked like a JV team. Other than Bucky and Josh Young they have NO ONE. They can't shoot, they couldn't pass or penetrate and they looked scared and inexperienced. This team is back to the old Drake basketball, boring and a doormat. I would be surprised if they win 12 games this year. Also Butler isn't that good either. If we don't win this game by 15 I would be very, very surprised.

**mplscyclone** · 11-18-2008, 12:19 PM

Originally Posted by ZJohnson

Please tell me the people that think we could lose to Drake are kidding? I was at their game on Saturday and they looked like a JV team. Other than Bucky and Josh Young they have NO ONE. They can't shoot, they couldn't pass or penetrate and they looked scared and inexperienced. This team is back to the old Drake basketball, boring and a doormat. I would be surprised if they win 12 games this year. Also Butler isn't that good either. If we don't win this game by 15 I would be very, very surprised.

I agree that I think we should expect to beat Drake. I wouldn't point a number of points on the game however. If our 3s aren't falling, we'll have low scoring gaes...

**cycloneman003** · 11-18-2008, 03:43 PM

we have a pretty cupcake stacked NC schedule.... if we went 15-0... dayummmm. i would be thrilled.

with our shooting we have the ability to win them all... that being said i dont see us losing a home game NC.

@UNI
@Iowa
@Houston

those are the 3 potential losses i see

**mplscyclone** · 11-18-2008, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by TheHelgo

if we get through the NC perfect, we should be ranked.....can't believe it just mentioned 'Ranked' with an ISU team.

No way... It took Drake a while to get ranked and they pulled off tons of wins in a row...

Do you really think this team will win 15 games in a row? I think they're all winnable, but because of the nature of the sport and our team makeup, I think we lose a couple winnable games...

**cycloneworld** · 11-18-2008, 04:07 PM

I hope we are fired up for the Drake game since we got absolutely blown out at their place last year. I think this will be the loudest Hilton will be in the NC schedule.

Hopefully we can bring a huge crowd to Carver and make it a semi-home game.

I think we will lose 2-3 games but it would be a nice suprise to only lose 1 or 0.

**GoSTATE71** · 11-18-2008, 04:15 PM

i could us losing a bad one against mercer maybe, but then again i thought UW-milwaukee was going to beat us if not only lose by a couple and we handled them, i honestly only see us losing to iowa, houston, and maybe at hawaii but hopefully not

**ZJohnson** · 11-18-2008, 04:35 PM

I guess I don't understand why people are giving the Hawks so much credit as being a good team. That says a lot about us! They are so damn young and have no true depth at any position. Yes its at Carver, which in recent years has been more like a high school gym attendence wise, and I honestly don't see this as much of a game. Yes it's a rivalry...blah blah blah...if we shoot the way we are capable of shooting, we will take them easily.

**cycloneman003** · 11-18-2008, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by mplscyclone

No way... It took Drake a while to get ranked and they pulled off tons of wins in a row...

Do you really think this team will win 15 games in a row? I think they're all winnable, but because of the nature of the sport and our team makeup, I think we lose a couple winnable games...

its because no one knew about drake and they play in the MVC... any big XII team that is 15-0 will be ranked regardless of strength of schedule or expectations coming into the year

**johnsonjj** · 11-18-2008, 06:51 PM

I think we could get a strong dose of Hilton Magic this year. It will be interesting to see if this team can press well. The road games will be my biggest concern. Orr's teams could beat anyone at home, but got killed on the road. I beleive that the emotion in Hilton helps the pressure D causing more turnovers as the opponents get rattled, and psyches up our shooting. But those teams didn't play well on the road, and the stat lines usually showed us getting manhandled on the boards. LE taught the team to own the boards, especially the D-boards and a lot of our road success was due to being able to count on that when we weren't in a shooting zone.

**CycloneErik** · 11-18-2008, 06:58 PM

Originally Posted by cycloneworld

I hope we are fired up for the Drake game since we got absolutely blown out at their place last year. I think this will be the loudest Hilton will be in the NC schedule.

Hopefully we can bring a huge crowd to Carver and make it a semi-home game.

I think we will lose 2-3 games but it would be a nice suprise to only lose 1 or 0.

We're going to Iowa. Looking for more. Maybe have a CF Alley?

**mplscyclone** · 11-18-2008, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by cycloneman003

its because no one knew about drake and they play in the MVC... any big XII team that is 15-0 will be ranked regardless of strength of schedule or expectations coming into the year

A couple of things:

1) I don't buy the whole it's the MVC thing.... I realize the Valley was down last year, but I've seen Wichita State in the top 10 preseason before, and Southern Illinois is a regular on top 25 polls over the years.
2) The MVC this year will probably be as good as the SEC if not better
3) If we were 15-0, we wouldn't be ranked. We'd get votes, but not ranked. People would look at our RPI and conclude we're 15-0 because of such an easy schedule.
4) It doesn't really matter because although I'd like to see us 15-0, I don't think it's going to happen, so this argument probably doesn't matter all that much...

**Wesley** · 11-18-2008, 08:36 PM

If we want NIT, we need to not lose more than two NC.

**whirlybirds** · 11-18-2008, 08:55 PM

this is the same team as last year, minus wes johnson, juri, clark, and added a few YOUNG players. looking at our road record, we could lose lot of these

**cyclonepower** · 11-18-2008, 08:57 PM

Originally Posted by ZJohnson

I guess I don't understand why people are giving the Hawks so much credit as being a good team. That says a lot about us! They are so damn young and have no true depth at any position. Yes its at Carver, which in recent years has been more like a high school gym attendence wise, and I honestly don't see this as much of a game. Yes it's a rivalry...blah blah blah...if we shoot the way we are capable of shooting, we will take them easily.

we dont win easily on the road...ever