The Weakness of This Team...

**Clone_12** · 12-09-2008, 10:19 PM

...is physical and mental toughness...part of that is because of our youth, and part is our strength...
In every game we've played this year other than UNI, we have built a 10+ point lead early...and in every single one of those games instead of putting the team away, we have let them back into it. We ended out getting hot and killing Wisc.-Milwaukee, but that is the only game that we have been able to relax at the end...when teams (that aren't as talented as us) get behind by 10+ against us, they buckle down and quit settling for jump shots. The start attacking the hoop and the boards and we aren't strong enough to stop them...we also shoot ourselves in the foot by taking horrible shots when we start to build a big lead. Our young guys NEED to realize what is a good shot and what isn't.

...the sky is NOT falling...we do have talented young players, and a good coach. But until we become mentally and physically tougher, we are going to have some very frustrating games to watch.

**kingcy** · 12-09-2008, 10:21 PM

Very good post

**HandSanitizer** · 12-09-2008, 10:21 PM

Agreed.
We are young. Too young
We dont have our athletic player (WJ)
we can't rebound

That pretty much sums up a lot.

**Drive4cy** · 12-09-2008, 10:21 PM

We need to be more athletic and I think our two commits for next year will bring that to the table.

**cybsball20** · 12-09-2008, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by HandSanitizer

Agreed.
We are young. Too young
We dont have our athletic player (WJ)
we can't rebound

That pretty much sums up a lot.

and we're the third oldest team in the Big XII

We NEED to stop the dribble penetration and get some kind of movement in our offense. Those little tape strips Mac put on the court were the worst thing we could have done for this team. We have two guys standing in the corner that rarely move...

**ISUonthemove** · 12-09-2008, 10:23 PM

Our guards could not penetrate or get the ball inside to our post players. At the end of the game, we need to be shooting free throws and layups. We did neither.

**Clone_12** · 12-09-2008, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Drive4cy

We need to be more athletic and I think our two commits for next year will bring that to the table.

I agree, and another year of weightlifting will help our youngsters out tremendously.

**gocubs2118** · 12-09-2008, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by cybsball20

and we're the third oldest team in the Big XII

Um.. I am pretty sure we aren't. We have 11 Freshman and Sophomores on the team.

**CrossCyed** · 12-09-2008, 10:25 PM

Originally Posted by cybsball20

and we're the third oldest team in the Big XII

We NEED to stop the dribble penetration and get some kind of movement in our offense. Those little tape strips Mac put on the court were the worst thing we could have done for this team. We have two guys standing in the corner that rarely move...

To be fair, I believe Alex Thompson is 42.

**Clone_12** · 12-09-2008, 10:25 PM

We do have 3 seniors...but the majority of our scoring and rebounding comes from underclassmen.

**cybsball20** · 12-09-2008, 10:26 PM

Originally Posted by gocubs2118

Um.. I am pretty sure we aren't. We have 11 Freshman and Sophomores on the team.

I broke it down a couple of weeks ago. OF the top 8 guys that see minutes we are only behind Nebraska and Colorado I think... I can't remember the thread...

**herbicide** · 12-09-2008, 10:28 PM

I agree, with one comment. The physical toughness is not an easy fix. It typically requires physical players, and we are lacking those.

**hook40** · 12-09-2008, 10:29 PM

I would love to be an assistant on this squad strictly responsible for rebounding. Rebounding would have made a huge difference in this game. I think we would have been a NIT team last year with stronger rebounding also. It's not all about size, strength and athleticism either.

**Cyclone90** · 12-09-2008, 11:15 PM

Originally Posted by Clone_12

we also shoot ourselves in the foot by taking horrible shots when we start to build a big lead. Our young guys NEED to realize what is a good shot and what isn't.

The only problem is some of those ugly shots came from a senior guard (SH) who should know better. I'm sure I'm not the only one who grimaced as that brutal jumper went up each time. He's a career 27% 3pt shooter at Iowa State. He should not have a green light. GMac needs to reign him in. We can get better shots on the floor, including from the arc and our better shooters.

**Clone_12** · 12-09-2008, 11:17 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclone90

The only problem is some of those ugly shots came from a senior guard (SH) who should know better. I'm sure I'm not the only one who grimaced as that brutal jumper went up each time. He's a career 27% 3pt shooter at Iowa State. He should not have a green light. GMac needs to reign him in. We can get better shots on the floor, including from the arc and our better shooters.

Agreed.