How well will ISU do in the Big 12 in 09-10?

**swarthmoreCY** · 07-08-2009, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by trajanJ

I don't think the conference is getting better overnight. It's been pretty good for a while and it was very young last year. The conference is returning most starters and had maybe the best recruiting year they have had in years. That combination should make the conference very good.

It was on the verge last year, only really behind the Big East. Like you said, a lot of young guys coming back that could have gone to the NBA. I thought Katz had around 5 Big 12 picks in the lotto for next year...because of this, I do not understand why ISU is beefing up their non-conference schedule.

**cstrunk** · 07-08-2009, 04:22 PM

I think we'll go anywhere from 8-8 to 11-5. I would settle for 9-7.

**CloneIce** · 07-08-2009, 04:40 PM

Originally Posted by cyclonez7

anything better than 6-10 is a success

Disagree completely. If we build for 4 years (and get a 3rd year of Craig Brackins) to go 7-9 in conference, it is not a success. Unless 7-9 gets us to the Dance.

**singsing** · 07-08-2009, 07:10 PM

Originally Posted by Tornado man

You do realize Mizzou attempted almost 400 more free throws (871 to 491) than Iowa State did last year. They had an obsession for drawing fouls. They also set hard screens on offense, and trapped on defense to cause turnovers. We did neither of those. Will we change our entire style this year with new players? I think not.
Outside of Brackins and Petey, our entire squad seemed dedicated to avoiding physical contact. Missouri basketball plays on an entirely different level of intensity.

With the increased depth of this years team and a years maturity of our current players you can bet Iowa State will be more aggressive this year. What were we going to trap with last year? At times I saw Petey, Haluska, and a gimpy Staiger on the floor. Good luck trapping anyone with that trio or get any dribble penetration. Increased talent and experience will make us a much more exciting team this year. Mac is no dummy, he will tweak his gameplan as needed.

**trevn** · 07-08-2009, 07:16 PM

I'm thinking 9-7, but I could see anywhere from 7-9 to 11-5. Any fewer than 5 conference losses and I'll eat rebecacy's strawberry banana flavored hat too.

**Clone5** · 07-08-2009, 07:16 PM

Originally Posted by swarthmoreCY

It was on the verge last year, only really behind the Big East. Like you said, a lot of young guys coming back that could have gone to the NBA. I thought Katz had around 5 Big 12 picks in the lotto for next year...because of this, I do not understand why ISU is beefing up their non-conference schedule.

I don't really either. Maybe McDermott and Co. think the only way we are making it is if we knock off a highly ranked opponent. Personally I'd rather have a sparkling record with wins over decent teams than a large number of "admirable" losses.

**tigershoops31** · 07-08-2009, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by rebecacy

If we go 15-4 in conference play like MU did last year, I will eat my hat.

No wonder those cheating Missourian bastards seemed so good last year, they played 3 more conference games that the rest of us!!!

**Erik4Cy** · 07-08-2009, 07:47 PM

Need to be at that 8-8 mark or better.

**bfross** · 07-08-2009, 10:35 PM

8-8 is the best I will predict until I see someone put pressure on the D outside of Brackins. Life has been way too hard on offense the last couple years.

**CyPride** · 07-08-2009, 10:53 PM

Originally Posted by swarthmoreCY

I am as optimistic about MBB as I have been since the preseason of Blalock and Stinson's Jr year. That said, I am concerned that the strength of the Big 12 and non-conference will negate the improvement in talent. To boost my morale, I look at MU's incredible run last year. Going into 08-09, they looked to have a similar roster composition to the current ISU roster. They did have the benefit of the Big 12 being weaker than what it will be in 09-10, and their non-conference was not as hard.

In 2008-09 MU returned these player with the following stats, from a team that went 6-10 in Big 12 play in 07-08:

Carroll, Sr Forward, 13 pts/gm, 6.7 reb/gm, .53 FG%, Starter, 25 min/gm
Lyons, Sr Forward, 13 pts/gm, 5.7 reb/gm, .58 FG% Starter, 22 min/gm
Lawrence, Sr G-F, 8.8 pts/gm, 2.9 reb/gm, ,09 A/gm, .36 3-P% Starter, 26 min/gm
Tiller, Jr G, 6.8 pts/gm, 2.3 reb/gm, 1.8 A/gm, 1.2 TO/gm, .267 3-P%, Bench, 19min/gm
Stafford, So F, 2.3 pts/gm, 2.2 reb/gm, .36 3-P%, Bench, 9 min/gm

Newcomers:
Zaire Taylor, Jr G, Transfer, At Delaware he averaged 10 pts/gm, 5 reb/gm, 1.6 A/gm, 1.9 TO/gm, .38 3-P% , 2-star by Scout
Kim English, Fr G, Scout 4 star from prep school
Marcus Dennon, Fr G, Scout 3-star
Keith Ramsey, Jr F, JUCO transfer, averaged 14.5 pts/gm, 8.5 reb/gm at JUCO, Scout 3-star, unranked
Laurence Bowers, Fr F, Scout 2-star.

Compared with...
ISU's returning talent for 09-10, from a team that went 4-12:

Brackins, JR F, 20 pts/gm, 9.5 reb/gm, .475 FG%, Starter, 32.5 min/gm
DG, Jr G, 9.8 pts/gm, 3.3 reb/gm, 5 A/gm, 3 TO/gm, .22 3-P%, Starter, 32 min/gm
Lucca, Jr G, 8.2 pts/gm, 2.2 reb/gm, 1.5 A/gm, 1.7 TO/gm, .385 3-P%, Starter, 24 min/gm
JVB, Sr F/C, 5.5 pts/gm, 3 reb/gm, .473 FG%, .40 3-P%, Bench, 15.1 min/gm
Hamilton, So C/F, 4.2 pts/gm, 2.9 reb/gm, .57 FG%, Starter, 13.7 min/gm
Buckley, So G, 1.3 pts/gm, 1 A/gm, 1 TO/gm, .23 3-P%, Bench, 6.6 min/gm
Boozer, Jr G-F, 2.5 pts/gm, 1.6 reb/gm, .3 A/gm, .2 TO/gm, .295 3-P%, Bench, 8.2 min/gm

Newcomers:
MG, Sr G-F, JuCo transfer, 22 ps/gm, 10 reb/gm at JuCo, Scout/Rivals 3-Star, Top 25 ESPN Newcomer
Dendy, Jr F, JuCo transfer, 8 pts/gm, Scout/Rivals not yet evaluated, HS Top-75 player, Scout/Rivals 4-star
Colvin, Fr G, Scout/Rivals 4-star, Top-100
Oliver, Fr G, Not yet evaluated by Scout/Rivals,
Scotty, So G, Transfer from Marquette, Scout/Rivals 3-Star
LA, Fr F, Redshirt, Scout 3-Star.

Given how little Buckley played, he coud have been considered a newcomer (hopefully).
If McD can get his guys to play as good as defense as MU and with an equivalent toughness (queue Tuff as Rain and Roger), they can make a good run.

Easily see 13-3 or 14-2 in conference play. Brackins will continue to dominate the Big 12, and Lucca will finally live up to the hype.

**j4state** · 07-09-2009, 06:17 AM

7-9 and an NIT berth is my prediction. Chances are we add one legitimate impact player in Gilstrap and some depth which is good for a 3 win improvement in my eyes.

My guess is the preseason conference rankings will have us around 8th.

**bigcyfan82** · 07-09-2009, 06:32 AM

Originally Posted by CyPride

Easily see 13-3 or 14-2 in conference play. Brackins will continue to dominate the Big 12, and Lucca will finally live up to the hype.

I would love it if you were right. But I think those recores might be a bit of a stretch. I'd be extremely happy at 10-6!

**mplscyclone** · 07-09-2009, 06:43 AM

Is it wrong to say?:

Undefeated in the conference, winning the Big 12, going to the Final Four, and McDermott winning coach of the year? Of course we're blowing out Duke prior to conference play as well.

Sincerely,
cyismydog and kg-cyclone

**jdoggivjc** · 07-09-2009, 06:47 AM

Is it wrong to say...

"We're going winless in conference, Brackins realizes he made a mistake in staying and transfers out before conference schedule sets in, Gilstrap and Colvin take Brackin's cue and leave as well, McDermott is reduced to the fetal position in an empty corner of Hilton?"

Signed,
mplscyclone

**mplscyclone** · 07-09-2009, 06:52 AM

Originally Posted by jdoggivjc

Is it wrong to say...

"We're going winless in conference, Brackins realizes he made a mistake in staying and transfers out before conference schedule sets in, Gilstrap and Colvin take Brackin's cue and leave as well, McDermott is reduced to the fetal position in an empty corner of Hilton?"

Signed,
mplscyclone

Not wrong at all LOL. I think McDermott has a clause in his contract that states if all of this happens (especially the fetal position in Hilton), an automatic extension will kick in that expires in 2035...