I'm proud of the Cyclones effort tonight!

**Cyclonepride** · 01-13-2010, 10:11 PM

I think, for the most part, they played up to their ability tonight. I saw intensity, desire and communication between teammates. I liked their body language as well. You could tell that the bad plays were frustrating for them. If they compete like they did tonight for the rest of the Big 12 season, then all of the doom and gloom is misplaced.

My main critique- there was a significant stretch in the second half where they could have closed the gap, but with every stop of Texas, they went down and didn't really run the offense. It seemed like three or four possessions of one on one moves, and scoring in even half of those possessions could have made the outcome different.

**ISUKyro** · 01-13-2010, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by cycfan1

I agree that was one of the most exciting halfs of basketball that I have seen in my time here at Iowa State. Its amazing to hear how loud Hilton gets when the old people stand most of the half.

So true - nothing like when the ENTIRE place gets into it!

I must say I was impressed with how well the crowd sounded on TV!
Keep it going guys! Even when it's not #1 in town, make it like that all of the time!

**cyatheart** · 01-13-2010, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by ketelmeister

I don't call it a moral victory...just recognize a great effort. I can tell you the players don't count it as a moral victory. They smell a chance for a great win, and couldn't quite get it. This will make them hungrier. They played their hearts out.

This is a great post. No one is saying it is a moral victory. There is a difference in saying that and recognizing Texas is a freak show and our guys left it all out there.

**kingcy** · 01-13-2010, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by cyclonez7

Mac got outcoached the first few minutes of the second half which cost us the game. Still a great effort though.

Maybe but. Shouldnt the players know what to do when a teams throws a press on them. I can see being out synic once but after that you know it is coming so you should be ready for it. It looked like when Mac took the time out he had to tell players where they needed to be, these players should know that stuff.

**cyatheart** · 01-13-2010, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by cyclonez7

Mac got outcoached the first few minutes of the second half which cost us the game. Still a great effort though.

Mac had them ready for the press. They worked on it in practice. Didn't execute.

**CysRage** · 01-13-2010, 10:14 PM

I have a couple things to be thankful of the game
-Thanks to the players for giving it their all, and
-Thanks to the fans at the game that made it the best ISU basketball game I have ever gone to

Too bad we couldn't hold them off after a halftime lead. There is no moral victory but this game is nothing to be ashamed of either.

GO CYCLONES!

**cyclonez7** · 01-13-2010, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by cyatheart

Mac had them ready for the press. They worked on it in practice. Didn't execute.

So they weren't ready then.

**ISUKyro** · 01-13-2010, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by kingcy

Maybe but. Shouldnt the players know what to do when a teams throws a press on them. I can see being out synic once but after that you know it is coming so you should be ready for it. It looked like when Mac took the time out he had to tell players where they needed to be, these players should know that stuff.

I'm with you! Mac can't be on the floor. And Mac didn't throw the ball into some bad places. That was the players - yes TU turned up the heat, but the players need to see that too - let's hope they learned from it as they won't see many better than that all year.

**BryceC** · 01-13-2010, 10:21 PM

I agree. I may seem hard to please but I'm happy with the effort tonight. Everybody knows beating the best team in the country is tough, but they played well and hard and I'm proud of the kids.

**ISUKyro** · 01-13-2010, 10:23 PM

read an article on Houston Chron just now that says ISU is only the 2nd team to be within 10pts of Texas this season.....

**The_Architect** · 01-13-2010, 10:26 PM

I loved the effort, finally!

**Balls** · 01-13-2010, 10:28 PM

Great game tonight. We played the #1 team so losing by 7 to me is acceptable.

What isn't acceptable is winning by 2 over NDSU or losing to UNI at home. If we play every night 90% like we did tonight I would be satisfied. But to date we play down to our competition and below our ability way too much.

But tonight was great... Great job TEAM!! Hopeful.

**Cytaki** · 01-13-2010, 10:32 PM

I really don't think you are going to find a better team in the country right now than Texas. The fact that we kept this game close and didn't ever quit is just a statement to what this team can do. Anyone who would have said that we would have led No. 1 Texas at halftime would have really making a bold prediction!! We will not and have not played a better team than the Texas Longhorns. Go Clones and lets keep it going. Lets treat every game left on the Big 12 schedule like we are playing the No. 1 team in the country!!

**Cytaki** · 01-13-2010, 10:35 PM

Texas is a team that beat North Carolina by 13, Pitt by 16 and Michigan State by 11 and we only lost to them by seven. I will take it :)

**cyatheart** · 01-13-2010, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by cyclonez7

So they weren't ready then.

I don't even know how that makes sense. I am not sure what you want him to do. All you can do is work on it in practice and make sure they are ready if they see it.

Guys work on free throws in practice and too and and still miss them. Everything doesn't always work out perfectly when dealing with college basketball.