Where would YOU rank ISU in preseason?

[swarthmoreCY]

Considering they had 30+ teams in their "also considered" list I wouldn't worry about that. Looks like almost anyone in a power conference was considered. Only Texas Tech didn't make the list from the Big 12. I think the NIT will be an accomplishment for K-State this year.

Which was not far off from last year.

 

[baagoe]

Was thinking about our front court depth and wondered, who do you guys think will play at the 4 more next season, Nader or Burton?

 

[CoKane]

9th. 5 char

 

[CySmurf]

I'm with GTO...
#1 baby!

 

[aauummm]

We are Iowa State. If we get our expectations too high, they will surely be dashed to smithereens. Therefore in an effort to outsmart our curse, I will go with around #20.

 

[swarthmoreCY]

Was thinking about our front court depth and wondered, who do you guys think will play at the 4 more next season, Nader or Burton?

Good question. I hope Nader, but I'll go with Burton.

 

[madguy30]

I think somewhere around #10 is about right, we have a ton of talent but IMO we still have the same issues as last year (inconsistent 3pt shooting and not having a 2nd "go to guy" behind Niang) Last years team may have been the most talented team we had all around but it def wasn't the best "Hoiball" type of team, it just didn't have the offensive balance of the Ejim/Kane/Niange group from the year before. In spite of that, we still played just like the Hoiberg teams of the past and it caught up with us in the end.

If we plan to play the way we did last year, guys like Morris, Nader, Cooke, Thomas or Burton HAVE to step up and prove they can consistently contribute in the scoring column. The biggest issue with last years team was we tried to replace the 35ppg we got from Kane and Ejim with guys like Hogue and McKay, both great players but there was no way those 2 were going to give you that kind of scoring production.

Very nice assessment...I think anywhere from #10-15; the nucleus from a decent team is there, and there's lots of unknowns even for returning players vs. surgeries and such. I'd add consistency on defense; it was there at times last year. I like how Prohm has mentioned getting tougher.

I'm curious to see if trends like slow starts, big deficits and (to me) getting a little too comfortable in crucial moments are revamped. I think the slow starts might also be due to the other teams trying to jump on a ranked opponent, but they still had a knack for keeping things interesting no matter how ensured the win seemed.

 

[IceCyIce]

Until we prove we can defend and rebound, 12-14. If we can defend and rebound with consistency we will be a mid level team. We also need an inside game. put all that together and top 5-7.

 

[cyclones500]

It all depends what you consider an elite team.

True. That's where the labeling becomes arguable. Do you have to be a firm top 10? Firm top 5 and advance to Final Four?

When Duke lost to Mercer in '14, I think Devils finished regular season ranked 7th (although got a 3 seed and not a 2). I would have considered it among the elite teams heading into postseason, then they got bounced by a 14 seed. Did that render elite status moot, entirely?

 

[keepngoal]

10.

-keep

 

[SerenityNow]

10, with the potential to be a top 5 and the inconsistency to be out of the top 25.

 

[SyracuseCyclone]

Maryland #1.

ISU and UNC after them about even.

Then you can chose where you put the next teams there is a gap after those 3. (Kentucky Kansas Nova UVA Duke.)


I think my Orangemen are dark horses to win it all though super long good experience with some 5th year guys like them more than anyone other than those 2 powers and ISU. Players get a break from Boeheim midseason this year too which is huge.

 

[Thomasrickj]

Here's what I'm going to go with:

1 Kentucky
2 Maryland
3 Kansas
4 UNC
5 Iowa State (but first in our hearts)
6 Michigan State
7 Duke
8 Oklahoma
9 Gonzaga
10 Villanova
11 UVa
12 Wichita State
13 SMU
14 Baylor
15 TAMU
16 LSU (ridiculous recruiting class)
17 Cincy
18 Texas
19 VCU
20 Miami
21 Utah
22 Arizona
23 Michigan
24 Georgetown
25 Indiana (even though Crean will find a way to screw it up like he always does)

 

[allfourcy]

Your comment on Crean made me chuckle. I have lacked faith in his Indiana team, too, even to the point that I 'd predict the Hawks more likely rated than them. Question: do you think we'd have got Beilfeldt if not for Indiana kicking 2 front court players off & going after him late w/available PT??

 

[IAStubborn]

1. North Carolina
2. Kansas
3. Iowa State
4. Duke
5. Virginia
6. Maryland
7. Kentucky

 

[bozclone]

I guessing #3. That may be a little high give our loss in the tourney, but if you look at the players other teams are losing it is easy to see why we may be that high.

 

[Thomasrickj]

I'm not sold on UVa as much as the rest of the nation. With the shot clock shortening I think it'll take the Cavaliers down a notch and not allow them to slow the game down as much.

 

[cyclones500]

I guessing #3. That may be a little high given our loss in the tourney, but if you look at the players other teams are losing it is easy to see why we may be that high.

Keys in italics. The early-exit continues to get mention, but people need to remember balancing it with who's returning. Again, I'll mention Duke from 2013-14 to 2014-15 -- lost in first round, ranked 9th post-tournament, then was ranked 4th in preseason. The single loss to end the season didn't have much efect.

I don't suggest we should expect a national title or that ISU is quite as loaded, but it's a little perspective.

 

[cyclones500]

Here's what I'm going to go with:

1 Kentucky
2 Maryland
3 Kansas
4 UNC
5 Iowa State (but first in our hearts)
6 Michigan State
7 Duke
8 Oklahoma
9 Gonzaga
10 Villanova
11 UVa
12 Wichita State
13 SMU
14 Baylor
15 TAMU
16 LSU (ridiculous recruiting class)
17 Cincy
18 Texas
19 VCU
20 Miami
21 Utah
22 Arizona
23 Michigan
24 Georgetown
25 Indiana (even though Crean will find a way to screw it up like he always does)

Thumb-up for doing a full top 25.

Might motivate me to take the mid-summer T25 plunge.

 

[rholtgraves]

Keys in italics. The early-exit continues to get mention, but people need to remember balancing it with who's returning. Again, I'll mention Duke from 2013-14 to 2014-15 -- lost in first round, ranked 9th post-tournament, then was ranked 4th in preseason. The single loss to end the season didn't have much efect.

I don't suggest we should expect a national title or that ISU is quite as loaded, but it's a little perspective.

Duke also added Okafor, Winslow, Jones and Allen to their team. So not really a good comparison.