So this is a rebuilding year?

After Nick, Jos, and Toc used up their eligibility, I think more than a few people thought we may have a bit of a down year.

After loading up the non conference schedule with giants like Charleston, Miss Valley State, and Arkansas Pine Bluff, more than a few people thought the schedule was padded to get an NIT berth with a mostly underclassmen team. Who could blame Fennelly though? He's had great success in the past and a one season rebuilding plan isn't so out of bounds.

We heard the explanations by Mr Fennelly - that the schedule was the way it was because he wanted to both get the young stars some confidence, and reward the many seniors some minutes when he knew they would not get many more as the season progressed. It was both a reward for the veterans and a plan for the future.

But a funny thing happened on the way to a mediocre rebuilding season...

The #13 ranking in the coach's poll, a second place status in the highest RPI Conference that has 7 teams ranked, and winning on the road just doesn't seem like a rebuilding year.

Fennelly is sly - sly like a fox. He's smarter than all of us. When you can out-coach your opponents, your own fans, and out-coach your (few) critics, you are doing something right. In a year when a lot of people would have given BF a Mulligan, he has a team on the verge of greatness... again.

It's been an amazing year. We're already to the point where there cannot be a bad ending.

Remind me not to EVER EVER EVER underestimate a BF team EVER again.

I LOVE your post. I actually got chills reading it. You're right on all counts and thank you for saying everything you did -- well done. I couldn't agree more. This team did things that our Elite 8 team last year NEVER did (beat KU in Lawrence first time in 4 years, beat Baylor first time in 4 years, beat OU first time in 4 years).

Last night was huge. What a nere rattling game. Key plays: Lacey steal & layup down 4 with 2 minutes left, the Stuckey basket in the lane, and of course the Poppens steal at the end. They played like a tournament team even while shooting poorly.

Coach F is a sly fox, and he is OUR sly fox!!!!:smile:

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Originally Posted by NYCy

I actually got chills reading it. :smile:

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OK - now you're scaring me a little!:wideeyed:

You didn't even mention losing Ezell and Nisleit, whom I thought would be WAY harder to replace than the three you mentioned. Also the Arlen transfer and rare recruiting misses last year on Yackley and Rockall. You forget how grim it was looking coming into the year and just how much the freshman have stepped up.

Bill F. always seems to get the most out of the players he has, and the player always get better as they go through their playing time at ISU. In the end, he is simply just the definition of a very good coach.

Having a leader like Lacey doesn't hurt, either.

Just goes to show you how important Point Guard play is....

Greg are you watching this?

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Originally Posted by NYCy

Coach F is a sly fox, and he is OUR cy fox!!!!:smile:

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Fixed it for you.

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Originally Posted by becrisgreg

Just goes to show you how important Point Guard play is....

Greg are you watching this?

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I love how it's become impossible for there to be a thread on the Women's basketball team without a shot at the men's team. I'm sure Greg is intentionally recruiting crappy point guards. :confused:

As for the topic of this thread, it is a truly amazing season. They lost 6 (SIX!!!) post players off the team from last year, and are second in a conference with 7 top 25 teams. Amazing.

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Originally Posted by cyco2000

Having a leader like Lacey doesn't hurt, either.

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No kidding; watching the game last night it looked like she was coaching harder then BF

Aus will be sorely missed next year. So will Stuckey with her fierce rebounding. However, if the current players all stay the beat will go on. I am sure BF will find somebody to do a respectable job at the point. I can't recall a year when BF did not have good, if not great, guards.

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Originally Posted by cyco2000

Having a leader like Lacey doesn't hurt, either.

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Lacey is a great player, but anyone see what they did on the road against the #3 team in the country without Lacey?

Even without Lacy I think this would still be a top 25 team.

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Originally Posted by jaretac

Lacey is a great player, but anyone see what they did on the road against the #3 team in the country without Lacey?

Even without Lacy I think this would still be a top 25 team.

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Maybe? I think she had a lot to do with keeping this team on track after starting conference play with losses to A&M and Nebby. Without her, I don't think the freshman play with the confidence they have now.

Just as a refresher, here is the pre-season poll:
1. Baylor (5) 109
2. Kansas (3) 106
3 Texas (3) 106
4. Texas A&M (1) 87
5. Oklahoma 86
6. Nebraska 80
7. Iowa State 59
8. Kansas State 44
9. Oklahoma State 41
10. Texas Tech 38
11. Colorado 22
12. Missouri 15

And current Standings

Nebraska 13-0 26-0
Iowa State 9-4 21-5
Oklahoma 9-4 19-8
Texas 8-5 19-8
Baylor 7-6 20-7
Texas A&M 7-6 19-7
Oklahoma State 7-6 19-8
Texas Tech 5-8 17-10
Kansas 5-8 15-11
Kansas State 4-9 12-15
Colorado 3-10 13-13
Missouri 1-12 11-15

I think Lacey and BF are the glue to this team, how wonderful to have a strong, experienced 6' point guard that can create her own shot or do almost anything on the floor the defense can't stop. Anyone see the 2nd half fast break to Poppins that Lacey led? First off Poppens dropped it into warp speed to create separation and second off she knew she would be rewarded because Lacey would make the perfect pass.

I didn't think we could replace Ezell from last years team but we have. Didn't we struggle early last year when BF tried to force Lacey to be the point guard and then we got back on track when he turned the point back to Ezell?