Big XII Early Preview

[isuarch80]

Wow - I don't know how we get this preview:
ESPN.com - NCB - 2007 Big 12 ShootAround: Great expectations

I like how we have a pretty solid recruiting class, including a top 20 player, two top 100-150 players as well, and we got rid of the bad chemistry guys (in terms of playing in the system) and the non-hard workers (even though it was our one legitimate 3 pt shooter – who killed 3 or 4 games for us alone) and replaced them with these talented players and one big guy transfer… how do we go backwards? I don’t get it…

Ah well, it's ESPN - I'm sure EIU will come out as like #3 in the Big 10.

 

[bos]

They pretty much wrote as most of us see it. While I think we will be a better over-all team, we may struggle a bit getting the new recruits accustomed to the style of play and building chemistry. Im sure we will surprise some folks but my expectations are different this year. I expect to see improvements in aspects of play and personal strides. I dont however have expectations to be a top anything team yet much like in football. Build for the future.

 

[wolverine68]

Just like our football team... no respect. I think it's going to be a fun year!

 

[lennon3]

Well I guess if we finish around top 7 or so in the big 12, which a lot of us feel we can with a good season. That will put McD in the running for Big12 coach of the year since all of the outsiders are really doubting this team!

 

[CYdTracked]

Too early to tell. I really think we are going to miss Taylor more than people realize.

 

[brianhos]

I think we miss taylor big time, he was a great scorer, of which we just don't know if we have any great backcourt scorers. If we get another blalock/stinson combo, we will be fine, if we struggle in the backcourt, we are in trouble. College basketball is a guard based game, we have big question marks there.

 

[Drive4cy]

We can't expect much with all these new faces, especially in the backcourt. Unless Diante can be a special freshman like Will Blalock(which is very rare) I don't see this team doing much. The fact we have talk on here about Sean Haluska starting(or atleast being in the rotation) says it all about our guard play. That's not to disrespect Sean, but he would not get minutes for any top 40 team in America.

We just need to survive this year at a .500 record or slightly better and keep moving forward. We know McDermott can flat out coach, just needs better players. We're close to getting back to where we belong.

 

[neo]

Too early to tell. I really think we are going to miss Taylor more than people realize.

I agree. While we won't miss his turnovers, we no longer have anyone in the backcourt(as far as I know) with the ability to create his own offense.

 

[ISUFan22]

I agree. While we won't miss his turnovers, we no longer have anyone in the backcourt(as far as I know) with the ability to create his own offense.

Right.

And with the inexperience at the position, we may have the same number of turnovers too. I don't forsee it, but with unknown/inexperienced players, you never know.

Think of the games we won last year because of Taylor lighting a fire for us on offense. Don't have someone like that on our team this year.

Closest guy? Sean Haluska.

 

[CrossCyed]

Ummm...Garrett can create on his way to the hoop. Don't be counting on Haluska.

 

[neo]

Ummm...Garrett can create on his way to the hoop. Don't be counting on Haluska.

He certainly may be able to. I hope he can. But until he shows it in Big XII competition like MT did, we can't assume that he will.

 

[mwitt]

Anyone else not going to miss Mike Taylor?

 

[isucyfan]

I think the article is pretty spot on. There may be a pleasant surprise at guard (Garrett or Steiger are promising) but until I see them against good competition, the guard court is a big question mark.

Obviously, the frontcourt is our proven strength right now, and I think we can be successful if we simply have someone at point that controls tempo, passes the ball, and doesn't make many mistakes, even if he doesn't score much. (see: Jacy Holloway)

If we have this and someone that can bomb from the outside (Steiger, Haluska?) we will be OK.

Either way, good or bad, it will be fun to see the kids grow up!

 

[kg-cyclone]

The article is way off....We are much better than we were last year with or without Taylor.

 

[mj4cy]

I guarantee we're not last next year. I'll bet anything on it. I won't miss Taylor because while he excelled, he did get the offense into the flow very well. People stood around and watched him try to create. Sometimes it was great, but most of the time it was not so great.

 

[mwitt]

The article is way off....We are much better than we were last year with or without Taylor.

So will the league. And don't forget that while we had the 7 seed, there were 4 teams who were 6-10 in the conference, so we ranged from 7th to 10th place. And it took a monumental freefall by Oklahoma State to incldue them in that discussion.

 

[kg-cyclone]

So will the league. And don't forget that while we had the 7 seed, there were 4 teams who were 6-10 in the conference, so we ranged from 7th to 10th place. And it took a monumental freefall by Oklahoma State to incldue them in that discussion.

We'll be in the top 8 for sure....Would not surprise me to see us in the top half....just my opinion after watching our guys play this summer....save this thread and I'll see you in March. We are very much under the radar, right where we need to be.

 

[wheels686]

weren't we picked last in the conference in 2000 when we won it and went to the elite 8. These preseason polls are rarely right especially in basketball. I think we will be alot better than what they think. They thought this last year as well. In order for you to have a good preseason ranking you have to have most of your people returning, a good ranking from last season, or really good recruiting class that the outsiders will like

 

[cybsball20]

You still have to have somone to score the basketball, we won't. I can't see us finishing above the bottom 3. All you need to do is see how we played with Taylor on the bench. It was a bunch of guys waiting for someone to take a shot and ended in shot clock violations or heaves at the buzzer entirely too much.

 

[bos]

You dont think we will have any scorers playing? Somehow I doubt that. I think they gathered some offense threats in the guys we got. Will they be consistant against top teams, probably not. But I am not doubting the talent coming in.