IOWA vs IOWA STATE

[Mtowncyclone13]

Nice write up from ESPN

Friday: Iowa at Iowa State, 9:30 p.m. ET (ESPNU): It's been a while since both flagship Iowa teams faced each other as members of the Associated Press Top 25; frankly, the last half-decade has been pretty rough. But Fran McCaffery's Hawkeyes are 9-1, Fred Hoiberg's Cyclones are 7-0, both teams are not only rebuilt but playing exciting, up-tempo basketball, and my friends have been arguing for weeks over which team is better. You probably have to be from Iowa to get how big this game is … but yeah. Big game.

 

[inCyteful]

Eh, Roy Devyn has come up big for the hawks when they have needed him to. Just like a senior and the best player on the team should do.

He will be a tough matchup.

I will take his senior leadership and raise you a Melvin Ejim.

 

[deanvogs]

So he's shooting worse and averaging less rebounds. I'm not saying he's worse than he was last year but he hasn't done anything to prove to me he's any better. You have to realize he's averaging these stats against the easiest part of their schedule too...

Has this guy proved to you he is better? Shooting worse, and turning over the ball more?

2012: 52% FG, 39% 3pt
2013: 47% FG, 24% 3pt

1 PPG more, 2 APG more, about same RPG, and more TOPG.

The correct answer (which usually eludes you) is that both Marble and Niang are better this year.

 

[CyTwins]

Has this guy proved to you he is better? Shooting worse, and turning over the ball more?

2012: 52% FG, 39% 3pt
2013: 47% FG, 24% 3pt

1 PPG more, 2 APG more, about same RPG, and more TOPG.

The correct answer (which usually eludes you) is that both Marble and Niang are better this year.

Niang hasn't looked better this year so don't know where you're going with that...

 

[deanvogs]

I will take his senior leadership and raise you a Melvin Ejim.

Ejim has been great this year! I thought he would be better, but he is showing even more than I thought. He has basically showing that classic Sr improvement that we see very often in college BB.

 

[deanvogs]

Niang hasn't looked better this year so don't know where you're going with that...

Niang doesn't "look" better yet, as he is getting used to being the focus of the opposing teams this year. He will figure it out. Marble has looked better this year, he takes over games when needed. This is his role, he is never going to be a high % guy, as he has to force things that he shouldn't from time to time.

You are simply looking at shooting %, and that doesn't tell you the whole story.

 

[inCyteful]

Niang hasn't looked better this year so don't know where you're going with that...

Georges looked like a freaking playboy centerfold during end of Meeeshigan and BYU games, don't think he did anything like that early his freshman year.

 

[CyTwins]

Niang doesn't "look" better yet, as he is getting used to being the focus of the opposing teams this year. He will figure it out. Marble has looked better this year, he takes over games when needed. This is his role, he is never going to be a high % guy, as he has to force things that he shouldn't from time to time.

You are simply looking at shooting %, and that doesn't tell you the whole story.

Marble looks exactly the same to me as last year. He shot a lot last year too. You don't have to agree with me but IMO he hasn't shown any improvement.

 

[deanvogs]

Marble looks exactly the same to me as last year. He shot a lot last year too. You don't have to agree with me but IMO he hasn't shown any improvement.

Then you don't watch the games. Marble brought Iowa back against Xavier, basically by himself. Marble hasn't gotten his stats against the cupcakes, he basically just dished in those games. In the games that have matter this year (Xavier, 'Nova, and ND) Marble has gone for 30, 24, and 17 respectfully. Against the rest of the cupcake schedule he is avg. 13.4 PPG.

Marble knows he has to score against the good teams, and that is what he usually does.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

Then you don't watch the games. Marble brought Iowa back against Xavier, basically by himself. Marble hasn't gotten his stats against the cupcakes, he basically just dished in those games. In the games that have matter this year (Xavier, 'Nova, and ND) Marble has gone for 30, 24, and 17 respectfully. Against the rest of the cupcake schedule he is avg. 13.4 PPG.

Marble knows he has to score against the good teams, and that is what he usually does.

What ISU games have you watched? Not the Michigan and BYU games obviously. Niangs only issue this year is fouls. He's also a sophomore. Marble is a senior. He should be doing what you say he is.

 

[CyTwins]

Then you don't watch the games. Marble brought Iowa back against Xavier, basically by himself. Marble hasn't gotten his stats against the cupcakes, he basically just dished in those games. In the games that have matter this year (Xavier, 'Nova, and ND) Marble has gone for 30, 24, and 17 respectfully. Against the rest of the cupcake schedule he is avg. 13.4 PPG.

Marble knows he has to score against the good teams, and that is what he usually does.

He shot the ball 46 times from the floor and 23 times at the line against Xavier and Nova! I'd hope he'd put up some points. I watched the Nova game and was not impressed at all.

 

[CycloneErik]

Actually, after we beat them, they won't be a top 25 team, but we'll take it.

I don't think losing on the road to a higher-ranked team will drop Iowa from the rankings. I don't think it should, either. Losing to us is not a bad loss.

 

[acgclone]

This back and forth is pretty pointless considering these two teams will have their say for this year in a little over 4 days.

 

[CyJack13]

This back and forth is pretty pointless considering these two teams will have their say for this year in a little over 4 days.

Well it's been going on for about 9 months, why stop now?

 

[deanvogs]

What ISU games have you watched? Not the Michigan and BYU games obviously. Niangs only issue this year is fouls. He's also a sophomore. Marble is a senior. He should be doing what you say he is.

Watched Michigan, BYU, UNI, and Auburn. Basically any game not on CycloneTV. I will watch every ISU game this year that I can. I don't know why people here don't believe me when I say I root for ISU. Show me one post of mine where I am ripping on ISU's team, players or coahes. What I do is defend Iowa, I DON'T rip on ISU in any way, shape or form. Heck I'm the one saying Niang has improved, that Ejim is playing better than I thought.

 

[LLCoolCY]

Iowa is a scary deep team, will be the cyclones toughest game, more so than the BYU game, tougher than coming back from an 18 point defecit against UNI, and tougher than topping Michigan.

This will also be Iowa's FIRST true road game. Iowa was given a very nice non conference that wasn't challenging at all. Only good team they played was Villanova and that was on a neutral court.

The game vs Iowa isn't tougher than @ BYU or Michigan (especially so early in the year and National TV, Dicky V). As for UNI, coming back from 18 in the scond half on any team is very difficult, and should refocus the squad. That was a classic "look ahead" game the fact that ISU was still able to get the win, is a bad sign for Iowa. CFH will have this team focused and ready for Friday.
As for Iowa's "scary depth"? I am not exactly worried, let alone scared, about seeing Jok, Uthoff or Clemmons coming in to the game. meh.
Actually Iowa fans should be more worried about Naz, that is a difference maker coming off the bench in the Mc3 role.
Agree with your points on this Iowa's being first road test. Hawks weren't very good on the road last year either, and this is essentially the same team.

 

[ribsnwhiskey]

Niang doesn't "look" better yet, as he is getting used to being the focus of the opposing teams this year. He will figure it out. Marble has looked better this year, he takes over games when needed. This is his role, he is never going to be a high % guy, as he has to force things that he shouldn't from time to time.

You are simply looking at shooting %, and that doesn't tell you the whole story.

Watched Michigan, BYU, UNI, and Auburn. Basically any game not on CycloneTV. I will watch every ISU game this year that I can. I don't know why people here don't believe me when I say I root for ISU. Show me one post of mine where I am ripping on ISU's team, players or coahes. What I do is defend Iowa, I DON'T rip on ISU in any way, shape or form. Heck I'm the one saying Niang has improved, that Ejim is playing better than I thought.

So you recall seeing Niang single handidly take over the Michigan and BYU games and keep ISU even close to being in the game against UNI in the first half? Auburn--meh, bad team, Hogue went off, didn't need him.

Which is it?

 

[deanvogs]

So you recall seeing Niang single handidly take over the Michigan and BYU games and keep ISU even close to being in the game against UNI in the first half? Auburn--meh, bad team, Hogue went off, didn't need him.

Which is it?

I said this first:

The correct answer (which usually eludes you) is that both Marble and Niang are better this year.

The part you highlighted was in response to Cytwins and his "shooting % stats" not "looking" better.

So I'm not sure what you are talking about. I think Niang is obviously better this year.

 

[inCyteful]

The REAL question this year is - Has Fran's chair slamming improved? I don't think I have seen him abuse the furniture yet this year, could be the hidden key to the game. The slam(s?) last year while video worthy, were not that impressive. Definitely no Bobby Knight. Do we place 'tear away' chairs out for him Friday night?

 

[CyTwins]

In Deanvog's defense (I can't believe I just said that), I was the one that said I don't think Niang has shown improvement from last year. He has shown he is very clutch this year no doubt. You have to remember before the UNI game this was in CW's mailbag. He had been struggling at times this year, especially shooting from 3. He was a great player for us last year and is a great player for us this year...just hard to say he's improved with what he's shown considering he was so good for us last year too

DurangoCy writes: Should I be worried about Georges Niang?
CW: No. I just think he is pressing right now and nothing more. This happens when a guy knows he is struggling and tries to do more than his game will allow him to do.
I have been encouraged that in both of Iowa State’s “tough” wins, Niang looked like an all-league player in the last five minutes of the game. Iowa State wouldn’t have beaten Michigan or BYU without him. Niang might be struggling a bit, but he has proven that he is still a clutch player and can shrug off a few bad minutes of basketball. I like that. Georges should be just fine.