Damn

[3TrueFans]

Regarding the last play, I'd have to see it again. I know Fred said he wanted a foul there, and I'd like to see if maybe that's what the defense was trying to do and left McCabe open in the process. That's the ONLY way I can think that the B1G's second-best 3-point shooter could get that open. That's EXACTLY the kind of look you want in that situation.

That was the plan. Leave him so open he thinks it's a trick which rattles him and he misses the shot.

 

[CycloneErik]

I felt extremely confident seeing McCabe line up for the 3. I just assume that he'll miss when it matters.

 

[carvers4math]

That Hok who looks like a hillbilly was 0 for everything for the game, not sure why he was taking that last three unless we just didn't guard him hoping he would. Marble, Floppy, or lil Ginger should be taking that.

Naz needs quicker feet on defense so we can keep him out there bombing threes. Morris a little better on D.

 

[CyFan61]

I felt extremely confident seeing McCabe line up for the 3. I just assume that he'll miss when it matters.

He was wide open, so you knew it was a miss.

Had there been two Cyclones in his face, and he was off balance, we're going to OT.

 

[CyArob]

Maybe McCabe just isn't that good of a shooter.

 

[DreamyCy]

Don't wanna be "that guy" but I will agree with Blandboy and disagree with what I perceive as the coming Hawkeye narrative.

I don't see two teams as equal; rather, I see ISU as a team that won a close game on an off night against a very good team. Clones win pretty easy if they play well. Now, it's at Hilton, I'll give you that. But neutral floor, if ISU plays well, I still don't think it's that close.

That said, we'll never know (unless we find out in March) and all we have is this game. Hawks are very good and will be dancing.

While I don't think we played great you aren't giving Iowa a fair shake at all. I was impressed and am glad we don't have to play them again this year. They're a lot better than what I've gave them credit for coming into the game.

 

[tm3308]

That Hok who looks like a hillbilly was 0 for everything for the game, not sure why he was taking that last three unless we just didn't guard him hoping he would. Marble, Floppy, or lil Ginger should be taking that.

Naz needs quicker feet on defense so we can keep him out there bombing threes. Morris a little better on D.

Honestly, I thought Iowa all but had the game won when Long fouled out. Taking away that threat should have been huge.

 

[Pitt_Clone]

ISU nearly shot their FT average on the year.

Also, off night? You people are just absurd. I need sleep.

They didn't play horrible but they didn't play out of their minds either. They looked pretty sloppy at times and didn't play with a lot of energy, especially in the first half.

 

[Clark]

Maybe McCabe just isn't that good of a shooter.

The next time I see him put his head down and drive into the defensive player while flinging the basketball in the direction of the hoop, I'm going to throw my remote through the tv. He thinks he is Kevin McHale.

 

[carvers4math]

I felt extremely confident seeing McCabe line up for the 3. I just assume that he'll miss when it matters.

So he is the hillbilly guy? He was 0-7 from field, 0-4 from 3.

 

[DreamyCy]

ISU stole this game plain and simple. Not saying Iowa is the better team but I think they were on this particular day. Iowa impressed the hell out of me. Should win at least one game in the NCAA tourney.

Agreed. I've never been to such a big game and felt so deflated after winning. It's great to win but I really didn't feel like we won.

 

[Krug]

Very even handed and fair analysis of the game. Iowa came to Hilton and played a great game. Much better than ISU did. Iowa actually deserved to win the game IMO. Had this exact same game been played at Carver, I fear Iowa would have blown Iowa State out.

Here's the thing though. If this game was played 10 times, I doubt if ISU would play this poorly every time. I know we wouldn't be this poor at FTs again. And ISU's defense was just lazy. I've never seen them not get back like that before. So who knows how it would really play out?

On a neutral court, with both teams playing their absolute best, I think ISU might still be just good enough to win though. Hard to say though. I think Fred was outcoached again tonight too to some extent. Iowa seemed to be getting whatever they wanted. Whether it be on fastbreaks, inbounds plays, etc. ISU really struggled to get what they wanted.

Iowa's last 3 pt shot was a prime example. Iowa's best 3 pt shooter, McCabe, was able to get a wide open look to tie the game. That was a great play drawn up by Fran, and horrible defense by ISU as well. ISU really was lucky to pull this thing out, but that was far from ISU's best effort this year IMO.

So Iowa played good and ISU played bad? Got it.

I saw two teams playing really good ball. Sloppy at points but I didnt see one team play any better or worse than the other. In the end Isu with that crazy Hilton magic was 3pts better.

 

[el tornado]

You just knew that when we went up 3 with 15secs that Iowa would bank in a 3 to tie it. Somehow the Hawks just fell apart in the last 2 minutes, and Gesell missing those 2 free throws is going to haunt him.

 

[carvers4math]

We need to shoot throws better by conference play. We won't be able to hold a lead otherwise.

 

[carvers4math]

You just knew that when we went up 3 with 15secs that Iowa would bank in a 3 to tie it. Somehow the Hawks just fell apart in the last 2 minutes, and Gesell missing those 2 free throws is going to haunt him.

Yea, I actually thought they are a lot better when that lil ginger on the floor, but I couldn't feel too bad for him. He and Marble were their only guys that didn't annoy me though.

 

[Bobber]

Great Game.

Thought Iowa played great D.

Still not sure how we won that game...Hilton magic rattled the Iowa players at the end. Those missed foul shots were huge.

Wow.Wow. Wow.

 

[cyclone22]

Glad we won, now we can root for Iowa to win the rest of their games and the big 10.

 

[bozclone]

The awesome thing about this team is that is doesn't have to play its best game to win games like these. They make plays when the game is on the line and they have an ability to finish games that is rare. I really like our toughness.

 

[tm3308]

A few stats from tonight:

Shooting %: 46.4%, 47.5%
FT %: 66.7%, 63.9%
Assists: 19, 19
Turnovers: 10, 11
Steals: 6, 5
Points from top two scorers: 46, 44

The only stat where either team held a huge edge was rebounding, which Iowa pretty well dominated for most of the game (49-35, including 14 OReb). ISU held a 12% edge in 3%, but they only made two more deep balls (took the same number of attempts), and Iowa made two more field goals (36-34) so that edge only translated to 2 extra points (obviously big in the context of this game, but not a big statistical edge).

These teams were as even as could be. I'm not sure the better team won, simply because I'm not sure you couldn't just flip a coin between these two right now. Nobody, in either the Big 12 or Big 10, is going to want to see these teams.

 

[clonedude]

So Iowa played good and ISU played bad? Got it.

I saw two teams playing really good ball. Sloppy at points but I didnt see one team play any better or worse than the other. In the end Isu with that crazy Hilton magic was 3pts better.

Iowa State has not played as well as I've seen them play some games this year. Some of that has to be credited to Iowa's defense too. Iowa played physical defense, and got called for some fouls because of it. But it actually made it really hard for ISU to get into any kind of rhythm too, so maybe the fouling helped Iowa some?

I thought Iowa played as good a game as I've seen anyone play coming into a hostile Hilton Coliseum. And I thought ISU was very sluggish on defense especially. But they were able to pull it out in ugly fashion, and with the help of Iowa choking down the stretch to allow ISU to close on an 8-0 run.