New Found Hope for next year......

[jburke]

So, I know that Monte's status for next year seems a bit up in the air(my gut says he gone)..... But I think even with him leaving I have seen some great things from Matt and Halice that makes me think with them Burton as well as Nick Babb, Ernst, and Carter, than the recruting class (Malou, Jackson, Long, Young, and Lard), not to mention 1 additional spot to fill. A lot of length and a lot of young talent, I think we are surprisingly good. I get that is won't be like this year(losing potentially all 5 starters).... But I think we will be surprisingly good in the end....

 

[Cyclonepride]

I think we'll be pretty good, but the overall expectations going in have to be lower (obviously). One of those years where there's less pressure and just hoping to be pleasantly surprised.

 

[clonedude]

I'm most concerned with replacing McKay next year. If Monte leaves, I think Jackson will be fine at the PG position for us, along with Hallice.

I also think we'll have enough "go to" scorers to replace Niang in Malou, Burton, and even possibly Thomas.

My worry is inside. McKay is such a presence in there on both ends. Such great length. I know Carter has great length, but he's no Jameel McKay IMO. Sorry, he just isn't.

I'm not sure what we're getting in Young? Seems like a bruiser type guy, right? That would help, but he still doesn't have the length. Malou is more of a 3 than he is a 4 or 5.

Maybe Lard can fill that role? Not sure what his game is like either? 6'9" though, so that can't hurt for sure.

Others on here with more knowledge of these newcomers can probably provide a lot better info.

 

[Cydkar]

I'm thinking bubble team which can be pretty fun. Lots of stress.

 

[bawbie]

If the line-ups sort out as follows, we should be a Top-25 team. How high depends a lot on Monte and Malou, IMO.

PG: Morris (Jackson)
SG: Thomas (Cooke)
SF: Burton (Long)
PF: Malou
C: Some combination of Carter/Young/Ernst/grad transfer

Although a starting line-up of Morris/Jackson/Thomas/Burton/Malou wouldn't surprise me.

 

[ISUcyclones11]

Kind of like Kentucky 2013. Their entire roster, basically, went to the NBA.

 

[jburke]

I'm most concerned with replacing McKay next year. If Monte leaves, I think Jackson will be fine at the PG position for us, along with Hallice.

I also think we'll have enough "go to" scorers to replace Niang in Malou, Burton, and even possibly Thomas.

My worry is inside. McKay is such a presence in there on both ends. Such great length. I know Carter has great length, but he's no Jameel McKay IMO. Sorry, he just isn't.

I'm not sure what we're getting in Young? Seems like a bruiser type guy, right? That would help, but he still doesn't have the length. Malou is more of a 3 than he is a 4 or 5.

Maybe Lard can fill that role? Not sure what his game is like either? 6'9" though, so that can't hurt for sure.

Others on here with more knowledge of these newcomers can probably provide a lot better info.

I agree we need the Mckay scrapper Rebound role, I see Carter filling this with some size, you have to consider he is a true freshmen, he is going to put some size on I also see with better recovery from Ernst him filling that as I call him Homan JR(also a true freshmen)....

 

[bawbie]

Kind of like Kentucky 2013. Their entire roster, basically, went to the NBA.

But 4 of our 8-man rotation will probably be back next year, so it's not really like that at all.

 

[cyguytillidie]

I'm definitely concerned with the post for next year. We have Malou who is more of a stretch 4 than a true post player. Burton who is a wing player. Will be tough having him guard in the block every game. Then you have Carter and Ernst who haven't played any meaningful minutes whatsoever. Yeah, their freshmen, but to go from no minutes to possibly starting/first post off the bench is a huge leap in expectation when they aren't even getting time against the Buffalo's and Chicago State's that we've played thus far. After that you have two freshmen coming in with Young and Lard. I'm hopeful that they will both have solid careers but it's going to be a lot to ask of either of them to contribute big minutes their 1st season as Cyclones.

Really going to need one or two of those younger guys to blow up this offseason.

 

[mj4cy]

Without Morris, I see us as a bubble team.


With Morris, having that senior point guard I see us as in the 4-6 seed range.

 

[Cyclonepride]

I'm definitely concerned with the post for next year. We have Malou who is more of a stretch 4 than a true post player. Burton who is a wing player. Will be tough having him guard in the block every game. Then you have Carter and Ernst who haven't played any meaningful minutes whatsoever. Yeah, their freshmen, but to go from no minutes to possibly starting/first post off the bench is a huge leap in expectation when they aren't even getting time against the Buffalo's and Chicago State's that we've played thus far. After that you have two freshmen coming in with Young and Lard. I'm hopeful that they will both have solid careers but it's going to be a lot to ask of either of them to contribute big minutes their 1st season as Cyclones.

Really going to need one or two of those younger guys to blow up this offseason.

I really think we'll find a graduate transfer to fill in a critical spot. PT is king with those guys, and we'll have it in spots.

 

[Cy$]

Without Morris, I see us as a bubble team.


With Morris, having that senior point guard I see us as in the 4-6 seed range.

Doubt it with Morris back. Probably similar to clyburn team as far as seed and record. 7-10 range. Replacing the starting frontline will be difficult.

 

[Chitowncy]

If the line-ups sort out as follows, we should be a Top-25 team. How high depends a lot on Monte and Malou, IMO.

PG: Morris (Jackson)
SG: Thomas (Cooke)
SF: Burton (Long)
PF: Malou
C: Some combination of Carter/Young/Ernst/grad transfer

Although a starting line-up of Morris/Jackson/Thomas/Burton/Malou wouldn't surprise me.

If Morris stays, I would think we'll be a fringe top 25 team and be in and out of the top 25 throughout the year with that lineup. My guess would be around a 7 seed for the NCAA tourney.

I'm holding out hope we can somehow snag a big time big man transfer or late freshman signing. If we can snag a good to great 4 or 5 man, then I believe the ceiling can get higher. Lots of unknowns for next year though. Will Malou be as good as a lot of us hope? Will Burton?

The only known quantities right now are really Morris and Thomas. Both are Big XII and NCAA Tourney -type starters in my mind (Morris even higher, clearly), but how will the others look? Cooke looks like he can contribute as well and I'm hopeful he'll continue to progress.

If Morris doesn't return, I'm not sure we'll be able to make the tourney unless impact transfers arrive who we currently don't know about.

 

[mj4cy]

Doubt it with Morris back. Probably similar to clyburn team as far as seed and record. 7-10 range. Replacing the starting frontline will be difficult.

That team didn't have a PG like Monte though. He makes everyone better.

 

[ILiftWithRoyce]

You guys will probably think this is way to optimistic, but assuming Monte is gone next year, I still see us as a borderline top 25 team that finishes 3-5 in conference. With Monte, we are top 20

 

[CycloneVet]

6'6"
6'4"
6'4"
6'8"
6'5" Led us to the Sweet 16, with 6'2", 6'4" and 6'9" coming off the bench. Obviously size in basketball helps tremendously, but we have gotten around it before and have been successful.

 

[CloneFan4]

But 4 of our 8-man rotation will probably be back next year, so it's not really like that at all.

Not to mention the fact that at most 3 will be drafted. Most likely 1

 

[jahfg]

What have you guys seen in Carter that makes you think he could be a contributor to a Big 12 team. Obviously he's young, but it looks like he has a looooong way to go. We need a transfer big man bad.

 

[CYCLNST8]

[video=youtube;0giSaDrYnEA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0giSaDrYnEA[/video]

Lack of defense and quality opponent aside, his athleticism alone should make everyone feel a little better about next year.

 

[cyhiphopp]

A New Hope?