Is Next Year’s Team Honestly Going To Be Any Good?

[WastedTalent]

There is a big difference between 5th and us. I agree that next year will be much improved but we will need it.

Games that teams have lost by 14+ this year:

Iowa State 8 (5 in conference)
Oklahoma State 2 (2)
Baylor 2 (1)
TCU 0
Texas 1 (1)
Oklahoma 1 (1)
Kansas State 3 (3)
West Virginia 2 (1)
Kansas 0
Texas Tech 1 (1)

Past teams with losses at 14+
2016-17 1 (0)
2015-16 0
2014-15 0
2013-14 1 (1)
2012-13 1 (1)
2011-12 2 (1)
2010-11 4 (4)
2009-10 5 (3)
2008-09 10 (9)
2007-08 5 (3)
2006-07 6 (4)
2005-06. 3 (2)
2004-05 3 (1)
2003-04 5 (5)
2002-03 6 (6)
2001-02 5 (4)
2000-01. 1. (1)
1999-00. 1 (0)
1998-99 6 (4)
1997-98. 9 (8)


This is the last 20 years and we have 8 games left in this season. If we have talent, we have great coaching and we have great effort then why are we not competitive in so many games.

We don't have great talent in the middle of our roster and we need better execution in the half-court. If we had talent, coaching and effort then we wouldn't see these results that haven't been witnessed since the Petey and Haluska backcourt years.

If you have seen bad years of coaching and lack of talent then please point out those years and those coaches.

I'll admit, those numbers are surprising. However, at the end of the day you have to evaluate the situation at hand.

This was one of the least experienced teams in the country coming into the season.

And, do you think Wigginton & Lard = Petey & Haluska? Of course not.

 

[gocubs2118]

Reading this thread has given me a headache.

 

[isu81]

Wow, I really don't know how to respond to this type of overreaction so I guess I'll just compare the two squads.

First look at the five guys we return in the rotation:
Lard, if he can stay on the floor he's all=conference level.
Young, he is so much better as the complimentary post and only a Soph.
Tally. now that he's healthy he's shown he's the perfect guy to play the four when we go small, plus he's long and athletic. He brought the ball up against Press VA. Nice upgrade from Beverly as a fourth big?
Wiggy, as one weakness I can see, pretty sure he'll improve his handle for next season.
NWB, w/ a year under his belt at the point we can only expect an even better version.

Non Rotation guys
Long, ton of growth still going to have difficulty breaking into the rotation
Lewis, I think he'll be the gunner coming off the bench but not until he's a junior.

The transfers
Jacobson, I hear he's gritty and the type of guy that fights for every play which his teammates should feed off. I like Brase as a third post but he just can't stay on the floor or give us the minutes we need. from our first post off the bench.
Shayok, best player in the gym at practice. That should help to fill DJax' spot.

Recruits
Griffin & Conditt are going to be great but may struggle to get minutes.
Haliburton, same as G&C above.
THT, if this was the only guy we added we be better.

This is a good summary and shows we should be better. Only concerns are that we need to be a LOT better than we are this year to be the 10 or 11 conference win team many of you are predicting.

The other is that, with the way we play defense, we need to score. Most, if not all good scoring teams have guys that can light it up from 3 when their offense gets stalled or in the flow of their offense. While Jackson has been disappointing in many ways and in most games this year, I think we'll miss his shooting and not sure who makes up for it. In looking at our results, I think we've played four really good games this year- Boise State, Texas Tech and West Virginia wins, along with the Kansas loss. Jackson averaged 21 points a game in those 4 games, most from long range. Who replaces that?

 

[cyclonestans]

One thing that I think people are forgetting about...with the lack of players we have not been able to do full practices for most of the year. I think we would have 3-5 more wins if we were able to go 5 on 5 all year in practice.

 

[SCyclone]

I am just preparing the fan base for the Prohm Era. Years of mediocrity is awaiting the fan base......

NOT.

 

[srjclone]

Reading this thread has given me a headache.

 

[rholtgraves]

I knew this wasn’t going to be an easy season, but it’s become a disaster very quickly. We have two games where we look like world beaters then go back to looking like scrubs against Baylor and Texas Tech tonight. This brings me to my ultimate question: is ISU really good to be as good as everyone thinks next season? Sure, we get Shayok, but we lose Jackson and most of our lineup next season is going to consist of the same guys that can’t put together any sort of consistent string of games. Our players don’t seem to be making any strides during this season, and, if anything, we are looking worse as the season goes on. We have no bench, guys like Lewis seem like they won’t contribute at all. I’m starting to lose optimism in this team, especially for next season. If we are going to be good then guys like Zion Griffin and THT are going to have to be world beaters from day one. These guys can’t put together a solid 40 minutes anymore and it is beyond frustrating watching our guys play. What are everyone else’s thoughts on next season? I hope I’m wrong, I just don’t see us being any decent.

Well, the have the potential to be a good team next year, but nothing is a guarantee. They need the guys here to develop and a leader to emerge. They need Shayok to live up to expectations and they need someone like a Lewis or one or 2 of the freshman to be good. They also need to hope Babb doesn't have something serious that will impact him playing next year.
I think next year a team that makes the tournament, whatever seed they get, should be the expectation.

 

[Cyched]

**** it. Next year we win the big 12

Where’s the beer bottle rating?

 

[Mtowncyclone13]

Where’s the beer bottle rating?

i make whiskey in my bathtub.

 

[acgclone]

One thing that I think people are forgetting about...with the lack of players we have not been able to do full practices for most of the year. I think we would have 3-5 more wins if we were able to go 5 on 5 all year in practice.

We have been able to go 5 on 5 for the most part. We have two sit-out transfers that are healthy and we've always had 8 players available for every game that I recall.

Brase, Long, Talley and Babb have all been banged up, but usually not more than 2 at a time.

 

[rholtgraves]

I agree that depth is an issue. Depth doesn’t seem to be any better next season. Relying on freshman for depth is risky business unless you can bring in recruits like Duke and Kentucky. I also don’t feel like I’m overreacting, but you’re entitled to your opinion.

You do realize the two best players on the team this year are freshman that neither Duke or Kentucky offered right? Just look at Tech's team this year; Smith and Culver are playing great on both ends of the floor as freshman and are a huge part of their success.
THT is a high 4 star bordering on 5 star player similar to Wigginton last year. It isn't reaching to expect he will make an instant impact as a freshman.

You replace Brase with Jacboson which improves depth in the frontcourt. I do agree though that depth in the backcourt is still an issue next year unless Lewis or Long emerges or a spot opens for some immediate help.

 

[rochclone]

I'll admit, those numbers are surprising. However, at the end of the day you have to evaluate the situation at hand.

This was one of the least experienced teams in the country coming into the season.

And, do you think Wigginton & Lard = Petey & Haluska? Of course not.

Of course I don't think Peterson & Haluska are more talented then Wiggington and quite frankly whoever. My point is if we have talent, coaching and effort then why are we not competitive. We are 23 games into a season these guys aren't baby puppies.

The issue is talent. And there will be an upgrade next year. And then we will lose Shayok, Babb and potentially Wiggington. People speak like we have an embarrassment of riches for next year. The reality is that mediocre players have good stat lines on bad teams because somebody has to score.

 

[cyhiphopp]

Take a step back.

They are taking lumps in a rebuilding year, but the team will be fine.

Ok, calm down, let's just take a step back... No wait, take a step forward... Now take a step back... And a step forward.. And now we're Cha Cha-ing.

 

[cyfamily]

My thoughts about next year are that CSP will be thrilled to have enough talented bodies to run a practice!

Looking forward to next year. How fast they gel will be key, but no denying the amount of talent on the squad. Can't wait....no better time to be a Cyclone! Year round fun.

 

[ca4cy]

I've watched Cyclone basketball (and college basketball) avidly for 35 years. I do not remember a team with less returning experience than this year's team (maybe one of Floyd's teams?). Even Fred's first team had DG to rely on. I'll just assume that the OP and others don't have that kind of experience and context from which to realistically assess the performance of this team.

I've watched teams that suffer from a lack of talent. Clearly this team does not.

I've watched teams that are poorly coached. Clearly this team is not.

I've watched teams that lack effort. Clearly this team does not.

We lack experience in a massive way. That much should be clear to almost anyone. We play in a league that is historically good in ability, top to bottom. We lack the flexibility to play different styles.

To realistically expect more from this team than it has given us, we would have had to go through the season relatively injury-free (we've been plagued with them) and we would have had to have pretty much everyone play beyond realistic expectations.

Next year's team has huge building blocks with Weiler-Babb, Young, Lard and Wigginton (we did not have even one guy this year with the level of experience that any one of them will have had). Long and Lewis will have minutes under their belts (edit to add Talley with a high major year under his belt). Shayok and Jacobson bring high major starting experience as well. Add the best freshman class since the early 90's and I think we will improve in a huge way.

This is a very lucid and well put together post and probably 90% of us are nodding our head in agreement....which means it's terrible to the "we suck, you suck and we're never ever gonna not suck ever again" crowd. Good work.

 

[peteypie]

Last year Tech was 18-14 and missed the tourney. Not saying we will make the same jump, but it's not like they added a bunch of one and done freshmen. Teams can improve with returning talent.

 

[brokenloginagain]

i'm hoping zaire smith is one and done!

 

[cyclonepower]

we need a PG who can shoot the rock and spread the defense out...

 

[BryceC]

I agree that depth is an issue. Depth doesn’t seem to be any better next season. Relying on freshman for depth is risky business unless you can bring in recruits like Duke and Kentucky. I also don’t feel like I’m overreacting, but you’re entitled to your opinion.

I think it's a legitimate question to ask, but if we can't rely on THT and Zion Griffin for for depth then they are seriously overrated.

Depth is much improved next year. You are replacing Brase/Beverly with Jacobsen which by itself is a huge depth upgrade.

This year is tough and it's bad. Not terribly fun to watch these games right now. However my expectations will be NCAA and I don't think I'm off in that.

 

[Cyched]

i make whiskey in my bathtub.

Is that like the toilet wine they make in prison?