I'm in. TJ is the WAY!

[BryceC]

Agree. My one game observations:
1) great energy and ball movement
2) aggressive D
3) obviously, too many fouls, but better than passive
4) seemed to know what we were doing on both ends
5) Hunter is the real deal
6) as expected, the two senior big 10 transfers lead our scoring. Probably will all year
7) Tre Jackson was my player of the game
8) Grill looked strong and fast
9) Kunc and Enaruna are not players / sorry
10) Jones probably not P5
11) disappointed in Conditt. He got a lot of praise, but I thought he still looked weak. I had high hopes for him this year and was a big George cheerleader.
12) impressed with Otz
13) Kennesaw played really hard - kudos

Summary: played hard with energy. Good movement and teamwork. Organized.
Guards pretty good in total, bigs well below average.

Friday will tell us a lot.

I'm inclined to agree with most of what you said. Where I will disagree is specifically about Kunc. In fact we know he can play, because he played well at WSU. Word is he still isn't 100% and he missed a bunch of time. I would preach some patience there. I think the thing about Enaruna is that he has the physical tools. I am skeptical if he can put it all together. Ultimately I agree though the frontcourt is tough and with whatever remaining scholarships we have we need to be hitting transfers HARD for those two frontcourt positions because I think we're good with guards for a while.

 

[BryceC]

The whole good teams win, great teams cover is supposed to be a joke lol. I would use it all the time last year when we'd cover games but lose by 15. It's not supposed to be serious.

That dude isn't joking. He's like tripled down on it.

 

[Statefan10]

That dude isn't joking. He's like tripled down on it.

Ah, nevermind lol

 

[ScottyP]

I'm inclined to agree with most of what you said. Where I will disagree is specifically about Kunc. In fact we know he can play, because he played well at WSU. Word is he still isn't 100% and he missed a bunch of time. I would preach some patience there. I think the thing about Enaruna is that he has the physical tools. I am skeptical if he can put it all together. Ultimately I agree though the frontcourt is tough and with whatever remaining scholarships we have we need to be hitting transfers HARD for those two frontcourt positions because I think we're good with guards for a while.

How much eligibility does Enaruna have? He might be like Nader and take a year before he comes around.

 

[Statefan10]

How much eligibility does Enaruna have? He might be like Nader and take a year before he comes around.

If he uses a COVID year he'd have 3 years left for us I believe.

 

[BryceC]

How much eligibility does Enaruna have? He might be like Nader and take a year before he comes around.

Due to the COVID thing, technically 3. Like everything though it's up to him if he wants to use them all. I do think he has some fluidity to his game when he's comfortable. For the record I don't think he'll ever be an all-conference guy, but he can certainly help a team with some improvement.

My thing too is that these guys have no played together, at all. This is basically an entirely new roster. I'm encouraged a lot by the effort and speed with which they played, because that always will help. But ultimately these guys need to gel and I expect things to get more fluid throughout the season and the years to come.

Next year we return almost everybody. Hopefully we bring in a few frontcourt guys who will be capable of either pushing the guys currently on the roster to improve or to supplant them. But either way we'll be returning an absolute crapload of minutes and points next year, and I think the leadership of Gabe and Brockington can drive this team into the future.

 

[HFCS]

As a big NBA fan, just realized TJ kind of reminds me of Tom Thibodeau both in his look and sideline demeanor.

 

[Frak]

Our guards get after it. I feel pretty good about our perimeter D between Kalscheur, Brockington, Grill, Tre and Tyrese. I was just glad to see some pride and hustle.

I don't want to bag on Steve but this game made me realize how tired I was of watching that offense. We moved the ball all around in a multitude of ways. We'll definitely need to work on getting the ball up the floor against pressure though.

100%. They are definitely going to struggle. There aren't many shot makers. There's no low post threat. But, they did have some defensive intensity. Offensively, I liked seeing some actual ball movement. Prohm's offense was almost all pick and roll. It was incredibly frustrating that a team that ran so much P&R seemingly had no idea how to defend it.

Hunter is going to take his lumps this year, but you can see flashes of big time talent there. Hopefully, he doesn't get too down as the losses pile up.

 

[Pat]

Fair point, and I hope he contributes.
That said, he is a junior with two years at KU.
I did not see any particular skills, or physicality displayed. Naz was a freshman, and Nader had a NBA body from day 1.

Nader is 6’5” with a 7’1” wingspan. Enaruna is 6’8” with a 7’ wingspan.

 

[Frak]

Due to the COVID thing, technically 3. Like everything though it's up to him if he wants to use them all. I do think he has some fluidity to his game when he's comfortable. For the record I don't think he'll ever be an all-conference guy, but he can certainly help a team with some improvement.

My thing too is that these guys have no played together, at all. This is basically an entirely new roster. I'm encouraged a lot by the effort and speed with which they played, because that always will help. But ultimately these guys need to gel and I expect things to get more fluid throughout the season and the years to come.

Next year we return almost everybody. Hopefully we bring in a few frontcourt guys who will be capable of either pushing the guys currently on the roster to improve or to supplant them. But either way we'll be returning an absolute crapload of minutes and points next year, and I think the leadership of Gabe and Brockington can drive this team into the future.

Once TJ finds his Niang/Burton type stretch 4, we're going to have something. Until then, we're going to be in rock fights. Seems like he has the back court figured out with the recruits coming in and Hunter (not sure if Kalcheur or Brockington will be back or not). But, the plan isn't as clear in the front court. He might have to hit the portal.

 

[ISUCubswin]

That dude isn't joking. He's like tripled down on it.

I am absolutely being dead ass serious on this subject.

The Texans are actually 7-2 this year in covering the spread. Are they a good team? No. But are they great? Some are asking.

 

[BryceC]

I am absolutely being dead ass serious on this subject.

The Texans are actually 7-2 this year in covering the spread. Are they a good team? No. But are they great? Some are asking.

I'm not.

 

[cyfan92]

Once TJ finds his Niang/Burton type stretch 4, we're going to have something. Until then, we're going to be in rock fights. Seems like he has the back court figured out with the recruits coming in and Hunter (not sure if Kalcheur or Brockington will be back or not). But, the plan isn't as clear in the front court. He might have to hit the portal.

I think TJ hoped that would be Anthony Black.. But ever since he went to 5 star status.. I haven't heard a thing about ISU and him

For high school kids, this is who they hope to become that stretch 4

Milan Momcilovic, Iowa State Cyclones, Power Forward

Milan Momcilovic is a 6-8, 205-pound Power Forward from Pewaukee, WI.

247sports.com

Long term 3 could be this guy. He is about to blow up

Ty Pence, Illinois State Redbirds, Small Forward

Ty Pence is a 6-6, 180-pound Small Forward from Saint Joseph, IL.

247sports.com

 

[Clonefan32]

Personally I went from being all the way in, to cautiously optimistic, to pessimistic, to all the way out, then back to unbridled excitement all in the first half. Just ride the wave, folks.

 

[CascadeClone]

Enaruna has talent but has a ways to go and Kunc was obviously the most rusty player on the floor given how much practice he missed this offseason. He averaged 9 and 5 for Wazzu, I’d expect him to be a contributor long term.

I thought Kunc looked like he wasn't moving quite 100%. Like maybe he doesn't trust his body quite yet or something. Hope that improves, because we're gonna need him for depth this year at the very least.

 

[CascadeClone]

Fair point, and I hope he contributes.
That said, he is a junior with two years at KU.
I did not see any particular skills, or physicality displayed. Naz was a freshman, and Nader had a NBA body from day 1.

Nader had played a year or 2 at Northern Illinois.

My memory of Early Nader was he was a high volume / low percentage shooter, who would try to drive and pull off great moves but just could not quite finish. He didn't play much because he was a lot of bad with the good. He didn't seem like he would be much of a contributor, just a body really.
With coaching and maybe even some physical maturation, he started hitting higher percentages, and finishing those ridiculous moves e.g. Naderuuuugggghhhhh and posterizing the big OSU center (Solomon?). That's how he got to the NBA, and I think he owes Fred & Co a lot for that development.

I am just hoping Enaruna can follow same path.

 

[Lewey24]

Are they a good team?

No

But are they great?

Also no

 

[Gunnerclone]

Nader is 6’5” with a 7’1” wingspan. Enaruna is 6’8” with a 7’ wingspan.

That’s still a high level wingspan, Nader is just a freak like THT in that regard. i think Enaruna moves just as well as Nader with those add’l 3 inches. I’m watching Enaruna’s defense more so than his offense at this point. He can be a huge piece if he can guard 3-5.

 

[Pat]

That’s still a high level wingspan, Nader is just a freak like THT in that regard. i think Enaruna moves just as well as Nader with those add’l 3 inches. I’m watching Enaruna’s defense more so than his offense at this point. He can be a huge piece if he can guard 3-5.

Agree. My point was that Enaruna definitely has an NBA-ready body. Hopefully some minutes will help him settle in.

 

[Cyclones1969]

As a big NBA fan, just realized TJ kind of reminds me of Tom Thibodeau both in his look and sideline demeanor.

That part of that which is ok, is the college season is half as long as the nba. Guys won’t get played into the ground by TJ