Otzelberger comes to defense of players after blowout Big 12 Tournament loss to Texas Tech
- Thread starter JStanz51
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The problem is the offense might be worse next year. Need to find some transfers to fill the holes
No doubt this turnaround is amazing and every ISU fan should be thrilled to be back in the NCAA tournament.
No doubt this is a pretty epic collapse from playing great and undefeated in the non-con and then going 7-11 in conference with several blowouts at home and a massive inability to score.
Both can be true.
No doubt this is a pretty epic collapse from playing great and undefeated in the non-con and then going 7-11 in conference with several blowouts at home and a massive inability to score.
Both can be true.
Weren’t people just hoping for 7 conference wins, and beating Missouri, even when we were 12-0?
I don’t care to look, but I’m positive that was the overriding sentiment in December
Physical guards are our kryptonite. This team scores well enough when allowed to have a freedom of movement. Teams like Tech and OSU gave us fits because their guards are up in your shorts on the perimeter. Matchups will be very important in whether this team can get a W in the tournament. Seems like there aren't many teams outside the Big12 that plays the physical defense on the perimeter (also might be the only conference to let teams get away with it without fouling).
So I don't think it's as much of not showing up, but just a terrible matchup last night. Hunter needs to hit the weight room to get stronger to combat this going forward because it isn't going away.
So I don't think it's as much of not showing up, but just a terrible matchup last night. Hunter needs to hit the weight room to get stronger to combat this going forward because it isn't going away.
Tech is a terrible matchup for this team. Length and athleticism everywhere. They were also real fired up and played their A game. ISU was not going to win last night regardless.
That said, we have seen this movie before. The team gets in a funk, and they stay there. TJ didnt have any answers or seemed to not try anything different. Then our guys dropped their heads and it was over 10 minutes into the game. Tech clowned us in a scrimmage, and that part of it was embarassing.
Both things can be true- this was a Kobiyashi Maru game where there was nothing to be done, AND TJ needs to get better as a strategist and in-game X and O guy.
That said, we have seen this movie before. The team gets in a funk, and they stay there. TJ didnt have any answers or seemed to not try anything different. Then our guys dropped their heads and it was over 10 minutes into the game. Tech clowned us in a scrimmage, and that part of it was embarassing.
Both things can be true- this was a Kobiyashi Maru game where there was nothing to be done, AND TJ needs to get better as a strategist and in-game X and O guy.
After what TJ did for Brockington I seriously doubt he’ll have trouble finding a primary scorer on the transfer market.
I understand what you’re saying, but getting a guy with the attitude of Brock won’t be easy.
Don't forget that TJ needs to get more technicals!
TJ gets a T last night we probably win.
Those expectations were to make the NCAA tournament. If anyone expected this team to go 7-11 after starting undefeated, hanging with #1 Baylor in the first conference game, and being highly ranked - those are some pretty low expectations. Many of us had higher ones (but I’m also very satisfied with the overall outcome of the season).
With the way TT is able to switch on EVERY screen or misdirection, I think the only thing I would have like to have seen the team do differently last night was backcut the lane jumps. TT is very good with their defensive rotations and probably would have helped off enough to make a second pretty darn good pass necessary to score.
When we were really humming on D toward the beginning of the season, I thought our defensive rotations looked elite. Like I couldn't believe we could recover so quickly to the offenses other teams were putting out there. Now, I look at TT and say that they are REALLY elite. It is hard to look even competent against them and when you aren't a very good shooting team, your opportunities to score go down significantly. Maybe the only way to beat them is 1 on 1 in isolation, but they have enough discipline to rarely get put in the situation and with their individual prowess on D, I'd say that is even a stretch for us.
In the coming years, if we continue to utilize this kind of offense, I would expect TJ to:
1) Recruit bigs that can hold off the D and gain position at the elbow, be a threat to reverse pivot and take their man to the bucket when the rest of the team is overplayed to the timeline, and be a reasonable risk of hitting a shot from the elbow. That is key to providing space for those they need to pass to.
2) Put in new folds that take a little more time to establish with a team. Like the backcuts I mention. We have executed some of those this year and looked pretty good doing it at times. But, I think it takes time and some more experience with each other to really get proficient enough that teams have to respect it and quit overplaying the lanes.
Last night you saw an overmatched team, who had limited adjustments at their disposal, that could be be thwarted by a set of players that can almost coach themselves since they average like 27 years old. If we are passing INTO defenses and have little secondary or tertiary action after 3 years, then you can call to fire TJ. Until then, savor the wins and root like heck for the good guys.
I believe TJ loves ISU and will do everything in his power to produce great teams for us to root for. Until he proves us wrong, let's give him a chance to do his job.
When we were really humming on D toward the beginning of the season, I thought our defensive rotations looked elite. Like I couldn't believe we could recover so quickly to the offenses other teams were putting out there. Now, I look at TT and say that they are REALLY elite. It is hard to look even competent against them and when you aren't a very good shooting team, your opportunities to score go down significantly. Maybe the only way to beat them is 1 on 1 in isolation, but they have enough discipline to rarely get put in the situation and with their individual prowess on D, I'd say that is even a stretch for us.
In the coming years, if we continue to utilize this kind of offense, I would expect TJ to:
1) Recruit bigs that can hold off the D and gain position at the elbow, be a threat to reverse pivot and take their man to the bucket when the rest of the team is overplayed to the timeline, and be a reasonable risk of hitting a shot from the elbow. That is key to providing space for those they need to pass to.
2) Put in new folds that take a little more time to establish with a team. Like the backcuts I mention. We have executed some of those this year and looked pretty good doing it at times. But, I think it takes time and some more experience with each other to really get proficient enough that teams have to respect it and quit overplaying the lanes.
Last night you saw an overmatched team, who had limited adjustments at their disposal, that could be be thwarted by a set of players that can almost coach themselves since they average like 27 years old. If we are passing INTO defenses and have little secondary or tertiary action after 3 years, then you can call to fire TJ. Until then, savor the wins and root like heck for the good guys.
I believe TJ loves ISU and will do everything in his power to produce great teams for us to root for. Until he proves us wrong, let's give him a chance to do his job.
I don’t know that he needs another high volume scorer. He needs someone that can consistently hit shots.
True, but 5 games against the low major teams were cancelled, so it’s a bit deceiving. But there’s no denying it’s a huge turnaround. Zero to seven wins in the big 12 is huge.
Last night was brutal, but the season overall hasn’t been. Gotta get ready for the big dance. It’s glaringly obvious we struggle against long athletic teams. Nothing to lose mentality now let’s go! Oh and look to wear you’re passing the ball at the top teams are getting into the passing lane guys!
It was pretty poor effort. Still in the first half TTU would get a steal and run out. They had 4 guys beat all of our guys back cleaning up a miss while we had guys not even crossing half court. Rotations were slow.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
Cool. Did he mention improving as an offensive coach? That's the need here.
Next year will be telling. Some of the problems of this team no coach could fix. But if we see the same issues next year we’ve got a potential problem.
The missed double alley oop, offense rebound putback was the definition of effort. Four guys beat our first down the court.
