IDK, feels like that 2nd point might be off. Rewatch the Baylor finals and then compare that to any random Hilton home game. There's something about that trophy being on the line that makes it feel a lot different
*** Official #12 IOWA STATE vs Oklahoma State Game(Day) Thread ***
- Thread starter CycloneRulzzz
- Start date
Both game we controlled until the end, as in lead the ENTIRE game. Big difference.
Inevitably we will have a Texas type start on the road, against a decent team, and get buried. That's why it's important not to let games you've largely controlled slip away, although everyone has at least one of those games a season.
Hope this was ours. I just hope the staff comes around to BRE being too slow and unathletic to factor against the better Big 12 teams. And by that I mean everyone outside of Texas Tech. That is something our coaches can control and influence. At least they should.
Agreed with the last paragraph completely. You don't want your guys to play "softer", just smarter. If someone has a bunny under the basket it's okay to concede every now and then. I don't know how many times I saw Lipsey continue to body someone near the arc when he already had 3 fouls. That's the stuff we can and should be eliminating, especially when we are getting whistled excessively.
Offensively we need to stay with what is really working until someone shows they can shut it down. They did not have an answer for Osun the entire first half, largely due to pick and rolls or simply his ability to cut to the basket. He was also wildly effective shooting his jumper. Basically he was a player they needed to account for, and likely needed to double, at all times. Again, Otz takes him out prematurely (after scoring 6-8 easy points) and it's like we forget to go back to something they couldn't stop. It's happened in 2 other games in conference and I don't get it. I have a hard time believing Osun can handle only 17 to 23 minutes a game. Yesterday he had ONE foul and was probably the most effective player for either team. We did OSU a massive favor by only playing him 23 minutes.
From a fan perspective a run to the finals in KC will always be huge. It’s probably one of the best things that happens in all of ISU sports. It’s just the perfect set up for so many reasons.
It's kinda become a part of our program's identity in a way. We don't win it enough to expect it but after a first round in KC our fan base gets super fired because we have won it enough to feel good about our chances.
I agree he looked tired but at some point we need to get him beyond it and able to play through it. I also struggle to fathom how his conditioning is such an issue to where he can't get to 30 minutes a game. Yes, we play an intense brand of defense but he was averaging over 30 a game with the Bonnies. Unless he has a health issue, which doesn't seem likely given those minutes, I don't understand the limitations. If you never make a guy play through, adjust, and extend minutes the guy will never be able to do just that. And we NEED him to be there for NCAAs.
Their defense did improve, but we did a poor job of adjusting. We need to flash harder, pass quicker, and be more robust with our movement. Too often we had ball handlers dribbling at the top of the key or had Holmes forcing the issue, getting trapped, and having no one rotate over for a viable outlet.
We all can think of plenty late-ish season Hilton games with an electric environment.
With that said, the conference tourneys are unique and can be an exhilarating 3 days of basketball vs conference peers. I would agree that I'd be a bit more pumped up for a BTT championship game over a February Hilton game though.
The non-con tourneys are kind of fun with games multiple nights in row, but I rarely sense the electricity is there. The unfamiliar opponents takes some of the edge off. Just seeing B12 teams for a 3rd time in the tourney is a different feel.
So about yesterday. Bummed they couldn't pull it out and the offense went stagnant late. At least it was at OSU which is typically a passionate fanbase and a loud arena. I really REALLY hated when ISU with Hoiberg would lose at Tech for example vs a ****** Red Raider team with half the arena empty. That was the worst. Also I don't think Fred ever figured out that ISU just could not make 3s in that gym.
Anywho, disappointed but ISU is in a good spot here.
Anywho, disappointed but ISU is in a good spot here.
It did become an identity there for a stretch, 4 in 6 seasons. It was refreshing (and a blast) especially considering that prior to that, ISU had won something like three games TOTAL at B12T from '01 to '13. (Maybe it was more than that, I'd have to check).
Of course I'd trade better performance in NCAAT + prefer regular season title, but none of that is mutually exclusive.
We've found out that the Big 12 tourney may or may not mean much for what happens after.
They make good money so there's that.
True. It doesn't guarantee tournament success. (Not only with ISU & Big12, but numerous examples through the years in other leagues)
Also Osun stopped being aggressive. When he got the ball in the high post in the 2nd half, he was immediately looking to pass. And his defender was backed off a couple steps clogging the paint. Would have like to have him either try to take his guy off the dribble or take 1 or 2 dribbles and shoot a 13-15 foot jumper. I realize the analytics folks would say that is a crappy shot, but if he hits a couple it opens up the lane for his teammates.
As tough as we play, we aren't uber athletic on the perimeter. It looked to me that OSU defender's got into Gabe and Jaren's head in the 2nd half and sped them up some.
I also think the bolded is where you can see the loss of Williams in the roster construction. Lipsey being as good as he is already has made that sting a lot less, but neither Gabe or Jaren are really PGs IMO. Jaren is better than Gabe there, but having another talented distributor of the basketball would help a ton.
Noticed that, in a couple of those situations, I thought he could drive to the bucket. If nothing else, to see what happened. Maybe could at least draw a foul.
Did Gabe ever come out yesterday? I mean, I know he's 'our guy' and we already lost Grill on defense, but either Gabe's guard did a heck of a job on denying him scoring opportunities, or Gabe got tired on some of those mid-range shots that were short to the rim that he usually makes. Still wish we had another healthy guard to spell him a few minutes. But with Grill and Jeremiah hurt, we don't.
