*** Official #22 TCU vs #19 IOWA STATE Game(Day) Thread ***
- Thread starter CycloneRulzzz
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I think the back is an issue, which is affecting his play from a physical standpoint but also has gotten in his head. But he also lost his composure in both the WVU and OSU games (the push against Touissant in the WVU game and the late technical in the OSU game). That frustration probably came in part from his struggles on the court and in part from how teams have defended him. I'm guessing, based on TJ's comments after the OSU game, that he was more disappointed in Grill's loss of composure than he was in Grill's actual play.
In the OSU game Saturday, they really got into his head. Grill's #1 struggle is dealing with length and they did a really good job on him. Got to the point where he started getting visibly frustrated in the 2nd half and TJ took him out. TJ tried talking with him on the sideline but Grill didn't want to talk, tried walking by him, and TJ ended up chewing him a bit. Grill got back into the game a bit later, still frustrated and went to the FT line at a critical moment. Him and a player for OSU were chirping at one another as Grill was taking both FTs which he went and missed both and fouled out of frustration (which essentially sealed the game). Grill and that same guy then got into each other's faces which led to double technicals, Grill fouling out, and Grill having to be pulled off the court while yelling "let's take this outside" (or something to that nature).
So, that's what happened lol. I think Grill was a little dinged up last night but he was also definitely frustrated. I think him not starting was disciplinary but you could tell he's still a bit banged up.
The bolded items play into each other. As soon as the offense relaxes/gets tentative and goes into "run out the clock" mode, the defense intensity drops. It's the same guys playing on both ends of the floor...if you relax on one end of the floor, it affects the other end as well. It's really hard to flip the "intensity switch" back on when playing defense.
Sums up what I'm guessing, too. They are REALLY locking down on Grill and Gabe, and rightly so. Great to have Holmes and especially last night's Jaz balance that.
I guess as much as I watch us play, I should know this. I mean, I think Grill is a warrior on defense. Was he getting a reputation of playing too physical and now they zero in on him almost baiting him or going beyond what should be allowed? Or is it just respect to not let him go off on '3's?
I have lower back issues so I can totally empathize with Grill and his moodiness of late. Back pain is the worst.
Probably in part the back, but I don't think there's any doubt TJ was not happy with him after the OSU game. You saw him get a pretty stern talking to prior to his T, and then he obviously lost his composure. I'm going to guess making that very large mistake after TJ had just talked to him minutes prior still has TJ fuming a bit.
I think both of those could be a factor, but probably more so the latter. It seems to me that "the book" on stopping Iowa State's offense is to make them uncomfortable. That can mean applying pressure to the ball, but that can also mean being more physical off the ball to keep guys from being able to come off screens cleanly or catch passes on balance.
I think the increased off-ball pressure explains some of the offensive struggles of Grill and Kalscheur lately. If Grill is getting bumped all the time, that can't be good for his back, plus he can't get the shots he had gotten previously. Similarly, Kalscheur is excellent when his defender gets a little bit off-balance, but if the defender doesn't let Kalscheur catch the ball in the way he wants to, then Kalscheur loses the advantage.
He has spent the most time in this system and under TJ, so naturally there is a comfort level between coach and player. Maybe, you could argue Grill is getting a little TOO comfortable playing under TJ and feels he's earned the right to maybe cross a couple lines that he wouldn't have in his younger days on the court.
Just speculating, but I think he has come out of his shell this year and is certainly letting it all hang out, and rightly so, he's earned that. I do think TJ would prefer he reign it in just a little bit, but keep that fire and confidence in a positive direction.
I'd bet TJ has talked to him about this to some degree, but I really do think it's a combination of all the factors mentioned by everyone here as to what's the deal with Grill right now. I don't think it's anything like a doghouse or a falling out situation, by all accounts CG and TJ are very fond of each other and close.
Probably just trying to press the right buttons with CG to get him healthy and right in the head so he can have as much success as possible and help the team win.
We really struggle offensively with physical play on the perimeter. When we're playing well, we are moving the ball from side to side and there's great space and pace to what's going on. When the other team starts getting really physical around screens and they're in our space daring us to beat them off the dribble, we aren't very good.
ISU is a few breaks and a few made FTs away from being 13-0 in the B12. That's hard to believe but true.
The 99-00 team went 14-2 and both losses were very close.
The 99-00 team went 14-2 and both losses were very close.
I feel TJ went back to what was working in Nov/early Dec. Starting Osun & Kunc brings more height to our lineup. Plus Kunc is a really good 3 point shooter, maybe the most consistent on the team. And at 6'8" he can get that shot off in balance vs. a Gabe, Grill or Holmes away.
Plus it gives TJ to split the 120 minutes at the 1-3 spots between those 4 guys. Sure they can play 36mpg, but they will be stronger at 30mpg.
If we needed Caleb last night, I think he would have gotten more 2nd half minutes. But with a double digit lead most of the 2nd half, maybe TJ tried to give Griil's back a rest.
Tough deal for ISU at the moment...they are basically having to do kind of a late-season re-tool of the offense to make up for the drop-off in points from CG/GK. Also Holmes is shooting 40% from MU forward and is up and down (50%, 25%, 50%, 43%, 25%, 40%). Kunc to the rescue???
He lost his cool pretty bad. Only time this year I've seen a player act out real bad after a foul call, and ended up running his mouth long enough afterwards to get T'ed for it.
They're also a few breaks from not being in the tourney discussion.
The 99-00 team had several NBA players on it and the Big 12 had a bottom. They had to come from behind at a bad Tech team late in the year but had that All-American thingy to get needed buckets.
There was a stretch in the 2nd half where both Osun and Rob were on the bench. That doesn't happen often and only when Jaz has been available I think. These types of lineups are unfamiliar and I wonder if we see more of it as there's less "scouting data" to look at for combinations like these.
Lineup was:
Lipsey
Holmes
Watson
Tre King
Kunc
I think the length + size combination of Watson, King, and Kunc more than enough made up for being "small ball"
Those three guys play intense too. I think the wrinkle of the unfamiliar lineup threw TCU off a little.
