Heading into March Madness

alarson

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Wasn’t really the case last year. I think we will be ok. But things since West Virginia have been off.

I feel like while the trend in offensive decline is similar, the way its manifesting this year is different. We became really one dimensional on offense last year especially once Grill started dealing with stuff\left.
 

Cyclonepride

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I

It would behoove TJ to have a tough conversation with Gilbert, “this thing is not about you averaging 15 ppg a game, it’s about the team winning.”
Gilbert is forcing things when we're not doing what it takes within the offense to get baskets. Sometimes, it is either that, or throw up jump shots, and that's not what we want. I don't believe for a minute that he cares about how much he scores. He wants to win.
 

jspeels

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Gilbert needs to be checked. The last couple weeks he had been not good. Forcing things, etc…needs to get back to team ball and not hero and pray ball. I trust TJ, staff, and team will get him there!
 

bosco

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We had our heads swimming in the clouds when this team was in the top 50 offense but there was a market correction and those dreams have come crashing down.

The reality is this team is what they have shown the last 4 games. Grind it out and get what you can on offense and hope you can win in it in the final minutes.

Don't hope for some miracle where this team somehow finds that magic sauce that had them in the lofty 50's of offense. Expect the same old same old the last 2 years.

Depending on matchups they could be one and done (sad failure noises) or make the S16 which will be a successful season in spite of what could have been.
 

Cyclonepride

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Who here is demonstrating “disrespect” to the Big 12? (which of course is by far the best conference)
CF in general, not specifically in this thread, but you'd think from some of the comments that we were on a skid after losing a road game (after winning like 7/8), and that we were going to be an early out.

Yes, the offense needs to be better, and that starts with points off turnovers. We had 11 today and I think we average 20. An average outing in that category and we're having a different conversation right now.

I'd be way, way more concerned if we were an offensive minded team that was struggling to score against average defenses, but we're definitely a defensive minded team struggling against other good defenses.

Can't wait for the tournament to see teams that aren't intricately familiar with how we play.
 

CycloneSpinning

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Time to start CuJo, and rotate in KG? Wouldn't mind mixing things up a bit in KC, but I trust TJ to figure out what's best for his squad.
I think the one who should possibly see his way to the bench is Momcilovic. His production has fallen off a cliff since the Texas game. He’s 5/28 from 3 point range and just doesn’t bring enough to the table if he’s not stretching the defense by hitting a couple threes a game. He’s only had one game in the last month where he hit multiple threes (and took six shots to do it)…and he’s had five games where he had 0.

Unless he gets rolling, I think you have to figure we’re a two win team in the tournament. That’s still a really good season, but we’re a shooter away from being a Final Four team.
 
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BryceC

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I do want to say we’ll still be a 2 or 3 seed and we should still have the expectations of the sweet 16 or something.

But we were legitimately think E8 or FF the way the team was playing and that seems pretty far fetched now.
 

jsb

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I feel like while the trend in offensive decline is similar, the way its manifesting this year is different. We became really one dimensional on offense last year especially once Grill started dealing with stuff\left.

I agree it’s different and not as severe. But we’ve been sort of one dimensional lately.
 

madguy30

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I do want to say we’ll still be a 2 or 3 seed and we should still have the expectations of the sweet 16 or something.

But we were legitimately think E8 or FF the way the team was playing and that seems pretty far fetched now.

I think assuming a FF or EE is going to just happen because of a team being successful in early February is far fetched anyway.

I mean anyone can dream but I guess I don't know how some just come to that kind of conclusion especially in today's era.
 

cyclones500

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I think the one who should possibly see his way to the bench is Momcilovic. His production has fallen off a cliff since the Texas game. He’s 5/28 from 3 point range and just doesn’t bring enough to the table if he’s not stretching the defense by hitting a couple threes a game. He’s only had one game in the last month where he hit multiple threes (and took six shots to do it)…and he’s had five games where he had 0.

Unless he gets rolling, I think you have to figure we’re a two win team in the tournament. That’s still a really good season, but we’re a shooter away from being a Final Four team.
I can't say whether he should move out of starting lineup, but lately I think he's thinking too much.

Opponents also have seemed to put focus on disrupting his flow.
 

jctisu

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I think assuming a FF or EE is going to just happen because of a team being successful in early February is far fetched anyway.

I mean anyone can dream but I guess I don't know how some just come to that kind of conclusion especially in today's era.
It’s really simple to me. We are an Elite 8/Final Four level team because we have played like that for a very good stretch of the season. Not lately, but we know we can play at that level. Will we? Well that’s a crap shoot, just like any year in the tournament.

And it’s pretty hard in this day and age to say someone can’t make an Elite 8/Final Four. I mean just last year alone, which Nostradamus went in saying, “FAU and San Diego State. Yeah absolutely Final Four material.”
 

BryceC

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I think assuming a FF or EE is going to just happen because of a team being successful in early February is far fetched anyway.

I mean anyone can dream but I guess I don't know how some just come to that kind of conclusion especially in today's era.

I never said that. It was a possibility before, now it really isn’t.
 

CoachHines3

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3 seed is our floor, won’t go below that.

The one nice thing about the ncaa tournament is you get to play a team that’s usually not accustomed to the type of defensive pressure we put on the opponents.

That being said, March is a funny thing and we very well could lose as a 3 seed in Rd 1. I’d like to think this team is different defensively and that won’t happen.

The 6/11 matchup we’d play in Rd 2 as a 3 seed would probably be matchup dependent.
 
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AllInForISU

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How are you feeling? From a W/L perspective, we've been fantastic lately. But watching the games, the offense is concerning. After going up 11-2 today, we had a stretch where they outscored us 35-13. Road games are hard, but this was against an NIT team. I think any talk about us losing to a 14 or 15 seed is crazy, but if the offense doesn't improve I wouldn't at all be surprised if we lost to a 6 or 7 seed.

I don’t put too much stock into it. Conference games are hard, the scouting is much better and this is the second time ISU has played KSU, and KSU isn’t a horrible team. Would I have like to see a win yesterday? Of course. But teams lose. Purdue has lost a couple this year to teams they shouldn’t have, Arizona lost to a below .500 USC team yesterday, UConn got blown out against Creighton, just to name a couple potential 1 seeds. There is more parity in college basketball than ever before. We just need to sit back and see how the bracket lays out. The tournament is, and always has been, about matchups.

Overall this season has been a blast, and I cannot wait until selection Sunday.
 

jctisu

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I never said that. It was a possibility before, now it really isn’t.
It’s always a possibility. Being in the tournament gives you a possibility. St. Peter’s made the Elite 8 just the other year for crying out loud. Get hot, get some luck, etc. That’s what the tournament is for every team since it’s single elimination.
 

madguy30

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It’s really simple to me. We are an Elite 8/Final Four level team because we have played like that for a very good stretch of the season. Not lately, but we know we can play at that level. Will we? Well that’s a crap shoot, just like any year in the tournament.

And it’s pretty hard in this day and age to say someone can’t make an Elite 8/Final Four. I mean just last year alone, which Nostradamus went in saying, “FAU and San Diego State. Yeah absolutely Final Four material.”

Was that level something the team can do consistently?

Can they really get back to that with all of the film out there?

I think starting Thursday we see the spacing, ball movement, etc. in a better place but there's still limitations there in regards to athleticism, speed, etc.

You never know what can happen but there's also not just some 'switch' that makes them a Final Four team.
 

madguy30

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I never said that. It was a possibility before, now it really isn’t.

I'm not really saying you said it--it's just a common theme.

What made it a possibility in early February?

How does that come to fruition 1.5 months before the tournament?
 
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CycloneErik

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With different players that couldn't have gotten the game to 5 or pulled it off vs. BYU like this group. And iirc each player had their worst +/- game of the entire season all at once against Pitt or something like that.

That's not to say that they couldn't get beat in the first round. Pretty sure every single program has at some point even with high seeds.

They might also win a game or two.

Just gotta see how things shake out. Sports is weird.
Might even win 4 or 6.
 
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RagingCloner

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I never said that. It was a possibility before, now it really isn’t.
They have just as much possibility to get to the E8 or FF as they did a month ago. The NCAA tourney is an absolute crap shoot, and with NIL, there’s more parity than there has ever been
 
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