adjusted tourney expectations with KG injury
- Thread starter EvilBetty
- Start date
The key to having a magical run in the NCAA tournament is to get there A LOT with a capable team. Eventually you get the breaks, get the draw, get the hot streak. TJ is the perfect guy to get us a lot of opportunities.
I share that general assessment.
Iowa State has had a solid record of tournament appearances, on average, within the past 30 years. But (excuse my ramble/disorganized presentation):
(1) High seed level isn't frequent or steady (speaks to your "with a capable team"). Deeper runs typically follow being on top lines (let's say 3 or better)... no guarantee, but it doesn't hurt.
(2) We've had several gaps between appearances. The past decade or so has been an outlier in that regard. From 1984-85 through 2009-2010, only four occurrences of consecutive NCAAT appearances. One three-season stretch '95 to '97.
Certainly, there have been out-of-the-blue runs to Final Four, but there can be an advantage to frequency.
the other podcast, Sound the Cyrons I think it is called, they were very somber about our chances too.
Omg the 2 guys podcast is terrible this week. Chris Hassel berating IsU fans telling them they have to accept this as being one of the most disappointing seasons in ISU history lol. And then CW agreeing with him and telling everyone to stop being so sensitive.
The thing about it is that when you’re good, and you’ve been good and the future looks good, this type of situation just doesn’t hit the same. If we don’t make it to the sweet 16 that’s disappointing…okay ya always.
A truly disappointing season to me is being 16-17 and not even sniffing the tourney, and you don’t have any connection to the players, and you don’t show up to watch them, and you haven’t been to the sweet 16 in this century and all of your players are in the portal and you don’t even have a coach.
Disappointed not making the S16, not disappointed in the season. Big difference imo.
The thing about it is that when you’re good, and you’ve been good and the future looks good, this type of situation just doesn’t hit the same. If we don’t make it to the sweet 16 that’s disappointing…okay ya always.
A truly disappointing season to me is being 16-17 and not even sniffing the tourney, and you don’t have any connection to the players, and you don’t show up to watch them, and you haven’t been to the sweet 16 in this century and all of your players are in the portal and you don’t even have a coach.
Disappointed not making the S16, not disappointed in the season. Big difference imo.
Definitely, and I think having returning players that have already been in a tournament or two is huge
I haven't listened to the Pod yet, but at one time we were assumed to be a #1 Seed, top 5 team. Hell, Grant Mahoney kept saying that the Final Four was the FLOOR for this team. He is kind of a troll like that, but still.
I'm old enough to know not to buy into that hype, but I think a lot of fans did.
And maybe we'll go to the Final 4 and all will be forgiven. Tournaments are funny like that.
Staying with sweet 16. I was so looking forward to the Cyclones vs Sparty rematch - to get payback for that ****** reffed game in 2000.
But with the injury, and other guys still playing hurt, don't think we have the ability to pull that off.
But with the injury, and other guys still playing hurt, don't think we have the ability to pull that off.
I've decided it's either Final Four or burn down Hilton.
Maybe the drunk people bridge too.
noted basketball mind Grant Mahoney lol. I can’t remember a team in recent memory that had a floor of the Final Four. Maybe AD UK? Partner/Hill/Hurley Duke? Runnin’ Rebs era UNLV?
There’s been some great teams since then but saying a FLOOR is FF is wildly dumb.
I feel like our ceiling is just as high as it was before. No one person is going to replace him. Everyone has to step up, and they have been. Not only Nate and Cujo but I feel like our bigs have played with more energy recently. I feel like we've played our best lately -- K-State and Cincy -- when we've tried to establish the inside game early. Then the outside game is gravy.
Plus I feel like people are forgetting that this is the NCAA tournament. We could lose game 1. We could win game 1 and every higher seed around us goes down. There’s more to the ncaa tourney than just what your own team is doing.
2025 NCAA Tournament: 10 X-factors poised to become household names in March Madness
These players will be key if their teams are to make deep NCAA Tournament runs
Nate Heise included.
I think he has a great chance at being the X factor. We're talented enough at other spots that he doesn't have to be Keshon Gilbert. He can just do what he does (defend, rebound, score when it presents itself and get the 50/50 balls). The great part is that his floor is pretty high due to what he does, so every bit of scoring is icing on the cake. If he stays more aggressive with that, I think our ceiling as a team is still pretty damn high.2025 NCAA Tournament: 10 X-factors poised to become household names in March Madness
These players will be key if their teams are to make deep NCAA Tournament runswww.cbssports.com
Nate Heise included.
My only major concerns are Lipsey's mobility and Heise's fouls. Who really knows, but I swear Heise sometimes rides a guy—especially if the opponent's primary ball-handler—until an official is forced to call something. Otz teams are good at going right up to each crew's line then adjusting, but Heise can't be playing the mental games early. If he has two fouls with 9:00 to go I don't mind a cheap one, but the margin for error is about zero for the active roster
Pretty worried about a potential R32 matchup with UNC
That's definitely a legitimate concern now with one less guard available.
They still have to beat 'Ol Miss. Not sure they will. They've stomped lesser competition all year, but seem to struggle with good teams.
