Dominykas Pleta

[Rural]

Just my opinion, but I don’t think that this years team has the ceiling that last years did. Not that that’s bad, last years ceiling was a national title IMO. Unfortunately, injuries robbed us of even getting close to that.

I think that the ceiling this year is probably elite eight. To get there, we need to avoid injuries and get a solid contribution from Nelson plus one of the FR guards. Not impossible at all.

I don't think the national title thing was realistic , I thought E8 was top end.

Hard to go farther with defensively immobile bigs.

 

[madguy30]

Just my opinion, but I don’t think that this years team has the ceiling that last years did. Not that that’s bad, last years ceiling was a national title IMO. Unfortunately, injuries robbed us of even getting close to that.

I think that the ceiling this year is probably elite eight. To get there, we need to avoid injuries and get a solid contribution from Nelson plus one of the FR guards. Not impossible at all.

I thought EE was the ceiling last season with breaks/healthy roster.

Almost beating Auburn in November was...in November and the difference in athleticism in the true top teams and the 2nd tier was pretty stark as the tourney played out.

 

[Frak]

I don't think the national title thing was realistic , I thought E8 was top end.

Hard to go farther with defensively immobile bigs.

Maybe so. But we went from having two playmakers who were elite defensive stoppers to maybe 0.5 with Gilbert and Lipsey's injuries. I feel like FF was a legit possibility at least if those guys were 100%. But to get there, we needed a more consistent Momcilivic too...he's disappeared in our last two tourney losses.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Stinson and Blalock were Big 12 ready right from the start. When was the last time we had 2 dynamic and impactful guards come in as freshmen?

Here's hoping.

I know the answer: Talen Horton-Tucker and Tyrese Haliburton, 2018-19 season.

OK, that wasn't bad.

Monté Morris
Matt Thomas
+ Naz Mitrou-Long (technically a sophomore but didn't play much that season)

 

[NENick]

I know the answer: Talen Horton-Tucker and Tyrese Haliburton, 2018-19 season.

OK, that wasn't bad.

Um, Tamin Lipsey

 

[VeloClone]

I’m calling it now I think this guy is big 12 starter level, not a project.

It is long past time for the college game to adopt the wider NBA lane. Would probably need to maintain the narrower lane for the college women's game.

 

[VeloClone]

Agree. Great form on his outside shot, though not sure of his 3-pt%. Very athletic and skilled for his size. Would be great coming off the bench.

Was .239 from three with about 3 attempts a game in the ProB league last year. I wouldn't count on it being a big part of his game under TJ unless that percentage improves.

 

[VeloClone]

He’s better than Jackson and Chatfield from 3 for sure. I feel like at 24%, you still have to respect the pick and pop or follow him out. Opposing 5’s absolutely did not have to respect our past centers and stayed in the lane.

Not true. Chatfield was a career .337 three point shooter compared to Pleta's .239 last year. Even so, TJ never really had him shoot the three. Now that may have been because he was too valuable on the offensive glass, but I would be surprised if it is a part of Pleta's game at that percentage.

 

[Antihawk240]

I’m calling it now I think this guy is big 12 starter level, not a project.

Giddyup. I'm all for it! Watched the video, he certainly has the ability. However, until a 6'11' player steps on the court and proves it against a Big 12 team I will consider him a work in progress. Those who know me, know that I will be the first to eat crow. I will remember this post and revert back to it to serve it up too. What I saw in the video was a whole lot of "moving" / "illegal" screens. Kid is gonna get rung up on all the hip checks.

 

[VeloClone]

Giddyup. I'm all for it! Watched the video, he certainly has the ability. However, until a 6'11' player steps on the court and proves it against a Big 12 team I will consider him a work in progress. Those who know me, know that I will be the first to eat crow. I will remember this post and revert back to it to serve it up too. What I saw in the video was a whole lot of "moving" / "illegal" screens. Kid is gonna get rung up on all the hip checks.

We all know getting called for that really depends on what color jersey you wear.

 

[Big_Sill]

Heise actually led the team last year at just over 40%. Momcilovic was second, then Jones. Granted, the difficulty of a lot of Curtis Jones' shots was a lot higher than those other two.

3 point % should always be listed with # of makes. Lipsey made 39 threes at 33% last year. He's got to be respected, but he isn't making more than 50 this year. We need to make up for Curtis Jones 88 makes at 37%... which is gonna be hard.

Heise made 27 at 40% and came on strong late, but he's not a huge volume guy either.

 

[clone52]

He’s better than Jackson and Chatfield from 3 for sure. I feel like at 24%, you still have to respect the pick and pop or follow him out. Opposing 5’s absolutely did not have to respect our past centers and stayed in the lane.

Chatfield was a 33% 3 point shooter at Seattle. The year before Iowa State he was 29%. Better than Pleta. He was just not a shooter at Iowa State at all.

Pleta is going to have to be better than that to pull opposing 5's out of teh lane on defense.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Not true. Chatfield was a career .337 three point shooter compared to Pleta's .239 last year. Even so, TJ never really had him shoot the three. Now that may have been because he was too valuable on the offensive glass, but I would be surprised if it is a part of Pleta's game at that percentage.

I've always called that the "Kevin Love Argument" to myself.

Big man who is an okayish outside shooter... even a good one... but it isn't worth it.

Every shot that goes up without him in the lane you're paying a silent tax on missed opportunities for offensive boards. Sometimes (rarely) there are better things for even good shooters to do.

 

[VeloClone]

I've always called that the "Kevin Love Argument" to myself.

Big man who is an okayish outside shooter... even a good one... but it isn't worth it.

Every shot that goes up without him in the lane you're paying a silent tax on missed opportunities for offensive boards. Sometimes (rarely) there are better things for even good shooters to do.

Agreed. I also think there is value in keeping the defending big honest by maybe taking one opportunity a game, maybe two if the big is intent on sagging. That is especially true for a team like ISU who has relied on driving to create a lot of their offense. Make that big at least fein coming out from under the basket.

 

[VeloClone]

3 point % should always be listed with # of makes. Lipsey made 39 threes at 33% last year. He's got to be respected, but he isn't making more than 50 this year. We need to make up for Curtis Jones 88 makes at 37%... which is gonna be hard.

Heise made 27 at 40% and came on strong late, but he's not a huge volume guy either.

Very true. However Nate made 47 the previous year at UNI. He could easily double his production from last year without being out of character.

 

[moores2]

I've always called that the "Kevin Love Argument" to myself.

Big man who is an okayish outside shooter... even a good one... but it isn't worth it.

Every shot that goes up without him in the lane you're paying a silent tax on missed opportunities for offensive boards. Sometimes (rarely) there are better things for even good shooters to do.

Yeah having a big man be respectable from 3 doesn't open up the lane for drive first guards like Lipsey at all. who cares about floor spacing when you can have a chance at an offensive rebound.

 

[t-noah]

I want Dirk Nowitski but would be just fine with Detlef Schrempf.

 

[cyclones500]

I don't think the national title thing was realistic , I thought E8 was top end.

Hard to go farther with defensively immobile bigs.

I thought Final Four was ceiling considering preseason rank, but Elite 8 a more realistic ceiling, because so much has to go right in tournament to make run to 3rd weekend, even if your seed level is in that range.

Both with assumption of "mostly healthy" roster for majority of season, and that wasn't even close.

Occasionally, I think it's at least mildly surprising ISU was able to climb to the level it did, considering the injury situation. (Some days, I don't feel as strongly about that).

 

[cysmiley]

Ja, mir fehlt so viel!

Kein Wunder, dass meine Tochter sich ganz nicht normal verhaelt, wenn sie uns in Amerika besucht!

 

[cysmiley]

If he can pick and roll, catch the lob, and screen for the dribble penetration, and control some offensive glass, think we good. If he can pop an occasional three to keep their rim protector concerned, it is a bonus.