Enjoy the ride

[IAStubborn]

Posted this in the "I'm worried" thread but more relevant here.

This was our toughest remaining game in a tough stretch and going into the game I saw our likely range of reasonable possibilities in the final 8 games of the the season as 7-1 at best and 3-5 the worst. I still see this as true. We lost the most likely one in our final 8. Here is our expected RPI and projected seed in any of the likely scenarios for the final 7 games:

3-4 / 20-10 expected RPI 19 Seed 5/6
4-3 / 21-9 expected RPI 17 Seed 5
5-2 / 22-8 expected RPI 12 - Seed 4
6-1 / 23-7 expected RPI 11 Seed 3/4
7-0 / 24-4 expected RPI 9 Seed 3

In other words even if we don't win another game outside of Hilton in the regular season we still finish with a top 20 RPI and a likely top 6 seed. If we want a top 3 or 4 seed though we need to finish 5-2 or get help in the B12 tourney. Going into this game the difference between finishing 7-1 and 5-3 was 3 RPI spots. Now we do any of the above scenarios and win a couple in KC we are a top 4 seed regardless. Hell if we only beat TCU on the road and win 1 in KC we are a top 4 seed. In other words we have a VERY good chance of being a top 4 seed and in good position for the tourney maybe even get lucky with Omaha. Mark me down as not worried and enjoying the ride!

 

[NorthCyd]

We've been down by 20+ points in 4 games this year.

In comparison, TCU has been down 20+ points 3 games this year.

That tells me right there this team is weak mentally and completely forget the Hoiball mentality whenever they have to go through adversity.

1st, TCU played a joke of non-con, and probably would have had had a few more large deficits if they had played anyone with a pulse. 2nd, TCU plays at a slow tempo to keep the score close. Maybe you have a point, but your knee jerk analysis sucks at validating it.

 

[bigdaddykane]

To be fair, BDK has plenty of experience with leaving games early so he's actually a credible source on this.

Only for football games bruh.

 

[madguy30]

We've been down by 20+ points in 4 games this year.

In comparison, TCU has been down 20+ points 3 games this year.

That tells me right there this team is weak mentally and completely forget the Hoiball mentality whenever they have to go through adversity.

Then last year's wasn't far off, being down by 18 to UNI, being down by double digits early in a lot of ther games, and being down by 16 to OSU on Senior Day before shots started falling. I realize there were grinded out come backs for wins, but it wasn't too often that watching what was apparently the best team ever was relaxing in the end.

Can someone clear this up--if thie ISU team ends up with 10-11 losses, how do they maintain something like a 5-6 seed? I would assume an 8-10 seed comes more into the discussion.

Edited: IAStubborn may have cleared it up if the RPI projections come through.

 

[ISU42]

We've been down by 20+ points in 4 games this year.

In comparison, TCU has been down 20+ points 3 games this year.

That tells me right there this team is weak mentally and completely forget the Hoiball mentality whenever they have to go through adversity.

Seems like you may have made this up.

Largest Lead (according to Cyclones.com):

Baylor 17
Maryland 15
South Carolina 12
Texas Tech 19
Kansas 19
Oklahoma 20

 

[bigdaddykane]

I've read this several times on CF. What's the story behind it?

I left the NDSU, Baylor, Toledo, and OU game early.

 

[cycloneworld]

I'm most definitely enjoying the ride. But that doesn't mean I'm satisfied. Watching this team, the talent is there to win the conference title. There is nothing wrong with wanting to win more, right?

 

[CyHawk7]

I left the NDSU, Baylor, Toledo, and OU game early.

If I was a high school kid using tickets my parents bought me I would probably would have done the same thing. I didn't become a diehard fan till I went to Iowa State.

 

[ISUFan22]

The facts...

- very good team
- dominant at home
- struggling on the road
- too many whiner "fans" can't handle themselves after a loss

 

[ISUFan22]

I'm most definitely enjoying the ride. But that doesn't mean I'm satisfied. Watching this team, the talent is there to win the conference title. There is nothing wrong with wanting to win more, right?

This is a great post and fairly accurate. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting more.

What is wrong, are the "fans" trashing the team/players. Wanting someone new every week benched. Going over the top, questioning why we are ranked, if we'll even make the tourney, etc.

I am sick of reading that all over the place here and elsewhere. Some of you (not you, cyclonworld) are huge mother ******* babies. I am ****** we loss last night too. But I'm not going to go on blast here, Facebook, Twitter, etc - trashing this team. That is just pathetic.

People forget OU is likely playing the best out of any team in the conference right now.

 

[ISUKyro]

Why is this so difficult for fans? Every year the team will be different with ups and downs. ISU is in a position to land a 3-6 seed in the tourney and all people do is complain. 3-4 years ago, you would have **** your pant for a season like this. This team doesn't deserve to be called lazy, selfish, weak minded, etc. They deserve your support so stop crying and give them that.

The amount of common sense in this post is hurting my head.

 

[CycloneErik]

This is spot on. I think some of it is based on the heightened expectations this year, which were very real, and in light of those expectations a 3-6 seed can be viewed as somewhat of a disappointment, but a little bit of perspective is obviously needed.

On the other hand, this type of freak-out happened each of the last 4 years, so it's not entirely based on expectations.

As you pointed out, it's the incessant personal attacks (lazy, selfish, weak, not trying, etc) that make this site fairly unreadable after a loss for me. I don't understand how people can treat their favorite team that way.

Basically, being a fan is more fun without the site right now. I find that fans away from the site are generally enjoying the season, recognizing that losing stinks, but have at least a little perspective. The only real drag on the season for me is here, so I just shut the site down around games now.

 

[Rabbuk]

The facts...

- very good team
- dominant at home
- struggling on the road
- too many whiner "fans" can't handle themselves after a loss

Tourney games happen on the road. Only reason to be worried.

 

[jsb]

here's another way of looking at things.

I remember in the McDermott years, thinking about if one small thing happened, the results would be completely different. It always seemed like those teams were a few made shots, a few stops, a few smart plays away from winning games.

And this team is kind of like that....but they are talented enough that they are a really good team who is just a few stops, a few less boneheaded plays, a few more rebounds, etc away from being a great team.

So the feeling that I have is similar to those old McDermott teams. But we need to remember that we are at a much better baseline.

 

[ISUFan22]

Tourney games happen on the road. Only reason to be worried.

Last year's team didn't exactly wow people away from Hilton. Every year is different. This season could be one and done in KC and March - who knows. Or it could be a repeat of last year. Or, it could be even better.

 

[Antihawk240]

My opinions through the season so far :
A) Buddy Hield is probably going to be Big XII player of the year
B) Oklahoma has a serious basketball team and has caught fire, and if the Tournament started this Thursday they'd be right up there with Kentucky on the list of "please don't make us play."
C) Fortunately the NCAA tournament doesn't start for another 5 weeks giving Fred and the Cyclones 5 weeks to get corrections made.
D) It's called March Madness for a reason because those who play the best basketball in March........not February.....usually end up going farthest.

 

[cycloneworld]

This is a great post and fairly accurate. There is absolutely nothing wrong with wanting more.

What is wrong, are the "fans" trashing the team/players. Wanting someone new every week benched. Going over the top, questioning why we are ranked, if we'll even make the tourney, etc.

I am sick of reading that all over the place here and elsewhere. Some of you (not you, cyclonworld) are huge mother ******* babies. I am ****** we loss last night too. But I'm not going to go on blast here, Facebook, Twitter, etc - trashing this team. That is just pathetic.

People forget OU is likely playing the best out of any team in the conference right now.

Agree completely. Just like I don't like the fans who say "Matt Thomas sucks" or "We will be lucky to be a 9 seed", I equally dislike the fans who think no one should say anything negative about the team. For me, its all how you present yourself. Asking why Matt Thomas is getting so many minutes when he is shooting 10% from 3 is a valid question/discussion. Saying "Matt Thomas should get his scholarship taken away" is not IMO.

I hope people are able to enjoy where the program is at right now though. Having been through the ups of the Floyd and LE days, the downs on the end of the LE days, end of the Morgan days, and all of the McDermott years, its awesome to be able to watch us play twice per week.

 

[VeloClone]

Agree completely. Just like I don't like the fans who say "Matt Thomas sucks" or "We will be lucky to be a 9 seed", I equally dislike the fans who think no one should say anything negative about the team. For me, its all how you present yourself. Asking why Matt Thomas is getting so many minutes when he is shooting 10% from 3 is a valid question/discussion. Saying "Matt Thomas should get his scholarship taken away" is not IMO.

I didn't realize it was that bad...because...oh yeah, it isn't. Thomas is struggling but the actual overall percentage is 27% and even the conference only number is 23%.

This is part of the problem though. People skew what is actually happening and present it as fact.

 

[fsanford]

Seems like we are underachieving for the talent......need for team work....will it happen?

We were picked 5th in the conference, now Texas, KSU, they are underachieving. ISU not really.

 

[cycloneworld]

I didn't realize it was that bad...because...oh yeah, it isn't. Thomas is struggling but the actual overall percentage is 27% and even the conference only number is 23%.

This is part of the problem though. People skew what is actually happening and present it as fact.

That wasn't an subtle shot at Thomas, I believe he is 1/10 from 3 in his last 5 games, hence the 10% comment.