"In the Game", or "Back in the Game"

[Gunnerclone]

I've noticed that after our main demolishings of the season so far (Ark., hoks) that some people are of the opinion that Ark and the hoks were at some point in the 2nd half of these respective games "back in the game" or "in the game" again.

I'm interested to see what people consider "back in the game"? I think Arkansas got the lead down to 11 points and no closer, that's not back in the game for me, that's never being in the game. For Iowa in the second half I think they got the lead down to 13, which is certainly not "back in the game".

I would like to call for a compromise that unless what had been a 20+ point lead gets back down to single digits, the other team was not in fact "in the game" or "back in the game".

 

[mctallerton]

Single digits with possession.

 

[twocoach]

I've noticed that after our main demolishings of the season so far (Ark., hoks) that some people are of the opinion that Ark and the hoks were at some point in the 2nd half of these respective games "back in the game" or "in the game" again. I'm interested to see what people consider "back in the game"? I think Arkansas got the lead down to 11 points and no closer, that's not back in the game for me, that's never being in the game. For Iowa in the second half I think they got the lead down to 13, which is certainly not "back in the game". I would like to call for a compromise that unless what had been a 20+ point lead gets back down to single digits, the other team was not in fact "in the game" or "back in the game".

Arkansas got it to 11 with 8 minutes left. That's absolutely "in the game". They were just not able to take advantage of it and never got closer. Get some stops (which Arkansas was never able to do), force some turnovers (the vaunted Arky press only forced two the last 8 minutes) and make some threes (Arkansas went 0-4 in the last 8 minutes) and you're in it. They had themselves close enough at the 8 minute mark that then had enough time to win the game if they executed. They just didn't. Hats off to ISU for keeping them at arm's length and never letting them get any closer.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Arkansas got it to 11 with 8 minutes left. That's absolutely "in the game". They were just not able to take advantage of it and never got closer. Get some stops (which Arkansas was never able to do), force some turnovers (the vaunted Arky press only forced two the last 8 minutes) and make some threes (Arkansas went 0-4 in the last 8 minutes) and you're in it. They had themselves close enough at the 8 minute mark that then had enough time to win the game if they executed. They just didn't. Hats off to ISU for keeping them at arm's length and never letting them get any closer.

This isn't a revisionist history exercise. You take the game after it is done, look to see if the opposing team cut a 20+ point lead down to single digits or not, if:

Yes: They were back in the game
if,
No: They were not back in the game

 

[DiehardClone]

I think all of this is generated by a phenomenon that has occurred in several recent games. We quickly push the lead to 20 plus points, and then that lead is cut in half in the space of about 5 minutes or so.

It appears that some people are not real comfortable that these big leads are being cut in half, fairly quickly, by inferior competition.

It also appears that other people are not concerned about said phenomenon. Some of the people in this group seem to be under the illusion that they are going to convince those in the first group that their opinion is wrong.

EDIT: And I'd be stunned if the coaching staff is in the second group.

 

[The_Architect]

Arkansas got back in the game IMO because of how much time was left and how fast they play. Iowa and Southern did not. At no point was there legitimate threat of us blowing either of those games.

 

[CynadoAlley]

As an Iowa State fan.. I always think the opponent is still in the game.

 

[DiehardClone]

This isn't a revisionist history exercise. You take the game after it is done, look to see if the opposing team cut a 20+ point lead down to single digits or not, if:

Yes: They were back in the game
if,
No: They were not back in the game

Let's say ISU is down by 20 at Allen Fieldhouse, and we go on a run to make it an 11 point game with 8 minutes left. I would think most Cyclone fans would feel that the game is not over, that we still have a a chance. If you polled this fanbase at that particular moment, I'm gonna guess that a majority would say "Yes, we are back in this game."

 

[Bigman38]

Arkansas got back in the game IMO because of how much time was left and how fast they play. Iowa and Southern did not. At no point was there legitimate threat of us blowing either of those games.

This. Arkansas actually had the talent to close that 11 point gap. Never felt that way in the last two games.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Let's say ISU is down by 20 at Allen Fieldhouse, and we go on a run to make it an 11 point game with 8 minutes left. I would think most Cyclone fans would feel that the game is not over, that we still have a a chance. If you polled this fanbase at that particular moment, I'm gonna guess that a majority would say "Yes, we are back in this game."

It only matters after the game is over and you look at the numbers, takes emotion and knee jerks out of it.

 

[pulse]

I never thought they were back. Fred was giving guys rests when the other teams were trying to crawl back. Insert starters...boom.

 

[VeloClone]

I never thought they were back. Fred was giving guys rests when the other teams were trying to crawl back. Insert starters...boom.

There was a reason he had to reinsert the starters. Also, putting an arbitrary number on it totally ignores the influence of momentum on the sport of basketball.

 

[The_Architect]

Was it two years ago that we almost blew a 30+ point lead at WVU and then the same season blew a 20+ point lead at home to WVU only to have Niang win it at the buzzer with the lay-in?

 

[pulse]

I would argue they were put in to build the lead back up, not because the other team was back. Semantics, yes, but that is how I see it.

 

[DiehardClone]

It only matters after the game is over and you look at the numbers, takes emotion and knee jerks out of it.

Thanks, but I'll keep the emotion, it's what separates the college game and the NBA.

 

[greatshu]

We are Iowa State. No lead is safe. I've seen too many games that we end up losing after being up by 20.

 

[CoKane]

I've noticed that after our main demolishings of the season so far (Ark., hoks) that some people are of the opinion that Ark and the hoks were at some point in the 2nd half of these respective games "back in the game" or "in the game" again.

I'm interested to see what people consider "back in the game"? I think Arkansas got the lead down to 11 points and no closer, that's not back in the game for me, that's never being in the game. For Iowa in the second half I think they got the lead down to 13, which is certainly not "back in the game".

I would like to call for a compromise that unless what had been a 20+ point lead gets back down to single digits, the other team was not in fact "in the game" or "back in the game".

Southern and UMKC made runs to cut the lead down a ton too. We need to play a lot better with the lead. Our guys slow the game down too much when we get up by a good amount and then the other team takes advantage of us playing out of our game. We need to keep pushing the pace to keep our lead up, even if that means pulling starters here and there to do so.

 

[CoKane]

Was it two years ago that we almost blew a 30+ point lead at WVU and then the same season blew a 20+ point lead at home to WVU only to have Niang win it at the buzzer with the lay-in?

Yes.

 

[coolerifyoudid]

There was a reason he had to reinsert the starters. Also, putting an arbitrary number on it totally ignores the influence of momentum on the sport of basketball.

This. With how quickly a team can rattle off a 10-0 run in basketball, momentum is my key to someone being back in the game. I wasn't necessarily worried about Iowa, but when a 20+ point lead dips back down near 10, I don't just brush it off either.

 

[Cyclonesince78]

I hope we have this problem all year long.