Nick Weiler-Babb = Joel Lanning

[cyclonestate]

Nick Weiler-Babb has become the Joel Lanning of Iowa State basketball.

• He agreed move to a new position and he has exceeded everyone's expectations at that position.
• Like Lanning, he's become a stat sheet stuffer. Points, assists, rebounds.
• He has made his team significantly better. Jackson and Wiggington in particular.
• He has placed the team's welfare ahead of his own.
• He's an amazing representative for Iowa State University. Very humble and hard working.

 

[LindenCy]

For a while there I was almost expecting a triple double possibility every night. Eh, let's face it, I still am. His averages are amazing.

 

[LindenCy]

5th in the NCAA in assists (and 7.8 is a really high number for college): http://www.ncaa.com/stats/basketball-men/d1/current/individual/140

Plus 13.9 points, 7 rebounds, and 1.4 steals - no complaints, and that's with a slow start.

 

[FerShizzle]

I wouldn't really say he moved positions. It's been wildly rumored for years that Prohm thought of him as PG and that he had he ability to create shots for teammates and distribute.

Plus, we run a mostly positionless offense, but you need at least 1 fasilitator on the floor at all times.

Agree on all other points. Great ambassador, humble, deserving of all praise he gets.

 

[cyclones500]

I thought of this comparison a couple of days ago. NWB to PG is less radical move than Lanning to LB, but similar as far as being somewhat unexpected strategy, maximizing a player's impact for good of team.

 

[acgclone]

If you factor in Babb's rebounding, which is extremely high for a guard (Wigginton is rebounding nicely also), as well as his defense, he is a complete package right now.

Our backcourt at this point is good enough to give us a shot of finishing 6th or 7th in a very tough B12.

It won't be easy, but it's possible right now the way we're playing.

 

[IsUaClone2]

He also seems to be calm and poised; so far at least. Those qualities on a young but talented team are priceless.

 

[FinalFourCy]

I wouldn't really say he moved positions. It's been wildly rumored for years that Prohm thought of him as PG and that he had he ability to create shots for teammates and distribute.

Plus, we run a mostly positionless offense, but you need at least 1 fasilitator on the floor at all times.

Agree on all other points. Great ambassador, humble, deserving of all praise he gets.

Babb played a good amount of pg as a senior in high school which is why many were high on him for a long time. When he signed with Arkansas he was viewed as a 6’4” shooting guard without a great shot, plus Fred had his eye on Vaughn and his mind on the NBA. If he had waited until the spring to sign he’s arguably a much better recruit as a 6’5” combo guard. Fortunately for us Arkansas had experience in front of him and we were one of the few that knew his true upside.

 

[WIB]

Babb is also a really good leader... which some of the younger guys really need.

 

[Nader_uggghhh]

Babb is also a really good leader... which some of the younger guys really need.

I expected Babb to be way better than the expectation, but I didn't expect him to emerge as such a good leader.I thought it was neat at the end of the press conference he even asked Prohm if he could keep the stat sheet.

 

[allfourcy]

If you factor in Babb's rebounding, which is extremely high for a guard (Wigginton is rebounding nicely also), as well as his defense, he is a complete package right now.

Our backcourt at this point is good enough to give us a shot of finishing 6th or 7th in a very tough B12.

It won't be easy, but it's possible right now the way we're playing.

6th or 7th would be amazing!! Until we play UNI and a Big12 foe, I don't think we can project much about a big12 finish. Its just that the Big12 is loaded. Impressed with the non conference wins so far by lots of the teams. KU, TCU, Tech, OU, WVirg, & Baylor & Texas will be the top seven teams, imo. (not in that order) Big12 wins will be tough to come by. Heck, even KState and OkieState (interesting to see how they do vs. Wichita St. today) are better than I had hoped. One good thing, every conference game will be an 'opportunity' to get a resume boost.

 

[CycloneErik]

6th or 7th would be amazing!! Until we play UNI and a Big12 foe, I don't think we can project much about a big12 finish. Its just that the Big12 is loaded. Impressed with the non conference wins so far by lots of the teams. KU, TCU, Tech, OU, WVirg, & Baylor & Texas will be the top seven teams, imo. (not in that order) Big12 wins will be tough to come by. Heck, even KState and OkieState (interesting to see how they do vs. Wichita St. today) are better than I had hoped. One good thing, every conference game will be an 'opportunity' to get a resume boost.

I'm not going to gauge anything off of a UNI game. It doesn't matter how good we are in that game. It's always eye-bleeding ugly.

 

[allfourcy]

I'm not going to gauge anything off of a UNI game. It doesn't matter how good we are in that game. It's always eye-bleeding ugly.

True. My point was that I think they will be our best opponent we'll have faced so far. (I know, I'll get bashed for that one, but I think Jacobsen's team is better than Missouri, Iowa, or Boise St.)

 

[CyCloned]

6th or 7th would be amazing!! Until we play UNI and a Big12 foe, I don't think we can project much about a big12 finish. Its just that the Big12 is loaded. Impressed with the non conference wins so far by lots of the teams. KU, TCU, Tech, OU, WVirg, & Baylor & Texas will be the top seven teams, imo. (not in that order) Big12 wins will be tough to come by. Heck, even KState and OkieState (interesting to see how they do vs. Wichita St. today) are better than I had hoped. One good thing, every conference game will be an 'opportunity' to get a resume boost.

I'm sort of with you on needing to see more to determine how good this team is. 6th or 7th would be very good for this team, because the Big 12 is looks to be the best conference top to bottom in the country. It is nice to see the improvement, but honestly, ISU has not beaten anyone good yet. They have just be some marginal and bad teams, which is better than they started the season.

 

[CycloneErik]

True. My point was that I think they will be our best opponent we'll have faced so far. (I know, I'll get bashed for that one, but I think Jacobsen's team is better than Missouri, Iowa, or Boise St.)

You're right on that count, and they have a style that really pushes us to make adaptations we're never quite comfortable with.

 

[acgclone]

I’ve not seen UNI play but I would imagine we’ll have to guard the 3 point line better than we did against Iowa in order to win.


Jacobson’s team won’t give up as many easy baskets off of turnovers like Iowa did.

 

[allfourcy]

I'm sort of with you on needing to see more to determine how good this team is. 6th or 7th would be very good for this team, because the Big 12 is looks to be the best conference top to bottom in the country. It is nice to see the improvement, but honestly, ISU has not beaten anyone good yet. They have just be some marginal and bad teams, which is better than they started the season.

Yep, but just like you, I am pleased with the progress we've made, so hopefully we'll look back in February and be even more amazed how much they've grown. A Prohm trait. Really think it will depend mostly on the improvement of Lard (he's got to learn how to play defense without fouling) and health and improvement of Brase.

 

[FinalFourCy]

6th or 7th in the Big 12 means you’re a top-30/top-35 team.

I think Boise (with Hutchinson) is a NCAA tournament type team. UNI and Tennessee are as well, maybe even Missouri. Those games in addition to playing 16+ games against top-40 teams during the Big 12 schedule is a hell of challenge for a team replacing those 6 seniors. It’s really too bad we couldn’t have had more spring recruiting success.

 

[HFCS]

Both dramatically improved pro opportunities with switch.

 

[allfourcy]

6th or 7th in the Big 12 means you’re a top-30/top-35 team.

I think Boise (with Hutchinson) is a NCAA tournament type team. UNI and Tennessee are as well, maybe even Missouri. Those games in addition to playing 16+ games against top-40 teams during the Big 12 schedule is a hell of challenge for a team replacing those 6 seniors. It’s really too bad we couldn’t have had more spring recruiting success.

The only one that still sticks in the gut for me is Juiston. I might be over hyping him, but he would have made this team much more complete.