Thanks Rulzzz. Really don’t know what to expect today. Will they want revenge and play like the Arizona game or are they down from the tough BYU loss. Already locked into the 5 seed in Big 12 tourney but I think they still need a couple wins to stay on the 3 line for NCAA tourney. Let’s say 74-68 good guys. Go Clones!
Tex,
Just a comment about that "tough BYU loss." I'm going to be 70 this month, and I've watched a lot of basketball in my lifetime. That ISU/BYU game was one of the two or three most hard-fought games I've ever seen. I remember thinking at the start of the second overtime that whoever won, there was no shame in losing because both teams had given absolutely everything they had to try to win. Everybody who follows basketball has seen games where you think it's really sad someone has to lose because both sides gave their very best all game long. That game was definitely one of those games.
I didn't know much about Iowa State until last season, when I came to CF and read about "Hilton Magic". You ISU fans give a lot of credit to the enthusiasm of your fans for your success at home. After watching that ISU/BYU game, I can see why. "Hilton Magic" is a very real thing. I thought the Cyclones really got a boost from the way the ISU crowd got into the game. You've certainly got incredibly enthusiastic fans, and they also show a LOT of real class. After such a tough loss, your fans giving both teams a standing ovation as they left the court speaks very highly for both your fans' basketball knowledge and their sportsmanship. The people who were BYU fans that attended that game and wrote about it on the BYU fan forum, "Cougarboard," were unanimous in their praise for the way they were treated at Hilton. They had nothing but good to say about their experience there.
Because of that, I went to CF and read the entire 118 pages of the CF thread on the game. I was impressed by the depth and breadth of basketball knowledge shown. You have some very sharp people on this forum. I apologize for the bonehead who claimed to be a BYU fan and wrote some derogatory things toward the end of the thread. If he was a real BYU fan, he embarrassed us, but it's possible he was a Utah Ute fan trying to make BYU look bad. That happens sometimes.
I watched your postgame interviews with Milan Momcilovic and Curtis Jones. They had good answers and handled themselves well in what was clearly a tough spot. Speaking of Jones, he and Tamin Lipsey are sheer misery for every backcourt you guys face. BYU's guards got eaten alive by their trapping defense, as is shown by BYU's 29 turnovers. For my money, those two are the best backcourt in the Big XII. A poster on Cougarboard said your team plays defense "like a pack of rabid dogs." I guarantee you he meant that as a serious compliment. Lipsey and Jones are the kind of guys you just hate when they're on the other side, and who you'd be wanting to erect a statue of outside your stadium if they played on your team!
Last of all, I watched T.J. Otzelberger's postgame interview. He is an incredibly good coach. He gave great and very well-considered answers to the questions asked, and it's clear he is a superb student of the game as well as a master motivator of young men. If Kevin Young got hit by a bus tomorrow and BYU's AD asked me for some advice on who might replace him, I think Coach Otzelberger's name would be the first one out of my mouth. Be really grateful you've got him, ISU fans. He's as good as they come.
BYU's fans are both very glad and very grateful to be in the Big XII playing in a conference with such fine schools, and ISU is right at the top of that list. You've got a great coach, fine players, and outstanding fans. I hope to make it to Ames one of these days to see ISU play someone NOT named BYU. I'd like to add my cheers to that "Hilton Magic!" once before I cash in my chips.
I have nothing but the utmost respect for you folks at ISU. You're top notch. Good luck in the rest of the season!