I'm good with all that. Just pumping the brakes on anyone thinking this team is likely to make post season play. We have some good pieces and they are playing enthusiastically right now. BBall looks fun again. That is a good start, but it's not likely to translate to 20 wins at this point. Our problems (shooting, rebounding, short bench, etc) are going to be challenges all year long.
*** Official Alabama State vs IOWA STATE Game(Day) Thread ***
- Thread starter CycloneRulzzz
- Start date
We really need Walker to relieve some backcourt pressure. I was looking at the box score from last night and the 3 guards played 35-37 minutes.
These guys will be out of gas by Chritmas if they keep playing that amount of minutes at this intensity level. It would help also if we had some blowout games so they could get the bench 20-30 minutes each.
These guys will be out of gas by Chritmas if they keep playing that amount of minutes at this intensity level. It would help also if we had some blowout games so they could get the bench 20-30 minutes each.
I agree. It seemed like we had a good strategy for dealing with the zone, but especially for that rough stretch in the mid-late second half, we A) couldn't make open outside shots and B) were making the wrong passes once we got the ball inside that caused a lot of bad/challenged shots. I'm not sure if shooting will get better, but I think as the guys get more used to each other, we'll start seeing better decisions on the interior passing that will lead to easier shots. It seems like we know what to do with a zone, we just aren't executing as much as we will need to against good teams.
Speaking of Lewis, it looks like he may be in town Sunday when we play Grambling, although it looks like he's yet to appear in a game..?
Terrence Lewis - Men's Basketball - Grambling State University Athletics (gsutigers.com)
The only way IMO this team gets 20 wins is if they do what Wayne Morgan's first team did. Do well in this non-con, be a middle to lower/middle conference team, win a game in the conference tourney, just miss the dance, make the NIT and have a nice little run. With a little luck (and ISU men's bb is due some) I could see that and consider it a successful season.
I see he's listed as a junior too, which seems wild to me. Thought he played 3 years here, then transferred to South Alabama where I'm assuming he took a medical redshirt year or never got a waiver to play right away (irrelevant I guess due to covid year). Even still, seems like he should be a senior by now.
Might want to pump the breaks. Oregon St. just also got beat by Tulsa, so let's not get too excited about being 3-0 with three home games against one mediocre P5 team and two 200+ low majors. That's something that a vast majority of power conference teams accomplish.
I like this team - I love the effort, the defensive tenacity, and Hunter looks like he's going to be a special player. But while the extent of the shooting struggles were a little extreme last night, this team is going to really struggle to shoot the ball most games. Probably to the point that they have a tough time beating even average to good teams.
I wouldn't classify last night as an opponent hitting crazy shots. Not really at all. There were a lot of buckets they got off of chaos/loose balls, but nothing too out of the ordinary.
In fact, I'd say the defensive execution by ISU last night was pretty spotty. Guys got lost few times, and they were able to get some penetration.
Regardless, that's a W where ISU shot REALLY horribly. Lots to build on and learn from. Get another W and head out to NY and really see how competitive they are going to be this year.
My only concern from last night is that we likely saw a preview of the defensive strategy teams will use against us. Pack in the zone and dare us to shoot it over the top.
We also won’t go 1-20 every game, so there will be games where we make them pay, but something to work on. I thought Jones gave us good minutes inside when we needed to get buckets down low.
We also won’t go 1-20 every game, so there will be games where we make them pay, but something to work on. I thought Jones gave us good minutes inside when we needed to get buckets down low.
I think the game vs Xavier will be very enlightening in terms of how well the defense translates when facing stronger opponents.
CycloneErik
Well-Known Member
I'd see that as the ceiling for this year, but I wouldn't completely rule it out.
I don't expect it, won't be disappointed if it doesn't happen, but it's not wildly fanciful.
I like what I've seen from Jones to this point, in the "workhorse" role, both ends, especially considering how limited we are for interior size/presence.
News flash, everyone one else in the world knew we wouldn't be a good shooting team - kinda hard to expose something everyone already knows - unless you are just looking for a pile of **** in what has otherwise been welcomed relief.
The news or 'exposure' after that and the first 3 games is that there is a way to win without being a prolific shooting team, so in that sense you were right, albeit accidentally.
Jones seemed like a puzzling addition at the time, but he has given us some good minutes. I'm hoping that more playing time and working with Green will prepare him for stiffer competition once the conference season rolls around.
Yeah, I saw the same thing. We got a ton of open looks. At this level, you can't go 1-20. That's pathetic given how many of the shots were open and in rhythm. We still need to work on inside-out before chucking, but I had no issue with how we attacked the zone.
Also the rebounding numbers will be a little skewed when you go 1-20 from 3, 37% overall, and force 20+ turnovers while only turning it over 6 times.
He would be eligible to return but it would be his 6th year in college ball (sat out 18-19 transferring to PSU). Highly doubt he'll return when he can go make some money in Europe.
It’s become clear his presence will push Conditt further, which will benefit the team.
Just disappointed Jones didn't bank his free throws last night.
Both him and Kalscheur have 1 year of eligibility after this. I think it's unclear if they will elect to take it or not.
