*** Official IOWA STATE Vs TCU Gameday Thread ***

[NENick]

The progress of a young team will not be linear. We should expect peaks and valleys. Yep, this was a valley. NWB did not look healthy, more likely sick than injured IMO.
Robinson is not a back-up point guard. He's a starter and quite capable of taking over as full time PG.

 

[Cyclad]

I think we’re more likely to run a small ball 4 and mix Lard and Young at the 5 in games like this. Lard and Young are a very good combo against interior oriented 4/5’s.

Agree, but as CSP said tonight - if you play small ball you got to make them pay. Your small guy has to influence the game more than their big guy - think Deonte Burton. Not sure who we could play that would accomplish that.

 

[cyclones500]

Didn't get to watch much of this one. Probably didn't miss much on the positive side, I'm guessing.

I did see a replay late in the first half when Prohm looked, shall we say, not all that pleased. I don't see him look that close to livid very often, but I didn't catch what point in the game that was and what he might've been trying to convey to the team ... anyone want to fill me in?

 

[allfourcy]

This sounds silly but we need a JVB on next years team. A big man who can stretch the floor. Brase doesn't count, neither does Beverly. Lard and Solo are non-threats.

I don't think it sounds silly at all. Lard and Solomon will have to share minutes at the '5' next year because they are neither a threat out there nor can they guard an opponent out there. With the way the game is played today, that 4 position becomes a huge hurdle for most teams.

Having said that, its not like I don't think they can improve. I do. But, will someone with more basketball knowledge, please tell me how 'this' particular team needs to guard the PnR with their specific personnel? I refuse to believe it it is just effort. I refuse to blame coaching either. What about the way we need to defend aren't they getting? Is what our coaches teaching too far above their head or not talented enough to execute? Not blaming anyone, just want to know how do you fix it?

 

[ISUTex]

Agree, but as CSP said tonight - if you play small ball you got to make them pay. Your small guy has to influence the game more than their big guy - think Deonte Burton. Not sure who we could play that would accomplish that.

Tucker maybe.

 

[HornacekFan1414]

I was at the game tonight sitting behind Cyclones Bench. Prohm called timeout a few minutes into the the game and lit into Lard and Solomon in a way I have never seen before. He was freaking pissed and screaming thru the whole timeout ( not that it ended up making much difference, but was interesting to see, for sure)....

 

[kingcy]

Too bad the TCU fans didn't show up to watch the game. That place is like Colorado was years ago. Just tough to play at for no reason. When they built that place why did they build it like they did. All most seams like a high school gym.

 

[allfourcy]

They are getting cut to pieces. Absolutely lost, and the sad thing is, they do seem to be trying. They just have no idea what to do.

One time Brase was in the middle of the lane while the pick and roll was already being defended by two of our other guys. Needless to say, the TCU guy standing at the baseline 3 had all day. I think you're right, they just don't get it.

 

[allfourcy]

I was at the game tonight sitting behind Cyclones Bench. Prohm called timeout a few minutes into the the game and lit into Lard and Solomon in a way I have never seen before. He was freaking pissed and screaming thru the whole timeout ( not that it ended up making much difference, but was interesting to see, for sure)....

Yes, the TV guys made sure to replay it a couple of times.

 

[cyclones500]

Among the bits & pieces I was able to see was after Lard made the nifty move in the first half, scored and got fouled, then got T'd up. Not sure if technical was warranted, but it shouldn't even have been a "situation." That was an excellent spin-move (can't recall who threw the pass from the top for the assist, also a good feed). It sliced into the lead, but then was negated by TCU getting to the line.

I like Lard's fiery side, but he needs to channel it into his production and reduce the after-play reaction, at least focus chest-thumping along w/ teammates and not outwardly.

 

[simply1]

Too bad the TCU fans didn't show up to watch the game. That place is like Colorado was years ago. Just tough to play at for no reason. When they built that place why did they build it like they did. All most seams like a high school gym.

It was built in '61, not sure what demand was then for basketball. still doesn't seem to be much demand, hah.

 

[psyclone51]

Don't disagree with much that has been written here. Bottom line, we are not as good as some people say when we win, and we are not as bad as some people say when we lose. A young team in this league will have a hard time every night.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Agree, but as CSP said tonight - if you play small ball you got to make them pay. Your small guy has to influence the game more than their big guy - think Deonte Burton. Not sure who we could play that would accomplish that.

Next year? Clearly we don't know yet. This year, I don't know that we have that guy that can make them pay enough while holding up on the defensive end.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Didn't get to watch much of this one. Probably didn't miss much on the positive side, I'm guessing.

I did see a replay late in the first half when Prohm looked, shall we say, not all that pleased. I don't see him look that close to livid very often, but I didn't catch what point in the game that was and what he might've been trying to convey to the team ... anyone want to fill me in?

It was fairly early, maybe 8 minutes in? We came out pretty flat and got down about 14. They were getting all the looks they wanted. The perimeter defense really wasn't there, but every time it was there, they took us off the bounce and scored with relative ease. That didn't really stop for any long stretch, though we did pull closer (to around 7 or 8) a few times.

I like the fire he showed there, and in the postgame. Clearly he expects more out of these guys and made that pretty clear to everyone.

 

[madguy30]

Hopefully Shayok brings an understanding of defense to our perimeter guys.

This team needs to improve on both ends mentally.

I think they have overall on the season and it showed against Baylor. The question is can they do it two games in a row in conference when, especially this year, every game is set up to be a mess. Last night was the answer although it also didn't help that TCU actually hit their shots too. They were due for a win and played like it.

Something to keep in mind: last season, the team with all the experience and talent etc. was up and down and was outright savage in winning at the Phog, then came out and looked pretty dreadful in Austin. I remember trying to convince myself that it was a good game, and reality is ISU just wasn't very good that night on either end.

 

[Die4Cy]

I think Fiery Steve is just a reaction to the fact that this team hasn't responded as well as they are capable to Prohm's usual style. A good coach will find whatever way he needs to in order to get through to the team.

This team just doesn't have that Melvin, Georges, or Naz on it to push the others. Coach will have to do more of the motivation than he prefers.

 

[brokenloginagain]

babb looks injured to me. he looks like he can barely walk to the bench.

 

[isufbcurt]

babb looks injured to me. he looks like he can barely walk to the bench.

That's because he is injured. He's been playing through a knew problem for the last month or so.

 

[bosco]

But it has been bad defense. Terrible actually.

He’s been correct. There 3’s have been open ones, even if they are 3+ feet behind

Are you serious? He’s right, our closeouts on 3 point shooters has been a total abomination tonight. Not hard to see

Defense was bad and most of those shots were open. But even the few that were contested he'd go on a diatribe of how bad the it was. Didn't hear about how bad TCU's defense was on our made 3's.

 

[ca4cy]

Last night was a total no show. I swear my son's 5th grade team does a better job of talking on defense than we did. The pick and roll defense was as bad as I've ever seen and at no point did we figure out what we were doing wrong. It happens and it's over. The key now is how we respond. There's plenty to learn from but dwelling on how bad we were won't do any good. Big opportunity Saturday.