Some things about ISU for Virginia lurkers to chew on.

[marothisu]

Here's the telling stat, and I've posted it before, but most people don't know it especially the media:

ISU was leading or tied at some point in the final 5 minutes in 7 of their 11 losses this season, and within one possession of another 2 games (3 if you count the last OU game's buzzer beater - but...doesn't really count for this). Take that for what it's worth, but remember it happened all against teams like Kansas and Oklahoma, who are out of their minds shooting the ball comparable to teams like UNC and Duke, but slightly better statistically

Oklahoma is shooting 46% from the field this year and 42.5% from 3 pt as a team. Kansas is shooting 49.6 from the field this year and 42.3% from 3 pt as a team this season. ISU beat both Kansas and OU one game each this year, and barely lost to KU another game and barely lost to OU two other times (all away or neutral court).

By contrast, Duke is shooting 46.1% from the field and 38.7% as a team from 3 pt range.UNC is shooting 47.8% from the field as a team this year and 31.4% from 3 pt range.

 

[bosco]

Here's the telling stat, and I've posted it before, but most people don't know it especially the media:

ISU was leading or tied at some point in the final 5 minutes in 7 of their 11 losses this season, and within one possession of another 2 games (3 if you count the last OU game's buzzer beater - but...doesn't really count for this). Take that for what it's worth, but remember it happened all against teams like Kansas and Oklahoma, who are out of their minds shooting the ball comparable to teams like UNC and Duke, but slightly better statistically

Oklahoma is shooting 46% from the field this year and 42.5% from 3 pt as a team. Kansas is shooting 49.6 from the field this year and 42.3% from 3 pt as a team this season. ISU beat both Kansas and OU one game each this year, and barely lost to KU another game and barely lost to OU two other times (all away or neutral court).

By contrast, Duke is shooting 46.1% from the field and 38.7% as a team from 3 pt range.UNC is shooting 47.8% from the field as a team this year and 31.4% from 3 pt range.

So begins the ACC vs B12 debate. It's not even Tuesday yet.

 

[NoCreativity]

Not to take anything away from us, but couldn't you go through and itemize most of the top teams in college basketball to figure out why they lost each game?

Im going to say we are a top 16 college basketball team this season. Normally when teams ranked that high lose games its a result of an anomaly. I wouldnt expect us to lose both Baylor games if they had shot 20% each game.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is stats like that are why losses are losses for any team. It's the statistical foundation on which makes a game a loss instead of us winning.

 

[bawbie]

Left off a key factor in almost every loss. **** poor rebounding, specifically defensive rebounding where teams like OU, BU, KU and WVU made us pay dearly on second chance points.
I will say this, the face Virginia doesn't crash the offensive boards bodes very well for us. Will force Virginia to be extremely efficient offensively to keep up with ISU on points.
Can't wait, will be a battle

That doesn't hold up statistically either. Rebounding in our losses follows exactly on how good the opponent is at rebounding. WVU and KU killed us, but we out rebounded or were even in I think 6 of our losses.

Opponent shooting percentage - especially from 3, is a much more consistent factor.

 

[norcalcy]

Tough crowd! :twitcy:

I appreciate the effort that went into your post. Elbows can get a little sharp around here.

 

[cyclonedave25]

All I want to know is, do Virginia fans remember "the dunk" that happened about 11 years ago?
Hint: Stinson-Blalock-Clark.

 

[bawbie]

That doesn't hold up statistically either. Rebounding in our losses follows exactly on how good the opponent is at rebounding. WVU and KU killed us, but we out rebounded or were even in I think 6 of our losses.

Opponent shooting percentage - especially from 3, is a much more consistent factor.

Actually, looking again shooting percentage is iffy as well. A common theme, with only a couple exceptions, is us being called for more fouls than our opponent, In several cases by a large margin. Which is telling because on the season we were one of the national leaders in fouling the least.

 

[DurangoCy]

To summarize: We're good and if we play well it'll be a close game.

 

[carvers4math]

We praise the Virginia people coming on here spinning their best story about their team and then when we have a fan who obviously is spinning our best story, everyone gets ******.

Iowa State fans always think the worst about their teams.

Tell it! People jump all over Cyclone fans for being proud of their team, but when UVA comes here to tell us about their NC in baseball and two other sports I don't remember, we must have kid gloves and bow down to the greatness. It's a freaking message board, people can have opinions that differ from others.

Frankly I don't give a rip what others think of our team. They have heard the worst all over TV for a week already and it seems to have made them stronger. But if the OP wants to say what he thinks of our team, he certainly is entitled to express an opinion as much as a UVA fan.

 

[Bret44]

I heard that Virginians are more dippers than chewers.

 

[randomfan44]

OP forgot "the bleeping refs" as a reason for all ISU losses.

 

[randomfan44]

Tough crowd! :twitcy:

We obviously have our flaws. The overarching point of my post was to show that, while we did struggle to finish games and to guard the best players, there were issues existing that contributed to it that no longer exist.

I've seen us grow out of a lot of issues these past few games, and surely my Cyclone brethren can agree to that.

Isn't it amazing how winning two games against double digit seeds makes all the warts go away?

 

[cyclonenation5]

Isn't it amazing how winning two games against double digit seeds makes all the warts go away?

Nice of you to stop by.

 

[isu83]

Too long. Eleven losses are not something to be proud of. Virginia is a very good team that will be very tough to beat. Good luck to ya and may the best team win. And if ISU isn't the best team than I'll still take a win. Go Clones!

 

[Jacktronic]

Here's something for them to chew on: We're gonna smoke their High School JV basketball team.

 

[jsb]

Too long. Eleven losses are not something to be proud of. Virginia is a very good team that will be very tough to beat. Good luck to ya and may the best team win. And if ISU isn't the best team than I'll still take a win. Go Clones!

Virginia has 7 losses. Let's not act like they are 36-1 or something like that.

 

[CycloneErik]

I heard they can't have bacon because it rebels against them or something.

 

[srjclone]

Just read the ESPN conversations. Lots of very confident UVa fans on there. Not one person sees anyway we beat them, and their main argument is because they play in the ACC, the ACC is 'vastly superior' and the ACC has 8 of the last 15 NCAA Championships. They also said Niang being the hardest player to guard in the Big 12 is like being "the tallest midget" because he would get killed in the ACC. Oh the fun.

 

[OWLCITYCYFAN]

Virginia has 7 losses. Let's not act like they are 36-1 or something like that.

7 road (or neutral site) losses by a grand total of 26 points in one of the two best conferences in the land. Why are you having a problem with Cyclone fans acknowledging our opponent has a great team? To be the best, you have to beat the best...

We all love the Cyclones and nearly everybody believes we'll prevail in Chicago. I'm headed to the United Center on Friday - I wouldn't be going if I expected to lose...

P.S. MB is no Ralph Sampson and ISU is much better than the 1982 Chaminade Silverswords!!!

 

[digZ]

7 road (or neutral site) losses by a grand total of 26 points in one of the two best conferences in the land. Why are you having a problem with Cyclone fans acknowledging our opponent has a great team? To be the best, you have to beat the best...

We all love the Cyclones and nearly everybody believes we'll prevail in Chicago. I'm headed to the United Center on Friday - I wouldn't be going if I expected to lose...

P.S. MB is no Ralph Sampson and ISU is much better than the 1982 Chaminade Silverswords!!!

Why stop there? Bet we could beat the 96 Bulls.