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[knowlesjam]

@knowlesjam

Were you at the game the other night? I was, and I watched him most the afternoon including before and after the game when he was taking pictures with little kids and engaging with his teammates on the bench.

Easy for you to sit there in "Nebraska" of all places and say he was disinterested in playing just because he picked up a couple fouls.

Cut the BS on assuming that just because my info says Nebraska that I don't go to games or support the team...same BS you use on any other person whose posts don't 100% agree with yours...12 YO behavior. Grow up.

Yep, was in Section 320, Row A, seats 1-4 with family and was there 30 minutes prior to watch the warm ups too. And yes, he was engaged with all, as ALL THE PLAYERS ARE EVERY GAME.

He is a fish out of water with respect to fitting into the offense...obvious to all. It is up to him to fit into the offense and CSP is giving him the chance to do so. I honestly hope he does...he works hard and loves the game.

 

[Sigmapolis]

Aren't there only like 2 teams in the Big 12 this year that are starting 2 true post players I heard? Maybe someone can shed some light on the depth charts as I haven't gotten in Big 12 mode yet myself but thought I heard/read some analysis that this small ball lineup we currently are using should matchup just fine against what most of the other Big 12 teams are running out there currently.

Right now the 2 biggest guys we'll face this year are Azubuike at KU who is a load for anyone to guard and Konate at WVU where we are going to need an all hands on deck approach to contain them anyways.

You rang...?

 

[AttackOfTheClones]

Cam is playing like LaRon Dendy when he’s got the potential of Kelvin Cato.
Cam could be a rim running game changer.

Michael Jacobsen is playing much, much better.

I really, really want Cam to succeed here. I hope he can.

< THIS

 

[TyCloneHoops]

You know those divided family rocks or doormats for families that are half Cyclones half Hawks? We need fan-base divided doormats around here.

 

[CycloneErik]

He's suspended until Friday's game

That's a long time for another suspension!

 

[rochclone]

It honestly sounds like Prohm and Lard are on two separate pages of what the issue is based on Hines article. Prohm says he wants to see fight and Lard says he's gotta pay the consequences for his actions.

I'm not sure these are mutually exclusive. Cam could very well believe that his reduced minutes are a result of the summer, attitude, being in the doghouse, etc. However as the most athletic big he will get his playing time in the Big 12.

Prohm wants Cam to be transformed into a "grinder" who works at his craft every day. Think of Grant Williams of Tennessee.

It feels like Cam is treating his few minutes of playing time every game without focus. I'm going to try and block every shot because I'm only going to be on the floor for five minutes anyway. Rather than being committed to the game plan and executing the defensive strategy.

It just feels like Conditt is going to continue to get better and although I wish Cam the best but it would surprise me if he gets back to playing 28 minutes a game with our current roster.

 

[FinalFourCy]

I understand what you are saying but I think then MJ has to guard a 4 which will be worse than him guarding a 5. Plus I like small ball and don't understand way so many think it won't work in the Big 12.

One would hope Talley, THT, or Shayok at the four alongside MJ at the five would be effective at small ball. But that’s a lot of stress on a guy like THT to defend.

There’s a difference between playing small-ball and just playing a small lineup. That difference is largely dependent on the ability to exploit positional mismatches, and this team may not yet be able to do that at the level needed in the Big 12.

 

[CyHans]

I'm just glad we have Jacobson & Conditt and soon Young so we can keep moving forward if/when Lard gets in the normal rotation.

 

[blutarsky]

I'm just glad we have Jacobson & Conditt and soon Young so we can keep moving forward if/when Lard gets in the normal rotation.

Good problems to have. Prohm is going to identify his rotation he trusts and some guys are going to be on the outside looking in, unfortunately.

Still think the best lineup has Lard in it. He might not start, but his ability to influence a game will be needed down the stretch. Haliburton seems to have the best vision on the club. He might be the best partner to Lard when he's on the court.

It will be equal parts frustrating and exciting as this group gels.

 

[LincolnSwinger]

Scenario 1: We are 9-2
Crowd 1: "Prohm doesn't know what he's doing. Lard should obviously be playing more"

Hypothetical Scenario 2: We are 8-3 or 7-4 with Lard playing as much as fouls allow.
Crowd 2: "Prohm doesn't know what he's doing. We should be at least 9-2"

Overlap of Crowd 1 and Crowd 2: 90%

 

[Halincandenza]

Scenario 1: We are 9-2
Crowd 1: "Prohm doesn't know what he's doing. Lard should obviously be playing more"

Hypothetical Scenario 2: We are 8-3 or 7-4 with Lard playing as much as fouls allow.
Crowd 2: "Prohm doesn't know what he's doing. We should be at least 9-2"

Overlap of Crowd 1 and Crowd 2: 90%

Hypothetical scenario #3 They are 10-1 and Lard is playing a lot and the team is playing well.

 

[heitclone]

I think small ball will work great... sometimes. But there will be opposing lineups where its not working and would like to be ready for that. eg Iowa

The thing is, in the big 12, you've got KU and Texas that could give the smaller lineup troubles. That's about it. Tourney time would be my only worry, then its all about matchups.

 

[WastedTalent]

This is right on target. A sure fire way to destroy chemistry on a team is to give a player minutes that are not earned. Everyone likes to point Cam's play last year, but the fact is Cam has not been very good this year. He hasn't gotten many minutes, but he hasn't shown that he deserves many. We as fans have only seen a small samples size, but the coaches and players get to see him everyday in practice. I guarantee if he was killing it at practice, he would be playing more. Cam needs to play better and we as a team will be better if he does.

I really like Conditt, I think he has surprised everyone. He is slender, but he is a willing defender. With his attitude and effort, I think we will see him continue to improve. He has the potential to be really good over the next four years. Everyone was complaining about Cam's minutes, but I could make a case that Conditt deserved Cam's minutes in the second half of the Drake game based on his play in the first half. Conditt has earn it.

Great thought in theory, however you're forgetting one thing. These players have been around Cam for 2-3 years. They know what he's been through, and IF he's been a good teammate, and not a pain in the ass, then there's no "chemistry" issues, and you can bet his teammates want him to succeed more than we do.

If he is a distraction, and pain, then all bets are off.

 

[CyberJJJ]

The foul trouble has always been an issue for him. He believes he can block every shot, so he tries to every time, no matter if he's in foul trouble already or not? If you already have 2 fouls in the first half for example, you can't still try to block every shot, you have to have better discipline than that.

I just hope he can get everything in his life figured out, both on and off the court. His potential in basketball is unlimited if he can figure it all out. I'm rooting for him.

Prohm is helping him with your point above...he just didn't play him in the first half and Cam didn't get a single foul then!

 

[Halincandenza]

I think Prohm needs to develop a big lineup that can play some of the game because he is going to have Jacobson, Lard and Young all fighting for minutes at the same position otherwise.

 

[NoCreativity]

That could be the dumbest argument I've heard in a long time. So on those 2-3 possessions a game a great shot blocker holds the opponent to 0% FGs. Therefore, shot blocking is a huge indicator in how good a defender is. That's like saying dunking ability is the best way to evaluate an offensive player, because FG% for dunks (save for Jeremy Lamb) is 99%.

Blocked shots are great. But they are a really poor way to evaluate post defense. As Larry said in a postgame interview when being asked about his ISU team setting the school single game record for blocks, "Oh what a worthless stat."

So guys that normally are called "rim protectors" and block alot of shots are normally horrible at defense? If they are blocking alot of shots then they are also altering many more shots also. I'm not saying Lard doesnt have alot of work on with regards to defense, but this a dumb argument as well if you think mine is.

Do you think Jameel Mckay was bad on defense? I remember him fouling alot and guys blowing right by him for layups but yet somehow he still won Defensive POY.

 

[CyTwins]

So guys that normally are called "rim protectors" and block alot of shots are normally horrible at defense? If they are blocking alot of shots then they are also altering many more shots also. I'm not saying Lard doesnt have alot of work on with regards to defense, but this a dumb argument as well if you think mine is.

Do you think Jameel Mckay was bad on defense? I remember him fouling alot and guys blowing right by him for layups but yet somehow he still won Defensive POY.

You like Iowa basketball right? Remember Olaseni? He was a horrible defender and he averaged over a block per game in 18 mpg. The real good ones are the ones that can defend and block shots.

Young is a better defender than Lard even though Lard blocks more shots

 

[NoCreativity]

Young is a better defender than Lard even though Lard blocks more shots

Yeah, Young is the better defender, he's the best defender on the team. I was more interested in your thoughts on Lard vs Jacobson. I think Jacobson is a liability on defense, but his offense and other areas of the game offset that.

 

[CyTwins]

Yeah, Young is the better defender, he's the best defender on the team. I was more interested in your thoughts on Lard vs Jacobson. I think Jacobson is a liability on defense, but his offense and other areas of the game offset that.

I wouldn't say he's a liability on defense. He's fine

 

[Beyerball]

A little birdie tells me that Lard will not be playing today.

I’m confused..there’s a game today?