The Most Important Thing I Saw From the Baylor Game.

[ZRF]

My favorite thing was that we didn't take a bunch of bad threes when we got behind by 10+. I only remember one 3PA (Kalscheur from way deep) that didn't seem in the flow of the offense. We trusted what was working (driving and looking for open guys in the paint for those dunks) and worked our way back methodically, then got it out for good threes that we just missed. Against just about any other team, or with a little bit better shooting, that will lead to a lot of wins.

Kaslscheur was pretty brutal, and Tyrese had a really bad first half. Otherwise I thought most of team played well/within themselves.

Not only is Baylor good but they are a bad matchup, especially if our perimeter shooting is garbage. They play just as hard as we do defensively and have amazing length and athleticism. I really though we needed to be within 2-3 points within the last 5 minutes so the crowd could really get into it and help influence our energy, Baylor, and the refs down the stretch.

Baylor hits a crazy amount of TOUGH shots. At first glance it would be easy to say they are "lucky", but when the entire team hits the same type of shot (they made about 5 "level 1" shots, with Akinjo having 2-3 of those) with consistency it's pretty obvious it's practiced. Also, give how they play defense during their games, I'm sure they have the same instensity during practice. That will ALWAYS make your offense get better.

It's obvious we don't have a lot of guys (other than Brockington) that can create their own shot right now. Luckily our offensive movement and defensive intensity is so good we will beat most teams we play with transition baskets and open shots/dunks from that movement. Baylor is simply an outstanding team that took most of that away, and hit some really tough/contested shots that made it hard for us to put together a run.

It's amazing how Scott Drew went from one of the worst in-game coaches to one of the best. The transformation really is mindboggling.

 

[Malty Flannel]

I dont mean to sound like I'm bagging on Kalscheur, because he brings alot to the floor on the defensive end, but one thing that stood out to me in the Baylor game is he is becoming a big liability on offense. Whenever he touches the ball it seems like he either misses a three or turns it over off the dribble or with a forced pass into traffic.

 

[davegilbertson]

That happened but the second one was probably a foot behind the line, wide open, and in Rythm.

Visual confirmation

 

[NWICY]

I have really joined the “I don’t give a rats ass what were ranked” crew. I’m sure we’ll get dropped real bad. Maybe not. Who cares. That’s such a circle jerk of people voting who largely have zero clue what their doing. Just win.

Welcome to the club.

 

[Gunnerclone]

Visual confirmation
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Might have been 2 feet. When it’s still you can see the problem. There should have been someone in the corner. Would have been a quick ball fake back to Tyreses then dump in to the corner for a wide open look.

 

[Gunnerclone]

I'll have to look at that again because I also remember the second one being well behind the arc. I mentioned to Mrs. Velo that he was so wide open he could have taken a dribble and gotten closer to the arc and still been wide open. It was definitely longer than what was wise - especially for someone who is clearly struggling from 3.

I think Gabe is better catch and shoot than dribble pull up. The bigger issue is that Gabe didn’t even TAKE another shot the rest of the game. He’s going to hurt us more at that end if he doesn’t even attempt anything.

 

[SCarolinaCy]

I thought our half court offense was outstanding. The guys cut hard and really move without the ball. That resulted in a lot of dunks, layups and free throw attempts against a really good defensive team. Great to see and will keep us in road games. But perimeter shooting is our achilles heal and will cost us some games. We go 4-14 from 3 we win. Whereas 1-14 may not get it done against any Big 12 teams this season.

First, Baylor played lights out. A bit less and we win.

Yes, our dunks and free throw outstanding. I felt our not getting good shots off, especially 3's cost us the game. More than once, we lost possession due to shot clock. I would say that more than half our 3's had no chance, including 2-3 to start the game that were several feet beyond the arc, and Grill's forced shots at the end, when time was running down. We have got to find a way to get open 3's at the arc.

It did seem to me that Brockington passed up 2-3 open 3's, when I thought he should have taken it, only to lose possession later.

 

[JM4CY]

Welcome to the club.

When do I get a t-shirt? or is this more of a secret handshake kind of thing?

 

[OnlyCyclones]

I really liked Tre’s forehand flip off the backboard. Took the whole arena by surprise. He’s not the most physically gifted guy in the world but he’s a baller.

 

[NWICY]

When do I get a t-shirt? or is this more of a secret handshake kind of thing?

As soon as we find a source for cheap and high quality T's I'll let you know. .

 

[cyatheart]

This shows me we are growing, this shows me that we are tough, this shows me we can compete at the top level athletically, this shows me that we are sustainable:

We were dunking everything yesterday. We must have had 8 dunks against the #1 team in the country yesterday and the majority came in tough situations or the normal flow of offense (not breakaways).

I don’t know if we had 8 total non fast breaks dunks in the entirety of the last two years. It’s a stupid thing but it means a ton to me in terms of where we are. A bunch of junkyard dogs on this team.

It's not stupid at all. It shows we are getting movement, have people that can actually dunk, we have people that can get to the hoop, and a staff that coaches aggressiveness.

 

[Cyientist]

I dont mean to sound like I'm bagging on Kalscheur, because he brings alot to the floor on the defensive end, but one thing that stood out to me in the Baylor game is he is becoming a big liability on offense. Whenever he touches the ball it seems like he either misses a three or turns it over off the dribble or with a forced pass into traffic.

I'm with you, I want the kid to succeed and love his effort but it is to the point where they need to get the ball out of his hands as fast as possible. Robert Jones currently has a higher ORtg for the season.

 

[CascadeClone]

I think Gabe is better catch and shoot than dribble pull up. The bigger issue is that Gabe didn’t even TAKE another shot the rest of the game. He’s going to hurt us more at that end if he doesn’t even attempt anything.

Shoot your way out of the slump, or don't force it and let it come to you? He really seems to be in his own head right now, and I think I said the same a week or two ago. Maybe he needs a "eff you Jobu" moment, idk.
To be the best version of itself (you're welcome) this team needs Gabe to be decent on offense. He doesn't need a Memphis repeat every night, but just putting up 12 points on ~8 shots would make them damn hard to beat.

 

[CascadeClone]

Yes, our dunks and free throw outstanding. I felt our not getting good shots off, especially 3's cost us the game. More than once, we lost possession due to shot clock. I would say that more than half our 3's had no chance, including 2-3 to start the game that were several feet beyond the arc, and Grill's forced shots at the end, when time was running down. We have got to find a way to get open 3's at the arc.

That had a LOT to do with Baylor. ISU have got open 3s almost every game, except against Baylor. I've been impressed from the start that they are getting open shots via the offense, that was a huge change vs the last couple years.

Now, they haven't shot great even when getting open 3s, so contested 3s it's no surprise the % was abysmal.

 

[Brett44]

We all see that ISU lost by just 5 and it was a game the whole way through. The naysayer AP voters will point to the fact that ISU never led in this game as a rationale that ISU didn't belong on the floor with them and they should drop out of the top 25.

Not sure if this has been posted elsewhere but Seth Davis moved us up 3 spots this week even though ISU took a loss at home.

 

[Brett44]

Totally agree with Gunner on the dunking and also wanted to note this team shoots the most free throws as any team since Tyray Pearson was a senior.

 

[Cyclonepride]

Kaslscheur was pretty brutal, and Tyrese had a really bad first half. Otherwise I thought most of team played well/within themselves.

Not only is Baylor good but they are a bad matchup, especially if our perimeter shooting is garbage. They play just as hard as we do defensively and have amazing length and athleticism. I really though we needed to be within 2-3 points within the last 5 minutes so the crowd could really get into it and help influence our energy, Baylor, and the refs down the stretch.

Baylor hits a crazy amount of TOUGH shots. At first glance it would be easy to say they are "lucky", but when the entire team hits the same type of shot (they made about 5 "level 1" shots, with Akinjo having 2-3 of those) with consistency it's pretty obvious it's practiced. Also, give how they play defense during their games, I'm sure they have the same instensity during practice. That will ALWAYS make your offense get better.

It's obvious we don't have a lot of guys (other than Brockington) that can create their own shot right now. Luckily our offensive movement and defensive intensity is so good we will beat most teams we play with transition baskets and open shots/dunks from that movement. Baylor is simply an outstanding team that took most of that away, and hit some really tough/contested shots that made it hard for us to put together a run.

It's amazing how Scott Drew went from one of the worst in-game coaches to one of the best. The transformation really is mindboggling.

I've watched Akinjo a little this year and last, and while he is damn good, I thought he forced a lot of things (and will whether they are going in or not), so catching him on a day where those were dropping was a bit of bad luck.

 

[ZRF]

I've watched Akinjo a little this year and last, and while he is damn good, I thought he forced a lot of things (and will whether they are going in or not), so catching him on a day where those were dropping was a bit of bad luck.

I haven't watched him as much so I will definitely take your word for it.

 

[allfourcy]

I dont mean to sound like I'm bagging on Kalscheur, because he brings alot to the floor on the defensive end, but one thing that stood out to me in the Baylor game is he is becoming a big liability on offense. Whenever he touches the ball it seems like he either misses a three or turns it over off the dribble or with a forced pass into traffic.

Its mindboggling that he could even of had that 30-pt game in Brooklyn. With all his struggles, most players are lucky to even have 15 on a good/solid night. Really weird that that hot streak can happen to a player. Hope he has a few of them again!

 

[CentexCyclone]

I think Gabe is better catch and shoot than dribble pull up. The bigger issue is that Gabe didn’t even TAKE another shot the rest of the game. He’s going to hurt us more at that end if he doesn’t even attempt anything.

GK needs to take a page from the Matt Thomas/Naz Mitrou-Long book of offensive slump busting and just keep shooting, especially at home. Cyclone fans in Hilton are not only pulling for the team to do well, but for him to do well. Just keep shooting, hit a few, the Hilton crowd will respond, his confidence will increase… lather, rinse, repeat.