Twister Sister Summary - ladies collapse in fourth lose to Hawks again

[2forISU]

The box score reveals 20 TOs. We beat them in almost every other category.

Concerning you comments: gave up far too many offensive rebounds, stayed in zone defense when Iowa knocked down 3's, and lacked any movement on offense.

 

[Cymark86]

Last night was disconcerting, to say the least. Just some observations - trying not to simply rehash concerns noted by others:

1) Late third-quarter "crash" - Sydney Harris and Aili Tanke confusion on offense - two empty possessions in a row they were both milling around the free throw line, seemingly not knowing where they were supposed to go or what to do. I don't care if they're playing in different player combinations, by the eleventh game of the season they should know the plays / sets.

2) For the first time ever, Audi appeared to be jawing at team mates in anger. The one I really remember was Lily Hansford, who allowed her charge to get inside. Not a good sign.

3) Lilly Tauleiei - why isn't she playing? In her brief glimpses, she's shown deft footwork and aggressiveness, neither trait I'd attribute to Alisa Williams.

4) Fans are complaining that a third scorer hasn't emerged to complement Crooks & Brown from the outside. I submit the outside complimentary guards haven't been issued a "license to shoot" by CBF. AJ took three shots (0-3) in 31 minutes. Joens took three shots (2-3) in 20 minutes. Hansford took five shots (1-5) in 20 minutes - why was she out there so much? Harris took two shots (1-2) in 19 ineffective minutes. Tanke took two shots (1-2) in 17 minutes. Even Hare was forcing shots (and shooting a low %) before her injury. These kids are taking their cues from CBF - he's obviously telling them to force the ball to Audi rather than hunting their own shots.

In closing, I've been a harsh critic of CBF for some time and I'm not howling alone any longer. He gets massive credit for putting our program on the map, but his time has passed - thirty seasons with one shared title to show for it would be considered unacceptable nearly anywhere else. Lastly, I would love to see what a creative coach could do with this assemblage of talent, such as what Tom Davis did with the team George Raveling recruited nearly 30 years ago.

Not sure it could be said any better. Bill has become kind of a caricature. Sure, we’ll win some games in conference, maybe even win it(probably not likely but who knows) but we’ll lose games simply because he’s a stubborn old style coach.

Someone mentioned development. Who’s the last player you’ve seen real development from? Carleton? Many of these gals are good basketball players but not those that take you next level consistently. They fit Bills mold and that’s been good enough for Bill. That’s why we look slow out there. They aren’t good enough athletes.

And, what happens when Brown decides feeding Audi doesn’t work for her anymore? It’s just not good for the team when one person is such a focus.

 

[MuskMisk]

I had a few observations as well… and some are bleed over from UNI game…

1) Offense — lack of screens and movement on the perimeter is killing this team. This may be the CBF offense, but when ISU has been challenged, it is from teams doing this.

2) Late switch - the late switch to zone was just… I can’t even put into words. Leaving a team that was felling it from 3 late open was one of the poor decisions. Could have been from tired players, but that is when you sub.

3) Late in game - 2 passes were tipped going Crooks and inside of changing the plan (where no fouls were being called and problems being the ball in and out) they stick with it. The team needed 3 chances and rebounds.

4) Poor communication- in the UNI and Iowa game, the team did a poor job of talking and switching off. I don’t know if that is scheme, practice or the team still feeling things out. The rest of the Big12 will watch this tape and adjust. Sadly this tea, doesn’t seem to do that.

That makes ISU 1-2 in the state. One missed shot and it is 0-3. Some changes are needed, I just don’t think we will see it.

 

[2076]

That third foul on Addy was total BS. Stuelke was sliding, moving and slid under Addy on the drive. That ultimately might have been the call that won Iowa the game.

Women’s college basketball officials are the worst of any sport and I just don’t understand why. I’m not even accusing them of being biased, it was just bad. Some unlucky and unfortunate calls against us last night costed us the game.

 

[ZorkClone]

Women’s college basketball officials are the worst of any sport and I just don’t understand why. I’m not even accusing them of being biased, it was just bad. Some unlucky and unfortunate calls against us last night costed us the game.

I assume quality refs just go ref men's games for more money.

 

[BoxsterCy]

Last night was disconcerting, to say the least. Just some observations - trying not to simply rehash concerns noted by others:

1) Late third-quarter "crash" - Sydney Harris and Aili Tanke confusion on offense - two empty possessions in a row they were both milling around the free throw line, seemingly not knowing where they were supposed to go or what to do. I don't care if they're playing in different player combinations, by the eleventh game of the season they should know the plays / sets.

2) For the first time ever, Audi appeared to be jawing at team mates in anger. The one I really remember was Lily Hansford, who allowed her charge to get inside. Not a good sign.

3) Lilly Tauleiei - why isn't she playing? In her brief glimpses, she's shown deft footwork and aggressiveness, neither trait I'd attribute to Alisa Williams.

4) Fans are complaining that a third scorer hasn't emerged to complement Crooks & Brown from the outside. I submit the outside complimentary guards haven't been issued a "license to shoot" by CBF. AJ took three shots (0-3) in 31 minutes. Joens took three shots (2-3) in 20 minutes. Hansford took five shots (1-5) in 20 minutes - why was she out there so much? Harris took two shots (1-2) in 19 ineffective minutes. Tanke took two shots (1-2) in 17 minutes. Even Hare was forcing shots (and shooting a low %) before her injury. These kids are taking their cues from CBF - he's obviously telling them to force the ball to Audi rather than hunting their own shots.

In closing, I've been a harsh critic of CBF for some time and I'm not howling alone any longer. He gets massive credit for putting our program on the map, but his time has passed - thirty seasons with one shared title to show for it would be considered unacceptable nearly anywhere else. Lastly, I would love to see what a creative coach could do with this assemblage of talent, such as what Tom Davis did with the team George Raveling recruited nearly 30 years ago.

Agree the Lilly Taulieiei situation seems odd. Not like she hasn't looked good in the few minutes she does get other than being awful from the line in a small sample size. She was brought in to be backup post and she can't be happy with riding the bench. It's not like William's has been some sort of paint savant.

Hansford was highly overhyped by the fan base. She was a five point a game player but because she's tall and blond fans seemed to think she was some sort of vital puzzle piece. Even dismissing the hype as misplaced she's been pretty disappointing, not way around that.

Not sure what to think about Crooks this year. To be honest I was expecting a jump up like she had between her senior HS year and her freshman season. She seemed to be in much better game shape last year than compared to HS which impressed me. This season she seems pretty much just like freshman Crooks except she shoots that fadeaway more but doesn't make a high percentage so question whether that's really a good shot to take. Not like she will be in position to rebound it. I mean if freshman/sophomore Crooks is her ceiling that's not by any means "bad" but it would be a little disappointing.

Next ten games will be interesting, not so much the remaining cupcake and UConn but the early conference games. Lot's of weak sisters in the league and none of the contenders are better than teens for a ceiling in the polls. We only have four games with ranked team in Big 12 play (as the ranks currently set) and they are all "teens", two versus KSU, one WVU and one TCU. Early schedule is pretty easy in January.

 

[ZorkClone]

Okay after all my bellyaching, there were a few positives.

1. Brown was playing with confidence and looked good in the first half.
2. Audi really did dominate downlow on offence, Iowa's posts were not able to stop her 1 on 1.
3. I saw some off-ball screens. Which I hadn't noticed this year before this game.

 

[OWLCITYCYFAN]

Someone mentioned development. Who’s the last player you’ve seen real development from? Carleton?

Just my opinion, but Carleton's development was due more to her time spent with the Canadian National Women's team than CBF. I recall CBF acknowledging as much in a SI article her Senior Year at ISU.

While I haven't given this a great amount of thought, I'll submit a candidate as the last unheralded player who came in raw and significantly improved in Ames - Chelsea Poppins.

 

[acoustimac]

Well, at least we aren’t alone here. There are folks calling out TJ as a terrible coach in the men’s forum tonight. Guess a bad game brings 'em out of the wood work.

 

[Cloneman89]

Free throws would have won the game! PG is a liability now. Freshman was better than senior. So many to’s from starter. Mental block when playing at Carver. BF should have sat her earlier!

 

[bozclone]

Well, at least we aren’t alone here. There are folks calling out TJ as a terrible coach in the men’s forum tonight. Guess a bad game brings 'em out of the wood work.

No one should be critical of TJ

 

[BoxsterCy]

No one should be critical of TJ

Has only made the Sweet Sixteen 66% of the time while HC at ISU. Should have been 100%

In all seriousness though, what a great start he has had at ISU, right out of the gates!

 

[acoustimac]

Last night was disconcerting, to say the least. Just some observations - trying not to simply rehash concerns noted by others:

1) Late third-quarter "crash" - Sydney Harris and Aili Tanke confusion on offense - two empty possessions in a row they were both milling around the free throw line, seemingly not knowing where they were supposed to go or what to do. I don't care if they're playing in different player combinations, by the eleventh game of the season they should know the plays / sets.

2) For the first time ever, Audi appeared to be jawing at team mates in anger. The one I really remember was Lily Hansford, who allowed her charge to get inside. Not a good sign.

3) Lilly Tauleiei - why isn't she playing? In her brief glimpses, she's shown deft footwork and aggressiveness, neither trait I'd attribute to Alisa Williams.

4) Fans are complaining that a third scorer hasn't emerged to complement Crooks & Brown from the outside. I submit the outside complimentary guards haven't been issued a "license to shoot" by CBF. AJ took three shots (0-3) in 31 minutes. Joens took three shots (2-3) in 20 minutes. Hansford took five shots (1-5) in 20 minutes - why was she out there so much? Harris took two shots (1-2) in 19 ineffective minutes. Tanke took two shots (1-2) in 17 minutes. Even Hare was forcing shots (and shooting a low %) before her injury. These kids are taking their cues from CBF - he's obviously telling them to force the ball to Audi rather than hunting their own shots.

In closing, I've been a harsh critic of CBF for some time and I'm not howling alone any longer. He gets massive credit for putting our program on the map, but his time has passed - thirty seasons with one shared title to show for it would be considered unacceptable nearly anywhere else. Lastly, I would love to see what a creative coach could do with this assemblage of talent, such as what Tom Davis did with the team George Raveling recruited nearly 30 years ago.

The main point I’d disagree with you on is #4. If you’ve ever listened to Fennelly talk, he has specifically mentioned needing more from the shooting guards, especially Ryan. I’ve NEVER seen a Fennelly coached team where the guards didn’t have a James Bond license to shoot from outside. In some of those cases the players have just been woefully inconsistent and I think that mental aspect reduces their shot taking. Otherwise, def agree on 1, 2, 3 and your last point.

 

[acoustimac]

Free throws would have won the game! PG is a liability now. Freshman was better than senior. So many to’s from starter. Mental block when playing at Carver. BF should have sat her earlier!

it’s one game. What other PG do we have on the team that distributes the ball like Ryan? Or is a threat to score inside and out? Not Wilson. Boy I’d sure like to see more scoring effort from Wilson though. She’s averaging less than one shot per game. As for Ryan…she has a 3:1 assist to turnover ratio on the season. That’s excellent. That’s the same ratio as Tamin Lipsey. Everyone has a bad game here or there.

 

[Stormin]

Our guards have been subject to pressure and have turned the ball over. Emily Ryan is struggling. 9 TO’s from your senior PG is inexcusable. The turnovers are the issue. Audi actually keeps us in the game. She is our best threat period. But poor guard play results in possessions with no field goal attempts.

 

[OWLCITYCYFAN]

I’ve NEVER seen a Fennelly coached team where the guards didn’t have a James Bond license to shoot from outside. In some of those cases the players have just been woefully inconsistent and I think that mental aspect reduces their shot taking.

I heard it straight from one of the SG's - last season when she'd take a shot IN PRACTICE which displeased him, CBF would yell, "not your turn". I don't know if she's still getting that feedback this season, but she's clearly passing up shots to push the ball inside, as evidenced by her recent assist totals and low volume of shots.

Individual Statistics thru 11 games: https://cyclones.com/sports/womens-basketball/stats

CBF "License to Shoot":
Brown - 24.0 MPG - 109 FGA (.541) - 16 for 37 from 3 = .432 - 31 Assists (Excellent)
Hare - 22.7 MPG - 77 FGA (.338) - 17 for 60 from 3 = .283 - 16 Assists (Poor)
Ryan - 27.5 MPG - 75 FGA (.413) - 9 for 25 from 3 = .360 - 80 Assists (Tolerable)
Harris - 16.8 MPG - 50 FGA (.460) - 14 for 29 from 3 = .483 - 13 Assists (Shoot More!)

CBF "License to Shoot" with Inconsistency and / or Mental Blocks:
AJ - 21.8 MPG - 43 FGA (.279) - 12 for 39 from 3 = .309 - 17 Assists (Poor)
Hansford - 11.8 MPG - 26 FGA (.077) - 2 for 24 from 3 = .083 - 1 Assist (WTF)

Perceived Shot Restriction Instructions / No Plays for Them:
Tanke - 14.2 MPG - 34 FGA (.412) - 12 for 31 from 3 = .387 - 7 Assists
Joens - 12.5 MPG - 30 FGA (.433) - 8 for 21 from 3 = .381 - 14 Assists

Conclusion: I know Kelsey Joens - she's a great kid and might rival Audi for best attitude / smiles per minute. Kelsey is #4 in 3PT% on this team, behind only Addy Brown, Sydney Harris & Aili Tanke, yet she's #8 in 3PTA, having taken less than Lilly Hansford. She's number 9 in minutes played, less than Alissa Williams. She's #4 in FT%, which is a sore spot on this team. With limited minutes, she's #6 in Assists. I'm at my whit's end trying to understand why she doesn't play more, another in my long list of grievances with CBF.

 

[Clonefan32]

Our guards have been subject to pressure and have turned the ball over. Emily Ryan is struggling. 9 TO’s from your senior PG is inexcusable. The turnovers are the issue. Audi actually keeps us in the game. She is our best threat period. But poor guard play results in possessions with no field goal attempts.

And all we do is complain about the level of physicality that's allowed and we don't adjust. That may be my biggest BF frustration. You watch how other teams are allowed to guard and we just refuse to recruit athletic guards/wings who are capable of creating defensive pressure. Puts us at an enormous disadvantage.

 

[cmhawks99]

The game started off with solid defense. The ladies were taking good shots overall. Weirdly had a couple of early shots blocked. Iowa was taking threes and missing starting the game 0-9. Crooks was hot and ISU was hitting inside and out. The ladies worked out to a 12-2 early lead. For Iowa, Olsen was the only one doing anything. ISU led 14-6 after Williams hit two free throws. Olsen was keeping Iowa around. No one else had scored in the game. Brown hot from three and sadly this would be something we would miss later. The negative is that Crooks is missing all of her free throws. After missing a pair, it’s 19-13 ISU. Iowa State continued to miss free throws, 2/7 so far, and it allowed Iowa to creep back into the game. It's called missed opportunities. It was 20 to 17 after Harris got burnt on a drive. AJ missed a layup on a fast break opportunity. Chances were there and ISU wasn’t making the most of them. Iowa State ended the quarter really struggling at the line and missing several opportunities. They led 20-17.

2nd
Iowa kept missing from deep while getting some open looks, but Iowa kept getting too many offensive boards and second chances. Brown picked up her THIRD foul on a questionable call and she was done for the half. A theme that would rear its ugly head again and again, the offense was a bit dysfunctional against a tough Iowa D. Part of this is a lack of foul calls and part the lineup on the court. Hansford fouled on a trey and Iowa pulled closer. After another turnover Iowa tied it at 22 on another Olsen shot. She's the CC for Iowa this year. Meanwhile, the sisters just keep missing at the line. Not sure it would have mattered, but Iowa was beating us up and getting away with it. Harris hits a trey after Iowa gets their first lead and Iowa answers with one of their own. On the other end, Crooks took an ill advised trey attempt. ISU still led 30-28 at the timeout. Too many empty possessions on offense. Iowa's D has something to do with it. But I really think some of the lineups don’t flow well. Add to that, our defense was breaking down. After another turnover Iowa hit yet another trey to take the lead 36-34. Joens hit a trey and it’s 39-36 at the half.

3rd
Beginning of the third was a back and forth affair. Very physical. Crooks was very active…almost unstoppable. The old theme of too many Iowa offensive boards kept haunting us. Crooks was tough on offense and terrible defensive rebounding. Sometimes she was completely immobile when a rebound was in the area. ISU led 46-42 early. Our second worst defender Harris is getting beat to the hole. Like Tanke she is susceptible to driving guards. For a while it seemed we just had a bad lineup on the floor. At this point it was 15 to 5 turnovers, but ISU was up 2 at the timeout 46-44. After the break the name of the game was keep feeding Crooks. Add to that, a rare second half trey from Hansford. Tanke would follow with a trey and the lead was suddenly 54-46. This was the end of the good times for the sisters. Interestingly, Brown had yet to play and the gamble was working. Crooks scored again and was answered by back to back treys by Iowa. Hansford was back to missing wide open shots. AJ fouled and a free throw pulled Iowa within three. Brown re-entered the game with :20 left, likely to have an offensive player out there for the last shot. She missed it. At the end of three ISU leads 56-53.

4th
Starts with a Harris brick from deep and the next possession is a slowed down turnover. Crooks would get hit in the face and no call. Iowa hit a trey to tie the game. The missed foul was upgraded to an intentional foul, but Iowa was on a 10-2 run. The offense seemed lost way too much. The theme of the quarter was too many empty possessions. Audi's free throw shooting was killing us and Iowa was on a 16-5 run. The team was trying to force the ball to Crooks and this resulted in turnovers when she was closely guarded. We appeared to forget the three point line. Ryan missed a layup and on the other end we foul and Iowa scored. They led 65-61. It was now a 20-5 run for the Hawks. How did ISU respond? Another turnover and yes, on the other end Crooks fouled. At this point with about 4 minutes left it felt like the game was slipping away. Same theme - we miss again and foul again. Brown scored to pull within four 67-63, but the clock was running out. We fouled on the other end and Iowa’s lead was back to five. For ISU? Another turnover. Crooks traveled.

Iowa wins 75-69 after ISU absolutely collapses in the fourth. There was no better description for what we saw. ISU scored a whopping 11 points in the fourth quarter (four of them in the last minute).

Observations

This team needs to learn how to shoot free throws. It has now become a major liability.

Way too many offensive rebounds given up for second chances.

What happened to the offense in the fourth? There was no semblance of any plan at all other than force the ball to Audi. It was as if anyone else wasn’t worthy of putting up a shot.

POG - I’d give it to Crooks, but her free throw performance keeps me from doing so.

Ryan - wow…sloppy play from the floor general. Nine turnovers to 7 assists. Only 9 points.

Crooks - went off for 31 points and 10 boards, but woof…her free throw shooting really hurt the team tonight. 3-10. That is 100% unacceptable.

Brown - she did the team no favors picking up three quick fouls and essentially sitting out two quarters. 13 points and 5 boards.

AJ - not much here at all. I wonder why she is starting except for her defense. No points and four boards.

Tanke - only took two shots. She is SLOW out there. Anyone can drive past her. And the lack of quickness doesn’t allow her to get open.

Harris - still disappointing. Only 3 points and 1 board.

Joens - got the start tonight and not much happened. Five points, 2 assists and 3 boards.

Williams - no help here either. Couldn’t deal with Iowa’s bigs.

Hansford - made a three, but went back to missing again. 1-5 on the night. I was hoping after her make she would be the hero. Not so.

Three pointers - after a horrendous 0-9 start, Iowa went 8/16 after. ISU forgot the three point shot later in the game and had 7/15. ISU forgot they could shoot from outside and kept trying to force the ball inside to Crooks at all costs.

Rebounding - Hard to believe ISU out rebounded Iowa 37-33. But Iowa had 12 big offensive boards.

The big stat - turnovers. 21-9. That was a crapload of empty possessions. Too many in a row at times.

The big push - After ISU seemingly had the game under control with an 8 point lead, Iowa completely dominated the game going on a 20-5 run late in the game. Why? Empty possessions.

The bench was a big factor tonight. Just no production from it at all. Eleven points and 8 rebounds out of five players.

We all knew that Carver has a way of turning a better team into another victim. We’ve seen good teams go in there and come out wondering what happened. Remember Ashley Joens’ first season? I truly believe our team is better than Iowa. But lordy, the mistakes we made are not survivable on the road. We committed 21 turnovers and missed 10 free throws and still could have won. What it does tell me though is we have some very big holes that need corrected quickly. There were many on here that predicted a 15 point blowout. Well, sorry to disappoint, but that didn’t happen. But this game was in our grasp. Reminded me of a raccoon given a sugar cube and they wash it and wonder what happened. Just disappointing to let this one slip away.

Better?! so let’s break that down…

Iowa was playing terrific defense and every game breakdown I’ve seen and the announcers all game said as much yet. ISU shot the best they've shot literally all year in particular from three point range. That regressed to the mean in the 2nd half. Iowa started 0-9 from the three-point range and I have no clue what they shot in the first half overall, but it had to be abysmal.

Iowa has a very significant flaw, they are really struggling from the perimeter, but they forced an all big 12 guard into nine turnovers. And Iowa State as I’ve now said 300 times here and on the Iowa board has a significant problem in the guard court.

Better teams don’t have “one” good guard that as near as I can tell wouldn’t start for the other team, right? A least she wouldn’t start over Olsen and she doesn’t have near the athleticism of the other guards Iowa plays.

And they blew by Iowa Iowa State like they were standing still in the fourth quarter and Iowa State is better?

Ok…

But let’s not quibble you are an Iowa State fan, so am I actually, but I’m a bigger Iowa fan… I think arguably right now the Big Ten is a better women’s basketball conference. I will wager at the end of the year Iowa finishes higher in the Big Ten than Iowa State does in the big 12.

That’s a pretty sketchy bet on my part because my basketball acumen still suggests, Iowa State is one of the two at worst three best team teams in the big 12 and I personally think Iowa is probably top five Big 10, but I feel strongly Iowa is fundamentally a better basketball team than Iowa State right now from top to bottom. Depth, defense, passing, athleticism, etc…So I’ll take the wager

 

[kcdc4isu]

So glad our expert recliner chair coaches have chipped in today to tell us what is wrong with our coaching and that our players are just not athletes and should not be on the team.

 

[cmhawks99]

We did alot to lose this game…refs assisted in that happening. Not solely to blame, but took Brown out of it on 2 cheaper calls in first half, she had her swagger going! May or may not have made the difference. Go State!

Those damn reffs….on every board in every sport in the world, they’re questionable. I thought they allowed a lot of physicality and arm and hand slapping both ways, personally.

The problem is Iowa State‘s not particularly athletic and not particularly physical so it affected them more.