**** WBB: Gamethread: Iowa State hosts Utah 5:30 pm ESPN2 ****

[acoustimac]

Creme is also not an ISU homer and is thus able to be more objective. Our best non-con win is Drake or MTSU. We also have more than a few embarrassingly bad losses.

I hope it doesn't happen this year, but we are fully capable of losing to the conference bottom feeders (like UCF & Texas Tech last year). 19-11 might have been fine in the old Big 12 when Texas & OU were still in the conference & everyone was guaranteed 2-3 losses vs Kim Mulkey but with 4 mid-majors & Arizona State added you're gonna need to start doing better than 9-9 (which would put us at 18-13 overall).

100% agree. Zero margin for error at this point.

 

[acoustimac]

Ok, but those wins don't improve a resume. Going back to your original post on this, you said it was "ridiculous" to suggest we wont make the tournament. So if we are 19-11 you, are saying you "usually" make the dance. That makes you a bubble team and doesn't make the suggestion we miss the tournament "ridiculous".

We have no good wins. None. And the Big 12 is not great and there are way more opportunities to slip up than there are to make a statement. And from what I've seen this year, I think there's way more likelihood we have slip ups than we do knock of the likes of KSU and TCU.

I just think you're blinded by our preseason ranking. But this resume on any other team, even with the games to come, doesn't add to a resume that safely puts you in.

No…I said it was ridiculous RIGHT NOW. Too much season left to play with lots of opportunities.

 

[bozclone]

Agreed, She can't shoot her way out of it if BF plays her just a few minutes a game. I'm afraid her confidence is already shot.

I think she needs to play more even if she doesn't shoot but a couple times a game. Her length at 6' 2" helps on defense and with entry passes to Audi. If she gets in the flow of the game and doesn't feel pressed to shoot the 3, it may take some of that pressure off and her shot will return. Our other options on the wing have their own limitations. I think Hansford has some upside that can help the team if she can regain confidence in her shot. I would also play Joens and Wilson more.

 

[mwwbbfan]

I think she needs to play more even if she doesn't shoot but a couple times a game. Her length at 6' 2" helps on defense and with entry passes to Audi. If she gets in the flow of the game and doesn't feel pressed to shoot the 3, it may take some of that pressure off and her shot will return. Our other options on the wing have their own limitations. I think Hansford has some upside that can help the team if she can regain confidence in her shot. I would also play Joens and Wilson more.

I think LH defensive deficiencies do not allow her the time to "shoot her way out of it". Vs Utah she gave up a key three just because the person did a jab step and she backed up two steps. Earlier she had gotten beat to the rim and fouled. She is not physical and limits how she plays.

 

[CY9008]

Thought this was interesting. We may not be playing great basketball right now. But no doubt Utah impressed me and it will be interesting to see how they stack up against the top of the league.

 

[bozclone]

I think LH defensive deficiencies do not allow her the time to "shoot her way out of it". Vs Utah she gave up a key three just because the person did a jab step and she backed up two steps. Earlier she had gotten beat to the rim and fouled. She is not physical and limits how she plays.

We can point out individual instances for every player on this team where their defense was less than ideal. I think her length is unique. It helps offset the lack of quickness we see by many on the floor.

 

[WartburgClone]

I think LH defensive deficiencies do not allow her the time to "shoot her way out of it". Vs Utah she gave up a key three just because the person did a jab step and she backed up two steps. Earlier she had gotten beat to the rim and fouled. She is not physical and limits how she plays.

I don't get the hopeless optimism with her. She was little more than a 3-pt specialist at Oregon State who barely averaged 5 pts a game. I'm not trying to be mean but all the people complaining about our players being blown by on defense obviously don't watch Hansford too closely because she might be the worst at this.

 

[67CY]

We can point out individual instances for every player on this team where their defense was less than ideal. I think her length is unique. It helps offset the lack of quickness we see by many on the floor.

Good point on the defense, makes me wonder who is the best defense player on the starting 5.

 

[bozclone]

Good point on the defense, makes me wonder who is the best defense player on the starting 5.

I think it is Jackson, but her size could be an issue in certain matchups. Right now she guards the best opposing guard most games. The issue is it likely hurts her offense like it hurt Lexi when Bill used her that way.

 

[Cyfan1965]

Lexi ave 9.5 points per game. Thought Jackson could do that. Fritz 3.9 Bristow 4.3 PPG- Clearly they were not the answer either. Got to find 10 PPG somewhere

 

[acoustimac]

I think she needs to play more even if she doesn't shoot but a couple times a game. Her length at 6' 2" helps on defense and with entry passes to Audi. If she gets in the flow of the game and doesn't feel pressed to shoot the 3, it may take some of that pressure off and her shot will return. Our other options on the wing have their own limitations. I think Hansford has some upside that can help the team if she can regain confidence in her shot. I would also play Joens and Wilson more.

After a while I’m not sure you can take a chance on the offensive limitation. She's 3/29 or 10% so far. Now…if we get a big lead on someone like ICF or Houston, by all means give her some non-pressure minutes to try and find the shot.

 

[acoustimac]

Thought this was interesting. We may not be playing great basketball right now. But no doubt Utah impressed me and it will be interesting to see how they stack up against the top of the league.

Kneelkens is a special one for sure,

 

[bozclone]

After a while I’m not sure you can take a chance on the offensive limitation. She's 3/29 or 10% so far. Now…if we get a big lead on someone like ICF or Houston, by all means give her some non-pressure minutes to try and find the shot.

The other options aren’t exactly filling up the scoreboard and most have limitations in their game. It really sucks because I think many of these players are better than they have shown this season. If we had someone clearly better and our team was rolling I wouldn’t propose getting her more minutes.

 

[acoustimac]

The other options aren’t exactly filling up the scoreboard and most have limitations in their game. It really sucks because I think many of these players are better than they have shown this season. If we had someone clearly better and our team was rolling I wouldn’t propose getting her more minutes.

I think you’re 100% correct. I think there are multiple players who are better than what we've seen so far. Very puzzling to say the least. Let’s hope one or more step up soon.