ISU Game Thread

[Panther Cat]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Last night we lost to Mac, and to a team you acknowledged was HORRIBLE just 3 days earlier, and this may have added to your insecurity regarding Jake.

Well Mac is now only 1-2 against Jake, so that must mean Jake is better?

Mac was probably the greatest coach to coach at UNI, Jake has some huge shoes to fill. I think Jake is a great coach, I think Mac is probably a little bit better. But that doesn't mean Jake can't have just as much, if not more sucess than Mac did here. Last year was tough with all the injuries and not having a true PG on the team. This year it seems like we have all the pieces in place so let's see how the year develops. There is not a team in the conference that I feel we can't beat, there is also not a team in the conference that can't beat us, so this will be a good year to evaluate some of Jake.......but not after 7 games.

[jman2004]

Re: ISU Game Thread

I'm not willing to put the blame for this one all on Jake. He didn't miss the three-pointers, he didn't miss the lay-ups (about 4 in the first half alone). We were getting dribble drive for a while, then we stopped even trying. We drove and got foul calls in the first half, second half, we backed off. We should have had a 8-10 point lead at half between some of the easy misses in close and 4 missed FT's. Second half and OT we only took 5 FT's.

I would like to see us use Jordan a little more in spurts, even if it means learning to play some zone on defense if there isn't a good match-up for him. I just think he gives us something offensively down low. Of course the bumps and shoves weren't being called down low, and he wasn't trying to fight through them.

A couple things . . .

I get a little tired of the "coach didn't miss the shots" argument. Despite the poor shooting, I would put a lot of the game's outcome on Jacobson's shoulders.

Brackins was TEARING us apart down low. Jacobson did nothing. McDermott would've NEVER let another team's star player score 30+ points without making some in-game changes to stop him. Mac's goal was to always make someone else beat us. We made it WAY too easy for Brackins to dominate last night. And like I said, Jacobson did nothing.

We shoot 18% from behind the arc. Jacobson does nothing. Doesn't try to feed the ball down low to get at Brackins. Doesn't try to run some set plays. Just lets the boys keep shooting while he claps and hopes they'll start falling as well. I wouldn't mind this IF our three point shooting had even a faint lifeline last night. Problem was, it didn't. Jacobson should've recognized this and done something about it on the offensive end.

The fact that he made NO attempt at addressing these shortcomings last night seriously jeopardized our chances of winning that game. And McDermott knew it as well. That's why he kept plugging away. Kept feeding the ball to Brackins. Kept sitting back in a zone watching us chuck prayer after prayer after prayer. When ISU switched back to man defense late in the game, I almost thought it was done on purpose out of pity. Like Mac was helping Jake out by saying "you need to do something".

Yes, we shot poorly last night, and while I agree with what Kwadzo said in the post game talk, I also think you can't ignore some of the mistakes Jacobson continues to make during games as our coach.

As to the other thing I bolded, Jordan needs to get tough. Period. Otherwise, his minutes will be limited all season, and he'll be held out of games that he doesn't "match up" well in.

[jman2004]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Its Jordan's fault. You guys act like Jake and the staff just roll the ball out there and say 'go for it'. That staff works damn hard in practice, very hands on, very disciplined.

All the staff can do is teach technique, they can't actually go out and do it come game time.

I don't care how much effort they put into practice and how many skills and techniques they coach during practice. Many are referring to coaching decisions made DURING THE GAME.

[Panther789]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Well Mac is now only 1-2 against Jake, so that must mean Jake is better?

Of course not, and I am having a difficult time figuring out where you got that from. I was simply trying to help Brett determine why he feels the way that he does. He asked a question, and I did my best to answer.

Like I said on another thread, the fact that Jake is 0-1 vs Lickliter doesnt make Lick a better coach either.

Everyone assumes I hate Jake and think he is a terrible coach, when neither is true. I get blasted for sticking to my guns on 2 things.

1. Mac was a great coach who should't be blamed for leaving, and certainly shouldn't be blamed for any shortcomings we have had the last 3 years.

2. This program has declined. It doesn't mean Jake should be fired at this point, and it doesn't mean that the decline is necessarily permanent.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: ISU Game Thread

A Brackins was TEARING us apart down low. Jacobson did nothing. McDermott would've NEVER let another team's star player score 30+ points without making some in-game changes to stop him. Mac's goal was to always make someone else beat us. We made it WAY too easy for Brackins to dominate last night. And like I said, Jacobson did nothing.

B We shoot 18% from behind the arc. Jacobson does nothing. Doesn't try to feed the ball down low to get at Brackins. Doesn't try to run some set plays. Just lets the boys keep shooting while he claps and hopes they'll start falling as well. I wouldn't mind this IF our three point shooting had even a faint lifeline last night. Problem was, it didn't. Jacobson should've recognized this and done something about it on the offensive end.

C Jordan needs to get tough. Period. Otherwise, his minutes will be limited all season, and he'll be held out of games that he doesn't "match up" well in.

A You're right. Mac would never let Patrick O'Bryant, or Jamal Tatum, or Nate Funk and others beat us. NEVER. He always had those guys completely shut down and crying on the sidelines.

B I don't know, I wasn't close enough to know what plays he was calling to know if he was saying just keep bombing from outside. We sure weren't doing that in the first half. We were driving and missing lay-ups. Maybe that WAS the half-time adjustment, they got open looks, just missed. I place the blame equally on the coach and the players. But ultimately, the players have to perform.

C Agree entirely. No way a 7 footer should be shooting fadeaways. Not only is it low percentage, he is completely out of any position to get a rebound, or at least bobble a rebound.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: ISU Game Thread

1. Mac was a great coach who should't be blamed for leaving, and certainly shouldn't be blamed for any shortcomings we have had the last 3 years.

2. This program has declined. It doesn't mean Jake should be fired at this point, and it doesn't mean that the decline is necessarily permanent.

I agree with you on 1. Don't blame him for leaving, maybe just the manner (which he even admits was wrong). It's done, move on.

We'll have to agree to disagree on 2. I don't think we are/have declined. I don't measure success merely on NCAA appearances.

[BCPanther]

Re: ISU Game Thread

I dont know why you feel that way. If I had to guess I would say that you had your heart broken when Mac left, and you are desparate to make it appear as if this program is better off without him.

Last night we lost to Mac, and to a team you acknowledged was HORRIBLE just 3 days earlier, and this may have added to your insecurity regarding Jake.


P.S.

I think Jake:

1. Is a good person in general and a good spokesperson for the University.

2. A good recruiter.

Hopefully, he and this staff will continue to improve their development of players and in-game management.

Fair enough.

You are exactly right, I did say that this ISU team is horrible and I really think they are going to have a tough time winning more than 3-5 Big XII games. We didn't play well.

I don't blindly follow and agree with everything Jake does and I am not someone that doesn't think he has areas to improve on. I think his rotations have been poor since he started, I think there are better options out there than Adam Viet and Brian Haak, no matter what good guys they are or how hard they work on a day to day basis. It just seems like at times like talent needs to win out. I wish that Haak's minutes would go to Anthony James so that we can see what the guy can really do. Nothing personal against Viet or Haak.

The other thing that bothers me is the start of our second halves. We either seem to come out flat or unprepared at times, especially during the first half of the Valley schedule last year.

At the same time I think we need to realize that this is only Jake's third year as a head coach at any level. Mac had been a head coach for something like 8 years before getting the UNI job. I am also really encouraged by Jake's recruiting, he has really raised the talent level and that looks to be continuing with players like Marc Sonnen coming in in the future.

I just think we need to give Jake a chance. He wasn't left much and I think he did a great job at times last year and I think it was a great accomplishment to win 18 games last year without really having any guards.

I think if we allow patience to win out, and judging by our financial situation we will, we will really be pleased with the results in the next couple of years...

[Panther Cat]

Re: ISU Game Thread

We shoot 18% from behind the arc. Jacobson does nothing. Doesn't try to feed the ball down low to get at Brackins. Doesn't try to run some set plays. Just lets the boys keep shooting while he claps and hopes they'll start falling as well. I wouldn't mind this IF our three point shooting had even a faint lifeline last night. Problem was, it didn't. Jacobson should've recognized this and done something about it on the offensive end.

I do agree with most of your post, and even this one a little. However, you could see Jake pointing and hollering to get it inside against the zone. Our bigs didn't do a very good job of looking and asking for the ball. Koch is a very good and capable post player, and obviously he is better at the top of the key taking it off the dribble, but he needs to be able to post up and get it inside, which he can. We were running a lot of guys along the baseline with some screens and got some open looks, just couldn't knock them down.

When you have good shooters getting open 3's it's hard to go away from that even when they aren't falling. If we are getting open layup after open layup it's not like we quit running the play that is getting those looks. By the way we did miss about 3 open layups too. Our offense is geared towards getting the 3, we recruit to get guys who can get us the 3.

I would have liked to see Koch get some more touches down low and Kwazdo drive it a few more times as well, but it's hard for me to complain about the offense when we are getting the open looks we want.

[Leatherhelmet]

Re: ISU Game Thread

"He got owned by Alex Freaking Thompson last night, he didn't deserve to play in the second half..."

Thompson got 2 fouls the first couple minutes and sat the bench the rest of the half.
He had 4 points the whole game and zero rebounds.

Jordan didn't play but the first few minutes of the second half.

Alex Thompson didn't own anyone last night.

Brackins owned Egelseder the first few battles and then Jordan owned Brackins by scoring on him twice and blocking a shot before Jordan got pined.

[jman2004]

Re: ISU Game Thread

I completely agree with whomever said that Moran needs to have the ball in his hands more. He should definitely be the point guard of this team over Kwadzo and Ali. I know people are gonna say he's a freshman, but in my opinion he has the highest basketball IQ and the best court vision of anybody we put on the floor every night. Even when he is struggling with his shot he has an unbelievable court savvy and awareness, which can truly impact a game. In my opinion he is our best player as well, and obviously you want the ball in your best player's hands as much as possible. Its not that i don't think Kwadzo has done a nice job with the point, its just that he doesn't really make a whole lot happen from that position and i think he would be much more effective as a slasher from the 2 spot.

Moran is good, but Kwadzo is better. Saying Kwadzo doesn't give us much from the point guard position is not true at all. He's a great ball handler, a smart, controlled player, and a great scorer (although I do think Moran creates shots for his teammates a little better at this point in time).

I think this team has bigger problems then deciding who's going to be bringing the ball up the court. Kwadzo and Johnny have BOTH had the ball in their hands PLENTY this season. This is a moot point.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Moran is good, but Kwadzo is better. Saying Kwadzo doesn't give us much from the point guard position is not true at all. He's a great ball handler, a smart, controlled player, and a great scorer (although I do think Moran creates shots for his teammates a little better at this point in time).

I think this team has bigger problems then deciding who's going to be bringing the ball up the court. Kwadzo and Johnny have BOTH had the ball in their hands PLENTY this season. This is a moot point.

Agree.

Kwadzo and Johnny have both shown plenty this year and we need both on the court. Ali, not so much, yet. Ali is only average on defense and hasn't shown the consistency. Travis Brown would be a better option right now, just as inconsistent on offense, but has the experience, and size, to help on the defensive end. Maybe Montgomery if we want to sacrifice any offense.

[Victory_For_UNI]

Re: ISU Game Thread

I think his rotations have been poor since he started, I think there are better options out there than Adam Viet and Brian Haak, no matter what good guys they are or how hard they work on a day to day basis. It just seems like at times like talent needs to win out. I wish that Haak's minutes would go to Anthony James so that we can see what the guy can really do. Nothing personal against Viet or Haak.

Agreed on Haak and Viet. Viet to a lesser extent, because he hit some big buckets, and improved his defense his senior year. Haak has no business being out there when we need points, as he is as probably the last person I would consider a threat to score.

A note on James: He has mono. We will not see him for a while. He may sit out the rest of the year and be awarded a Medical Redshirt. We can stop wondering what he could've done last night, because he would have been slower than Jordan up and down the court (if that is possible).

[Da Hog]

Re: ISU Game Thread

I completely agree with whomever said that Moran needs to have the ball in his hands more. He should definitely be the point guard of this team over Kwadzo and Ali. I know people are gonna say he's a freshman, but in my opinion he has the highest basketball IQ and the best court vision of anybody we put on the floor every night. Even when he is struggling with his shot he has an unbelievable court savvy and awareness, which can truly impact a game. In my opinion he is our best player as well, and obviously you want the ball in your best player's hands as much as possible. Its not that i don't think Kwadzo has done a nice job with the point, its just that he doesn't really make a whole lot happen from that position and i think he would be much more effective as a slasher from the 2 spot.

On the contrary, I like Kwadzo bringing the ball up. But he seems to have more comfort (or less contraints) from the sideline (coach) on letting loose a little, which is fine. I just think Moran being a freshman, has to look over his shoulder a little more and has more contraints. I would like to see the touches stay the same, just re-inforce to Moran that he can take the ball and attack a little more. And from personal knowledge, this wouldnt meen more shots just for Johnny, this means attacking and having the option to score, score and get fouled, or a quick dish both inside and out for more open shots for all of them. But keep the ball in Kwadzo's hands coming up the floor. He is doing great, and its less wasted energy on the Freshman's legs.

[Panther789]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Fair enough.

You are exactly right, I did say that this ISU team is horrible and I really think they are going to have a tough time winning more than 3-5 Big XII games. We didn't play well.

I don't blindly follow and agree with everything Jake does and I am not someone that doesn't think he has areas to improve on. I think his rotations have been poor since he started, I think there are better options out there than Adam Viet and Brian Haak, no matter what good guys they are or how hard they work on a day to day basis. It just seems like at times like talent needs to win out. I wish that Haak's minutes would go to Anthony James so that we can see what the guy can really do. Nothing personal against Viet or Haak.

The other thing that bothers me is the start of our second halves. We either seem to come out flat or unprepared at times, especially during the first half of the Valley schedule last year.

At the same time I think we need to realize that this is only Jake's third year as a head coach at any level. Mac had been a head coach for something like 8 years before getting the UNI job. I am also really encouraged by Jake's recruiting, he has really raised the talent level and that looks to be continuing with players like Marc Sonnen coming in in the future.

I just think we need to give Jake a chance. He wasn't left much and I think he did a great job at times last year and I think it was a great accomplishment to win 18 games last year without really having any guards.

I think if we allow patience to win out, and judging by our financial situation we will, we will really be pleased with the results in the next couple of years...

All fair points. Ill take the over on ISU's 3-5 conference wins, but not by much.

I, and I think almost everyone else, is willing to give Jake an opportunity to show us all what he is capable of the rest of the year. I would be very suprised if he lost his job at the end of the year, but I don't think he should be guaranteed next year at this point either. It's a decision that should be made at the end of the year. Hopefully, it will be an easy one in his favor.

[jman2004]

Re: ISU Game Thread

A You're right. Mac would never let Patrick O'Bryant, or Jamal Tatum, or Nate Funk and others beat us. NEVER. He always had those guys completely shut down and crying on the sidelines.

Of course players had big nights against us when Mac was coaching. But at least Mac would make in-game adjustments to address the issue.

Brackins dominated last night. We did NOTHING to stop him.