ISU Game Thread

[AmesPanther]

Re: ISU Game Thread

In the first half ISU was pushing the ball up the court so fast I didn't figure Jordan would see much time in the second half. He was playing Brackins pretty well, but I don't think he can keep pace up as long as Brackins.

Kwadzo looked pretty good.

I thought one of the two teams would shoot the 3 better. Both were pretty off.

[jman2004]

Re: ISU Game Thread

why was jordan on the bench so much at the end?

Because he was not physical, he was slow, and he was tired. That's what it looked like to me anyways . . .

[coachdon]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Does Ali F. have pictures of Jacobsen or something that he gets to play? He cannot shoot. Sure he'll get on a small roll once in a while, but generally, just bad. Where was Travis Brown? If he is not better than Ali he should go take up golf. Koch was winded. Where exactly was Jordan in the 2nd half? Brian Haak also should never see meaningful minutes. Ahelegbe looks pretty darn good. He looks the most confident in his own ability of all the guards. If his 3 point shot improves, he could be really good. I would like to see them try Ahelegbe and James on the floor together and see if they can score some points. Now that you've pulled the redshirt you may as well give it a shot. Moran shows potential but is inconsistent like young guys are. Koch is the star. The guys played hard and it was a pretty good game all around.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Three reasons we lost:

1. We never doubled Brackins and played him one on one the whole game and he got whatever he wanted.

2. The officiating inside. They called TONS of ticky tack fouls on us inside while the ISU guards were pushing off the entire game. And can anyone explain to me why there was no foul called when the ISU guy completely took out Haak on that one fastbreak layup attempt? WTF I was expecting a flagrant foul, instead there was NO foul.

3. Three point shooting. They just would NOT fall for us. Dammit. Good looks too.

I really feel like we outplayed the Cylclones tonight. No question. We play like that every game, we will win alot. Those threes are going to eventually fall.

Side note, the crowd tonight at the McLeod was great. Its been a long time since I've heard that place, that loud.

Nice analysis. I agree, with a little difference on officiating. I think they should have had a couple fouls on Brackins for throwing his shoulder into Lucas in the first half, but they didn't. They were letting contact go inside, ISU was muscling through the contact, we were shying away and trying fade-aways and hoping for a call. I don't know about a foul on the actual shot on Haak's break, but the aftermath was sure contact.

I think we tried to rotate men on Brackins in the first half, Koch did a nice job down the stretch, but ISU started running a 2 on 2 with Garrett and Brackins and kept getting us if Kwadzo switched on the screen. They kept good 3-pt shooters on the outside and well away from the play, so there was no chance to help from there. I think Kwadzo should have just been playing under the screens, letting Koch stay on Brackins and try to force Garrett to hit from outside (0-4 on the game).

As for the zone offense, we did a nice job with Kwadzo penetrating and either going to the rim or kicking it out in the first half. Don't know why he stopped trying that for a chunk of the middle of the second. It was almost as if they were trying to PROVE they could shoot threes, so they kept chucking. Needed to get some penetration to open up those shots. We had good looks that didn't fall in the first half, more of the 3's in the 2nd half were not as open.

Jordan didn't play because ISU took Thompson out and he was not a good match-up with Brackins or Vanderbeken. We could have put him in and used a 2-3 zone, but that would have invited ISU to hit from outside (40% coming into the game).

[jman2004]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Few comments and questions about tonight . . .

1. Student section looked awesome!

2. Kwadzo is good.

3. Ali was/is BROKE.

4. Poor Kerwin is not a fan favorite (despite hitting the big three).

5. Jacobson still seems to struggle with who to play and when.

6. LOTS of standing around.

7. And was Kerwin's three pointer even "reviewable", being Iowa State inbounded the ball, shot a three, missed it, and the final horn blew? If they are to review that play, don't they have to do it immediately? Or is different than college football rules?

It was a fun atmosphere tonight, I'm just afraid that we're going to have to scratch and claw for every win we get this year . . . and that could lead to a nervewracking season.

[Khan4Cats]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Few comments and questions about tonight . . .

1. Student section looked awesome!

2. Kwadzo is good.

3. Ali was BROKE.

4. Poor Kerwin is not a fan favorite (despite hitting the big three).

5. Jacobson still seems to struggle with who to play and when.

6. LOTS of standing around.

7. And was Kerwin's three pointer even "reviewable", being Iowa State inbounded the ball, shot a three, missed it, and the final horn blew? If they are to review that play, don't they have to do it immediately? Or is different than college football rules?

It was a fun atmosphere tonight, I'm just afraid that we're going to have to scratch and claw for every win we get this year . . . and that could lead to a nervewracking season.

Ali has yet to get in a rhythm. We need him to be hitting or he should come out. He has the ability to light it up from outside but has not found a groove at all. Maybe that's where we could see James (was he hurt? he didn't dress tonight).

Yes, Kerwin's shot was reviewable. It's different than in football. In basketball officials may review a play at the next dead ball. In this case, that was the end of regulation. Would have taken some serious kahonees to rule that shot a 2 there, though.

[bigticket]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Great shot by Dunham to tie the game, but he's GOT to be more productive with all those minutes he's getting. He just doesn't look like he wants the ball in his hands.

Ali has to leave his junior college ball behind and make better decisions on shots.

KA looks like a whole different ball player...and for the better. Wow was he impressive.

It's hard to watch us play against a zone. We've got to stop worrying about a turnover and attack the basket. We're letting the defense take us out of our game. Gotta play towards the basket.

I think this team will improve a lot as the season goes. Got some work to do, but I liked what I saw overall tonight.

You're my boy blue.. word for word with ya.

Also, a 24' 3 pointer may be an open look, but its a horrible shot.. How many three's we're well behind the arc?

[jman2004]

Re: ISU Game Thread

I think we tried to rotate men on Brackins in the first half, Koch did a nice job down the stretch, but ISU started running a 2 on 2 with Garrett and Brackins and kept getting us if Kwadzo switched on the screen. They kept good 3-pt shooters on the outside and well away from the play, so there was no chance to help from there. I think Kwadzo should have just been playing under the screens, letting Koch stay on Brackins and try to force Garrett to hit from outside (0-4 on the game).

As for the zone offense, we did a nice job with Kwadzo penetrating and either going to the rim or kicking it out in the first half. Don't know why he stopped trying that for a chunk of the middle of the second. It was almost as if they were trying to PROVE they could shoot threes, so they kept chucking. Needed to get some penetration to open up those shots. We had good looks that didn't fall in the first half, more of the 3's in the 2nd half were not as open.

Jordan didn't play because ISU took Thompson out and he was not a good match-up with Brackins or Vanderbeken. We could have put him in and used a 2-3 zone, but that would have invited ISU to hit from outside (40% coming into the game).

I noticed this on defense as well. I yelled once for Kwadzo to just stay under the screens too, so he wouldn't be stuck on Brackins, but he must not have heard me.

The other stuff I quoted, I agree with 100%. Don't know why Kwadzo didn't penetrate the zone more often down the stretch. If we can drive and get to the hole, why the need to prove ourselves from behind the arc?

As for Jordan, I was kind of glad his play was limited. I don't know if he would've helped much? Is he healthy? Because he looks like he's good for about 3 minutes at a time, before needing a lengthy breather.

[jman2004]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Yes, Kerwin's shot was reviewable. It's different than in football. In basketball officials may review a play at the next dead ball. In this case, that was the end of regulation. Would have taken some serious kahonees to rule that shot a 2 there, though.

Gotcha. Yes, the McLeod would've erupted if that would've happened.

[06panther10]

Re: ISU Game Thread

I like the fact that Ali kept shooting. He IS a good shooter. It will happen for him, he has got too pure of a shot for them not to fall.

Coach Jake still has some baffling coaching decisions and despite being in his third year now, he still needs to get ALOT better, as it seems he is outcoached on a regular basis.

[clenz]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Is James hurt?

[Trapped in California]

Re: ISU Game Thread

32 three point attempts is symptom of why we lost. I saw most of the second half, and there was maybe three or four times when the ball penetrated the three point line other than a shot.

It looked like people we sucking wind for the last 5 minutes of the second half and most of OT.

If that was the gameplan, that was wack. If it was not, horrible decision making. I know that good defense make an offense look bad, but that defense was barely doing anything more than turning around to get the long rebound.


Ugly.

[JCPanthers]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Were they Big 12 or MVC officials? I thought they would be Big 12, but several friends said they weren't.

Actually, all three of those officials work both conferences. The worst on that crew was Gerry Pollard the fat grey haired guy....he sucked the entire game.

[UNIhawk]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Few comments and questions about tonight . . .

1. Student section looked awesome!

2. Kwadzo is good.

3. Ali was/is BROKE.

4. Poor Kerwin is not a fan favorite (despite hitting the big three).

5. Jacobson still seems to struggle with who to play and when.

6. LOTS of standing around.

7. And was Kerwin's three pointer even "reviewable", being Iowa State inbounded the ball, shot a three, missed it, and the final horn blew? If they are to review that play, don't they have to do it immediately? Or is different than college football rules?

It was a fun atmosphere tonight, I'm just afraid that we're going to have to scratch and claw for every win we get this year . . . and that could lead to a nervewracking season.

Thanks...we've been workin' out....

[AmesPanther]

Re: ISU Game Thread

Actually, all three of those officials work both conferences. The worst on that crew was Gerry Pollard the fat grey haired guy....he sucked the entire game.

I thought ISU was pushing the game the first half to try to wear UNI down, but maybe Mac was trying to wear out the fat grey haired guys.