From: michaelv@iastate.edu (Michael L. VanLoon)
Subject: Cyclones lie down, play dead (was Re: Big 8 predictions (was Re: Rainbow Classic, De))
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Mon, 14 Dec 1992 20:02:45 GMT

In <Bz9Hq6.Mrr@news.iastate.edu> jbhuber@iastate.edu (Joseph B Huber) writes:
>In article <1992Dec14.083956@mccall.com> scott@mccall.com (Scott D. Davis)
>writes:
>>In article <michaelv.724114220@ponderous.cc.iastate.edu>,
>>michaelv@iastate.edu (Michael L. VanLoon) writes:
>>>Even though I intensely dislike the Schmuckeyes and think they're
>>>over-rated, it still doesn't take away from the fact that they're a
>>>good, hard-playing team, and will be a tough challenge.
>>>
>>I'm a state of Iowa fan.  But, from the highlights I saw, it looks
>>like the Cyclones got beaten badly.  What's your comments on the
>>game?

>Well, I'll give you my comments on the 'game' and ISU in general. Iowa State
>is in serious trouble. ISU has rebounded pathetically and has no inside
>offensive game. ISU's defense has been good, but the opposition has been
>feasting on the offensive glass. The Cyclones live and die by the outside
>shot, and die is the operative word here, since Bayless and Thigpen are
>shooting poorly.
[etc....]

I won't belabor any of the points my collegue has mentioned in his
quite accurate post.  I mentioned in my first post that if we didn't
play well in Iowa City, we were going to get walked on--well, that's
just what happened.

I think the thing that I see more than anything else is that ISU let's
a team force them out of the middle, uncontested, and just resigns
themselves to perimeter play.  They don't fight for the inside shot
once a team shows a strong fight for the middle.  This is what killed
them down at Florida State, also.  This is also why their rebounding,
especially offensively, is so pathetic.

Iowa played fiercely inside, and ISU gave it to them.  Then, when Julo
was the only player hitting consistently from the outside, they
stopped giving him the ball.  Hard to say what it'll take to get this
team fired up, but a change in the starting lineup would be a great
start.  We need to get some players out there who 1) really want to
play hard, 2) don't give up the inside just 'cause the other team is
playing them hard inside, and 3) stays inside and pulls down some
rebounds.

Iowa State still has a great amount of potential, but unless they
start clicking and working hard, this is going to be a long season.
Bright spots in the Iowa game: ISU played some good defense and got
several steals, they just didn't manage to convert them into buckets.
More of the bench got playing time, and they showed some good skill
and determination, as expected.  Hmmm... that's about all I can think
of.

Giving credit where credit is due: 1) Iowa played a good, hard game of
basketball.  Their tough, inside style of play forced the timid
Cyclones to give up the boards and take low-percentage outside shots.
They also got ISU out of sync by this, causing them to make dumb
mistakes.  2) ISU gave another one away.  They didn't play at all like
this was the biggest game in the state.  They handed the game to the
Hawks.  3) Another example of fine Big 8/Big TelEveN officiating.  I'm
sure the Arena phone was ringing off the hook with the American
Optical Association trying to get through to the refs.  Things like:
charging calls when the defender was sliding into place and didn't
even have both feet on the floor; giving an out-of-bounds ball to the
team who just had one of their players bounce it off his foot;
ticky-tacky no-consequence fouls over and over on one team, but not
the other; etc....  It was disgusting, but not surprising.

Fortunately, it's still young in the season, and there's still time
for the Cyclones to catch fire and do some great stuff.  I just hope
it happens soon.


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  Michael L. VanLoon                           Project Vincent Systems Staff
  michaelv@iastate.edu              Iowa State University Computation Center
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