From: michaelv@iastate.edu (Michael L. VanLoon)
Subject: Re: Big 8 predictions(was Re: Rainbow Classic, Dec. 27-30)
Organization: Iowa State University, Ames IA
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1992 22:50:20 GMT

In <1992Dec11.124154@mccall.com> scott@mccall.com (Scott D. Davis) writes:
>In article <skipb.724084618@cwis>, skipb@cwis.unomaha.edu (Skip Burrell) writes:
>>We were picked to finish 5th in the Big 8 by the sportswriters, but I'll go
>>on record stating that Nebraska has a very good chance of finishing 2nd.
>>With the talent and the depth of this team, I think they can play with
>>anybody. <big grin>
>>
>Depending on what else happens to KU, the race for 1st could be wide open.
>I'm not sure how ISU, NU, MU and OU match-up.  OSU might sneak in.  I
>don't know much about CU this year.  And KSU looks to be setting up
>home in the cellar.

Well, Iowa State has an incredibly talented team with some well-known
returning starters in Fred Hoiberg, Julius Michalik, Howard Eaton,
Justus Thigpen, and Ron Bayless.  They've also got some wonderful
depth on the bench.  If this team plays up to it's potential, they're
gonna be awesome.

Thigpen and Bayless make as good a backcourt as anything Kansas has to
offer.  Thigpen is an offensive machine when he's hitting, and Bayless
can shut down just anybody he's matched against defensively.  Hoiberg
looks to me like another Jeff Hornecek (currently a star at Philly,
formerly with the Phoenix Suns, formerly-formerly an Iowa State
standout, FYI).  Freddy's gonna be another great one.  "Julo" is
tenacious on the boards, has a great 3-point shot, and will drive it
inside on anyone who doesn't keep him out.  That doesn't even cover
the bench, which contains a number of players almost as talented as
the starters.  Don't count this team out of #2 or #3 in the Big 8.
That is, if they can live up to last year's performance and their
potential...

Unfortunately, they haven't really played up to that potential yet
this season.  They've only played "bad" in one game, but they're
playing lazy.  I'm not sure what to make of it yet.  If they play the
way they played Kentucky in the NCAA Tournament last winter, they're
in great shape--if not, a lot of teams are going to beat us on the
road.  It's really too early for me to tell what intensity level
they're going to be playing at this season, unfortunately.  No matter
what, I still predict at least 20 wins this season, and a top-half
finish in the Big-8.  Teams that take them lightly will get beat.

I guess we'll get a better indicator when we go to Iowa City to take
on the (as always over-rated) Hawkeyes this Saturday.  If we play
hard and smart, we'll win--no doubt.  If we play lazy like some of the
other games so far this year, we're going to get walked on.

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.

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