As I drove back home after a weekend out of town, I contemplated what dimissive headline the Register would conceive to minimize ISU's thrashing of a$m in College Station. "A&M AWOL" was the best I could arrive at.
It is sport among Cyclone fans to dream up Register headlines that pick out any downside of ISU success. Perhaps "ISU survives big plays" would have been apt for Saturday, with one Aggie TD scored on a long run, and another called back by a holding penalty. The Rag often finds a way to downplay the big moments in Cyclone Nation while pumping up every tiny glimmer of hope from Iowa City. A win over a last place team by Iowa is a "Crushing"; the same win in Ames is "workmanlike". A close loss to a better team "Valiant" for one; "Horrific" the other.
So imagine my surprise at the positive spin Saturday's win received. "Historic" read the headline, the copy even more glowing, accurately reflecting the dismantling of a team some had thought was a darkhorse in the league. How fun to read about the same game you watched on TV.
Perhaps a play on "Silent Killers" would have been appropriate given the way normally boisterous Kyle Field fell silent as the margin grew bigger. Most of the fans left late in the third quarter. When your fans are making more noise than the home team, you know you have done your job.
The win does make one wonder just how good this team can be, since we have witness how bad- most of Illinois State, the first half against Army, the second half against Baylor, the last 10 minutes versus Mizzou- the team is capable of playing. But we should all step back and enjoy the moment: 8 solid quarters of football against two South teams that dominated ISU on both sides of the ball just last season. Two complete games with little to turn the nose up at. A team on a losing streak coming to Ames this week, and the North leader on the horizon. Potential abounds, still. One can even contemplate a bowl trip to a town other than Shreveport. Happy day, happy day.
Peterclone
Sunday, October 30, 2005
Sunday, October 23, 2005
For once, a fourth quarter breather
It has been a tough few weeks for Cyclone fan. Saturday's 37-10 win over Okie State at least gave ISU fans a relaxed fourth quarter for a change.
Most of it came from OSU's five turnovers, but who is to quibble? They won a game they had to and should have won. They flexed some defensive muscle. They passed the ball well. It was all a bit of a relief, even after some early nervousness when OSU took a 10-7 lead. But when you have found a way to lose your last three, any win is a good win.
So now ISU starts another frantic run towards bowl eligibility, but none of the four remaining games are gimmies. A road trip to a$m is a likely loss given history, and home games against KSU and CU will be challenges. On paper, the best matchup for ISU, at KU to end the season, could be a trap. The Cylones could win all four. They could also lose all four, and I would be surprised by neither circumstance.
The sooner they get two, the better we will all feel.
Peterclone
Most of it came from OSU's five turnovers, but who is to quibble? They won a game they had to and should have won. They flexed some defensive muscle. They passed the ball well. It was all a bit of a relief, even after some early nervousness when OSU took a 10-7 lead. But when you have found a way to lose your last three, any win is a good win.
So now ISU starts another frantic run towards bowl eligibility, but none of the four remaining games are gimmies. A road trip to a$m is a likely loss given history, and home games against KSU and CU will be challenges. On paper, the best matchup for ISU, at KU to end the season, could be a trap. The Cylones could win all four. They could also lose all four, and I would be surprised by neither circumstance.
The sooner they get two, the better we will all feel.
Peterclone
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Bad teams, take 3
Everything I stated in my last post still holds true. Bad teams find a way to lose. Iowa State fans have been witness to the maxim for more than 100 football seasons.
The only bright spot to come from the three losses is the chance to chant the Cyclone Classic Cheer: "Wait 'till basketball! Wait 'till basketball!" (like Nebraska cares).
One glimmer of hope: ISU has left on it's schedule three teams that rank below it on the current Sagarin rankings: OSU this week, K State and Kansas, who has an amazingly motionless offense and will probably fire their coach at the end of the year. Win all three, and they get another bowl trip, and opponent the can beat and the three weeks of practice to work on next season. That's the goal now. Anything more is gravy.
It was ironic that during the loss to Baylor the ISU marketing department began running their TV ads for the coming hoops season. The men's team has a great slogan: "I Will". Taken to heart, it should encourage each player to play his role, do his job, win some games. When a team has some filthy talent like Stinson, it is natural to begin to stand around and wait for him to make the play to save the day. There were moments during Jamaal Tinsley's senior year that this happened. Hopefully Wayne can get his crew to avoid these lapses at critical moments.
It is that slogan that seems to be lacking in the football team at the moment. When the key opportunity presents itself, the football player just can't catch the pass, grab the fumble cleanly, or score without fumbling. One play in each loss would have resulted in a probable win, and ISU is getting BCS buzz. Instead, they are hanging on for dear life.
A game of inches indeed.
Peterclone
The only bright spot to come from the three losses is the chance to chant the Cyclone Classic Cheer: "Wait 'till basketball! Wait 'till basketball!" (like Nebraska cares).
One glimmer of hope: ISU has left on it's schedule three teams that rank below it on the current Sagarin rankings: OSU this week, K State and Kansas, who has an amazingly motionless offense and will probably fire their coach at the end of the year. Win all three, and they get another bowl trip, and opponent the can beat and the three weeks of practice to work on next season. That's the goal now. Anything more is gravy.
It was ironic that during the loss to Baylor the ISU marketing department began running their TV ads for the coming hoops season. The men's team has a great slogan: "I Will". Taken to heart, it should encourage each player to play his role, do his job, win some games. When a team has some filthy talent like Stinson, it is natural to begin to stand around and wait for him to make the play to save the day. There were moments during Jamaal Tinsley's senior year that this happened. Hopefully Wayne can get his crew to avoid these lapses at critical moments.
It is that slogan that seems to be lacking in the football team at the moment. When the key opportunity presents itself, the football player just can't catch the pass, grab the fumble cleanly, or score without fumbling. One play in each loss would have resulted in a probable win, and ISU is getting BCS buzz. Instead, they are hanging on for dear life.
A game of inches indeed.
Peterclone
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Bad teams find a way to lose
It was appropriate that the worst and third worst B12 teams (from the perspective of all time conference records) met in Ames, both coming off OT road losses to their nearest conference rival. Each team had plenty of chances to win last week, both each found the way to lose. The Baylor-Iowa State matchup resulted in less one team winning, more the other team finding a way to lose.
Each program has historically struggled to win games in the league. Near misses were always punctuated by the blown play, the dropped pass, the defensive stop gone aray. ISU had the opportunity to put Baylor on the ropes, but fumbled. A fine scoring drive died on another fumble. Baylor eventually sealed the game by converting late first downs on bad defensive assignments.
Like last week at Nebraska, ISU had chances to win late, and failed on every opportunity. Today, the Cyclones again failed when opportunity knocked. ISU, despite easily moving the ball most of the day, found the way to lose.
Which means the Cyclones are now at a crossroads. Each of their remaining games is winnable, on paper. Each game is also, on paper, loseable. Three wins gets a bowl bid, more a nicer bowl bid. But this team's lack of playmakers makes even three wins a reach. The season is at a crossroads, with no gimmies in sight.
ISU was Baylor's fist B12 win back in '96. They are now BU's first conference road win. The Bears appear willing to toss the designation of "Doormat" on someone else. Hopefully the Cyclones make the plays to avoid that tag.
Peterclone
Each program has historically struggled to win games in the league. Near misses were always punctuated by the blown play, the dropped pass, the defensive stop gone aray. ISU had the opportunity to put Baylor on the ropes, but fumbled. A fine scoring drive died on another fumble. Baylor eventually sealed the game by converting late first downs on bad defensive assignments.
Like last week at Nebraska, ISU had chances to win late, and failed on every opportunity. Today, the Cyclones again failed when opportunity knocked. ISU, despite easily moving the ball most of the day, found the way to lose.
Which means the Cyclones are now at a crossroads. Each of their remaining games is winnable, on paper. Each game is also, on paper, loseable. Three wins gets a bowl bid, more a nicer bowl bid. But this team's lack of playmakers makes even three wins a reach. The season is at a crossroads, with no gimmies in sight.
ISU was Baylor's fist B12 win back in '96. They are now BU's first conference road win. The Bears appear willing to toss the designation of "Doormat" on someone else. Hopefully the Cyclones make the plays to avoid that tag.
Peterclone
Monday, September 26, 2005
Perspective is a funny thing
I was in the stands for the ISU-Nebraska game in 2004, and the differences in the two teams was stark. ISU looked skilled, polished, strong. Nebraska looked small, slow and confused. It was a complete flip of what we are used to seeing in the series.
Fast forward a year, and read the quotes coming out of Lincoln.
“I think it’s been on all of our minds. It was a bad loss. They were a beatable team, and we should’ve beaten them.”
What game was he watching?
ISU outplayed the Huskers in every phase of the game until the last 10 minutes. Only when the ISU staff went to the soft prevent zone to prevent the big play did the Nebraska offense find any life. The 7 point margin was as close as the game got at any point.
ISU was beatable? Well, so were the Huskers. Even more so.
I suppose it's the only good face the Nebraska staff and crew can put on the game. A loss to ISU is not easy to swallow for the Big Red crowd. Coach Calahan can't start the post game presser with "They've passed us in both talent and scheme. It's going to take a while for us to catch up in both." The earth would open up and swallow him whole the moment he crossed the Missouri. So the loss is couched as "We should have won. A break here, a play there, we win."
Another loss this year and they might consider giving up football; if they lose 3 of 4 to the Cyclones, clearly they have forgotten what they are doing. Which way to the baseball field?
The ISU game is critical for Nebraska. A win, and they are in the driver's seat for the North title. A loss, and every team on their schedule is looking at them as a possible benchmark win, bad record or not. With Tech bringing it's wild road show into Lincoln the following Saturday, NU needs some confidence against a quality opponent. Fast.
Peterlone
Fast forward a year, and read the quotes coming out of Lincoln.
“I think it’s been on all of our minds. It was a bad loss. They were a beatable team, and we should’ve beaten them.”
What game was he watching?
ISU outplayed the Huskers in every phase of the game until the last 10 minutes. Only when the ISU staff went to the soft prevent zone to prevent the big play did the Nebraska offense find any life. The 7 point margin was as close as the game got at any point.
ISU was beatable? Well, so were the Huskers. Even more so.
I suppose it's the only good face the Nebraska staff and crew can put on the game. A loss to ISU is not easy to swallow for the Big Red crowd. Coach Calahan can't start the post game presser with "They've passed us in both talent and scheme. It's going to take a while for us to catch up in both." The earth would open up and swallow him whole the moment he crossed the Missouri. So the loss is couched as "We should have won. A break here, a play there, we win."
Another loss this year and they might consider giving up football; if they lose 3 of 4 to the Cyclones, clearly they have forgotten what they are doing. Which way to the baseball field?
The ISU game is critical for Nebraska. A win, and they are in the driver's seat for the North title. A loss, and every team on their schedule is looking at them as a possible benchmark win, bad record or not. With Tech bringing it's wild road show into Lincoln the following Saturday, NU needs some confidence against a quality opponent. Fast.
Peterlone
Saturday, September 24, 2005
The Iowa Factor
If the CSJ staff were betting types, money could be made by simply betting on the teams that Iowa avoids in their conference schedule.
Since the Big TenEleven went to the "Miss Two" schedule in 1993, two conference teams are off the schedule of each conference team. Those teams come on and off in pairs, so each team misses a home and home with themissing opponent.
Since that schedule was begun, the teams Iowa has missed have gone to bowl games at a much higher rate than the conference as a whole, 70% to 59%.
According to JHowell's excellent site, since 1993 Big TenEleven teams have made 78 bowl appearances out of a possible 132 seasons (11 teams x 12 seasons) for a 59% appearance rate. Of the 24 teams Iowa hasn't played in that span, 17 have earned bowl bids, or 70%. 2004 was the first year that the streak was broken, as neither Nothwestern or Indiana went bowling- although at 6-6, NW was on the cusp. In fact, in 6 of those seasons both teams Iowa missed went to bowl games ('93- WI OSU; '94 WI OSU; '97 MSU PSU; '99 MI PU; '00 MI PU; '01 IL OSU).
The case can be made that Iowa dodged possible losses due to the luck of the scheduling draw. In several of those years ('93, '97, '01 ) playing one or both bowl-earning teams missing from their schedules could have knocked Iowa from bowl contention.
Interestingly, only the '03 Northwestern squad would have been bounced from a bowl with a loss to an Iowa team they didn't play. The other 16 Iowa-dodgers had wins to spare, meaning Iowa gained more from this schedule anomoly than the teams they missed.
Who to like in 2005? Michigan State and Penn State, both of whom have jumped out 4-0 and 1-0 in the Big TenEleven. iowa dodges two more bullets, while getting Indiana and Northwestern back on their docket. Imagine that.
Peterclone
Since the Big TenEleven went to the "Miss Two" schedule in 1993, two conference teams are off the schedule of each conference team. Those teams come on and off in pairs, so each team misses a home and home with themissing opponent.
Since that schedule was begun, the teams Iowa has missed have gone to bowl games at a much higher rate than the conference as a whole, 70% to 59%.
According to JHowell's excellent site, since 1993 Big TenEleven teams have made 78 bowl appearances out of a possible 132 seasons (11 teams x 12 seasons) for a 59% appearance rate. Of the 24 teams Iowa hasn't played in that span, 17 have earned bowl bids, or 70%. 2004 was the first year that the streak was broken, as neither Nothwestern or Indiana went bowling- although at 6-6, NW was on the cusp. In fact, in 6 of those seasons both teams Iowa missed went to bowl games ('93- WI OSU; '94 WI OSU; '97 MSU PSU; '99 MI PU; '00 MI PU; '01 IL OSU).
The case can be made that Iowa dodged possible losses due to the luck of the scheduling draw. In several of those years ('93, '97, '01 ) playing one or both bowl-earning teams missing from their schedules could have knocked Iowa from bowl contention.
Interestingly, only the '03 Northwestern squad would have been bounced from a bowl with a loss to an Iowa team they didn't play. The other 16 Iowa-dodgers had wins to spare, meaning Iowa gained more from this schedule anomoly than the teams they missed.
Who to like in 2005? Michigan State and Penn State, both of whom have jumped out 4-0 and 1-0 in the Big TenEleven. iowa dodges two more bullets, while getting Indiana and Northwestern back on their docket. Imagine that.
Peterclone
Good team? Bad team?
Three games in, and the jury is still out on the 2005 Cyclones. Good team with a couple of bad nights? Bad team with one perfect effort against a rival?
Much of ISU's win over Army left the observer wanting more: More effort, more heart, more execution of what ISU wants to do well. ISU was simply outplayed for much of the game, yet pieced together opportunities to eek out a win. They exerted themselves at the right times and the right ways to get the win, just as they did against Illinois State.
Like the win over Iowa, I view this from the "The Glass Is Half Full" section of the stadium. Cyclone teams of the past would have wilted before the cadets and lost going away, tumbling from the ranked to the just rank, and simmering in their own gutless juice to a 4-7 finish. This Cyclone unit overcame an inspired Army team, the pressure of national TV, and their own bad road and halftime-deficit history to win the game. The victory was earned through defensive pressure and opportunistic offensive play.
Good teams overcome bad nights. So far, we have seen the extremes of how ISU can play, and they are 3-0 headed into Lincoln. They have found the way to win. Hopefully the good game/bad game trend follows form and ISU is lights out at Nebraska.
Until proven otherwise, this ISU squad is unlike their predessors: They win even when they shouldn't.
Peterclone
Much of ISU's win over Army left the observer wanting more: More effort, more heart, more execution of what ISU wants to do well. ISU was simply outplayed for much of the game, yet pieced together opportunities to eek out a win. They exerted themselves at the right times and the right ways to get the win, just as they did against Illinois State.
Like the win over Iowa, I view this from the "The Glass Is Half Full" section of the stadium. Cyclone teams of the past would have wilted before the cadets and lost going away, tumbling from the ranked to the just rank, and simmering in their own gutless juice to a 4-7 finish. This Cyclone unit overcame an inspired Army team, the pressure of national TV, and their own bad road and halftime-deficit history to win the game. The victory was earned through defensive pressure and opportunistic offensive play.
Good teams overcome bad nights. So far, we have seen the extremes of how ISU can play, and they are 3-0 headed into Lincoln. They have found the way to win. Hopefully the good game/bad game trend follows form and ISU is lights out at Nebraska.
Until proven otherwise, this ISU squad is unlike their predessors: They win even when they shouldn't.
Peterclone
Tuesday, September 20, 2005
Here lies Trev Albert's career
We mustn't let the football season pass any further without noting the end of Trev Albert's national TV career. It's death was self-inflicted.
Trev felt he wasn't "being respected" internally, so he decided not to show up for work on a football Saturday. They pull Beano Cook from his cyronic chamber every Saturday so he can wax about the glory that was Notre Dame back is '23, but Trev skips out? That's the only day of the week he really HAD to be there- ESPN could cover any of the other six days. Knucklehead.
I'm sure he will get another gig- CBS maybe, or FOX if they decide to spin up a weekly football show, perhaps radio- but he will never again have a pulpit with the reach of the ESPN blowtorch, and the universe it a better place for it. For of all of Albert's stupid opinions- and every talking head is paid to clutch a few tightly to his chest- the most laughable was how he was an unashamed Nebraska apologist.
NU gets thumped by Colorado, then gets a shot at the title? No problem!
NU recruits thugs to win? Why did they wait?
Also-rans like ISU think they are good enough to run with mighty NU? Ph-shaw! Pretenders! I don't care what the score was or how many games they have won the last 5 years. ALL HAIL THE GLORY THAT WAS NEBRASKA!
Because of that, I won't miss him a bit. While I realize that much of televised sports is entertainment first, I still want at least a shred of objectiveness in that entertainment, and that is where Alberts failed most often.
Peterclone
Trev felt he wasn't "being respected" internally, so he decided not to show up for work on a football Saturday. They pull Beano Cook from his cyronic chamber every Saturday so he can wax about the glory that was Notre Dame back is '23, but Trev skips out? That's the only day of the week he really HAD to be there- ESPN could cover any of the other six days. Knucklehead.
I'm sure he will get another gig- CBS maybe, or FOX if they decide to spin up a weekly football show, perhaps radio- but he will never again have a pulpit with the reach of the ESPN blowtorch, and the universe it a better place for it. For of all of Albert's stupid opinions- and every talking head is paid to clutch a few tightly to his chest- the most laughable was how he was an unashamed Nebraska apologist.
NU gets thumped by Colorado, then gets a shot at the title? No problem!
NU recruits thugs to win? Why did they wait?
Also-rans like ISU think they are good enough to run with mighty NU? Ph-shaw! Pretenders! I don't care what the score was or how many games they have won the last 5 years. ALL HAIL THE GLORY THAT WAS NEBRASKA!
Because of that, I won't miss him a bit. While I realize that much of televised sports is entertainment first, I still want at least a shred of objectiveness in that entertainment, and that is where Alberts failed most often.
Peterclone
New year, same old excuses
Perhaps the most satisfying aspect of a Cyclone win over the despised Hawkeyes is reading the same old chestnut excuses trotted out to explain just how the mighty Hawks could be beaten by the lowly Clowns:
"ISU wanted it more"
"This game is their Super Bowl"
"McCarny's rah-rah is better in a big game than Ferentz's unemotional apporoach"
"Iowa always drops a non-confernce game they shouldn't"
"Iowa puts all their focus on the conference season"
"The Hawks would have won if it hadn't been for....."
Suppose ISU somehow wins in IC next fall. Simply cue up each of these lines and speak them to the Iowa fan nearest you, before he can get them out of his mouth. It will end the conversation quickly, and you both can get back to your beers.
Peterclone
"ISU wanted it more"
"This game is their Super Bowl"
"McCarny's rah-rah is better in a big game than Ferentz's unemotional apporoach"
"Iowa always drops a non-confernce game they shouldn't"
"Iowa puts all their focus on the conference season"
"The Hawks would have won if it hadn't been for....."
Suppose ISU somehow wins in IC next fall. Simply cue up each of these lines and speak them to the Iowa fan nearest you, before he can get them out of his mouth. It will end the conversation quickly, and you both can get back to your beers.
Peterclone
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Another corner turned
In many ways, Saturday's stunning upset of 8th ranked Iowa was new territory. Unlike so many Iowa-Iowa State games over the last 25 years, it was Iowa that looked tight, lacked emotion and effort, and gift wrapped the game for the other team. And unlike other Cy-Hawk clashes from the past, ISU was able and willing to take a game the other team was trying to give away.
Those twin developments should bring much joy to Cyclone fan as we look ahead to the rest of the season. If Iowa is truly good and ISU forced them into mistakes, ISU has a realistic shot at every game left on the schedule. If Iowa was a fraud at #8, they have a season of frustration ahead with 4 or 5 more losses possible. That's a long way from being touted as a possible #1.
But the fact that ISU took the gifts presented to them, and didn't try to level the playing field themselves speaks volumes about the state of the program. Consider all the games during in the recent series that ISU had a chance to win, but didn't: 1977, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, and even 2004. Iowa gave ISU the opportunity, but ISU couldn't capitalize. Not anymore.
For a final summary of Saturday, visit this blog and enjoy the photos. The last one is the best.
Peterclone
Those twin developments should bring much joy to Cyclone fan as we look ahead to the rest of the season. If Iowa is truly good and ISU forced them into mistakes, ISU has a realistic shot at every game left on the schedule. If Iowa was a fraud at #8, they have a season of frustration ahead with 4 or 5 more losses possible. That's a long way from being touted as a possible #1.
But the fact that ISU took the gifts presented to them, and didn't try to level the playing field themselves speaks volumes about the state of the program. Consider all the games during in the recent series that ISU had a chance to win, but didn't: 1977, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, and even 2004. Iowa gave ISU the opportunity, but ISU couldn't capitalize. Not anymore.
For a final summary of Saturday, visit this blog and enjoy the photos. The last one is the best.
Peterclone
Monday, September 05, 2005
The runup begins
And so the hype for Iowa - Iowa State begins, and for the upteenth year the theme is: biggest game ever?
On paper, yes. Which should guarrentee a lousy game.
The best games come in unexpected years. The 1980 10-7 ISU win came between two teams that only managed 10 wins between them. 1990 had a wild 45-35 Iowa win in Iowa City. The 2002 36-31 ISU win mirrored the two teams seasons in reverse: Iowa's first half explosion equalled ISU's 6-1 start, and their second half collapse foreshadowed the Cyclones 1-6 finish. ISU's brilliant 3rd quarter was equal to the miracles Iowa would pull the remainder of the season.
I don't expect such excitement this year, however.
ISU's offense and FG unit still appear to be a serious work in progress. Iowa defense, while potentially not as good as last year, is still stout, and should hold ISU under 20 points.
Iowa's offense looks to be another juggernaut, and given ISU's inability to force pressure rushing 4 and a tendancy to get burnt deep, I expect Iowa to score whenevr they need to.
ISU can't win this game on their own; Iowa will need to lose. Hopefully the Black and Gold crowd get a case of Tight Helmet at inopportune times.
Peterclone
On paper, yes. Which should guarrentee a lousy game.
The best games come in unexpected years. The 1980 10-7 ISU win came between two teams that only managed 10 wins between them. 1990 had a wild 45-35 Iowa win in Iowa City. The 2002 36-31 ISU win mirrored the two teams seasons in reverse: Iowa's first half explosion equalled ISU's 6-1 start, and their second half collapse foreshadowed the Cyclones 1-6 finish. ISU's brilliant 3rd quarter was equal to the miracles Iowa would pull the remainder of the season.
I don't expect such excitement this year, however.
ISU's offense and FG unit still appear to be a serious work in progress. Iowa defense, while potentially not as good as last year, is still stout, and should hold ISU under 20 points.
Iowa's offense looks to be another juggernaut, and given ISU's inability to force pressure rushing 4 and a tendancy to get burnt deep, I expect Iowa to score whenevr they need to.
ISU can't win this game on their own; Iowa will need to lose. Hopefully the Black and Gold crowd get a case of Tight Helmet at inopportune times.
Peterclone
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Underwhelming
Iowa State's win over Illinois State was less than impressive.
What we learned:
The defense is good enough to win some games. They are not good enough to carry the team against solid opposition.
Meyer can make great throws when given time.
The OL still can't run block well.
DeAndre Jackson can be beaten deep.
The kicking game is still an adventure.
Special teams, placekicking asside, is a stregnth.
Early prediction: Iowa 35, ISU 14. Just not enough O for ISU to keep up.
More to follow as the week progresses.
Peterclone
What we learned:
The defense is good enough to win some games. They are not good enough to carry the team against solid opposition.
Meyer can make great throws when given time.
The OL still can't run block well.
DeAndre Jackson can be beaten deep.
The kicking game is still an adventure.
Special teams, placekicking asside, is a stregnth.
Early prediction: Iowa 35, ISU 14. Just not enough O for ISU to keep up.
More to follow as the week progresses.
Peterclone
Friday, August 19, 2005
Another corner turned
The maturation of the ISU football program and fan base continues.
Ask your average Cyclone fan this: If ISU splits with Iowa and Nebraska, which win would you prefer?
CSJ's highly unscientific polling shows a sea change in the thinking of Cyclonedom: A win in Lincoln is preferred over a beating of the Hawkeyes. This is monumental.
When ISU football was just another program, a win over the Bumblebees would make or break a season. But with 2004's near-miss, Cyclone fan now realizes there are bigger prizes than downing Kirk and Crew. The Iowa game may not be second tier to NU, CU and KSU, but a loss to the former will easily be remedied by wins over the latter.
During the dark days of The Streak, Iowa fan would belittle Cyclone fan with: "The ISU game is less important than every Big 10 game." While I always doubted Iowa fans enjoyed a pummelling of Indiana more than a pummelling of ISU, they had reason to place the Ohio State and Michigan games above their matchup with the Cyclones. They still do.
But now, so do the Cyclones. That is the best sign of football health I can think of.
Peterclone
Ask your average Cyclone fan this: If ISU splits with Iowa and Nebraska, which win would you prefer?
CSJ's highly unscientific polling shows a sea change in the thinking of Cyclonedom: A win in Lincoln is preferred over a beating of the Hawkeyes. This is monumental.
When ISU football was just another program, a win over the Bumblebees would make or break a season. But with 2004's near-miss, Cyclone fan now realizes there are bigger prizes than downing Kirk and Crew. The Iowa game may not be second tier to NU, CU and KSU, but a loss to the former will easily be remedied by wins over the latter.
During the dark days of The Streak, Iowa fan would belittle Cyclone fan with: "The ISU game is less important than every Big 10 game." While I always doubted Iowa fans enjoyed a pummelling of Indiana more than a pummelling of ISU, they had reason to place the Ohio State and Michigan games above their matchup with the Cyclones. They still do.
But now, so do the Cyclones. That is the best sign of football health I can think of.
Peterclone
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
So long, Bruce; Thanks for all the dollars
Bruce VDV has given notice: I'm jumping from the plane with no apparent parachute.
Which is the best way he could leave, considering the perhaps shabby treatment he has received from the University for being asked to work without a contract.
What did he do in that time? He cemented Mac, Fennelly and Wayne to contract extensions. He hired a potentially competent softball coach. He announced fundraising and ticket sales are at an all-time high.
Given results like that, I would recommend whoever hires him in the future continue the month-to-month standing. He does nice work not knowing where his next paycheck is coming from.
In my eyes, Bruce only had three black marks, two of which were forced upon him: Dumping baseball and Men's swimming (a gift from Gene Smith), the horrid way that LE's drinking was handled (a situation perhaps directed by the President's office), and his rather vanilla personality. Bruce was never very good on the summer rubber chicken circuit. He wasn't a glad-hander and back-slapper. He didn't buy trays of drinks at Kelly's. He somehow got donors to open their checkbooks and build things without be Mr. Smooth. He was an AD only an accountant could love.
That accountant is leaving ISU athletics in as solid a financial shape as they have been in recent memory, with a solid foundation for future revenue growth. While ISU's budgets still pale in comparison to most of the league, no ground is being lost, and ISU is performing at perhaps the highest win/dollar ratio in the XII.
For that, we thank you, Bruce.
Peterclone
Which is the best way he could leave, considering the perhaps shabby treatment he has received from the University for being asked to work without a contract.
What did he do in that time? He cemented Mac, Fennelly and Wayne to contract extensions. He hired a potentially competent softball coach. He announced fundraising and ticket sales are at an all-time high.
Given results like that, I would recommend whoever hires him in the future continue the month-to-month standing. He does nice work not knowing where his next paycheck is coming from.
In my eyes, Bruce only had three black marks, two of which were forced upon him: Dumping baseball and Men's swimming (a gift from Gene Smith), the horrid way that LE's drinking was handled (a situation perhaps directed by the President's office), and his rather vanilla personality. Bruce was never very good on the summer rubber chicken circuit. He wasn't a glad-hander and back-slapper. He didn't buy trays of drinks at Kelly's. He somehow got donors to open their checkbooks and build things without be Mr. Smooth. He was an AD only an accountant could love.
That accountant is leaving ISU athletics in as solid a financial shape as they have been in recent memory, with a solid foundation for future revenue growth. While ISU's budgets still pale in comparison to most of the league, no ground is being lost, and ISU is performing at perhaps the highest win/dollar ratio in the XII.
For that, we thank you, Bruce.
Peterclone
Saturday, August 06, 2005
Blogs, rumors and the "working press"
In case you haven't noticed, the internet is rapidly changing how the news media does it's job. News consumers are no longer content to wait for the morning paper to find out how their team did last night. They want the box score, quotes and analysis almost before the game has ended. This is making it tough on all flavors of media, but most dramatically on the print folks.
Sometimes they lash out.
Nancy has one correct point: she has to verify everything she is going to print as fact. This means talking to the parties involved directly, which is the central tenant of good journalism.
Where she wanders astray is in her portrayal of those who post on message boards or write blogs like this one.
The money quote:
"Read the blogs if you want. Read the message boards. But do it for entertainment, not information. Don't accept anything you read on them as truth unless it has been independently verified.
Usual scenario: A loser tries to make himself seem important by posting information that makes him appear to be an insider, "in the know."
Worse case scenario: Gambling interests, bookies, the mob pass off inaccurate information about a player or team as truth to try to influence wagering or the outcome of a contest. They're counting on readers and viewers to be gullible.
Don't be."
While a few may be losers living in their mother's basements, most are not. We have jobs, families, lives. We just happen to be passionate enough about something to write about it. It's a virtual barroom argument.
But what is getting stuck in the craw of Nancy and the "working press" is that despite the vast amounts of smoke generated online, there is a significant amount of fire. Enough fire that sportswriters now cruise the message boards looking for the next one. It's part of their beat now.
In fact, most of the major local sports stories have been first reported, unverified, online: Coach Peterson's child porn, Eustachy's drinking, Jon Beutjer's roommate problems, Pierre Pierce's dating struggles, etc. Some of these floated around in cyberspace for days before the "working press" either noticed, or were able to get anything on the record. Flat out, they are getting beat, especially the Register.
A sports page that was once one of the nation's best is now second banana to papers like the Ames Tribune. They seldom send a staff photographer to away games for either Iowa or ISU, content to work with whatever AP sends them. Their drop in circulation month to month and year to year is way above the industry average, and no improvement is in sight.
So those who do mediocre work, and who are barely able to justify their job at an operation that focuses not on the news, but on maintaining a 20% profit margin, get the most belligerent at those who do better work for free.
Peterclone
Sometimes they lash out.
Nancy has one correct point: she has to verify everything she is going to print as fact. This means talking to the parties involved directly, which is the central tenant of good journalism.
Where she wanders astray is in her portrayal of those who post on message boards or write blogs like this one.
The money quote:
"Read the blogs if you want. Read the message boards. But do it for entertainment, not information. Don't accept anything you read on them as truth unless it has been independently verified.
Usual scenario: A loser tries to make himself seem important by posting information that makes him appear to be an insider, "in the know."
Worse case scenario: Gambling interests, bookies, the mob pass off inaccurate information about a player or team as truth to try to influence wagering or the outcome of a contest. They're counting on readers and viewers to be gullible.
Don't be."
While a few may be losers living in their mother's basements, most are not. We have jobs, families, lives. We just happen to be passionate enough about something to write about it. It's a virtual barroom argument.
But what is getting stuck in the craw of Nancy and the "working press" is that despite the vast amounts of smoke generated online, there is a significant amount of fire. Enough fire that sportswriters now cruise the message boards looking for the next one. It's part of their beat now.
In fact, most of the major local sports stories have been first reported, unverified, online: Coach Peterson's child porn, Eustachy's drinking, Jon Beutjer's roommate problems, Pierre Pierce's dating struggles, etc. Some of these floated around in cyberspace for days before the "working press" either noticed, or were able to get anything on the record. Flat out, they are getting beat, especially the Register.
A sports page that was once one of the nation's best is now second banana to papers like the Ames Tribune. They seldom send a staff photographer to away games for either Iowa or ISU, content to work with whatever AP sends them. Their drop in circulation month to month and year to year is way above the industry average, and no improvement is in sight.
So those who do mediocre work, and who are barely able to justify their job at an operation that focuses not on the news, but on maintaining a 20% profit margin, get the most belligerent at those who do better work for free.
Peterclone
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
And now, for the contrary opinion
In my last post, I played the wet blanket. Now I present an outsider who is willing to toss an damp sleeping bag on ISU football.
This Nebraska columnist holds to the most damning of opinions about ISU: If ISU can win the division, the division must suck. As in, ISU is a constant of football physics: they never improve much above a certain level, so if you lose to them, it says more about how bad you are than how good ISU might be.
He also gets a nice dig in about ISU celebrating a bowl win over Miami OH. I suspect after the year NU had, a bowl win would have been greeted with Gatorade showers all around.
And while he gives a nod to Dan and the rebuilding job he has done, the piece still has an air of "Enjoy it while we're down". Much like what Cyclone fans read and heard during their 5 year run over the Evil Empire. We've heard this record before.
We shouldn't be surprised. It will take a handful of division titles before the rest of the league thinks much of ISU.
This is a damn good time to begin. If winning itself isn't motivation enough, stuffing a trophy down a naysayer's throat should be.
Peterclone
This Nebraska columnist holds to the most damning of opinions about ISU: If ISU can win the division, the division must suck. As in, ISU is a constant of football physics: they never improve much above a certain level, so if you lose to them, it says more about how bad you are than how good ISU might be.
He also gets a nice dig in about ISU celebrating a bowl win over Miami OH. I suspect after the year NU had, a bowl win would have been greeted with Gatorade showers all around.
And while he gives a nod to Dan and the rebuilding job he has done, the piece still has an air of "Enjoy it while we're down". Much like what Cyclone fans read and heard during their 5 year run over the Evil Empire. We've heard this record before.
We shouldn't be surprised. It will take a handful of division titles before the rest of the league thinks much of ISU.
This is a damn good time to begin. If winning itself isn't motivation enough, stuffing a trophy down a naysayer's throat should be.
Peterclone
Monday, August 01, 2005
Reel yourselves in, Cyclone fans
The CSJ staff was at a barbeque Saturday night where a circle of Cyclone fans were noisily arguing what the coming football and basketball seasons held. It was an awakening for us.
We have heard rumblings through the summer of bubbling optimism among the Cardinal and Gold crowd, but we could hardly believe our ears at some of the scenarios that were being seriously discussed.
"If the kicking game doesn't kill us, we win the Big XII North"
"If Taggert comes through, we can win the league"
"I think we can sweep Iowa in Football and Basketball"
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Slow down! What the heck has happened to the Cyclone fan of old? The "Just don't embarrass us" school of support? The "Just happy to be here" mentaility?
Yes, there were plenty of happy signs from last season in both football and basketball. Yes, with improvement in some areas both teams could be even more successful. Yes, that optimism has manifested in a record number of season tickets being sold for football, and should be expected in basketball.
But have some restraint. We are Cyclone fans, after all.
How many times have you let optimism carry your spirit away only to have it crushed on the turf of Norman or Lincoln or Iowa City? How many near misses have gone by over the years, dampening our souls for an entire spring and summer? How many season lost to one key injury, one huge turnover, one missed kick?
We want success as much as you, but we know better than to tempt fate and mock karma. Assume the glass is half empty until you get a finger in there to confirm otherwise.
Be hopeful, but keep it to yourself, Cyclone fan. Besides, nobody likes a "told you so".
Peterclone
We have heard rumblings through the summer of bubbling optimism among the Cardinal and Gold crowd, but we could hardly believe our ears at some of the scenarios that were being seriously discussed.
"If the kicking game doesn't kill us, we win the Big XII North"
"If Taggert comes through, we can win the league"
"I think we can sweep Iowa in Football and Basketball"
Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Slow down! What the heck has happened to the Cyclone fan of old? The "Just don't embarrass us" school of support? The "Just happy to be here" mentaility?
Yes, there were plenty of happy signs from last season in both football and basketball. Yes, with improvement in some areas both teams could be even more successful. Yes, that optimism has manifested in a record number of season tickets being sold for football, and should be expected in basketball.
But have some restraint. We are Cyclone fans, after all.
How many times have you let optimism carry your spirit away only to have it crushed on the turf of Norman or Lincoln or Iowa City? How many near misses have gone by over the years, dampening our souls for an entire spring and summer? How many season lost to one key injury, one huge turnover, one missed kick?
We want success as much as you, but we know better than to tempt fate and mock karma. Assume the glass is half empty until you get a finger in there to confirm otherwise.
Be hopeful, but keep it to yourself, Cyclone fan. Besides, nobody likes a "told you so".
Peterclone
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Perhaps ISU is serious after all
There may be hope on the Olympic sports horizon after all.
ISU made what appears to be a solid hire in Stacy Gemeinhardt, who comes from DII Emporia State.
Unlike her predecessor, Gemeinhardt brings a nice winning percentage to Ames, .688 in four seasons. Her team won conference titles and an NCAA berth. The team's record books were rewritten during her tenure. She won a B12 title as a player at Mizzou. On paper, she knows what she is doing.
Some may view DII success with scorn, that it's not "Big Time". It may have a smidge of merit when it comes to adjusting to recruiting DI talent vs. the DII skills she has been working with. But the staff at CSJ has always believed that winning coaches can win at any level: winning is winning. The strategies may shift a bit, but the skills are the same: developing talent, teaching X's and O's, motivating maximum performance every game.
Best of all, by hiring a quality coach for an Olympic sport, ISU confirms that it wants to compete in not just the revenue sports, but across the board. Hurrah!
Here's hoping the new staff can recreate the success it had at Emporia, and remove softball from it's "token Olympic and Title IX sport" status at ISU.
Peterclone
ISU made what appears to be a solid hire in Stacy Gemeinhardt, who comes from DII Emporia State.
Unlike her predecessor, Gemeinhardt brings a nice winning percentage to Ames, .688 in four seasons. Her team won conference titles and an NCAA berth. The team's record books were rewritten during her tenure. She won a B12 title as a player at Mizzou. On paper, she knows what she is doing.
Some may view DII success with scorn, that it's not "Big Time". It may have a smidge of merit when it comes to adjusting to recruiting DI talent vs. the DII skills she has been working with. But the staff at CSJ has always believed that winning coaches can win at any level: winning is winning. The strategies may shift a bit, but the skills are the same: developing talent, teaching X's and O's, motivating maximum performance every game.
Best of all, by hiring a quality coach for an Olympic sport, ISU confirms that it wants to compete in not just the revenue sports, but across the board. Hurrah!
Here's hoping the new staff can recreate the success it had at Emporia, and remove softball from it's "token Olympic and Title IX sport" status at ISU.
Peterclone
Friday, July 15, 2005
On a related note
Before Cyclone fan celebrates Football's newfound committment to winning at all costs, consider the recent and distant past for perspective:
Lou Holtz, who quit earlier this year as the coach at South Carolina, now appears to have cheated during his 6 years there. The best part: he cheated and still didn't win, finishing 33-37, 19-29 in the hyper competitive SEC.
Not that any of this should be a surprise. He left scandal behind him after tenures at Arkansas, Minnesota and Notre Dame. The surprising thing is that he didn't get caught cheating at neither William and Mary or NC State.
And in the thankfully distant past, we present Iowa State's own Jim Criner, who went 17-25-2 in four seasons (which his XFL bio describes as "helped the Cyclones become competitive"), got blown out by Iowa in each season, and landed the Cyclones on probation. Nice work, Jim.
While past performance is no guarrantee of future results, past cheating seldom leads to good places.
Hopefully Cyclone football players can avoid their own "Chalupa" episodes.
Peterclone
Lou Holtz, who quit earlier this year as the coach at South Carolina, now appears to have cheated during his 6 years there. The best part: he cheated and still didn't win, finishing 33-37, 19-29 in the hyper competitive SEC.
Not that any of this should be a surprise. He left scandal behind him after tenures at Arkansas, Minnesota and Notre Dame. The surprising thing is that he didn't get caught cheating at neither William and Mary or NC State.
And in the thankfully distant past, we present Iowa State's own Jim Criner, who went 17-25-2 in four seasons (which his XFL bio describes as "helped the Cyclones become competitive"), got blown out by Iowa in each season, and landed the Cyclones on probation. Nice work, Jim.
While past performance is no guarrantee of future results, past cheating seldom leads to good places.
Hopefully Cyclone football players can avoid their own "Chalupa" episodes.
Peterclone
Welcome to Big Time Football
Nothing says serious college football more than ethical lapses, and ISU has now officially stamped "SERIOUS" across the front of it's media guide.
The return of Jason Berryman to Cyclone football will be viewed as a landmark in the development of McCarney's program. ISU is no longer content to be a program with high ethics and low winning percentages- they are all in emotionally. Jason is probably as high a risk to DM's credibility as any kid ever to pull on a red helmet in Ames, although there are reports that he may have learned his lesson and grown up a bit while in jail.
But the fact remains that DM's track record was simple: get in legal trouble, hit the road. More astute readers can rattle off the list of names who have gone this route. It now appears that ISU has again thrown off the burden of having athletic ethics as is going to be serious about its football.
Here's hoping it works out for everyone involved.
Peterclone
The return of Jason Berryman to Cyclone football will be viewed as a landmark in the development of McCarney's program. ISU is no longer content to be a program with high ethics and low winning percentages- they are all in emotionally. Jason is probably as high a risk to DM's credibility as any kid ever to pull on a red helmet in Ames, although there are reports that he may have learned his lesson and grown up a bit while in jail.
But the fact remains that DM's track record was simple: get in legal trouble, hit the road. More astute readers can rattle off the list of names who have gone this route. It now appears that ISU has again thrown off the burden of having athletic ethics as is going to be serious about its football.
Here's hoping it works out for everyone involved.
Peterclone
Saturday, June 04, 2005
A positive sign
In what I consider one of the most positive signs to come out of the athletic department in months, ISU has decided to not retain the servicesnot retain the services of softball coach Ruth Crowe.
I've considered the softball team the "canary in the coalmine" of Cyclone Sports. They have long been the doormat of the Big8/12, and a lack of interest by the AD in changing the situation told me that softball was just a sport to have to remain in athletic compliance, rather than be competitive. Crowe coached in Ames for nine seasons, and compiled a stunning .377 winning percentage. Most of those wins came in the non-conference schedule, since Crowe's squads only managed a .248 percentage in conference. When your program's high point came during consecutive 6-12 B12 finishes, you are either going to continue with mediocrity, or pretend to be serious and make a change.
Softball, like baseball, is handicapped at ISU. It's tough to develop a quality program in Ames when your league opponents can schedule home games in February. With the paltry budget ISU has for sports, the "Olympic" sports are going to get crumbs compared to Nebraska and Texas. But that can only live as an excuse for so long. There should still be the occasional season where everything falls into place, the breaks go your way, and you get a winning record. Crowe's teams never approached that.
Perhaps Crowe cooked her goose during the 2002 season when she complained about having to endure an invocation before the game at the private Baptist school. Her complaints were legally incorrect, they swung a negative spotlight towards her floundering program, and probably put her on a short leash. When the team's results only went south from there, a change had to be made.
So now the hiring process has begun. I will be curious to see who is the eventual hire: A coach with a winning track record on some level, or someone who will be a good "political" hire, and who will help keep ISU in compliance. It would be nice if the new coach can do both.
Peterclone
I've considered the softball team the "canary in the coalmine" of Cyclone Sports. They have long been the doormat of the Big8/12, and a lack of interest by the AD in changing the situation told me that softball was just a sport to have to remain in athletic compliance, rather than be competitive. Crowe coached in Ames for nine seasons, and compiled a stunning .377 winning percentage. Most of those wins came in the non-conference schedule, since Crowe's squads only managed a .248 percentage in conference. When your program's high point came during consecutive 6-12 B12 finishes, you are either going to continue with mediocrity, or pretend to be serious and make a change.
Softball, like baseball, is handicapped at ISU. It's tough to develop a quality program in Ames when your league opponents can schedule home games in February. With the paltry budget ISU has for sports, the "Olympic" sports are going to get crumbs compared to Nebraska and Texas. But that can only live as an excuse for so long. There should still be the occasional season where everything falls into place, the breaks go your way, and you get a winning record. Crowe's teams never approached that.
Perhaps Crowe cooked her goose during the 2002 season when she complained about having to endure an invocation before the game at the private Baptist school. Her complaints were legally incorrect, they swung a negative spotlight towards her floundering program, and probably put her on a short leash. When the team's results only went south from there, a change had to be made.
So now the hiring process has begun. I will be curious to see who is the eventual hire: A coach with a winning track record on some level, or someone who will be a good "political" hire, and who will help keep ISU in compliance. It would be nice if the new coach can do both.
Peterclone
Thursday, May 12, 2005
It's that time of the year again
There are a few certainties about May in Cycloneland:
Football season ticket renewals are due;
Chemical warfare breaks out on lawns across the Midwest against the insurgent known as Crabgrass;
A few voices rise up lamenting all the suffering Title IX has wrought upon college athletics.
It is never much of a cry from a numbers standpoint, but those few can get loud after a few drinks. "Those damn non-revenue sports, especially WOMEN'S sports, suck too much money from the teams that people care about." And every summer, like crabgrass, the cries of a few must be addressed.
Even the casual observer has to admit that Big Time Sports in experiencing an unparalleled arms race. The money spent on Football and Men's Basketball is staggering, and increases exponentially. The money those sports generate can be staggering, too.
That money causes two struggles: one amongst the fan base, and another within the universities themselves.
Most fans understand that Big Time Football is the cash cow that funds everything else in athletic departments. A few grumble, wishing that every nickel that football generates would be spent on football, and the program run like the semi-pro team it is.
Every university has the cadre of academics who see the millions that flow into athletic departments, and wonder why athletics still needs money from the general fund to pay the bills.
One group wants to cut all big football and men's hoops from the athletic department and let them fend for themselves. The other wants to push everything on its own self-supporting island.
Neither are right.
First, only a few dozen of the 112 schools that play Big Time Football can even begin to be self-supporting in athletics. Some who claim they solvent are probably cooking the books. If Iowa City can't, with the fat ESPN TV contract they get a cut of, few can. So without selling 700,000 football tickets each year, it's a pipe dream for schools.
I am sure that if the NCAA did not mandate a minimum of 12 varsity sports, there would be schools with FB, MBB and nothing else. They would be officially semi-pro.
Which brings us to the question: Why have varsity athletics at the college level?
Or rather, why do some schools embrace the "Olympic" sports more than others?
Stanford has 33 sports. Ohio State, 31. Iowa has 21, ISU 14. Kansas State, 12, the minimum. A big spread amongst schools who all play Big Time Football.
But get outside of the Big Time schools and it gets more interesting.
Dartmouth has 31 sports. Wartburg 21. Loras 19. Grinnell 18. Yet those schools don't receive a dime in TV revenue, and token ticket sales, if any. Yet they have sports. They hire coaches, they build facilities, and find money for athletes that doesn't say "athletic scholarship" at the top. Those schools make the effort. Those schools believe athletics enrich the lives of the athletes and the campus at large. The find a portion of the general fund to make it happen.
Yet it is the Big Time schools that cut the most sports, who grumble about the "teams nobody watches", who cringe at a few hundred thousand in general fund cash going to athletics.
It's a sham, and an embarrassment.
I don't know how common women's athletics were pre-Title IX, Big Time schools or not. I know at Iowa and ISU, they were non-existent. But any administrator or fan who implies that a men's sport has to go away to meet Title IX is full of it. The problem of funding women's sports, and Olympic sports in general, isn't a lack of cash.
It's a lack of will.
Peterclone
Football season ticket renewals are due;
Chemical warfare breaks out on lawns across the Midwest against the insurgent known as Crabgrass;
A few voices rise up lamenting all the suffering Title IX has wrought upon college athletics.
It is never much of a cry from a numbers standpoint, but those few can get loud after a few drinks. "Those damn non-revenue sports, especially WOMEN'S sports, suck too much money from the teams that people care about." And every summer, like crabgrass, the cries of a few must be addressed.
Even the casual observer has to admit that Big Time Sports in experiencing an unparalleled arms race. The money spent on Football and Men's Basketball is staggering, and increases exponentially. The money those sports generate can be staggering, too.
That money causes two struggles: one amongst the fan base, and another within the universities themselves.
Most fans understand that Big Time Football is the cash cow that funds everything else in athletic departments. A few grumble, wishing that every nickel that football generates would be spent on football, and the program run like the semi-pro team it is.
Every university has the cadre of academics who see the millions that flow into athletic departments, and wonder why athletics still needs money from the general fund to pay the bills.
One group wants to cut all big football and men's hoops from the athletic department and let them fend for themselves. The other wants to push everything on its own self-supporting island.
Neither are right.
First, only a few dozen of the 112 schools that play Big Time Football can even begin to be self-supporting in athletics. Some who claim they solvent are probably cooking the books. If Iowa City can't, with the fat ESPN TV contract they get a cut of, few can. So without selling 700,000 football tickets each year, it's a pipe dream for schools.
I am sure that if the NCAA did not mandate a minimum of 12 varsity sports, there would be schools with FB, MBB and nothing else. They would be officially semi-pro.
Which brings us to the question: Why have varsity athletics at the college level?
Or rather, why do some schools embrace the "Olympic" sports more than others?
Stanford has 33 sports. Ohio State, 31. Iowa has 21, ISU 14. Kansas State, 12, the minimum. A big spread amongst schools who all play Big Time Football.
But get outside of the Big Time schools and it gets more interesting.
Dartmouth has 31 sports. Wartburg 21. Loras 19. Grinnell 18. Yet those schools don't receive a dime in TV revenue, and token ticket sales, if any. Yet they have sports. They hire coaches, they build facilities, and find money for athletes that doesn't say "athletic scholarship" at the top. Those schools make the effort. Those schools believe athletics enrich the lives of the athletes and the campus at large. The find a portion of the general fund to make it happen.
Yet it is the Big Time schools that cut the most sports, who grumble about the "teams nobody watches", who cringe at a few hundred thousand in general fund cash going to athletics.
It's a sham, and an embarrassment.
I don't know how common women's athletics were pre-Title IX, Big Time schools or not. I know at Iowa and ISU, they were non-existent. But any administrator or fan who implies that a men's sport has to go away to meet Title IX is full of it. The problem of funding women's sports, and Olympic sports in general, isn't a lack of cash.
It's a lack of will.
Peterclone
Sunday, April 24, 2005
This series shouldn't interesting
With Iowa's 4-0 shutout of ISU in softball, Iowa won the inaugural Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series over ISU 13-8.
A Cyclone win wouldn't have changed the outcome, as Iowa had built a commanding lead in the fall.
Given the budgets of the two schools, and ISU's struggles in "Olympic" sports, Iowa should win this 4 years out of five. An ISU should be an embarrassment in Iowa City.
Why it's stacked against ISU:
-A win in football is worth 3 points, while all other sports are worth 2. As long as Iowa is a Top-10 program in football and softball, that's 5 points right there. It's half over at that point.
-Since the basketball game is played in December, as long as Alford is coaching in IC, they win 3 of 4.
-Women's swimming in Ames is essentially an intramural team. 2 more points for Iowa.
-Despite the good play in women's basketball for ISU, the series will be a 50/50 proposition for the near future, with the advantage going to the home team. Again, if the game had been played in February this year, ISU would have won. Unfortunately, they play the game in December.
-Finally, the clincher: 2 bonus points for academics that each school could earn. This is the biggest gift to IC, and will clinch their wins for years to come. With the athletic graduation rate in IC 7 points above the national average, it's a lock for them for the near future. With ISU 3 points below the average, with high turnover in basketball as of late counting against it, that's another 2 points ISU will somehow have to pick up elsewhere, which is tough.
So despite an easy 4 points from two women's gymnastics duals each year, ISU has far too much to overcome to win the series often. The would require 3 wins in the 4 high profile sports- Football, Wrestling and Men's and Women's Basketball- to have a shot. That event is so rare it's not even worth discussing.
The difference is money. Being good in Olympic sports requires extra cash. Having enough academic types to ride the butts of football and basketball players, making sure they are getting to class, checking on their progress to graduation, takes cash. Buckets of it. Cash that a program like ISU, always on the verge of cutting sports and deferring capital projects, just doesn't have.
Add a permanent spot in the trophy case in Iowa City for this one. The field is sloped their way.
Peterclone
A Cyclone win wouldn't have changed the outcome, as Iowa had built a commanding lead in the fall.
Given the budgets of the two schools, and ISU's struggles in "Olympic" sports, Iowa should win this 4 years out of five. An ISU should be an embarrassment in Iowa City.
Why it's stacked against ISU:
-A win in football is worth 3 points, while all other sports are worth 2. As long as Iowa is a Top-10 program in football and softball, that's 5 points right there. It's half over at that point.
-Since the basketball game is played in December, as long as Alford is coaching in IC, they win 3 of 4.
-Women's swimming in Ames is essentially an intramural team. 2 more points for Iowa.
-Despite the good play in women's basketball for ISU, the series will be a 50/50 proposition for the near future, with the advantage going to the home team. Again, if the game had been played in February this year, ISU would have won. Unfortunately, they play the game in December.
-Finally, the clincher: 2 bonus points for academics that each school could earn. This is the biggest gift to IC, and will clinch their wins for years to come. With the athletic graduation rate in IC 7 points above the national average, it's a lock for them for the near future. With ISU 3 points below the average, with high turnover in basketball as of late counting against it, that's another 2 points ISU will somehow have to pick up elsewhere, which is tough.
So despite an easy 4 points from two women's gymnastics duals each year, ISU has far too much to overcome to win the series often. The would require 3 wins in the 4 high profile sports- Football, Wrestling and Men's and Women's Basketball- to have a shot. That event is so rare it's not even worth discussing.
The difference is money. Being good in Olympic sports requires extra cash. Having enough academic types to ride the butts of football and basketball players, making sure they are getting to class, checking on their progress to graduation, takes cash. Buckets of it. Cash that a program like ISU, always on the verge of cutting sports and deferring capital projects, just doesn't have.
Add a permanent spot in the trophy case in Iowa City for this one. The field is sloped their way.
Peterclone
Sunday, April 17, 2005
Spring Game highs and lows
The CSJ staff was unable to attend the Spring Game in person, and had to steal moments on the radio. Mac makes a good color man, and isn't afraid to tell it like it is. When a reciever was held after beating his man, Mac credited the DB with holding "every way he knew how". Mac was, of course, his sunny-side-up norm, and plays were ususally more a credit to a guy making a play, rather than a someone screwing up. Knowing the playbook and defensive schemes gives a color man a unique perspective.
First, the good news, according to the press reports:
Meyer is a solid #1, and looked great. Not being pressured much helps.
Flynn's move to WR was brilliant. Great athlete with super hands, Flynn looks to be a go-to reciever for the fall. He is exhibit A of Mac's style of finding a way to put the best athletes on the field.
General athleticism of the fist team appears solid.
Now the bad. Fortunately, it's short.
The FG game still stinks. 4 of 5 attempts were missed. Ouch. 17 kickers on the team at the moment, and nobody can push it through. I shudder to think how many games that will cost ISU come fall.
Some posters on the message boards are questioning the OL, and why the first team offense couldn't crush the second team D. I will always contend that nothing can be spun more than a Spring Game. Some see inept OL play for the first team, some see depth in the second team D. It's the classic half-empty, half-full situation. Neither team ran much of the playbook, and each may have tried to work on weaknesses rather than highlight stregnths.
Mac is comfotable in his job, and doesn't feel the need to put on a good show for the few thousand that care enough to show up. Unlike the staff at Nebraska, who opened it up to prove to the massive crowd they do know what they are doing. That's nice, but they will need to win a few (or a lot) to keep the Husker fans content.
Again, the empty/full test: Great offense or bad defense? Superior talent or big drop off? Too bad their early schedule this fall, except for a game aginst Pitt, won't test them much. Their first 5 games are in Lincoln, and after roadies to Waco and Columbia, they could be 7-0 when the Sooners come calling.
BTW- It's impressive to see 68K show up in Lincoln for their Spring Game. Nice devotion. I would have to check my math, but I think 68K is the exact number of fans who went to see Nebraska basketball last season. Total.
Peterclone
First, the good news, according to the press reports:
Meyer is a solid #1, and looked great. Not being pressured much helps.
Flynn's move to WR was brilliant. Great athlete with super hands, Flynn looks to be a go-to reciever for the fall. He is exhibit A of Mac's style of finding a way to put the best athletes on the field.
General athleticism of the fist team appears solid.
Now the bad. Fortunately, it's short.
The FG game still stinks. 4 of 5 attempts were missed. Ouch. 17 kickers on the team at the moment, and nobody can push it through. I shudder to think how many games that will cost ISU come fall.
Some posters on the message boards are questioning the OL, and why the first team offense couldn't crush the second team D. I will always contend that nothing can be spun more than a Spring Game. Some see inept OL play for the first team, some see depth in the second team D. It's the classic half-empty, half-full situation. Neither team ran much of the playbook, and each may have tried to work on weaknesses rather than highlight stregnths.
Mac is comfotable in his job, and doesn't feel the need to put on a good show for the few thousand that care enough to show up. Unlike the staff at Nebraska, who opened it up to prove to the massive crowd they do know what they are doing. That's nice, but they will need to win a few (or a lot) to keep the Husker fans content.
Again, the empty/full test: Great offense or bad defense? Superior talent or big drop off? Too bad their early schedule this fall, except for a game aginst Pitt, won't test them much. Their first 5 games are in Lincoln, and after roadies to Waco and Columbia, they could be 7-0 when the Sooners come calling.
BTW- It's impressive to see 68K show up in Lincoln for their Spring Game. Nice devotion. I would have to check my math, but I think 68K is the exact number of fans who went to see Nebraska basketball last season. Total.
Peterclone
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
Now that's a rivalry
Note: This is only somewhat off-topic. Bear with me.
If you watch SportsCenter, you saw the tape: A Champions League match between cross-town rivals AC and Inter Milan which featured dozens of lit flareserupted in a near riot being tossed onto the pitch, one of which struck a player in the shoulder.
Dozens of lit flares?
I can see one or two getting in taped to some guy's leg, but dozens require a group action. I've been to European soccer matches, and American fans have no idea the level of security that is involved. Most noticeably, each section of stands is fenced off from every other section. You can't just wander about. If your seats are in section 14, you go in and out the gate market for 14. That's it. Opposing fans have separate seating, isolated from the home fans, and their entrance will be a block away from any of the home fans entrances, just to avoid conflict. Cops in riot gear are everywhere. It's serious stuff.
Can you imagine the reaction if lit flares came out of the stands during the iowa-ISU game? It would be a full-blown riot. Anyone with more than 2 beers in their system would be going after anyone in the opposite colors. It would be madness, and great television. iowa-ISU would immediately vault up the rivalry charts and be compared to Ohio State-Michigan, OU-Texas and Florida-Tennessee. Talking heads would wring their hands, then off camera say "Wow! What passion". We would be Big Time Must See TV. The game would be an ABC national game for 5 years, guarrenteed.
Not that I'm condoning it. It's a truly stupid act, and somebody could have been seriously hurt. The iowa-ISU game would probably be wiped off the schedule indefinately, and whoever's fans lit it up would be branded as hooligans indefinately. Having ten thousand drunk fans partying the parking lot- like the game in Ames in 2003- looks tame in comparison.
We've got nothing on soccer. Nothing. It's best that way, too.
Peterclone
If you watch SportsCenter, you saw the tape: A Champions League match between cross-town rivals AC and Inter Milan which featured dozens of lit flareserupted in a near riot being tossed onto the pitch, one of which struck a player in the shoulder.
Dozens of lit flares?
I can see one or two getting in taped to some guy's leg, but dozens require a group action. I've been to European soccer matches, and American fans have no idea the level of security that is involved. Most noticeably, each section of stands is fenced off from every other section. You can't just wander about. If your seats are in section 14, you go in and out the gate market for 14. That's it. Opposing fans have separate seating, isolated from the home fans, and their entrance will be a block away from any of the home fans entrances, just to avoid conflict. Cops in riot gear are everywhere. It's serious stuff.
Can you imagine the reaction if lit flares came out of the stands during the iowa-ISU game? It would be a full-blown riot. Anyone with more than 2 beers in their system would be going after anyone in the opposite colors. It would be madness, and great television. iowa-ISU would immediately vault up the rivalry charts and be compared to Ohio State-Michigan, OU-Texas and Florida-Tennessee. Talking heads would wring their hands, then off camera say "Wow! What passion". We would be Big Time Must See TV. The game would be an ABC national game for 5 years, guarrenteed.
Not that I'm condoning it. It's a truly stupid act, and somebody could have been seriously hurt. The iowa-ISU game would probably be wiped off the schedule indefinately, and whoever's fans lit it up would be branded as hooligans indefinately. Having ten thousand drunk fans partying the parking lot- like the game in Ames in 2003- looks tame in comparison.
We've got nothing on soccer. Nothing. It's best that way, too.
Peterclone
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Ranom thoughts
In no particular order:
UNC's best defense in the NC game was their zone. For whatever reason, it discombobulated Illinois' offensive flow, and left them with lousy 3 point shots as their only choice. They didn't make enough of them. When UNC played man, they got eaten up by UI's speed. When UNC played D, they were scary good. When they didn't, they were just another team. It must be nice to be able to turn it on and off like that.
With Roy Williams winning the title he never could at KU, and KU's loss in the first round of the NCAA's to #14 Bucknell, this was officially the Worst Tourney Ever in the eyes of Jayhawk fans. What a shame. 3 McDonald's AA's and they go oh-fer: No B12 title, no tourney title, first round loss in the NCAA. Bill Self will need to win one of the 3 next year, or his seat will start getting very, very warm.
Billy Packer is the master of the obvious. It took him 35 minutes of clock to notice that the officials were ignoring Illinois' moving screens. I saw it in the first 3 minutes. I know the producer is screaming in your year, but get your nose out of your notes. It's JV.
How close were the ISU women this year? They were tied late at Baylor, but lost. They win that game, they get every tiebreaker, and win the Big 12 title. Oh- and Baylor won the B12 tourney, and now is in the NCAA title game. Slouches.
All reports are that Todd Blythe is ahead of schedule on his repaired knee, and that Austin Flynn is now a starter at WR. Flynn could become the biggest position change since Billups move from RB to DB. Get the best athletes on the field.
I just can't dig into spring practice reports the way some fans do. Really, do we need to know how the #3 TE is progressing? That's why I could never be a legit sportwriter. Some eitor would want me to write about a teams prospects at middle outside linebacker in nickel packages. Ugh.
Peterclone
UNC's best defense in the NC game was their zone. For whatever reason, it discombobulated Illinois' offensive flow, and left them with lousy 3 point shots as their only choice. They didn't make enough of them. When UNC played man, they got eaten up by UI's speed. When UNC played D, they were scary good. When they didn't, they were just another team. It must be nice to be able to turn it on and off like that.
With Roy Williams winning the title he never could at KU, and KU's loss in the first round of the NCAA's to #14 Bucknell, this was officially the Worst Tourney Ever in the eyes of Jayhawk fans. What a shame. 3 McDonald's AA's and they go oh-fer: No B12 title, no tourney title, first round loss in the NCAA. Bill Self will need to win one of the 3 next year, or his seat will start getting very, very warm.
Billy Packer is the master of the obvious. It took him 35 minutes of clock to notice that the officials were ignoring Illinois' moving screens. I saw it in the first 3 minutes. I know the producer is screaming in your year, but get your nose out of your notes. It's JV.
How close were the ISU women this year? They were tied late at Baylor, but lost. They win that game, they get every tiebreaker, and win the Big 12 title. Oh- and Baylor won the B12 tourney, and now is in the NCAA title game. Slouches.
All reports are that Todd Blythe is ahead of schedule on his repaired knee, and that Austin Flynn is now a starter at WR. Flynn could become the biggest position change since Billups move from RB to DB. Get the best athletes on the field.
I just can't dig into spring practice reports the way some fans do. Really, do we need to know how the #3 TE is progressing? That's why I could never be a legit sportwriter. Some eitor would want me to write about a teams prospects at middle outside linebacker in nickel packages. Ugh.
Peterclone
Tuesday, March 29, 2005
Entering the Horse Lattitudes
Once basketball ends, it's a long, quiet slog through summer waiting for football to spin up. Some fans, who are more serious than us at CSJ, can fill their spare moments with the endless horse race that is recruiting. We've just never had the heart for it, unless the player in question is a high-profile local kid, and even then it's tough.
We'll do our best to fill the summer with interesting things to keep you checking in.
Take today's tidbit:
In a long article that originated in the ISU Daily, and made the UWire, are two interesting nuggets. First, the NCAA may change the "K-State Rule" and allow wins against I-AA schools to count towards bowl eligibility, and it may take effect this fall, making ISU's bowl chances better. The game against Illinois State could go on as scheduled.
For us, the more interesting bit was buried at the bottom: who ISU tried to get a game with this fall, but could only get interest if they went on the road. It's a tough list: Troy, Houston, Minnesota, Southern California and Louisiana State. Only Houston failed to get to a bowl game, LSU lost to Iowa on a miracle finish, and USC won the National Championship. Playing on the road, ISU could beat 3 of the 5, but I wouldn't like the odds of it.
Which brings us to an interesting point: Is it more important for the football program to pay the bills, or get to bowls? Any home game is worth $700K minimum, even if it doesn't get you closer to being bowl eligible. Going on the road and losing doesn't get you any closer either, and you won't come away with much cash to boot. So home you stay.
The "K-State Rule" was implemented for two reasons: Preventing teams like KSU from playing 2 or 3 I-AA teams to pad their win total, and forcing more interesting I-A matchups. All that has happened is teams load up on mid-majors like Akron instead of Alabama. Everyone needs 6 home games, and will write the check to ensure it. No reason to create a penalty for those with smaller wallets that can't even get Akron.
Bring on the Redbirds!
Peterclone
We'll do our best to fill the summer with interesting things to keep you checking in.
Take today's tidbit:
In a long article that originated in the ISU Daily, and made the UWire, are two interesting nuggets. First, the NCAA may change the "K-State Rule" and allow wins against I-AA schools to count towards bowl eligibility, and it may take effect this fall, making ISU's bowl chances better. The game against Illinois State could go on as scheduled.
For us, the more interesting bit was buried at the bottom: who ISU tried to get a game with this fall, but could only get interest if they went on the road. It's a tough list: Troy, Houston, Minnesota, Southern California and Louisiana State. Only Houston failed to get to a bowl game, LSU lost to Iowa on a miracle finish, and USC won the National Championship. Playing on the road, ISU could beat 3 of the 5, but I wouldn't like the odds of it.
Which brings us to an interesting point: Is it more important for the football program to pay the bills, or get to bowls? Any home game is worth $700K minimum, even if it doesn't get you closer to being bowl eligible. Going on the road and losing doesn't get you any closer either, and you won't come away with much cash to boot. So home you stay.
The "K-State Rule" was implemented for two reasons: Preventing teams like KSU from playing 2 or 3 I-AA teams to pad their win total, and forcing more interesting I-A matchups. All that has happened is teams load up on mid-majors like Akron instead of Alabama. Everyone needs 6 home games, and will write the check to ensure it. No reason to create a penalty for those with smaller wallets that can't even get Akron.
Bring on the Redbirds!
Peterclone
Sunday, March 20, 2005
UNC simply too much
Perhaps the toughest thing to do in sports aside from stepping on the field in the first place is to admit when your opponent won because they were just better. Today, UNC was simply better than ISU.
But better is an understatement. While the Cyclones didn't play badly, they were simply overwhelmed but superior talent that was firing on all cyclenders. Homan was amonster inside, but UNC had two monsters of their own. Every tricky drive to the hole by Stinson or Blalock was met by an even tricker one. And so it went.
In fact, UNC looked so good at times that it was clear why they are the favorite to win the title. That makes the basketball world wonder: Is this the team that even Roy Williams can't screw up?
Roy had a long legacy of Kansas teams getting bounced early from the tourney, or making the Final Four only to falter at a key moment. This UNC squad certainly has the talent to overcome that jinx, but it will be interesting to see if they can.
Roy probably exercised some Cyclone demons from his psyche today. One could use up most of one's fingers counting up the times a Roy Boy Jayhawk team lost to a clearly inferior Cyclone squad. Hustle and moxie would down a team loaded with McDonald AA's. CBA free agents beating NBA All Stars.
Tonight, Roy can put those memories to rest. It may have been his last chance, too, for who knows how many times he will face ISU again in his career. If he wins a NCAA title, he can bury a whole closet full of ghosts, too.
Peterclone
But better is an understatement. While the Cyclones didn't play badly, they were simply overwhelmed but superior talent that was firing on all cyclenders. Homan was amonster inside, but UNC had two monsters of their own. Every tricky drive to the hole by Stinson or Blalock was met by an even tricker one. And so it went.
In fact, UNC looked so good at times that it was clear why they are the favorite to win the title. That makes the basketball world wonder: Is this the team that even Roy Williams can't screw up?
Roy had a long legacy of Kansas teams getting bounced early from the tourney, or making the Final Four only to falter at a key moment. This UNC squad certainly has the talent to overcome that jinx, but it will be interesting to see if they can.
Roy probably exercised some Cyclone demons from his psyche today. One could use up most of one's fingers counting up the times a Roy Boy Jayhawk team lost to a clearly inferior Cyclone squad. Hustle and moxie would down a team loaded with McDonald AA's. CBA free agents beating NBA All Stars.
Tonight, Roy can put those memories to rest. It may have been his last chance, too, for who knows how many times he will face ISU again in his career. If he wins a NCAA title, he can bury a whole closet full of ghosts, too.
Peterclone
Saturday, March 19, 2005
Solid
The Cyclones did what they needed to do: hustle, force some turnovers, make shots from the outside, and take away the opponent's rythym on offense. They did, and they dumped Minnesota to get an NCAA win.
The Gophers were good enough to keep ISU from ever looking flashy, or rolling up a big run to bust the game open, but they also didn't panic when the Gophers stopped doing stupid things and closed to within 3 in the second half. That may have been the biggest accomplishment of the day: staying under control and playing to win.
Now, a tremendous opportunity awaits: No. 1 seed North Carolina, in Charlotte. A win there would easily be in the Top 5 ISU wins ever, and could push for #1 if a bunch of the present Tar Heels become household names later in life. It would sertainly be on par with the "Varsity vs. JV" win over Michigan in 1985, which, for the math challenged, was 20 years ago. Nice symetry, eh?
If it's any consolation, the building will have a large number of Duke fans who have the second game of the session. Like good fans in a rivalry, they want to see their nemisis go down, and go down in a way they can mock. UNC fans rained down a chorus of "overated" as the Dukies struggled to finish off Deleware St. in their first round game. A return of that chant towards UNC would only mean good things for ISU.
Here's hoping.
Peterclone
The Gophers were good enough to keep ISU from ever looking flashy, or rolling up a big run to bust the game open, but they also didn't panic when the Gophers stopped doing stupid things and closed to within 3 in the second half. That may have been the biggest accomplishment of the day: staying under control and playing to win.
Now, a tremendous opportunity awaits: No. 1 seed North Carolina, in Charlotte. A win there would easily be in the Top 5 ISU wins ever, and could push for #1 if a bunch of the present Tar Heels become household names later in life. It would sertainly be on par with the "Varsity vs. JV" win over Michigan in 1985, which, for the math challenged, was 20 years ago. Nice symetry, eh?
If it's any consolation, the building will have a large number of Duke fans who have the second game of the session. Like good fans in a rivalry, they want to see their nemisis go down, and go down in a way they can mock. UNC fans rained down a chorus of "overated" as the Dukies struggled to finish off Deleware St. in their first round game. A return of that chant towards UNC would only mean good things for ISU.
Here's hoping.
Peterclone
Sunday, March 13, 2005
They're In!
ISU made the NCAA tourney, and there were no worries. As a 9 seed, they got in ahead of both Iowa and UNI. That's the good news.
The bad news is where they sit. Not only do they draw an improving Minnesota club, if they win that game, they get North Carolina, who is good enough to win the whole thing, in Charlotte. Can you say Home Game? Nuts.
Minnesota is a bad draw, statistically. They go a full 8 deep. They have good size and athleticism at both Center and Forward. They play good defense (63 ppg) and don't give up the 3 (32%). They rebound well (31 rpg). They REALLY block shots well (4.65 bpg) and steal like bandits (9.13 spg).
We can only hope that Wayne's trapping zone prevents Minnesota from finding a rythym, and that ISU can hit enough outside shots to keep Minny from packing in the lane.
From our view, both Iowa and UNI have a better shot at the Sweet 16. Regardless of the difficulty of each team's opening round game, ISU has by far the toughest matchup in the second round, and a coach in Roy Williams who has never been shy about delivering a beatdown when he can.
But it sure beats the NIT.
Peterclone
The bad news is where they sit. Not only do they draw an improving Minnesota club, if they win that game, they get North Carolina, who is good enough to win the whole thing, in Charlotte. Can you say Home Game? Nuts.
Minnesota is a bad draw, statistically. They go a full 8 deep. They have good size and athleticism at both Center and Forward. They play good defense (63 ppg) and don't give up the 3 (32%). They rebound well (31 rpg). They REALLY block shots well (4.65 bpg) and steal like bandits (9.13 spg).
We can only hope that Wayne's trapping zone prevents Minnesota from finding a rythym, and that ISU can hit enough outside shots to keep Minny from packing in the lane.
From our view, both Iowa and UNI have a better shot at the Sweet 16. Regardless of the difficulty of each team's opening round game, ISU has by far the toughest matchup in the second round, and a coach in Roy Williams who has never been shy about delivering a beatdown when he can.
But it sure beats the NIT.
Peterclone
Saturday, March 12, 2005
One man short
Sorry for the delay- I've been traveling.
I listened to the call of ISU's loss to Tech in the car, and one thing was apparrent- ISU was good enough to beat Tech, if not run away from them, but they simply ran out of gas.
The same 6 guys who have burned all the minutes in the conference season did again Friday. First off the bench was Tasheed Carr, with 27 minutes. Dave Braet was next with 3.
Tech didn't go any further into its bench, but got 18 and 10 out of its guys, who hadn't played a game in 6 days. That was the difference.
Up 8 with 9 to go, Tech went 14-2 to take the lead and never looked back. ISU simply didn't have the legs to shoot a jump shot.
Fortunately, ISU won't have to play on consecutive days in the NCAA's. But with one more good set of legs, the Clones could have played their way up the seeding chart, which may have also hurt them more than helped.
The seeds to avoid are 8-9, because they get a second round date with a #1 seed. better to be involved in a 7-10, 6-11 or 5-12 game to avoid #1 so early. Here's hoping ISU can manage a #10.
Peterclone
I listened to the call of ISU's loss to Tech in the car, and one thing was apparrent- ISU was good enough to beat Tech, if not run away from them, but they simply ran out of gas.
The same 6 guys who have burned all the minutes in the conference season did again Friday. First off the bench was Tasheed Carr, with 27 minutes. Dave Braet was next with 3.
Tech didn't go any further into its bench, but got 18 and 10 out of its guys, who hadn't played a game in 6 days. That was the difference.
Up 8 with 9 to go, Tech went 14-2 to take the lead and never looked back. ISU simply didn't have the legs to shoot a jump shot.
Fortunately, ISU won't have to play on consecutive days in the NCAA's. But with one more good set of legs, the Clones could have played their way up the seeding chart, which may have also hurt them more than helped.
The seeds to avoid are 8-9, because they get a second round date with a #1 seed. better to be involved in a 7-10, 6-11 or 5-12 game to avoid #1 so early. Here's hoping ISU can manage a #10.
Peterclone
Thursday, March 10, 2005
Woodshed
It was never in question, and comforting to see ISU put away early a team it needed to put away.
Our only lament is that there isn't enough bench to properly relieve the starters when the margins get big. Stinson played 35 minutes, Blalock 34, Homan 31.
If they still look fresh against Tech, then Wayne knew what he was doing. If they come out flat, well, that will be the first thing to grumble about.
A note about Baylor. It looks like Coach Drew is a decent guy, and is building a program the right way with young guys, rather than a slimy Juco-based quick fix. Hats off to BU for having the guts to be patient. I hope Drew gets a fair shake.
The drubbing of Baylor has guarrenteed an ISU NCAA bid. Any additional wins will only help their seeding. a$m losing to KState eliminates a$m somehow taking ISU's bid with a strong run in the tourney. Good for them. Enjoy the NIT. They will be scary in the coming years.
Peterclone
Our only lament is that there isn't enough bench to properly relieve the starters when the margins get big. Stinson played 35 minutes, Blalock 34, Homan 31.
If they still look fresh against Tech, then Wayne knew what he was doing. If they come out flat, well, that will be the first thing to grumble about.
A note about Baylor. It looks like Coach Drew is a decent guy, and is building a program the right way with young guys, rather than a slimy Juco-based quick fix. Hats off to BU for having the guts to be patient. I hope Drew gets a fair shake.
The drubbing of Baylor has guarrenteed an ISU NCAA bid. Any additional wins will only help their seeding. a$m losing to KState eliminates a$m somehow taking ISU's bid with a strong run in the tourney. Good for them. Enjoy the NIT. They will be scary in the coming years.
Peterclone
The Magic comes up short
It was to be expected that Hilton (South) Magic can only work so many times, and the Quarterfinal game Wednesday proves that.
For as lousy as ISU played on Tuesday, they went toe-to-toe with a very good Texas tech squad for all 40 minutes. While Keeler wants to imply that Tech benefitted from a quick whistle late, I think that is off the mark.
Tech had a very savvy play set up, once the almost guarrenteed a whistle. It was cose enough to shooting to be a shooting foul. So it goes.
What is becoming an almost weekly lament for us at CSJ is the continued struggles offensively against physical teams. The teams that slow down ISU play a "hands on" defensive style, and the best teams play that way. Long term, Fennely and crew need to figure out a way to overcome that, or they will remain a pretty good B12 program, but not an elite.
Peterclone
For as lousy as ISU played on Tuesday, they went toe-to-toe with a very good Texas tech squad for all 40 minutes. While Keeler wants to imply that Tech benefitted from a quick whistle late, I think that is off the mark.
Tech had a very savvy play set up, once the almost guarrenteed a whistle. It was cose enough to shooting to be a shooting foul. So it goes.
What is becoming an almost weekly lament for us at CSJ is the continued struggles offensively against physical teams. The teams that slow down ISU play a "hands on" defensive style, and the best teams play that way. Long term, Fennely and crew need to figure out a way to overcome that, or they will remain a pretty good B12 program, but not an elite.
Peterclone
Tuesday, March 08, 2005
It's better to be the heartbreaker
I admit it. I'd given up.
I listened to Rich and BJ describe a game where ISU only mustered 37% shooting- and needed a flurry at the end to raise it that high- and with 1 minute left and ISU down 7, I stepped away. I had an errand to run, so I stepped out of the truck at the most critical moment. I missed the free throws to draw within 1. I missed the blown CU layup, the frantic run back up the court, the 3 point try with a moment left on the clock. All I got was a pair of stunned announcers trying to describe that unlikely, and almost impossible comeback. Unbelieveable.
I almost feel bad for CU. They had the impossible dream, and almost, almost pulled it off in "Win one for the Gipper" mode. They had ISU forcing bad shots trying to get something going, seemingly handing the ball to CU when they would get within a possesion. Yet they couldn't pull it off.
One of the oldest sports cliches is that "Great teams find a way to win" but today was just sick. Heartless. Downright mean. CU's players will be haunted by that game the rest of their damn lives.
Lyndsey Medders is one cold-hearted bitch for making that shot, but I'm glad she's our bitch.
Peterclone
I listened to Rich and BJ describe a game where ISU only mustered 37% shooting- and needed a flurry at the end to raise it that high- and with 1 minute left and ISU down 7, I stepped away. I had an errand to run, so I stepped out of the truck at the most critical moment. I missed the free throws to draw within 1. I missed the blown CU layup, the frantic run back up the court, the 3 point try with a moment left on the clock. All I got was a pair of stunned announcers trying to describe that unlikely, and almost impossible comeback. Unbelieveable.
I almost feel bad for CU. They had the impossible dream, and almost, almost pulled it off in "Win one for the Gipper" mode. They had ISU forcing bad shots trying to get something going, seemingly handing the ball to CU when they would get within a possesion. Yet they couldn't pull it off.
One of the oldest sports cliches is that "Great teams find a way to win" but today was just sick. Heartless. Downright mean. CU's players will be haunted by that game the rest of their damn lives.
Lyndsey Medders is one cold-hearted bitch for making that shot, but I'm glad she's our bitch.
Peterclone
Monday, March 07, 2005
fact or fiction from the NCAA committee
There are some interesting situations locally that will show whether the NCAA is walking the walk they work so hard to talk.
The committee has long stated that factors in At-Large selections to the NCAA tournament include but are not limited to: Overall record, conference record, conference tournament performance, stregnth of schedule, road wins, record in last 10 games, record versus other tourney teams, best win/worst loss, and the RPI.
Let's look at how ISU and Iowa fare, since many of their fans think both deserve bids.
ISU, whose RPI is a releatively low 63, thinks it has earned a bid with a 9-7 conference record, and most importantly, a 9-2 run down the stretch, which included wins at Texas and Kansas, who will both earn bids.
ISU's only knocks are the start they had to the season, which included losses at Xavier, UNI, Missouri and at home to Colorado, which led to that low RPI. 9-7 in a good conference should get one in, and the Last 10 finish shows they are peaking at the right time. They should be in.
Iowa, on the other hand, has only a few things in it's favor: a better RPI at 54, and impressive early season wins over Texas, Louisville and Texas Tech, all who are in the tourney.
Iowa's downside is longer. A 7-9 record in a weak league is the first stumbling block. A loss at home to #114 Northwestern is the second. No quality road wins is third. The loss of Pierce is the foursth, because it essentially wipes those early season wins off the board for the committee. They are 5-5 down the stretch, with only a home win over Ohio State worth mentioning. On paper, they appear out.
Iowa appears even more out when you compare another team on the bubble from the Big 1011: Indiana. The RPI is only #69, and they are 15-12. But they went 10-6 in Big 1011 play. But their SOS is 18.
In the end, the committee has long championed confernce play as the most important factor, with last 10 a strong second. ISU should be in, early season be damned. If Iowa somehow gets in, and Indiana doesn't, the committee is playing by an unpublished set of rules.
Peterclone
The committee has long stated that factors in At-Large selections to the NCAA tournament include but are not limited to: Overall record, conference record, conference tournament performance, stregnth of schedule, road wins, record in last 10 games, record versus other tourney teams, best win/worst loss, and the RPI.
Let's look at how ISU and Iowa fare, since many of their fans think both deserve bids.
ISU, whose RPI is a releatively low 63, thinks it has earned a bid with a 9-7 conference record, and most importantly, a 9-2 run down the stretch, which included wins at Texas and Kansas, who will both earn bids.
ISU's only knocks are the start they had to the season, which included losses at Xavier, UNI, Missouri and at home to Colorado, which led to that low RPI. 9-7 in a good conference should get one in, and the Last 10 finish shows they are peaking at the right time. They should be in.
Iowa, on the other hand, has only a few things in it's favor: a better RPI at 54, and impressive early season wins over Texas, Louisville and Texas Tech, all who are in the tourney.
Iowa's downside is longer. A 7-9 record in a weak league is the first stumbling block. A loss at home to #114 Northwestern is the second. No quality road wins is third. The loss of Pierce is the foursth, because it essentially wipes those early season wins off the board for the committee. They are 5-5 down the stretch, with only a home win over Ohio State worth mentioning. On paper, they appear out.
Iowa appears even more out when you compare another team on the bubble from the Big 1011: Indiana. The RPI is only #69, and they are 15-12. But they went 10-6 in Big 1011 play. But their SOS is 18.
In the end, the committee has long championed confernce play as the most important factor, with last 10 a strong second. ISU should be in, early season be damned. If Iowa somehow gets in, and Indiana doesn't, the committee is playing by an unpublished set of rules.
Peterclone
Sunday, March 06, 2005
Cyclones get a huge win
Make no mistake: Saturday's win in Boulder was huge.
The fact it came over struggling Colorado does not lessen the importance. ISU had so much riding on this game, fans could have expected another Cyclone flame-out they have grown accustomed to over the decades.
The win did all of the following things:
It cemented an NCAA bid in most observers eyes. The most important factor for potential at-large teams is their record over the last 10 games played. ISU is now 8-2, and will probably be 7-3 when the seeding are made.
It boosted ISU's RPI to #62. Not great, but it will be discounted due to ISU's play over the last 6 weeks.
It locked ISU into the #5 seed in the BXII tourney, where they draw Baylor. Lose, and they draw a team they lost to as some point in the schedule.
Most of all, it proved to critics- and the Cyclones themselves- that ISU can win a road game that matters, one that they needed to win.
They came from behind to do it, on the road, in a place that has given ISU fits over the years.
In a strange coincidence, ISU split with all 5 teams in the BXII North, and was able to beat the 3 teams on the road that won in Hilton. The CSJ staff will have to dig deep into the archives to find another occurance of that happening.
ISU had to win in Boulder, and they did. A loss would have been devestating to seeding, selection and pyche.
As an aside: Why would any team NOT play ISU the way the Buffaloes did today? Sag back into a zone, limit penetration, double and triple Homan when he gets the ball, and force ISU to make some 3's. Today, ISU did, which forced CU into a man-to-man, which is strangely in ISU's favor.
When you can handicap a team by forcing them to play their preferred style of defense, you have something interesting going on.
The rest of the weekend will be easier to handle knowing ISU has punched it's ticket to the NCAA's.
Peterclone
The fact it came over struggling Colorado does not lessen the importance. ISU had so much riding on this game, fans could have expected another Cyclone flame-out they have grown accustomed to over the decades.
The win did all of the following things:
It cemented an NCAA bid in most observers eyes. The most important factor for potential at-large teams is their record over the last 10 games played. ISU is now 8-2, and will probably be 7-3 when the seeding are made.
It boosted ISU's RPI to #62. Not great, but it will be discounted due to ISU's play over the last 6 weeks.
It locked ISU into the #5 seed in the BXII tourney, where they draw Baylor. Lose, and they draw a team they lost to as some point in the schedule.
Most of all, it proved to critics- and the Cyclones themselves- that ISU can win a road game that matters, one that they needed to win.
They came from behind to do it, on the road, in a place that has given ISU fits over the years.
In a strange coincidence, ISU split with all 5 teams in the BXII North, and was able to beat the 3 teams on the road that won in Hilton. The CSJ staff will have to dig deep into the archives to find another occurance of that happening.
ISU had to win in Boulder, and they did. A loss would have been devestating to seeding, selection and pyche.
As an aside: Why would any team NOT play ISU the way the Buffaloes did today? Sag back into a zone, limit penetration, double and triple Homan when he gets the ball, and force ISU to make some 3's. Today, ISU did, which forced CU into a man-to-man, which is strangely in ISU's favor.
When you can handicap a team by forcing them to play their preferred style of defense, you have something interesting going on.
The rest of the weekend will be easier to handle knowing ISU has punched it's ticket to the NCAA's.
Peterclone
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Thieves with fresh legs
During the Big XII season, the contrast in the style of play between ISU's wins and losses has been stark. Wednesday's hammering of Mizzouri was exhibit A of what ISU does when it wins.
They drive to the hoop, drawing fouls and earning assists. They finish shots when they get in close, and score every time they get out on the break. But most of all, they steal. Rob. Thieve. They remove the ball from the opponent's posession with no guilt, no hesitation. It seems that a player is most vulnerable when they have driven past their defender and headed into the lane. Suddenly the ball is loose, and ISU is headed 3-on-1 the other way.
Conversely, Mizzou was in dissarray. Their first three optins are to chuck a wild 3. That works when you are Grinnell, but when you only shoot 31%, it's going to be tough to succeed. ISU only shoots 29%, but they shoot it half as often. When ISU swelled the lead from 10 to 30 in the second half, MU had no discipline on offense and even less on defense. ISU stole the ball at will, and got a good shot every time they wanted one.
ISU can seal an NCAA bid Saturday in Boulder, and they shouldn't lack for motivation. Their loss at home to CU wasn't just the low point of the season, it was the nadir of Hilton basketball since Polyester was a good fashion idea.
Peterclone
They drive to the hoop, drawing fouls and earning assists. They finish shots when they get in close, and score every time they get out on the break. But most of all, they steal. Rob. Thieve. They remove the ball from the opponent's posession with no guilt, no hesitation. It seems that a player is most vulnerable when they have driven past their defender and headed into the lane. Suddenly the ball is loose, and ISU is headed 3-on-1 the other way.
Conversely, Mizzou was in dissarray. Their first three optins are to chuck a wild 3. That works when you are Grinnell, but when you only shoot 31%, it's going to be tough to succeed. ISU only shoots 29%, but they shoot it half as often. When ISU swelled the lead from 10 to 30 in the second half, MU had no discipline on offense and even less on defense. ISU stole the ball at will, and got a good shot every time they wanted one.
ISU can seal an NCAA bid Saturday in Boulder, and they shouldn't lack for motivation. Their loss at home to CU wasn't just the low point of the season, it was the nadir of Hilton basketball since Polyester was a good fashion idea.
Peterclone
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Fifth Seed, a sniff away from first
How tight are the XII WBB standings?
With a win at Baylor, ISU may have won the league title. Instead, they finish fifth. Wow.
Tuesday's win over KU was tough down the stretch. When ISU looked as if they were going to pull away, KU closed the gap, and almost won the thing.
Now, a week off to prep for the Big XII tourney. ISU draws Colorado at 2:30 next Tuesday. CU only managed 1 win in conference play, and their longtime coach has announced her retirement. While they will probably be full of "Win one for the Gipper" motivation, hopefully ISU can break out to an early lead and have something left in the tank for their Wednesday matchup with KSU.
I suspect there won't be many tickets availible for that one if it comes to pass.
Next week is one of the rare times the CSJ staff regrets having a day job. Oh to be independently wealthy, and hang out in KC for a week drinking beer, eating BBQ, and watching hoops.
Peterclone
With a win at Baylor, ISU may have won the league title. Instead, they finish fifth. Wow.
Tuesday's win over KU was tough down the stretch. When ISU looked as if they were going to pull away, KU closed the gap, and almost won the thing.
Now, a week off to prep for the Big XII tourney. ISU draws Colorado at 2:30 next Tuesday. CU only managed 1 win in conference play, and their longtime coach has announced her retirement. While they will probably be full of "Win one for the Gipper" motivation, hopefully ISU can break out to an early lead and have something left in the tank for their Wednesday matchup with KSU.
I suspect there won't be many tickets availible for that one if it comes to pass.
Next week is one of the rare times the CSJ staff regrets having a day job. Oh to be independently wealthy, and hang out in KC for a week drinking beer, eating BBQ, and watching hoops.
Peterclone
Sunday, February 27, 2005
Play in, play out
ISU's seven game win streak played them into NCAA tourney contention. Sunday's loss may have played them out.
When the NCAA committee looks at the resumes of bubble teams, one of the big things are the "best wins" and "worst loss" lists. This lost to at 15-14 Nebraska team, at home, may hit the "worst loss" list.
The Cornhuskers exploited ISU's two big weaknesses: lack of depth inside, and flaky outside shooting.
By sending 4 to the offensive glass, NU got multiple chances, and also limited ISU's transition game by forcing the Cyclones to work hard for every defnsive rebound.
1-11 3 point shooting allowed the NU D to sit back and clog the middle, limiting Homan's touches and stymying penetration by the guards.
That game looked like January all over again, and ISU looked miles from being an NCAA worthy team. Even with two days off, they looked a half-step slow, and tired both physically and mentally. Even if they find a way to beat Mizzou Wednesday, I am unsure if they have enough in the tank to win in Boulder on Saturday, or to win more than their first round gaem in KC.
Eevn if they made the NCAA's as a 12 seed, it would take a tremendous effort to beat a 5, and effort I suspect this group doesn't have left in it.
I said this several times during the 0-5 start: Wayne's World only has one speed, and that's flat out aggressive and hustling. If ISU's 6 1/2 man rotation isn't able to do that, they are sunk.
Peterclone
When the NCAA committee looks at the resumes of bubble teams, one of the big things are the "best wins" and "worst loss" lists. This lost to at 15-14 Nebraska team, at home, may hit the "worst loss" list.
The Cornhuskers exploited ISU's two big weaknesses: lack of depth inside, and flaky outside shooting.
By sending 4 to the offensive glass, NU got multiple chances, and also limited ISU's transition game by forcing the Cyclones to work hard for every defnsive rebound.
1-11 3 point shooting allowed the NU D to sit back and clog the middle, limiting Homan's touches and stymying penetration by the guards.
That game looked like January all over again, and ISU looked miles from being an NCAA worthy team. Even with two days off, they looked a half-step slow, and tired both physically and mentally. Even if they find a way to beat Mizzou Wednesday, I am unsure if they have enough in the tank to win in Boulder on Saturday, or to win more than their first round gaem in KC.
Eevn if they made the NCAA's as a 12 seed, it would take a tremendous effort to beat a 5, and effort I suspect this group doesn't have left in it.
I said this several times during the 0-5 start: Wayne's World only has one speed, and that's flat out aggressive and hustling. If ISU's 6 1/2 man rotation isn't able to do that, they are sunk.
Peterclone
A look back for the women
Past, present and future were all on display in Staurday's win over a$m.
First, the present. The Cyclones won the kind of game they often lose on the road: physical, with little flow, and often downright ugly. a$m, without any height, depend on speed and in your shirt (and often pulling your shirt) defense to keep the opponent from finding a rythym. That's a 180 from how ISU plays, and it the style of play they are most succeptible to, as has been noted in this blog before.
ISU might have lost that game had it been played in College Station. But it was in Ames, and they got the win. Good for them.
Now the future. Only 18 of ISU's 68 points against a$m came from players who return next year. On the year, 64% of the scoring comes from graduating seniors. Ouch.
While Lindsey Medders and Megan Ronhovde, who earn 20 points between them, are a formiddible pair, there are plenty of question marks going into next season.
And now the past. The CSJ staff went to lots of WBB games in the 80's and 90's before Bill arrived- now known as the BB period, as in "Before Bill"- and the experience was nothing like game day now. The most appropriate 80's costume for Saturday would have been someone dressed as 14,000 empty seats. I suspect the season attendance average then was less than 10% the 7230 the ladies are averaging this year. It was strickly friends, family, and those who had to be there. There were box scores that clearly added int he band and ushers to pad the numbers. It was that bad. And fortunately just a memory.
Peterclone
First, the present. The Cyclones won the kind of game they often lose on the road: physical, with little flow, and often downright ugly. a$m, without any height, depend on speed and in your shirt (and often pulling your shirt) defense to keep the opponent from finding a rythym. That's a 180 from how ISU plays, and it the style of play they are most succeptible to, as has been noted in this blog before.
ISU might have lost that game had it been played in College Station. But it was in Ames, and they got the win. Good for them.
Now the future. Only 18 of ISU's 68 points against a$m came from players who return next year. On the year, 64% of the scoring comes from graduating seniors. Ouch.
While Lindsey Medders and Megan Ronhovde, who earn 20 points between them, are a formiddible pair, there are plenty of question marks going into next season.
And now the past. The CSJ staff went to lots of WBB games in the 80's and 90's before Bill arrived- now known as the BB period, as in "Before Bill"- and the experience was nothing like game day now. The most appropriate 80's costume for Saturday would have been someone dressed as 14,000 empty seats. I suspect the season attendance average then was less than 10% the 7230 the ladies are averaging this year. It was strickly friends, family, and those who had to be there. There were box scores that clearly added int he band and ushers to pad the numbers. It was that bad. And fortunately just a memory.
Peterclone
Tuesday, February 22, 2005
Tired legs end the streak
The Cyclones seemed a step slow all night, and lost to a marginal A$M in College Station. Passes and shots that normally work didn't, and the pathetic shooting percentages reflect that.
It was the kind of night that had the game been in Ames, they might have survived. No way tonight.
4 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, and an 8 minute stretch without a field sealed the deal.
Hopefully Wayne and crew do nothing but a few shooting drills the next few days leading up to Nebraska. The Clonies just look beat.
Peterclone
It was the kind of night that had the game been in Ames, they might have survived. No way tonight.
4 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, and an 8 minute stretch without a field sealed the deal.
Hopefully Wayne and crew do nothing but a few shooting drills the next few days leading up to Nebraska. The Clonies just look beat.
Peterclone
Monday, February 21, 2005
Now that ISU has everyone's attention.....
Win at some gym in Lawrence and suddenly everyone notices you're playing good ball.
Stinson is POTW on ESPN. (Follow the link at the top right corner.)
SI.com's hoops writer leads off his column with the Cyclones.
The RPI is rising to bubbe territory.
ISU is appearing on projected brackets.
Losing streak? What losing streak?
Wayne has lost the team? What?
To illustrate how good things are going, CyBlogger notes the press in Iowa City is wishing they were ISU.
Now comes a HUGE trap for ISU: College Station.
The school with the worst winning percentage since the league was formed, the Aggies are playing well at home. The team has spent the weekend reading all the good ink. Homan has to be exhausted from all the minutes he has played of late. Stinson has a long list of nagging injuries.
At some point this run has to come to an end.
I'll repeat it again: If ISU gets 2 more wins out of the remaining 4 games, and gets one in KC, they are in, no worries. Any wins outside of that will only improve their NCAA seeding.
Go get 'em fellas.
Peterclone
Stinson is POTW on ESPN. (Follow the link at the top right corner.)
SI.com's hoops writer leads off his column with the Cyclones.
The RPI is rising to bubbe territory.
ISU is appearing on projected brackets.
Losing streak? What losing streak?
Wayne has lost the team? What?
To illustrate how good things are going, CyBlogger notes the press in Iowa City is wishing they were ISU.
Now comes a HUGE trap for ISU: College Station.
The school with the worst winning percentage since the league was formed, the Aggies are playing well at home. The team has spent the weekend reading all the good ink. Homan has to be exhausted from all the minutes he has played of late. Stinson has a long list of nagging injuries.
At some point this run has to come to an end.
I'll repeat it again: If ISU gets 2 more wins out of the remaining 4 games, and gets one in KC, they are in, no worries. Any wins outside of that will only improve their NCAA seeding.
Go get 'em fellas.
Peterclone
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Prediction
Now that Wayne Morgan has the Cyclones on the "Rising With A Bullet" list, and their RPI has jumped about 100 points during the winning streak, how long before his name is linked to some other school who has a coach on the hot seat?
I'd say we won't have to wait until March.
Considering that a vocal minority were jumping on the "Can Margan" float only a month ago, it is further confirmation that college sports are ever more a "What Have You Done For Me Lately" business.
Enjoy the ride, Wayne. I hope it continues.
Peterclone
I'd say we won't have to wait until March.
Considering that a vocal minority were jumping on the "Can Margan" float only a month ago, it is further confirmation that college sports are ever more a "What Have You Done For Me Lately" business.
Enjoy the ride, Wayne. I hope it continues.
Peterclone
Perceptions
I always make a point of reading the papers that cover the opposing team. It is very illuminating to read what others think of ISU and their latest game. Saturday's win in Lawrence is no exception.
Begin with the Register's writeup, which reads of a team that did evrything well except shoot free throws, and one player who put the game on his back and took it for the win.
On the other end of the scale is the Kansas City Star, whhich call the game pitiful. They are hard on the Jayhawks. In their eyes, KU should have dispatched of the Cyclones like the hot dog wrapper that B12 teams usually are in Lawrence. But they didn't. It isn't about what ISU did or didn't do, if they earned the win or not. The visitor never wins. If KU loses, KU lost the game. This guy is Exhibit A.
Now KU has to struggle down the stretch to regain their status as a potential Number 1 seed. A team with 3 losses, the first of which didn't appear until this month, suddenly has issues. In the mind of Jayhawk fan, the entire season is single-elimination. Lose once, and hopes are dashed. This Isn't The Year. We Aren't Good Enough To Win The Big One. We Stink.
That's a tough way to view the world.
One final change in peerception fromm Saturday: Phog Allen is just another gym to Iowa State.
The last 6 years, ISU is 3-3 in Lawrence- and it could/should be 4-2 or 5-1.
The rest of the B12 is 0-40.
That's amazing, for both KU and ISU.
But it's just another gym if you're from Ames.
Peterclone
TEXT
Begin with the Register's writeup, which reads of a team that did evrything well except shoot free throws, and one player who put the game on his back and took it for the win.
On the other end of the scale is the Kansas City Star, whhich call the game pitiful. They are hard on the Jayhawks. In their eyes, KU should have dispatched of the Cyclones like the hot dog wrapper that B12 teams usually are in Lawrence. But they didn't. It isn't about what ISU did or didn't do, if they earned the win or not. The visitor never wins. If KU loses, KU lost the game. This guy is Exhibit A.
Now KU has to struggle down the stretch to regain their status as a potential Number 1 seed. A team with 3 losses, the first of which didn't appear until this month, suddenly has issues. In the mind of Jayhawk fan, the entire season is single-elimination. Lose once, and hopes are dashed. This Isn't The Year. We Aren't Good Enough To Win The Big One. We Stink.
That's a tough way to view the world.
One final change in peerception fromm Saturday: Phog Allen is just another gym to Iowa State.
The last 6 years, ISU is 3-3 in Lawrence- and it could/should be 4-2 or 5-1.
The rest of the B12 is 0-40.
That's amazing, for both KU and ISU.
But it's just another gym if you're from Ames.
Peterclone
TEXT
Fennely gambles and loses
Bill Fennely has had made a coaching career of stopping the opponents best players, and making a role player rise to the occation. Most of the time, it works. Saturday in Waco, it didn't.
When a player averaging 4 points a game uncorks 20 on you, maybe it wasn't meant to be.
Instead of being in the driver's seat for the conference title, the Cyclones will now have to win out just to get a bye in the first round of the Big XII Tourney. Not bad for a team projected to finish as low as seventh in the preseason.
Peterclone
When a player averaging 4 points a game uncorks 20 on you, maybe it wasn't meant to be.
Instead of being in the driver's seat for the conference title, the Cyclones will now have to win out just to get a bye in the first round of the Big XII Tourney. Not bad for a team projected to finish as low as seventh in the preseason.
Peterclone
Wednesday, February 16, 2005
Clarification: ISU's tiebreak versus KSU
Under the rules stated at Big12sports.com, ISU loses the tiebreaker against KSU:
If both teams finish tied, since they split their head-to-head, the next tiebreaker is the record against North Division teams.
Right now, ISU has losses against KSU and Nebraska. KSU has only a loss to ISU.
Unless the Cornhuskers can do to KSU what they did to ISU in Lincoln, ISU loses that one.
The third tiebreaker is record against teams in order of finish, which can't be computed until the season ends.
Cross your fingers it doesn't come into play.
Peterclone
If both teams finish tied, since they split their head-to-head, the next tiebreaker is the record against North Division teams.
Right now, ISU has losses against KSU and Nebraska. KSU has only a loss to ISU.
Unless the Cornhuskers can do to KSU what they did to ISU in Lincoln, ISU loses that one.
The third tiebreaker is record against teams in order of finish, which can't be computed until the season ends.
Cross your fingers it doesn't come into play.
Peterclone
It ain't over yet for the women
Some interesting developments tonight.
First, the Twister Sisters dispatched of Okie State tonight. That is good.
Texas won in Manhattan, pulling the Wildcats back even with ISU with 3 losses. That is good.
With Saturday's trip to Waco, ISU has a shot of the only team ahead of them in the loss collumn. A win there and they gain another tiebreaker. Considering ISU ends with 3 games they will be favored in, they would suddenly find themselves back inthe drivers seat.
The Cyclones already win tiebreakers against Nebraska and Texas. They may win a tiebreaker against KSU. Beat Baylor, they earn a tiebreak there. Since Tech has games left against Baylor and OU, both on the road, hopefully the losing tiebreaker there becomes a moot point.
All this is setting up as winner take all for ISU Saturday. Win, and with a tiny bit of help, they can clinch the title. Lose, and they will need tiebreakers just to get one of the top four seeds in the B12 tourney.
Here's hoping.
Peterclone
First, the Twister Sisters dispatched of Okie State tonight. That is good.
Texas won in Manhattan, pulling the Wildcats back even with ISU with 3 losses. That is good.
With Saturday's trip to Waco, ISU has a shot of the only team ahead of them in the loss collumn. A win there and they gain another tiebreaker. Considering ISU ends with 3 games they will be favored in, they would suddenly find themselves back inthe drivers seat.
The Cyclones already win tiebreakers against Nebraska and Texas. They may win a tiebreaker against KSU. Beat Baylor, they earn a tiebreak there. Since Tech has games left against Baylor and OU, both on the road, hopefully the losing tiebreaker there becomes a moot point.
All this is setting up as winner take all for ISU Saturday. Win, and with a tiny bit of help, they can clinch the title. Lose, and they will need tiebreakers just to get one of the top four seeds in the B12 tourney.
Here's hoping.
Peterclone
Tuesday, February 15, 2005
Good news and bad news out of Ames tonight
First, the good: The Cyclones played a stellar half of basketball in the first half, putting the game away in the first 10 minutes. They led KSU 38-19 at the half, then came out and mustered only 19 point of their own in the second. The 15 point margin belies how out of reaach the game felt for the entire night.
My only quibbles: coming out of the under-4 TO, there were still 4 starters on the floor, including ISU's most important player, Homan. Sure, he got yanked a minute later, but if he could sit at 3 minutes, he should have been sitting at 4.
I know, it's not like ISU goes 12 deep right now, so it's hard to empty the bench without breaking out guys who are only a pair of free shoes away from intermurals, but I suspect Agnew could have learned more in a couple minutes than Jared did.
The bad news? Dave Armstrong announced that he has been renewed for next season.
As Dave would say, Wow.
Dave's a genuinely nice guy, from the very limited time I've been around him. He brings a bunch of enthusiasm to the broadcast. But his forced jokes, puns and play on words make me wince 4 or 5 times a game. "Stinson's teardrop makes the Wildcats cry!" Ouch.
He's like that friend we all have who REALLY wants to be an emcee at any gathering, to hold that mic, and be loved. He tries so hard, but it's just painful.
And ISU gets another season of it. I had no idea we were that far down the TV food chain. Who does Dave have naked pictures of?
Peterclone
My only quibbles: coming out of the under-4 TO, there were still 4 starters on the floor, including ISU's most important player, Homan. Sure, he got yanked a minute later, but if he could sit at 3 minutes, he should have been sitting at 4.
I know, it's not like ISU goes 12 deep right now, so it's hard to empty the bench without breaking out guys who are only a pair of free shoes away from intermurals, but I suspect Agnew could have learned more in a couple minutes than Jared did.
The bad news? Dave Armstrong announced that he has been renewed for next season.
As Dave would say, Wow.
Dave's a genuinely nice guy, from the very limited time I've been around him. He brings a bunch of enthusiasm to the broadcast. But his forced jokes, puns and play on words make me wince 4 or 5 times a game. "Stinson's teardrop makes the Wildcats cry!" Ouch.
He's like that friend we all have who REALLY wants to be an emcee at any gathering, to hold that mic, and be loved. He tries so hard, but it's just painful.
And ISU gets another season of it. I had no idea we were that far down the TV food chain. Who does Dave have naked pictures of?
Peterclone
Monday, February 14, 2005
Only one speed in Wayne's World
The most striking thing about the winning run of the Cyclones as of late is not just the quality of play, but the overall pace.
A quick look at the tape from the Xavier game- a loss to #163 that is dragging down ISU's RPI to #72- shows a lack of the hustle on both sides of the ball that has been keying the team during this run. The guards slashing to the hole, Homan crashing the boards, everyone running the floor like there is free food at the other end; all were lacking during the down streak. All are there now.
Consider these intersting numbers of the first 5 and second 5 games of the B12 season: during the losing streak, ISU was giving up 67 points, but only scoring 60. Ouch. During the winning streak, ISU's defensive numbers have improved to 65 ppg, but scoring have lept to 78 ppg. Wow.
Clearly, some 3 point shooting has helped. But it seems that Stinson and Blalock can now drive and score at will, and are generating even more turnovers at the top of the key. Biggest of all, they finish the break. I wish I had the stats on how often a turnover ends up as points on the other end.
Wayne's World only works when the pedal is floored. Against Tech, even when they feel way behind, they kept trying to force the issue on defense. Eventually it worked, and ISU overwhelmed tech over the last 30 minutes.
Right now, ISU is tied with Texas for 5th place, but they win that tiebreaker. The next goal: a bye in the B12 tourney. A fresh ISU versus a UT or A&M or Nebraska that played the day before? I like that action.
Peterclone
A quick look at the tape from the Xavier game- a loss to #163 that is dragging down ISU's RPI to #72- shows a lack of the hustle on both sides of the ball that has been keying the team during this run. The guards slashing to the hole, Homan crashing the boards, everyone running the floor like there is free food at the other end; all were lacking during the down streak. All are there now.
Consider these intersting numbers of the first 5 and second 5 games of the B12 season: during the losing streak, ISU was giving up 67 points, but only scoring 60. Ouch. During the winning streak, ISU's defensive numbers have improved to 65 ppg, but scoring have lept to 78 ppg. Wow.
Clearly, some 3 point shooting has helped. But it seems that Stinson and Blalock can now drive and score at will, and are generating even more turnovers at the top of the key. Biggest of all, they finish the break. I wish I had the stats on how often a turnover ends up as points on the other end.
Wayne's World only works when the pedal is floored. Against Tech, even when they feel way behind, they kept trying to force the issue on defense. Eventually it worked, and ISU overwhelmed tech over the last 30 minutes.
Right now, ISU is tied with Texas for 5th place, but they win that tiebreaker. The next goal: a bye in the B12 tourney. A fresh ISU versus a UT or A&M or Nebraska that played the day before? I like that action.
Peterclone
Work for the bye for now
Despite the help ISU got on Sunday, at this point the best the WBB team can hope for is a first-round bye in the B12 tourney.
Tech and K-State both lost on the road, but the tiebreakers still hurt ISU. The only potential tiebreaker ISU can swing in their favor is Saturday's trip to Baylor. Win that, and the title is still in reach. Lose and they may need help just to get the bye.
To win, the Cyclones will have to overcome last weeks's trend of getting blown out by good teams when they wear the red unis. Try two walk throughs when they hit town. Maybe skip them altogether. Sacrifice a chicken courtside before the game. Something.
Just win.
Peterclone
Tech and K-State both lost on the road, but the tiebreakers still hurt ISU. The only potential tiebreaker ISU can swing in their favor is Saturday's trip to Baylor. Win that, and the title is still in reach. Lose and they may need help just to get the bye.
To win, the Cyclones will have to overcome last weeks's trend of getting blown out by good teams when they wear the red unis. Try two walk throughs when they hit town. Maybe skip them altogether. Sacrifice a chicken courtside before the game. Something.
Just win.
Peterclone
Saturday, February 12, 2005
Wayne's World is at full mojo
This was a day the staff regrets it couldn't be a Hilton.
To think walking out of the CU loss that ISU would pull off what they have would have been inconceiveable. One wag insisted that the Cyclones had just played themselves out of not only the NCAA's, but the NIT as well. Scamp.
The fellow who wrote after the loss at Xavier that ISU won't be good until they find someone to score other than Blaylock, Stinson and Homan was a savant. ISU now has 6 legit scorers. The problem for opponents is that you have no idea who the breakout guy will be each night.
Making a Bobby Knoight team turn the ball over 10 times more than usual is fantastic. Forcing Bob to use a zone, a walk-on football player as anti-Homan muscle and a three-man midcourt trap to slow down Stinson, and surviving, means you have arrived as Opponent Teams Respect. Not only to they give you their best punch, they break out the bag of tricks.
ISU isn't on the NCAA bubble. Yet. But they can see it from here.
There are officially on the list of "Teams You Don't Want To Play Right Now" list.
Next unfortunate volunteer? Kansas State, whom ISU should have beaten in Manhattan, and couldn't win in OT in Austin the way ISU did last week. Way to stop the freefall, Horns.
Peterclone
To think walking out of the CU loss that ISU would pull off what they have would have been inconceiveable. One wag insisted that the Cyclones had just played themselves out of not only the NCAA's, but the NIT as well. Scamp.
The fellow who wrote after the loss at Xavier that ISU won't be good until they find someone to score other than Blaylock, Stinson and Homan was a savant. ISU now has 6 legit scorers. The problem for opponents is that you have no idea who the breakout guy will be each night.
Making a Bobby Knoight team turn the ball over 10 times more than usual is fantastic. Forcing Bob to use a zone, a walk-on football player as anti-Homan muscle and a three-man midcourt trap to slow down Stinson, and surviving, means you have arrived as Opponent Teams Respect. Not only to they give you their best punch, they break out the bag of tricks.
ISU isn't on the NCAA bubble. Yet. But they can see it from here.
There are officially on the list of "Teams You Don't Want To Play Right Now" list.
Next unfortunate volunteer? Kansas State, whom ISU should have beaten in Manhattan, and couldn't win in OT in Austin the way ISU did last week. Way to stop the freefall, Horns.
Peterclone
There goes the title
This will be a tough one to recover from.
The Twister Sisters path to the league title had such a small margin for error, and required so much help, that there was little room for slipup. Tonight was a big one.
The Tech-UT and Baylor-OU games on Sunday will clear the picture some, but ISU is now a clear longshot when you start to factor int he tiebreakers.
Another post, perhaps in the summer when times are slow, we will surmise the Cyclones struggles on the road against quality competition. For now, put your head down and focus on thumping Okie State Wednesday.
Peterclone
The Twister Sisters path to the league title had such a small margin for error, and required so much help, that there was little room for slipup. Tonight was a big one.
The Tech-UT and Baylor-OU games on Sunday will clear the picture some, but ISU is now a clear longshot when you start to factor int he tiebreakers.
Another post, perhaps in the summer when times are slow, we will surmise the Cyclones struggles on the road against quality competition. For now, put your head down and focus on thumping Okie State Wednesday.
Peterclone
Tuesday, February 08, 2005
It's all Curtis
I am Curtis Stinson.
I am Hard.
I've led my team to a 7 point lead inthe second half.
The team goes into a many-minute scoring drought, and we fall behind by 5.
So I take over.
I force turnovers.
I score at will.
I post up guys 6 inches taller, yet still score.
I make the critical free throws down the stretch.
My team wins two conference road games in a row for the first time in forever.
I am Hard.
Peterclone
I am Hard.
I've led my team to a 7 point lead inthe second half.
The team goes into a many-minute scoring drought, and we fall behind by 5.
So I take over.
I force turnovers.
I score at will.
I post up guys 6 inches taller, yet still score.
I make the critical free throws down the stretch.
My team wins two conference road games in a row for the first time in forever.
I am Hard.
Peterclone
It's a race to the finish
The Cyclone women took it on the chin in the second half in Lubbock Tuesday.
The 50-26 margin in the sealed their fate, and the last six games are now almost must-wins.
Since ISU now loses a tiebreaker to Tech, and may also to KSU (I'm not current on the details of the system), they will almost need to win out, plus get some help with Tech to win the title. Fortunately, Tech must still visit UT, OU and Baylor to finish up. They won't earn that hat trick.
ISU must bounce back in Lincoln against surprising Nebraska. They Huskers limped out of Hilton with a January thumping, but are certainly good enough to win Saturday.
By the call on the radio, Katie Robinette, frustrated by swarming physical D, tried to push the issue by forced up plenty of bad shots and earning travelling calls. So it goes.
The Cyclones are certainly good enough to run the table from here on out, and with help, don't need to be perfect. But controlling your own destiny is preferable to having to watch the scoreboard, crossing your fingers.
Peterclone
The 50-26 margin in the sealed their fate, and the last six games are now almost must-wins.
Since ISU now loses a tiebreaker to Tech, and may also to KSU (I'm not current on the details of the system), they will almost need to win out, plus get some help with Tech to win the title. Fortunately, Tech must still visit UT, OU and Baylor to finish up. They won't earn that hat trick.
ISU must bounce back in Lincoln against surprising Nebraska. They Huskers limped out of Hilton with a January thumping, but are certainly good enough to win Saturday.
By the call on the radio, Katie Robinette, frustrated by swarming physical D, tried to push the issue by forced up plenty of bad shots and earning travelling calls. So it goes.
The Cyclones are certainly good enough to run the table from here on out, and with help, don't need to be perfect. But controlling your own destiny is preferable to having to watch the scoreboard, crossing your fingers.
Peterclone
RPI and rep
A continuation of the update on the WBB ranking and RPI. On further examination, ISU has, by far, the worst Stregnth of Schedule of teams in the top 30, at 114. That may be the biggest drag on the Cyclones ranking.
The Top 6 of the B12; RPI, SS:
Baylor 9, 39
Tech 13, 26
KSU 16, 38
Texas 17, 6
ISU 24, 114
Nebraska 44, 29
Granted, if ISU were to get wins in Lubbock and Waco the RPI would jump tremendously.
But the NC schedule didn't help.
ISU lost to their best non-con opponent, Iowa, who has struggled mightily in Big 1011 play. Consider who they have beaten so far:
291 Cleveland St.
283 Northern Colorado
308 IPFW
91 Wisconsin
168 Drake
95 Northern Iowa
96 Eastern Kentucky
115 UNLV
227 Eastern Illinois
189 Murray St.
16 Kansas St.
117 Colorado
84 Kansas
139 Missouri
44 Nebraska
39 Oklahoma
117 Colorado
17 Texas
Or as groups:
4 1-50
4 51-100
5 101-200
4 201+
Now scheduling is a crap shoot, because you can't know for sure how a team is going to work out. I suspect UNLV, Wisconsin and Drake all looked better in October than they do now. It's not ISU's fault that Mizzou and Colorado are struggling.
Beat two or three of the Top 50 left on the schedule, and another in KC, and it all works out. But they gotta win to get good seeding in the NCAAs.
Peterclone
The Top 6 of the B12; RPI, SS:
Baylor 9, 39
Tech 13, 26
KSU 16, 38
Texas 17, 6
ISU 24, 114
Nebraska 44, 29
Granted, if ISU were to get wins in Lubbock and Waco the RPI would jump tremendously.
But the NC schedule didn't help.
ISU lost to their best non-con opponent, Iowa, who has struggled mightily in Big 1011 play. Consider who they have beaten so far:
291 Cleveland St.
283 Northern Colorado
308 IPFW
91 Wisconsin
168 Drake
95 Northern Iowa
96 Eastern Kentucky
115 UNLV
227 Eastern Illinois
189 Murray St.
16 Kansas St.
117 Colorado
84 Kansas
139 Missouri
44 Nebraska
39 Oklahoma
117 Colorado
17 Texas
Or as groups:
4 1-50
4 51-100
5 101-200
4 201+
Now scheduling is a crap shoot, because you can't know for sure how a team is going to work out. I suspect UNLV, Wisconsin and Drake all looked better in October than they do now. It's not ISU's fault that Mizzou and Colorado are struggling.
Beat two or three of the Top 50 left on the schedule, and another in KC, and it all works out. But they gotta win to get good seeding in the NCAAs.
Peterclone
Monday, February 07, 2005
A Curious Situation
UPDATE: The new poll is out, and ISU has at least slid ahead of KSU and Texas, and are only 1 spot behind Tech. It's a better situation, but still funny that the team that is a loss up on the rest of the eague lags a bit. Bayor has a filthy RPI, which explains alot. The other 4 ranked teams all have a better RPI than ISU, simply doesn't have many quality RPI wins, UT being the best (17).
PC
Take a quick look at the Big 12 WBB Standings. notice anything unusual?
Yes, ISU being alone in first place is a surprise with 9 games played. Yes, the one game lead in the loss column is a head turner. But look again.
The league has 5 ranked teams.
Of the 5, ISU is ranked lowest. First place, lowest ranking. Odd.
Granted, they have 3 brutal road games left: Lincoln, Waco and Lubbock. Those three games will prove ISU as Contender or Prentender. By Saturday night we will know, with trips to the Red Raiders and the resurgent Cornhuskers back to back this week.
But ISU only has 2 losses all year, both on the road, both to ranked teams at the time they have played. (The case of basketball Cooties the Iowa women have picked up is another post) How many more will ISU need to win to get the nod? Will their "soft" reputation dog them as long as Bill is the coach?
A hat trick, begining with Saturday's win over Texas and ending in Lincoln, could seal the deal for ISU.
This is a pivital week for ISU basketball, both the men and women. The men are pushing for an NCAA bid. The women, a championship.
Each will have to earn it.
Peterclone
PC
Take a quick look at the Big 12 WBB Standings. notice anything unusual?
Yes, ISU being alone in first place is a surprise with 9 games played. Yes, the one game lead in the loss column is a head turner. But look again.
The league has 5 ranked teams.
Of the 5, ISU is ranked lowest. First place, lowest ranking. Odd.
Granted, they have 3 brutal road games left: Lincoln, Waco and Lubbock. Those three games will prove ISU as Contender or Prentender. By Saturday night we will know, with trips to the Red Raiders and the resurgent Cornhuskers back to back this week.
But ISU only has 2 losses all year, both on the road, both to ranked teams at the time they have played. (The case of basketball Cooties the Iowa women have picked up is another post) How many more will ISU need to win to get the nod? Will their "soft" reputation dog them as long as Bill is the coach?
A hat trick, begining with Saturday's win over Texas and ending in Lincoln, could seal the deal for ISU.
This is a pivital week for ISU basketball, both the men and women. The men are pushing for an NCAA bid. The women, a championship.
Each will have to earn it.
Peterclone
Two Streaks Are Dead
Improbable seems the only correct word to describe what happened on Saturday.
The Cyclone men ended both an impossible-to-imagine 28 game conferfence road losing streak and an OT losing streak in beating ranked Texas 92-80. After scoring only 20 points in the first half of a home game against CU two weeks ago, they explode for 24 in OT, two shy of the NCAA record. Unbelieveable.
Freshman Tasheed Carr led the surprises with 13 of his 22 in OT, and his 5-8 3 point shooting has officially ended the Cyclone 3 point funk.
With three wins in a row, ISU has gone from Everyone's Favorite Opponent to The Team Nobody Wants To Play. What is most remarkable is the stunning intestinal fortitude the team exhibits. Suddenly, nobody is afraid to shoot, even in crunch time with defenders around. How a team flips that switch after so many listless games I don't understand.
The Clonies get to push their luck on the road with a trip to Lincoln Tuesday, which always seems to result in wild games, regardless of the quality of the teams involved.
Here's hopin'.
Peterclone
The Cyclone men ended both an impossible-to-imagine 28 game conferfence road losing streak and an OT losing streak in beating ranked Texas 92-80. After scoring only 20 points in the first half of a home game against CU two weeks ago, they explode for 24 in OT, two shy of the NCAA record. Unbelieveable.
Freshman Tasheed Carr led the surprises with 13 of his 22 in OT, and his 5-8 3 point shooting has officially ended the Cyclone 3 point funk.
With three wins in a row, ISU has gone from Everyone's Favorite Opponent to The Team Nobody Wants To Play. What is most remarkable is the stunning intestinal fortitude the team exhibits. Suddenly, nobody is afraid to shoot, even in crunch time with defenders around. How a team flips that switch after so many listless games I don't understand.
The Clonies get to push their luck on the road with a trip to Lincoln Tuesday, which always seems to result in wild games, regardless of the quality of the teams involved.
Here's hopin'.
Peterclone
Tuesday, February 01, 2005
And so the climb begins
It's good to see Wayne's World working after so many called it DOA.
Baylor clearly wants a slow pace, and ISU gave up some layups trying to force the issue. But teams always want to run, whether they are suited for it or not, and BU got harried late in the first. Hopefully ISU can continue forcing the issue on other teams, too.
Now that ISU has gotten themselves out of the basement, they begin the slow climb up the standings. There is not much margin for error with five road games left, including stops in Austin and Lawrence. An 8-8 finish would be a heck of an accomplishment considering the start this team had, and would get them firmly on the bubble. But to get there the Streak That Won't Die must, and it must die hard.
Peterclone
Baylor clearly wants a slow pace, and ISU gave up some layups trying to force the issue. But teams always want to run, whether they are suited for it or not, and BU got harried late in the first. Hopefully ISU can continue forcing the issue on other teams, too.
Now that ISU has gotten themselves out of the basement, they begin the slow climb up the standings. There is not much margin for error with five road games left, including stops in Austin and Lawrence. An 8-8 finish would be a heck of an accomplishment considering the start this team had, and would get them firmly on the bubble. But to get there the Streak That Won't Die must, and it must die hard.
Peterclone
Saturday, January 29, 2005
Keeping the pressure on
The Cyclone women won another impressive road game, dumping the Sooners in Norman.
Kansas State won again, so they remain even in the standings. They are clearly the cream of the north, and having split their series, are now dependent on A) winning out agiainst the North and B) how they do against the South.
That will be a fun ride the rest of the way.
Getting a bye in KC is the secondary goal here. The Cyclones definately have a shot at the title, but they need to beat Tech in Lubbock and get some help with KSU. But the bye, along with the friendly ISU crowd that decends on KC, will give them a great shot at the tourney title.
Anne O'Neal is 2 points shy of 1,000. Wow. Not bad for a transfer.
If only she AND Robinette had started out in Ames like their gut told them too.
Peterclone
Kansas State won again, so they remain even in the standings. They are clearly the cream of the north, and having split their series, are now dependent on A) winning out agiainst the North and B) how they do against the South.
That will be a fun ride the rest of the way.
Getting a bye in KC is the secondary goal here. The Cyclones definately have a shot at the title, but they need to beat Tech in Lubbock and get some help with KSU. But the bye, along with the friendly ISU crowd that decends on KC, will give them a great shot at the tourney title.
Anne O'Neal is 2 points shy of 1,000. Wow. Not bad for a transfer.
If only she AND Robinette had started out in Ames like their gut told them too.
Peterclone
Throw another log on the fire
This game will only encourage the Morgan haters.
Oh-fur from 3. Outrebounded again. Only 6 players scored. Terrible- 56%- free throw shooting. The press gave up what felt like 15 dunks and layups. They're still in last place.
Clearly the man can't coach. He's lost the team. The long term future is bleak.
Just another Hilton Saturday where the undermanned Cyclones dump a ranked team on it's butt. Go figure.
They play like that the last two games, people are talking NCAA's.
Bottle the pregame speech, man. Shower in it in Austin next Saturday.
Be sure to beat Baylor first, to put some distance detween you and last place.
Peterclone
Oh-fur from 3. Outrebounded again. Only 6 players scored. Terrible- 56%- free throw shooting. The press gave up what felt like 15 dunks and layups. They're still in last place.
Clearly the man can't coach. He's lost the team. The long term future is bleak.
Just another Hilton Saturday where the undermanned Cyclones dump a ranked team on it's butt. Go figure.
They play like that the last two games, people are talking NCAA's.
Bottle the pregame speech, man. Shower in it in Austin next Saturday.
Be sure to beat Baylor first, to put some distance detween you and last place.
Peterclone
Wednesday, January 26, 2005
This explains some things
My wife- a big football fan- often remarks that football is a dumb man's game. Most smart folks wouldn't subject themselves to teh abuse. It also explains why players rough the quarterback on 3rd and 27. They are, at the end of the day, dumb.
Which explains ISU's improvement on the football field over the last few years. McCarney's staff has learned one lesson over all others: to win, you must recruit dumber players.
We at CSJ aren't surprised. Our casual observation is that winning football requires a higher concentration of knuckleheads than exist in the general population. It's a cost of doing business.
But if McCarney insists on suspending guys who get in trouble, he is unilaterally disarming. There are two choices in "Big Tiime Football": Recruit the academically inept and those who have goonish tendencies, and win; or, bring in well-scrubbed smart kids who still know how to put on a theigh pad, and lose. Florida or Vandy. You can't go half way. It doesn't work. ISU is trying that, and it's ultimately doomed to failure.
Which means we at CSJ have a constant love/hate relationship with "Big Tiime Football". We are the first to admit it is corrupt to the stinking core, yet we want to win at it as much as the next guy. We cherish the "Honor Before Victory" ideal more than the casual fan. But we are also realists: we know that "Homor Before Victory" ultimately equals "Bad Football" and "Fired Coaches".
It all would have been easier had the CSJ staff attended a DIII school, where articipation is still the most important factor in athletics, mostly.
So we ponder what the fall will hold for Cylone fan, and whether every player talented enough to play winning football will have let his dumb nature ruin his opportunities, and whether McCarney's unilateral disarmament will get him fired. Both will be unfortunate.
Peterclone
Which explains ISU's improvement on the football field over the last few years. McCarney's staff has learned one lesson over all others: to win, you must recruit dumber players.
We at CSJ aren't surprised. Our casual observation is that winning football requires a higher concentration of knuckleheads than exist in the general population. It's a cost of doing business.
But if McCarney insists on suspending guys who get in trouble, he is unilaterally disarming. There are two choices in "Big Tiime Football": Recruit the academically inept and those who have goonish tendencies, and win; or, bring in well-scrubbed smart kids who still know how to put on a theigh pad, and lose. Florida or Vandy. You can't go half way. It doesn't work. ISU is trying that, and it's ultimately doomed to failure.
Which means we at CSJ have a constant love/hate relationship with "Big Tiime Football". We are the first to admit it is corrupt to the stinking core, yet we want to win at it as much as the next guy. We cherish the "Honor Before Victory" ideal more than the casual fan. But we are also realists: we know that "Homor Before Victory" ultimately equals "Bad Football" and "Fired Coaches".
It all would have been easier had the CSJ staff attended a DIII school, where articipation is still the most important factor in athletics, mostly.
So we ponder what the fall will hold for Cylone fan, and whether every player talented enough to play winning football will have let his dumb nature ruin his opportunities, and whether McCarney's unilateral disarmament will get him fired. Both will be unfortunate.
Peterclone
Thump
I can't say I'm surprised. The Cyclone women were due a game like that.
KSU is now in the driver's seat, with a split with ISU and a road win at Tech under their belts.
Keeler gets it right for once: ISU is a "pretty" team that runs into trouble against the bump-and-grinders of the basketball world.
The job for ISU is to survive this tough stretch. If they can get a split between games at OU, Tech and Baylor and a home tilt against Texas, they have a shot if KSU falters. But with 10 games left, the Cyclones don't have much margin for error.
Peterclone
KSU is now in the driver's seat, with a split with ISU and a road win at Tech under their belts.
Keeler gets it right for once: ISU is a "pretty" team that runs into trouble against the bump-and-grinders of the basketball world.
The job for ISU is to survive this tough stretch. If they can get a split between games at OU, Tech and Baylor and a home tilt against Texas, they have a shot if KSU falters. But with 10 games left, the Cyclones don't have much margin for error.
Peterclone
Monday, January 24, 2005
First are first, last are last
I had to wait a few days before posting to let things simmer down.
One ISU team is alone in first place; the other is alone in last. On Saturday, each looked the part.
Steve Deace summed things up best in this post. The women were great; then men horrific.
The women are poised for a strong finish, and if not the conference title, a high seed in KC and a certain NCAA bid.
The men will need to hustle to get any postseason play at all. But without a forward and consistent outside shooting, it will be very tough.
Peterclone
One ISU team is alone in first place; the other is alone in last. On Saturday, each looked the part.
Steve Deace summed things up best in this post. The women were great; then men horrific.
The women are poised for a strong finish, and if not the conference title, a high seed in KC and a certain NCAA bid.
The men will need to hustle to get any postseason play at all. But without a forward and consistent outside shooting, it will be very tough.
Peterclone
Monday, January 17, 2005
Women win one they shouldn't have
The Cyclones won a home game they had almost shot themselves out of Saturday. They got their shooting eye back in the second half, and did what they wanted down the stretch to put away Mizzou 65-59.
It's an old cliche because it's true: Good teams win when they play badly. ISU's defense was where they like it, holding Mizzou well under 65 points, but just as hot shooting can be infectous-like it was in Lawrence earlier int he week- so can cold shooting.
At 4-0, they begin an interesting stretch on Saturday. Upstart Nebraska comes to Ames, who are a surprising 11-5, including a win over Baylor last week. The Cornhuskers got thumped in Manhattan, and have to host Tech before they trek to Ames. That's a tough trifecta. They have another in February, hosting Oklahoma and ISU with a trip to Texas in the middle, all in the space of 7 days. Ouch. ISU is fortunate to be the end of each of those runs, where they can hopefully take advantage of a tired Nebraska club.
Looking ahead, KSU has a very tough road on the road. They have to play OU, Tech and Baylor all in their dark unis, which will be tough to come away with more than 1 win. Both KSU and ISU could hold serve at home, then depend on their road schedule to determine seeding. Today, I like the Cyclones chances. We shall see.
Peterclone
It's an old cliche because it's true: Good teams win when they play badly. ISU's defense was where they like it, holding Mizzou well under 65 points, but just as hot shooting can be infectous-like it was in Lawrence earlier int he week- so can cold shooting.
At 4-0, they begin an interesting stretch on Saturday. Upstart Nebraska comes to Ames, who are a surprising 11-5, including a win over Baylor last week. The Cornhuskers got thumped in Manhattan, and have to host Tech before they trek to Ames. That's a tough trifecta. They have another in February, hosting Oklahoma and ISU with a trip to Texas in the middle, all in the space of 7 days. Ouch. ISU is fortunate to be the end of each of those runs, where they can hopefully take advantage of a tired Nebraska club.
Looking ahead, KSU has a very tough road on the road. They have to play OU, Tech and Baylor all in their dark unis, which will be tough to come away with more than 1 win. Both KSU and ISU could hold serve at home, then depend on their road schedule to determine seeding. Today, I like the Cyclones chances. We shall see.
Peterclone
Wednesday, January 12, 2005
Now to the first place team....
This is shaping up very well.
The ISU women went into another gym that has given them troule over the years and opened up and Industrial Sized Can of Whoop-Ass on the Jayhawks, winning 71-37. Ouch.
A 20-3 run in the second half turned it into a laugher.
So maybe Bill's crew is good enough for some ridiculous talk on my part:
Can ISU get a sweep of the north?
That would be 10 wins. That's a good seed in the B12 tourney by itself. My math would put them at 20 wins and NCAA eligible right there- assuming every game they have played counts. Anything else would just improve seeding.
This is all premature for sure. The Cyclones still need to go to Manhattan. Columbia has been another minefield over the years. Nebraska is showing life again. The next four games will really tell us what we have on our hands.
But depending on how the losses get spread around between Baylor, Tech and the others in the south, this could be a banner-worthy season in Ames.
Peterclone
The ISU women went into another gym that has given them troule over the years and opened up and Industrial Sized Can of Whoop-Ass on the Jayhawks, winning 71-37. Ouch.
A 20-3 run in the second half turned it into a laugher.
So maybe Bill's crew is good enough for some ridiculous talk on my part:
Can ISU get a sweep of the north?
That would be 10 wins. That's a good seed in the B12 tourney by itself. My math would put them at 20 wins and NCAA eligible right there- assuming every game they have played counts. Anything else would just improve seeding.
This is all premature for sure. The Cyclones still need to go to Manhattan. Columbia has been another minefield over the years. Nebraska is showing life again. The next four games will really tell us what we have on our hands.
But depending on how the losses get spread around between Baylor, Tech and the others in the south, this could be a banner-worthy season in Ames.
Peterclone
Composure appears to be the key
For the second game in a row, ISU lost a game against a quality opponent. The other team may have won, but ISU clearly lost it.
Like their disasterous finish in Columbia, the Cyclones has small meltdowns that the opponent turned into points:
Early in the second half, KU built a 10 point lead as Homan forced three horrible shots on what seemed to be consecutive trips;
Up two, ISU watched KU turn three jump shots and a tip-in into a 6 point deficit;
4 missed free throws in the late as ISU was trying to hang on;
2 rushed 3s late;
Homan again forcing a shot into a double team in the last 2 minutes.
KU, coversely, made mistakes, but seldom twice in a row.
BTW- KU is really, really good. If not for pluckish play in the first half by ISU, KU breaks this open in the first 10 minutes and runs away. But again, the Cyclones come away with a loss that should have been a win.
Now they head to Stillwater to play the other best team in the league. However ISU finishes the season, they'll have to come from behind to do it.
Peterclone
Like their disasterous finish in Columbia, the Cyclones has small meltdowns that the opponent turned into points:
Early in the second half, KU built a 10 point lead as Homan forced three horrible shots on what seemed to be consecutive trips;
Up two, ISU watched KU turn three jump shots and a tip-in into a 6 point deficit;
4 missed free throws in the late as ISU was trying to hang on;
2 rushed 3s late;
Homan again forcing a shot into a double team in the last 2 minutes.
KU, coversely, made mistakes, but seldom twice in a row.
BTW- KU is really, really good. If not for pluckish play in the first half by ISU, KU breaks this open in the first 10 minutes and runs away. But again, the Cyclones come away with a loss that should have been a win.
Now they head to Stillwater to play the other best team in the league. However ISU finishes the season, they'll have to come from behind to do it.
Peterclone
Sunday, January 09, 2005
A sign
The last time the ISU women won in Boulder was on their way to their only Big XII Championship in 2000.
They won there Saturday night.
Granted, CU is young, but ISU's experience kept it's cool when CU cut the lead to 4 in the second half.
Coupled with their win over KSU three nights earlier, this could be an interesting season on the women's side, too.
Here's hoping.
Peterclone
They won there Saturday night.
Granted, CU is young, but ISU's experience kept it's cool when CU cut the lead to 4 in the second half.
Coupled with their win over KSU three nights earlier, this could be an interesting season on the women's side, too.
Here's hoping.
Peterclone
Saturday, January 08, 2005
Coaching under pressure
No coach in America should be as motivated as Steve Alford.
The rewards for a successful season are twofold: Keep your job in Iowa City and potentially get your dream job in Bloomington.
The bar for "success" is making the NCAA's. Get there and Steve will have his choice of Big Ten jobs.
Miss the NCAA's, and he could be out of work.
So it's amazing that after a great 12-1 start, the Hawkeyes stumble into the Big Ten season losing two games they would have won a month ago.
Not the way to impress the present or future boss.
This should be an interesting diversion the next 8 weeks.
Peterclone
The rewards for a successful season are twofold: Keep your job in Iowa City and potentially get your dream job in Bloomington.
The bar for "success" is making the NCAA's. Get there and Steve will have his choice of Big Ten jobs.
Miss the NCAA's, and he could be out of work.
So it's amazing that after a great 12-1 start, the Hawkeyes stumble into the Big Ten season losing two games they would have won a month ago.
Not the way to impress the present or future boss.
This should be an interesting diversion the next 8 weeks.
Peterclone
Is this what progress feels like?
Today's loss had crazy potential for ending the road skid. But in crunch time, the Cyclones played not to lose, and they did anyway.
The good: All the effort that was lacking at Xavier was present today.
The bad: You don't lose 25 conference road games in a row by accident. They found the way today, too.
Hopefully this doesn't get into the team's head and spark the gag reflex later down the schedule.
Today's effort will win a lot of games.
Beat the Jayhawks.
Peterclone
The good: All the effort that was lacking at Xavier was present today.
The bad: You don't lose 25 conference road games in a row by accident. They found the way today, too.
Hopefully this doesn't get into the team's head and spark the gag reflex later down the schedule.
Today's effort will win a lot of games.
Beat the Jayhawks.
Peterclone
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