Future Opponent: ISU

[headbeaver]

Alabama is better offensively, but their defense has a lot of holes.    Not nearly as good as they have been, on that end, under Grant before.    If you can shoot against their zone, you will beat Alabama.

It's weird because they are usually terrible on offense and strong on defense.

[intelligence]

It's weird because they are usually terrible on offense and strong on defense.

Minus coleman though, they really don't have many shooting threats. they have a few guys who can hit from range but they are streaky at best. Randolph has always been on the streaky side if you think about it.

[intelligence]

84 - 74 Final Score. ISU advances to the championship game.

[Rawker]

I actually felt kinda bad for AL at the end. After that ISU guy's lucky circus shot, they just fell apart.  Until then, both teams looked like a very tough out for the Hogs - and probably still are - but their play down the stretch  made me wonder how AL will deal with the Watkins-Kingsley Freaky-D that will hit them midway through both halves.  Time will tell if the Hogs can take that on the road, but if so, ISU is in trouble too....I saw some vulnerability in the full court.  Half court offense is obviously very solid though.

[popcornhog]

They've got some very good players and are sound, but I do think they looked beatable.

Good atmosphere, friendly fans.

Very clear in the last two minutes who the better team was.

[headbeaver]

Minus coleman though, they really don't have many shooting threats. they have a few guys who can hit from range but they are streaky at best. Randolph has always been on the streaky side if you think about it.

We are definitely gunna have our hands full with ISU.  It oughta be an exciting game.

[intelligence]

We are definitely gunna have our hands full with ISU.  It oughta be an exciting game.

Agreed. we'll need to bring the A game. My greatest fear with the hogs is a cold shooting night right now, and how we will overcome something like that on the road.

[Biggus Piggus]

Alabama too often runs no offense, and their players have too little offensive skill.

Iowa State rests on defense playing a passive zone that is mainly there to resist entry into the middle.

On a neutral court, Arkansas would ruin the Clones. At their place, who knows - Arkansas has a weird history on the road.

[intelligence]

Niang finished with 28 pts on 9 of 14 from the field, 18 coming in the first half.

[Rawker]

At their place, who knows - Arkansas has a weird history on the road.

Hmph. Hadn't heard that.

[The_Iceman]

On a neutral court, Arkansas would ruin the Clones. At their place, who knows - Arkansas has a weird history on the road.

However, we do tend to play better on the road in big environments. Its the empty stadiums we have trouble with.

[Kevin]

this will be an extremely tough game for the hogs.

[mhuff]

It's pretty much a wash either way, RPI wise, since we play both once.  Bama wins our conference looks better, but ISU wins and has a big year like expected it will make beating them on the road huge for the resume or a loss won't have much effect.   Beating a borderline NCAA team like Bama at home isn't going to do anything for us anyways, so go Cyclones!

I watched Alabama play last week. They seemed pretty weak.

[Biggus Piggus]

I can't predict anything about Arkansas road games. Too scare.

[intelligence]

Currently getting hammered by Maryland by about 13 pts. Looks to me like this ISU team has the same problem we had last season. weak defense.

[ErieHog]

Maryland is taking it to them.  I wonder about their ability to stop teams that pound them inside.

[Cresthog]

Meh, Niang will shoot no less than 10-12 free throws against us.

I'm with Erie Hog. They're a lot better than SMU and we'll have to play a much better game to beat them on their court.

[popcornhog]

Meh, Niang will shoot no less than 10-12 free throws against us.

I'm with Erie Hog. They're a lot better than SMU and we'll have to play a much better game to beat them on their court.

True. We'll need to not have that patented 2nd half slump for 5+ minutes.

[Atlhogfan1]

ISU with 27 3 pt attempts in a lower possession game than we will want to play.  SMU was only 2-9 tonight.  Teams that don't make up for our possessions gained through turnovers by hitting 3's and FT's are in trouble vs the Hogs.

6-27 from 3 for the game.   

[JonClaudeVanHam]

Can't blame ISU for this one. Maryland will beat a lot of teams by blinding them with their horrifying jerseys.

[intelligence]

Can't blame ISU for this one. Maryland will beat a lot of teams by blinding them with their horrifying jerseys.

LOL

[Cresthog]

Can't blame ISU for this one. Maryland will beat a lot of teams by blinding them with their horrifying jerseys.

Yup. Poor man's version of Oregon.

[Atlhogfan1]

ISU shot 29.7% from the field.

[poloprince]

ISU shot 29.7% from the field.

Hogs gone lock them down too.

[intelligence]

ISU shot 29.7% from the field.

Yep. Highly unlikely they repeat such an atrocious performance, even against our defense, and let alone on their home court.

[Biggus Piggus]

If MA freezes up and forgets his bench again the game will be close.

[RyeHogFan]

I think it'll definitely be a good game, probably many lead changes. Looking at how Maryland's bigs dominated ISU, I see Portis and Kingsley having some big games, as long as Niang doesn't get either of them into foul trouble.

[TomBigBeeHog]

I think it'll definitely be a good game, probably many lead changes. Looking at how Maryland's bigs dominated ISU, I see Portis and Kingsley having some big games, as long as Niang doesn't get either of them into foul trouble.

Kingsley could have his breakout game against the clones. Jacori will run wild! Hogs win a sprint in the Sprint center, a virtual Thrilla in a chilla. (it is going to be cold in Iowa until the Hogs turn up the heat).

[Jborohog09]

I think it'll definitely be a good game, probably many lead changes. Looking at how Maryland's bigs dominated ISU, I see Portis and Kingsley having some big games, as long as Niang doesn't get either of them into foul trouble.

Niang is so good he'll cause both to foul out at the same time.

[davidharwood]

My wife's family are all Iowa State grads- they all seem particularly cocky about this game.

[GuvHog]

Better to concentrate on Iona first, that team is far from being a gimme. They are dangerous.