The Clowns may have a partial gripe for...once

[EZ2BJZ]

And Iowa's team of the century went down to mighty Northwestern State in the first round. Congrats. Are you really making fun of Iowa State for losing in the Sweet 16? When was the last time Iowa made it that far, 20-30 years ago?

Well, since you asked, Iowa last made the Sweet 16 in 1999.

I think the snide comments are in reference to how superior Iowa State fans have claimed the Cyclone basketball team has been the last couple years to Iowa and the irony that the last two seasons both Iowa and Iowa State have won exactly two tournament games.

Plus, Iowa State beat double-digit seeds to get to the Sweet 16 this year, and that adds fuel to the fire.

Just clarifying.

 

[dekhawk]

The ames fans will be a little testy with this loss, this was the year for them. Reminds me of when Roy marble, BJ Armstrong and Ed Horton were seniors. You can see that the talent level will drop off next year.

 

[ISUhawk]

Hampton

 

[EddieHaskell]

Cyclone fans probably won't admit it, but this was a very disappointing year for them. Prior to the season, they were thinking Final Four and legit national championship contender.

 

[bdg8]

Cyclone fans probably won't admit it, but this was a very disappointing year for them. Prior to the season, they were thinking Final Four and legit national championship contender.

Very true. But then they will remind you that Naz Long got hurt.

They had a decent year . Should have probably done more, especially in reg season

 

[Wordel]

ISU in no way got screwed by the refs. Virginia is simply a much better team. Niang travels literally every time he has the ball. Can't complain about the refs screwing ISU.

 

[hansenhawk]

Wow, I think they could have easily beaten Syracuse too.

Sad face

Well, for them, for me, it's more like:

 

[33hawkfan]

ISU got a super lucky draw in this tournament. They were a borderline top 25 team got lucky to play Little Rock in the second round, played a real team tonight and got their ass kicked.

 

[HawkOptimist]

And Iowa's team of the century went down to mighty Northwestern State in the first round. Congrats. Are you really making fun of Iowa State for losing in the Sweet 16? When was the last time Iowa made it that far, 20-30 years ago?

Iowa State played cupcakes to get to the Sweet 16. Nothing special about that at all.

Yes, Iowa's best team in a long time lost to NW State. Sucked then, sucks now.

 

[DavenportHawk8]

ISU had a good year, lets not discredit it. Some of their fans were realistic and understood it was going to take some lady luck to win against the good teams this year with only 7 players. They all said when Naz went out with his injury that they were in serious trouble. Regardless they finished 6th in a tough league and made the sweet 16.

We were watching the game with some clone fans from work and the one guy says they will be BETTER next year. He said that Georges hamstrung them at times and the other guys were not able to get going in some games because Niang took over. I just laughed and didn't even try to get into that argument. Here a fan is complaining about their "best" player since the Mayor.

 

[hawkssox1]

They have been the victim of some questionable calls tonight.

You will fit right in on Cyclonefanatic.

 

[Lone Clone]

I was really impressed with UVa. Officials had no effect on this game. There are always questionable calls, both ways. ISU played no defense, got down big early, could never recover. This game was over in the first 10 minutes. Good season for ISU. Will miss Niang. Players like him dont come around very often.

Not rocket science. Virginia got off to a hot start and ISU got off to a terrible start. The lead was 14 after 5 minutes. The final score was 13. Math isn't all that hard.


Virginia is a very, very difficult team to come back on, and ISU shot itself in the foot every time it seemed to have an opportunity -- allowed a putback, or threw the ball away, or missed shots they usually make. Georges tried to do too much, but in his defense, somebody had to do it.

Disappointing season because of lofty expectations, but a good season. Losing to a #1 seed in the Sweet Sixteen isn't the kind of thing that keeps you awake nights. In the "what if?" department, you have to wonder what the season might have been like if Naz Long had been healthy, or for that matter, if Morris hadn't been hurt in the season finale. But all teams have injuries. ISU lacked depth.

 

[Lone Clone]

ISU had a good year, lets not discredit it. Some of their fans were realistic and understood it was going to take some lady luck to win against the good teams this year with only 7 players. They all said when Naz went out with his injury that they were in serious trouble. Regardless they finished 6th in a tough league and made the sweet 16.

We were watching the game with some clone fans from work and the one guy says they will be BETTER next year. He said that Georges hamstrung them at times and the other guys were not able to get going in some games because Niang took over. I just laughed and didn't even try to get into that argument. Here a fan is complaining about their "best" player since the Mayor.

I wouldn't complain about Niang, although his game certainly isn't perfect. And I don't think ISU will be better next year.

I do think that ISU could be a lot better next year than some people on this board are projecting, depending upon a number of factors, starting with whether Monte Morris returns for his senior year. If he does, he and Naz, Matt Thomas, Deonte Burton and Hallice Cooke make a solid nucleus. The recruits look outstanding on paper (when do recruits NOT look outstanding on paper?), but until they show up eligible and within six inches of how tall they're supposed to be, I won't count on them too much.

 

[Carolina Hawk]

I wouldn't complain about Niang, although his game certainly isn't perfect. And I don't think ISU will be better next year.

I do think that ISU could be a lot better next year than some people on this board are projecting, depending upon a number of factors, starting with whether Monte Morris returns for his senior year. If he does, he and Naz, Matt Thomas, Deonte Burton and Hallice Cooke make a solid nucleus. The recruits look outstanding on paper (when do recruits NOT look outstanding on paper?), but until they show up eligible and within six inches of how tall they're supposed to be, I won't count on them too much.

Ha, that kid is terrible.

 

[83Hawk]

Let's see how good ISU is when all the players Fred paid for are gone.

 

[ichawk24]

We were watching the game with some clone fans from work and the one guy says they will be BETTER next year. He said that Georges hamstrung them at times and the other guys were not able to get going in some games because Niang took over. I just laughed and didn't even try to get into that argument. Here a fan is complaining about their "best" player since the Mayor.

Lots of fans blame their best player. Including Hawk fans.

 

[And1Hawk]

ISU fans boo the open jumping ball. When do they not think they get screwed by the refs? They do absolutely get some bad calls but guess what officiating stinks all-around. They never acknowledge the good calls they get or the no-calls that should have been calls against them.

They got a dream sweet 16 run with Iona & ARK LR. Hats off to them as they took advantage. They got a great seed for the number of losses as did all the big 12 teams because they were the perceived number 1 conference once again (see crappy West region setup for OK thanks to chairman). We found out that their conference rank was totally false as the ACC has dominated. KU is a legit team as always but through 3 rounds the big 12 has played Virginia, Maryland UCONN & crappy Texas A&M (miracle win over UNI). That's it for power 5-7 conference teams. ISU played the best of that and got dominated. KU has played 2 of that group and dominated. OK's bracket is a joke.

I actually like Prohm from what I have seen. He seems like a good coach and an even better man. For all the fanfare Hoiberg left him with one lazy, undisciplined outfit that just tried to outscore everyone. Prohm did a good job of trying to get control and is right about needing to play better D too. I think he will do fine but I wonder how long he stays at ISU as the fans make his life unbearable at times.

 

[hawkeyeguy69]

They have been the victim of some questionable calls tonight.

The officiating against lower seeded teams has been atrocious. People always say "you can't blame the refs". But I am sorry, that is horse crap. And I am not just supporting the Cyclowns. Because I really don't. Except maybe against a Kansas or a Baylor or the like.

One call can literally stop momentum. It is like a timeout for the opponent, with points, plus killing any positive vigor a team has right in its tracks. For nothing but a bad call. Two bad calls at the right times can kill a team. OR the inverse, no calls(see UNI).

All I want is consistency, and obviously no favoritism, in officiating. And do it the same THROUGHOUT the season. OH, and handchecks are fouls. Or did the NCAA drop that one again in February and I missed the memo....?

 

[CyCity]

The refs certainly didn't help Iowa State but that's not why Iowa State lost. Virginia was the better team and the way Iowa State started is what cost them

 

[EddieHaskell]

Booooooooooooooo!!!!!!

 

[Pepperman]

I do think that ISU could be a lot better next year than some people on this board are projecting, depending upon a number of factors, starting with whether Monte Morris returns for his senior year. If he does, he and Naz, Matt Thomas, Deonte Burton and Hallice Cooke make a solid nucleus. The recruits look outstanding on paper (when do recruits NOT look outstanding on paper?), but until they show up eligible and within six inches of how tall they're supposed to be, I won't count on them too much.

Georges was your mismatch that created every problem for the opponent. I don't think Cyclone fans appreciate that enough.

Morris is a very good point and he'll distribute it around next year, but who is the guy that can score at will? also, you've got a very small starting five there. Big teams will take advantage of the lack of size. One other thing - Thomas and Long are similar in what they try to do offensively and I'D question how that's going to be helpful.

 

[And1Hawk]

Booooooooooooooo!!!!!!

That's too funny but true. And to think that came from ISU fans on an alternate possession call.

 

[DewHawk]

The officiating against lower seeded teams has been atrocious. People always say "you can't blame the refs". But I am sorry, that is horse crap. And I am not just supporting the Cyclowns. Because I really don't. Except maybe against a Kansas or a Baylor or the like.

One call can literally stop momentum. It is like a timeout for the opponent, with points, plus killing any positive vigor a team has right in its tracks. For nothing but a bad call. Two bad calls at the right times can kill a team. OR the inverse, no calls(see UNI).

All I want is consistency, and obviously no favoritism, in officiating. And do it the same THROUGHOUT the season. OH, and handchecks are fouls. Or did the NCAA drop that one again in February and I missed the memo....?

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I agree! I told a friend of mine Thursday night GN would have 2 fouls in the first 5 minutes (I am a native of Iowa and root for all things Iowa, but Hawks are number one and not close). I was wrong it was 7.5 minutes. The moving screen is a miracle worker for the refs as they can call that just about on any screen to change the course of a game. The whiff fouls reached an all time high the last two weeks, at least on the non-preferred team.

 

[DewHawk]

Against Virginia, other than G Niang fouls, what beat ISU was the shoulder injury to Morris and McKay being mentally checked out (he was bad this year) for whatever reason. Virginia might have won anyway, but it would have been a much better game.

 

[Psyclone]

Regardless they finished 6th in a tough league and made the sweet 16.

ISU tied for 5th to be accurate.

Niang will be missed. The offense ran through Georges. Next year's team will need to find a different way to win.

 

[ChiDoc]

You would NEVER see two lame moving screen fouls like that on the tournament's leading scorer if his name was Christian Laettner or Anthony Davis or similar other players for the top schools. NCAA basketball has serious problems with officiating, it just didn't affect the outcome since everyone else on ISU's team besides Niang and Burton played incredibly poorly. It was an absolute joke how little Prohm played Burton since he became eligible, Prohm has not been impressive at all imo, with the exception of signing Malou.

 

[Cydkar]

If it was a close game maybe officiating could be a topic of conversation. Virginia is better.

 

[Cydkar]

You would NEVER see two lame moving screen fouls like that on the tournament's leading scorer if his name was Christian Laettner or Anthony Davis or similar other players for the top schools. NCAA basketball has serious problems with officiating, it just didn't affect the outcome since everyone else on ISU's team besides Niang and Burton played incredibly poorly. It was an absolute joke how little Prohm played Burton since he became eligible, Prohm has not been impressive at all imo, with the exception of signing Malou.

You must not pay attention to Burton when he's in. Sometimes he's quite good but quite often he isn't helping.

 

[Lone Clone]

Ha, that kid is terrible.

No, he isn't terrible. Not by any means. The last third of the season he was a plus for ISU.

But I wasn't claiming he was an exceptionally gifted player, or even an above-average player. I simply said that along with the other four guys, it makes a solid nucleus to rebuild.

 

[ChiDoc]

You must not pay attention to Burton when he's in. Sometimes he's quite good but quite often he isn't helping.

You must not know the first thing about defense or why VA was dominating the paint yesterday.

 

[Myvue]

Cyclone fans probably won't admit it, but this was a very disappointing year for them. Prior to the season, they were thinking Final Four and legit national championship contender.

Prior to the year Cyclone fans were thinking Georges, MM, McKay and Naz Long would all be competing. No way to have that lofty expectation without Long especially with having a short roster. All teams had to do was get key players in foul trouble yet many teams did not pursue that strategy. I believe that is why ISU lagged in the first half of a lot of games last season, trying to stay out of foul trouble. They still might have gone farther in the tournament if not for MM playing with health issues. It is why I think MM will be back next year because I don't think he will be able to compete at a level he is capable of in the NBA camps.

Even with being limited in things he can do in recent games he still made NABC district 8 1st team which is all the Big 12 schools.

Junior guard Monté Morris has 233 assists this season, the second-best total in school history. He has 12 double-figure assist efforts in his career, one fewer than the rest of the active players in the Big 12 combined.

If ISU gets MM back they will have Matt Thomas who was great this year. If Naz Long is even at the level he played in his sophomore season will be a big bonus with Big XII newcomer of the year Burton that will be a good start to building again. Mostly what they will need is bigs. I don't know about the other players coming in but some have experience which is crucial when you lose so many seniors.

 

[Myvue]

Um, they'll still be here gloating that they have the same number of wins as Iowa in the last two NCAA tourneys. We beat two 10 seeds and they beat a 13 and a 12, so our wins are better.

The Cyclones wouldn't have been playing a #12 seed in the second round if Purdue could have beat ALR. Not their fault they didn't have to face a #5 seed, ALR was the better team apparently.

 

[binsfeldcyhawk2]

They have been the victim of some questionable calls tonight.

They benefited from multiple non-calls on Niang......the non-call on Niang undercutting the Virginia player was a prime example. ISU has nothing to complain about.....