Hines Column: Taking stock of Iowa State after a bumpy week
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What are we to make of this Iowa State team?
Are the Cyclones a Big 12 contender? Something like a top-15 team? A candidate for essentially home games in the NCAA tournament in Des Moines?
Are the Cyclones a middle-tier Big 12 team? One capable of winning big games but also of dropping them to lesser opponents? One that’s destined for middling tournament seed and a quick exit?
Given the last three games, who in the world knows?
“This week will make us a lot better down the stretch,” ISU coach Steve Prohm said ahead of a road matchup with No. 8 Texas Tech (8 p.m.; ESPNU). “It’s early January. We’ve had about six, seven, eight versions of the teams so far. Whenever we get the full-fledged team, we’ll be good. The sky isn’t falling.”
Sure, the sky isn’t falling, but the visibility isn’t great either. There’s plenty of fog surrounding these Cyclones after losses to Baylor and Kansas State following a 17-point win against Kansas.
I’m not sure Wednesday will do much to lift it. Odds favor ISU getting beat in Lubbock, and there probably isn’t a lot to be drawn from that given its a top-10 team with a defense that strangles offenes. Unless ISU comes out completely listless or wins the dang thing, there probably won’t be much to get too worked up about.
The interesting question for me has become, do we need to stop waiting for ISU to be a “full-fledged” team? The suspensions, the injuries, the uneven play - maybe that’s who this team is, which wouldn’t exactly be surprising given there are two freshmen and two transfers in the starting lineup.
After the impressive way ISU navigated November and December and then dominated Kansas, I thought the Cyclones were legit. That they had Des Moines potential. I think what we’ve seen the last week is the potential is there, but the Cyclones aren’t ready to reach it night in and night out.
That might be enough to send them packing out of state for the NCAA tournament. That’s no small big deal. Here’s guessing Prohm would play two No. 1 seeds if it meant playing two games at Wells Fargo Arena to get to the Sweet 16. Still, going to San Jose or Tulsa or Hartford or wherever doesn’t eliminate ISU from advancing. It just makes it tougher.
That the ceiling is there is good news - we know how good the Cyclones can be. We’ve seen it. The floor has also shown itself.
The next couple months the task is the same as it is every year - try to raise the floor while reaching the ceiling.
Given the last week, the conversation about a Big 12 title and a spot in Des Moines probably needs to go on the back burner, but the possibilities aren’t eliminated. It’s just going to be quite a bit more difficult than it otherwise looked when ISU walked off the floor of Hilton Coliseum as the superior team after a game against the Jayhawks.
Lard’s availability
After spraining his ankle against Baylor, Cameron Lard was unavailable against Kansas State, but he’s hopeful he’ll be able to go against the Red Raiders.
“I foresee him being in uniform Wednesday,” Prohm said. “How much we can use him, we’re not sure.”
Lard has spent the last week working toward his return.
“Being in treatment every day, been running on the treadmill in the pool,” he said, “trying to get back to where I can run on the court.”
Wigginton struggling inside
It’s been difficult for ISU guard Lindell Wigginton to find success near the rim during Big 12 play this season.
The sophomore is shooting just 29.4 percent on 2-pointers during conference action. He shot 40.9 against Big 12 opponents last year - not a particularly strong mark but certainly better than this season.
“When you get so deep and you get so much size up front, you’ve got to make a decision,” Prohm said. “I usually like to tell those guys a decision has to be made when you cross that free-throw line, mid-post area to where, what do i see right now? A, can I get to the rim? B, where’s the help coming from? And C, do I need to go to my floater right now?
“We’ve just got to continue to work with him on that with him.”
Link
What are we to make of this Iowa State team?
Are the Cyclones a Big 12 contender? Something like a top-15 team? A candidate for essentially home games in the NCAA tournament in Des Moines?
Are the Cyclones a middle-tier Big 12 team? One capable of winning big games but also of dropping them to lesser opponents? One that’s destined for middling tournament seed and a quick exit?
Given the last three games, who in the world knows?
“This week will make us a lot better down the stretch,” ISU coach Steve Prohm said ahead of a road matchup with No. 8 Texas Tech (8 p.m.; ESPNU). “It’s early January. We’ve had about six, seven, eight versions of the teams so far. Whenever we get the full-fledged team, we’ll be good. The sky isn’t falling.”
Sure, the sky isn’t falling, but the visibility isn’t great either. There’s plenty of fog surrounding these Cyclones after losses to Baylor and Kansas State following a 17-point win against Kansas.
I’m not sure Wednesday will do much to lift it. Odds favor ISU getting beat in Lubbock, and there probably isn’t a lot to be drawn from that given its a top-10 team with a defense that strangles offenes. Unless ISU comes out completely listless or wins the dang thing, there probably won’t be much to get too worked up about.
The interesting question for me has become, do we need to stop waiting for ISU to be a “full-fledged” team? The suspensions, the injuries, the uneven play - maybe that’s who this team is, which wouldn’t exactly be surprising given there are two freshmen and two transfers in the starting lineup.
After the impressive way ISU navigated November and December and then dominated Kansas, I thought the Cyclones were legit. That they had Des Moines potential. I think what we’ve seen the last week is the potential is there, but the Cyclones aren’t ready to reach it night in and night out.
That might be enough to send them packing out of state for the NCAA tournament. That’s no small big deal. Here’s guessing Prohm would play two No. 1 seeds if it meant playing two games at Wells Fargo Arena to get to the Sweet 16. Still, going to San Jose or Tulsa or Hartford or wherever doesn’t eliminate ISU from advancing. It just makes it tougher.
That the ceiling is there is good news - we know how good the Cyclones can be. We’ve seen it. The floor has also shown itself.
The next couple months the task is the same as it is every year - try to raise the floor while reaching the ceiling.
Given the last week, the conversation about a Big 12 title and a spot in Des Moines probably needs to go on the back burner, but the possibilities aren’t eliminated. It’s just going to be quite a bit more difficult than it otherwise looked when ISU walked off the floor of Hilton Coliseum as the superior team after a game against the Jayhawks.
Lard’s availability
After spraining his ankle against Baylor, Cameron Lard was unavailable against Kansas State, but he’s hopeful he’ll be able to go against the Red Raiders.
“I foresee him being in uniform Wednesday,” Prohm said. “How much we can use him, we’re not sure.”
Lard has spent the last week working toward his return.
“Being in treatment every day, been running on the treadmill in the pool,” he said, “trying to get back to where I can run on the court.”
Wigginton struggling inside
It’s been difficult for ISU guard Lindell Wigginton to find success near the rim during Big 12 play this season.
The sophomore is shooting just 29.4 percent on 2-pointers during conference action. He shot 40.9 against Big 12 opponents last year - not a particularly strong mark but certainly better than this season.
“When you get so deep and you get so much size up front, you’ve got to make a decision,” Prohm said. “I usually like to tell those guys a decision has to be made when you cross that free-throw line, mid-post area to where, what do i see right now? A, can I get to the rim? B, where’s the help coming from? And C, do I need to go to my floater right now?
“We’ve just got to continue to work with him on that with him.”
