ISU over Northwestern

by **Redbird23** » November 18th, 2013, 6:33 pm

Fun game to go to for a Redbird fan. Was really surprised how many Bird fans went of the 6,000 I'd say 2,500 to 3,000 were for ISU. A lot of times our fans cheered way louder and college kids in the back led the chants for the alumni. Very proud of the team :+1:

**Sponsor**

by **Redbird Recon** » November 18th, 2013, 10:16 pm

Highlight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NA_qzgIYkWw
MVCNOW Mike Middlebrooks can go higher! (Stacey King voice)

by **BradleyBrave** » November 18th, 2013, 10:39 pm

A very nice win for a program looking for a new identity/direction with all the new faces under a 2nd year coach. The ISU's got it done against the BCS on Sunday. Well done. Sorry my alma mater couldn't join you.

by **Heinro** » November 20th, 2013, 5:26 am

To further my belief that ISUr is actually much better then I expected, Drexel won on the road at Rutgers last night pretty handily. I did not watch ISUr play Drexel, all I know is that it was relatively close throughout, but I liked what I saw the other night vs Northwestern. ISUr's 2 loses are to quality opponents. I've still got a couple of teams from the Valley I need to watch, and I want to see ISUr show that they weren't just playing out of their minds, but at this point I wouldn't be surprised to see ISUr competing to stay off of Thursday.

Just a thought.

Also, my fellow Shockers, don't consider this an invite to trash up this thread again.

by **Black** » November 20th, 2013, 12:18 pm

So if Illinois State is "competing" to stay out of Thursday, which 4 teams are Thursday bound?

by **BTbird** » November 20th, 2013, 12:30 pm

Heinro wrote:To further my belief that ISUr is actually much better then I expected, Drexel won on the road at Rutgers last night pretty handily. I did not watch ISUr play Drexel, all I know is that it was relatively close throughout, but I liked what I saw the other night vs Northwestern. ISUr's 2 loses are to quality opponents. I've still got a couple of teams from the Valley I need to watch, and I want to see ISUr show that they weren't just playing out of their minds, but at this point I wouldn't be surprised to see ISUr competing to stay off of Thursday.

Just a thought.

Also, my fellow Shockers, don't consider this an invite to trash up this thread again.

It's still early, I'm encouraged but not convinced yet that we won't be playing on Thursday. We have Manhattan tonight at home who is the favorite according to the odds (-2). This should be another good measuring stick on where we are as a program. I couldn't say this much over the last few years but I really think our schedule might help prepare this team for conference play. It's been a pretty tough schedule so far.

by **BradleyBrave** » November 21st, 2013, 9:39 am

Well, I am looking for ISU fans to help here, because I am not sure what kind of team you have yet. Blasted by VCU, home loss to Drexel, win at Northwestern, home loss to Manhattan. I know the Jaspers are good, but looking at the box I don't see how you lose by 9 at home with the exception of one glaring stat - 17-7 offensive rebound differential. How does that happen at home?

by **BTbird** » November 21st, 2013, 10:41 am

BradleyBrave wrote:Well, I am looking for ISU fans to help here, because I am not sure what kind of team you have yet.

Join the club. I did not see the game so I really can't comment on what happened last night. Generally speaking, our shooting is not good, defense seems really good at times and then not so much at times. I thought before last night that rebounding was a strength. I haven't seen the other valley games so I have no idea about where we will finish but the 7-8 sport sounds about right. It will likely be a year of inconsistency for us.

Plus side is our freshman. Paris Lee has looked good and Reggie Lynch is starting to play better. Wills hasn't played as much but has looked pretty good when he is in there.

by **Wufan** » November 21st, 2013, 12:44 pm

A team full of newcomers is going to be a roller coaster ride.

by **isuredbirds92** » November 21st, 2013, 12:47 pm

BradleyBrave wrote:Well, I am looking for ISU fans to help here, because I am not sure what kind of team you have yet. Blasted by VCU, home loss to Drexel, win at Northwestern, home loss to Manhattan. I know the Jaspers are good, but looking at the box I don't see how you lose by 9 at home with the exception of one glaring stat - 17-7 offensive rebound differential. How does that happen at home?

I was at the game last night. Foul trouble was a big issue as Lynch fouled out with a few minutes to go and so did Bobby Hunter. Paris Lee sat out most of the first half after getting two fouls in the first minute.

The rebounding is really the problem. We have no depth down low. Lynch is looking to be a promising player and middlebrooks can jump out of the gym, but after those two all we have is John Jones who did not play much in the second half last night cause of foul trouble and poor play. That left Nick Zeisloft (a 6'4" three point specialist) to play down low. He did a hell of a job for what he could be expected to do, but just got overwhelmed. Middlebrooks doesn't box out and just goes for big time blocks. So that was probably the biggest difference.

Both teams shot poorly, but we were hoisting up way too many threes in the last 5 minutes. At one point I remember seeing all 5 players on the floor just standing around the arch. The possession culminated in a Zeisloft pump fake and missed jumper with the shot clock winding down. This team is supposed to be a "run and gun" team, which they have the speed and athleticism to do. But too many times they try too hard to get up the floor too quickly. I'd say half of our 21 TO's last night were just from the rebounder just turning around and whipping the ball down the floor right to the other team.

I wasn't too surprised with the outcome last night personally, as we definitely played better than expected against NU. Take away a few fouls and a few turnovers and we could have won the game. Once the team calms down a bit and understands when to run and when to slow things down (if that ever happens), they have very good potential. But I don't see that happening with consistency this year.