Cdizzle wrote:Is ISUb better without Jake Odum, now that they have adjusted to his departure?
Consider that Jake Odum was a good/greatish player, but that he and ISUb basically maintained the exact same level of play during his tenure.
Discuss.
I'll chime in best I can, so here is my 2 cents.
Yes, we had a very good 4 year run with Odum, which was great, we made the NCAA tourney, played in the NIT and also played in other post season tourneys. But the same type scenario unfolded with ISU basketball as did with Shakir Bell and ISU football. Early on (first 2 seasons), noone knew how to defend ISU, then once teams figured out how to defend and play us we kind of stalled out. We were still successful, but never able to get over the hump per se, and win in the post season tourneys.
I got tired of the offense, it was slow, lots of standing around, passing, then hoping a shot would go in.
I was hopeful once Jake graduated whoever took over would speed things up, fly around the floor, pass much more, take better shots, etc, etc...
Early on this season we were literally playing street ball, it was dreadful to watch, noone knew what in the heck to do. BUT, players were moving faster, flying around the floor, passing better, etc.... but we couldn't hit the ocean with shots, FT's, 3's, etc...so we lost many games we had no business losing (EIU, UMKC, Ball State, St Louis).
Now more recently they've been playing much better, faster, not standing around, using screens, picks, etc.., people are looking for the ball by moving around, not just standing around. It's a faster paced style of play and I think most ISU fans like it that way.
We still don't rebound very well, as was evidenced last night, but we're shooting better so that offsets that discrepancy (a little), if we keep rebounding poorly it'll kill us sooner rather than later.
So to answer the question, I think we're better w/o Odum and will continue to get better, it's a different style of play that I think will continue to pay dividends for ISU hoops
