First Game vs WIU

Adunk33

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I remember that game .... Central Florida. I think we were 2-0 trying to go to 3-0. We had beaten Belmont and Arkansas Little Rock
Ah yes. Thanks for checking me on that. Birds went on to lose 4 or 5 in a row. That may have been the string that was pulled that unraveled that entire season.
 

Redbird222

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Ah yes. Thanks for checking me on that. Birds went on to lose 4 or 5 in a row. That may have been the string that was pulled that unraveled that entire season.
The next game in the Holiday tournament we played Cincinnati (I think) and they ran a similar back door play to beat us. Now there's irony. You are correct we started plummeting quickly after that
 

Birgs

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I'm trying to be Johnny rah-rah to boost enthusiasm in the "New Era" it's becoming increasingly difficult. The L to begin with; general negativity across the board, Starting to feel maybe change isn't always the answer.
 

The Beak

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I'm trying to be Johnny rah-rah to boost enthusiasm in the "New Era" it's becoming increasingly difficult. The L to begin with; general negativity across the board, Starting to feel maybe change isn't always the answer.

It's just one game, and yes it was time for a change. However, this team has obvious flaws, they're still figuring out their roles and how to play together. Knight and Liam look lost. Pedon working on being a head coach. Players like Poindexter and Kasubke will be expected to contribute more than they did at their P5 stops. I went into this being realistic. This will take time to build, but with the three players signed today, it's a great start to building a strong core.
 
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Popsto4

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I'm trying to be Johnny rah-rah to boost enthusiasm in the "New Era" it's becoming increasingly difficult. The L to begin with; general negativity across the board, Starting to feel maybe change isn't always the answer.
From what I saw in the opener from this team is just about right considering the newness in the program. As fans we should look at it this way. We had a double digit lead and lost by 3. That’s just a sign of a young team learning how to close out games. Remember this is a first time head coach here. He will figure out who plays best together. Shooters will find their stroke, bigs will become tougher and some wins will come. It will all sort itself out. Personally I don’t think the team is 100% healthy either. It will all work itself out. Go Birds
 

Redbird28

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Isn’t everyone on the team at least a jr?
I know where you're headed, but the bigger point is even if they're juniors, they still have to learn how to close out games together as a team. Sounds easy on the surface, isn't always easy when the rubber hits the road.
 

Metamoron

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I am one who kept saying “I want to be better at the end of the year than at the beginning”. This should make that easier.
 

DaveBird10

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I know where you're headed, but the bigger point is even if they're juniors, they still have to learn how to close out games together as a team. Sounds easy on the surface, isn't always easy when the rubber hits the road.
So more “inexperienced” than “young”.

We heard “young” every year under the previous regime, so I always kind of roll my eyes when I hear it.

Thanks for clarifying.

So inexperienced is the word from the players to the coaches. Pedon has to learn his players, substitution patterns, heck even calling a simple timeout. I think Pedon waited too long on Monday and should have called a timeout sooner after we got the 13 point lead, the timeout should of came sooner then waiting for the under 16 timeout.

The inexperienced comes from who on this team do you want to take the final shot in a close game, in a 1 possession game under a minute left, who is that guy? Fact remains last few years we had 2 of those guys we could go to, this year idk who it is and as a team they have to figure that out. The team did great things out rebounded WIU by 16, had 11 offensive rebounds and played hard. But inexperience together and not having a guy to go to may take this team a while.
 

gobirds85

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I believe that every year most teams will be facing massive churn as players that blow up at our level will be poached for "greener" pastures, others will leave as they want more playing time, coaches will be fired/hired away allowing kids to jump, etc. etc. etc.

The unicorn is college bball will be the player who stays at the same school for 4 years, actually sees the floor and gets a degree.

College bball as we once remember it, is a memory.
 

isuquinndog

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I believe that every year most teams will be facing massive churn as players that blow up at our level will be poached for "greener" pastures, others will leave as they want more playing time, coaches will be fired/hired away allowing kids to jump, etc. etc. etc.

The unicorn is college bball will be the player who stays at the same school for 4 years, actually sees the floor and gets a degree.

College bball as we once remember it, is a memory.
Its why it's hard to get excited about a recruit like Ty Pence. "He's ranked higher on Osiris was!" Ok...great...he'll be gone by the time he's a junior. Hooray.

I'll eat my hat if all 3 of our incoming recruits stay at ISU 4 years.
 

Phantom

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The unicorn is college bball will be the player who stays at the same school for 4 years, actually sees the floor and gets a degree.
Specifically one who stays at a mid major for 4 years....that's rarified air these days thanks to the almighty portal.
 

Adunk33

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Specifically one who stays at a mid major for 4 years....that's rarified air these days thanks to the almighty portal.
Jacobsen does a nice job of keeping talent in the program, why should we believe that ISU can't?

I know it's overused, but its about building a culture of kids who want to do something special. That can be identified during the recruiting process. Moser made it a point at Loyola to recruit high school/juco kids that were used to winning and expected it. He keeps a core together and goes to a final four. GGG did something similar. I know the landscape is different than 5-10 years ago, and call me naïve but I believe it can be done.
 
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Popsto4

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Isn’t everyone on the team at least a jr?
Just because you’re a jr or sr doesn’t mean you’re a seasoned basketball player. Ik just speaking about Mal he haven’t gotten those types of minutes since high school. I believe he only played in a total of 20 games the last two years at UVA. I do believe it’s gonna boil down to team chemistry with this roster. The season is still so very young, I have them winning tonight.
 

DougSutton

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Its why it's hard to get excited about a recruit like Ty Pence. "He's ranked higher on Osiris was!" Ok...great...he'll be gone by the time he's a junior. Hooray.

I'll eat my hat if all 3 of our incoming recruits stay at ISU 4 years.

While I understand the frustration based on the environment in college athletics and our own recent experiences, it is impossible and unfair to make a projection like this about Ty.

This will always be a reality in college athletics however each kid is different and the fact that Ty has such close family ties to Illinois State, including his sister who just graduated (and played softball) and his dad is an Illinois State graduate. This doesn't guarantee that he'll stay at ISU but there are certain intangibles and attributes that I'm sure anyone would look that would increase the likelihood that a recruit will stay. Family values, character, and proximity to Illinois State I'm sure all play a role as well.

That being said, if I had the opportunity to choose all over again, having grown up a as diehard Illinois State fan just 20 minutes from campus, being named after Doug Collins and every member of my family having graduated from Illinois State prior to me arriving, I could easily see myself making a choice to move to a different climate and part of the country instead of going to Illinois State. It's a big world out there and there is a lot to experience. I have no more attachment or judgment to what kids choose to do, as long as they are following whatever makes them happy.
 
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Popsto4

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Isn’t everyone on the team at least a jr?
Just because you’re a jr or even a senior doesn’t mean you’re a polished baller. That all come from pt and not only that. The competition played against mean something too. For instance Mal haven’t ran +30 minutes since high school. I tell him all the time your legs will get back just from playing more. After the game the other night I’m thinking it’s still gonna take at least two more. Don’t be surprised if they win tonight either.
 
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