So how are we feeling now?

[RBFANTOO]

I feel GOOD.

 

[DoubleDeuce]

I feel intrigued, could go either way good or bad. Most likely a little both as the season unfolds. There's certainly reason to be positive for those of us with an optimistic disposition. Also plenty of inexperience and unknown to satisfy the pessimist.

 

[Atrey22]

I would agree with intrigued - and maybe even cautiously optimistic.

 

[topiarydan]

Based on how optimistic I was that we would win the MVC last year and how epic fail that was as well as how I thought Drake would be lucky to be an 8 seed at the end of the season, anything can happen. I think we're all a lot more realistic this season about not expecting much so if something does then great - we can all be surprised and happy instead of disappointed

 

[V Boy]

Chastain is not guard.

Hillsman is not a guard.

These guys are not close to being guards. They have no lateral quickness basically at all.

So we have 2 returning guards.....one of whom played last year.

We have a walk-on guard.

We signed two freshman guards.

We have another JUCO guard who might be able to play next year, although if we’re being honest I would say it’s maybe a 20% chance.

So we have 4 guards on scholarship who we know will play next year.

We have 6 forwards/centers. 2 of those played last year.

I’m not sure how Muller doesn’t use that last scholarship on another guard. If anything happened to Copeland or Boyd we are totally in trouble.

 

[CaliRdBrd]

We’ll see.

 

[Redbirds4Life]

The team looked better on paper going into last year than this year. This team feels like a Thursday night team to me. I love the optimism, but I don't think that the veteran guys we have coming back, are enough to lead us anywhere. The league will be better and ISU is going to have a hard time keeping up. I like the coaching hire though, hopefully he is better than Duhon. I hope I am wrong and this team is a top team in the MVC, but I am not going to let my expectations get out of hand.

 

[WoodlandWarrior]

After watching last season’s debacle, I don’t think our transfer players will allow a repeat performance. If the timing was ever perfect for the Italam trip to promote team bonding and offensive / defensive execution, it’s now.

 

[chuckie1980]

Was there a team issue with the last EuroTrip?

 

[Adunk33]

Was there a team issue with the last EuroTrip?

Hawkins got sent home from Spain. I would be willing to bet anyone anything that something like that doesn't happen this year. We have a great group of character guys right now.

 

[chuckie1980]

forewarned is forearmed. If I understood the issues from last year more....maybe I would have more faith in the new team.

 

[V Boy]

Not AS worried about character issues this year. I am worried we won’t make enough baskets.

I foresee a lot of games in the 50s. Defense should be better although there are still obvious questions around perimeter defense with so much new guards and unknowns.

 

[DannyCooksey]

Agree with Warriors comments about addition by subtraction being the first big step towards improvement. The fact that we have virtually no returning guards (i do not consider Chastain a true guard) from last year's team is a big step forward, the fact that we no longer have MY and his ability to distract from the mission and his inability to lead is a big step forward, and the fact that we have some new coaches is also a big step forward. Whether we actually improve inow is up to the current coaches and players.

agreed

on paper this appears to be a team that will be easier to root for. Hopefully most of the fecal smell of last year's team has been washed away.

 

[Tpguy]

seeing is believing

 

[RicoBryson]

I don't really know what I feel about this team. So many unknowns which could be good or tragic. I guess Im most excited about Abdou. Fisher will probably be a great leader that the team can rally behind. I would love our identity to be swarming defense. Really, really need to get to the Big Dance..

 

[CB2K]

The offensive sets and schemes have to change. We can't blame the coaching staff for players that struggle shooting but I always felt we did not capitalize on the talent we had last year exacerbated by who was in the dog house and couldn't get on the floor to contribute. Honestly, I always liked Jank's motion offense that made use of hard cuts and picks creating open lanes -- sometimes he would incorporate triple picks for Tyler Brown (wish we had a TB type who could shoot). I hope last year's offensive strategy is kicked to the curb and replaced. I agree with another poster -- we need TB to be healthy and hitting on all cylinders. He has the ability to stretch a defense.

 

[DannyCooksey]

The offensive sets and schemes have to change. We can't blame the coaching staff for players that struggle shooting but I always felt we did not capitalize on the talent we had last year exacerbated by who was in the dog house and couldn't get on the floor to contribute. Honestly, I always liked Jank's motion offense that made use of hard cuts and picks creating open lanes -- sometimes he would incorporate triple picks for Tyler Brown (wish we had a TB type who could shoot). I hope last year's offensive strategy is kicked to the curb and replaced. I agree with another poster -- we need TB to be healthy and hitting on all cylinders. He has the ability to stretch a defense.

this

the offense the last couple years was atrocious.

 

[Buffett]

I hate the weave up top! only works with Meadow Lark at the free thow line

 

[ChiRedbirdfan]

I hate the weave up top! only works with Meadow Lark at the free thow line

Alternatively it only works, and it works well, when you have guards that are strong enough and talented enough to eventually make the turn and head towards the basket and either get to the rack or kick it out to an open player. ISU had zero guards last year that were capable of making it to the basket unless the defense was asleep. Our guards were weak physically when dribbling and could not create separation or their handles were not good enough. Terrible offense to run when you don't have the correct personnel as the weave endlessly repeats itself.

 

[cubird]

Ran that offense because there was no point guard. Hopefully, that won't be the case this year. And at least Taylor will stretch the defense. Wait and see who else can make 3s.