OH BOY have I been nervous about this game. We’ve had quite the mini-vacation heading into this one, and with each passing day, Iowa State only looks more and more impressive. They’ve got two kids that are scoring 17+ points per game, and I am VERY anxious about our defensive efforts against them. Making matters worse is the fact that Brenen Loriant is out with an injury for this game so we’re already at a disadvantage.
Iowa State isn’t a slouch when it comes to defense either. I said a couple of games ago that the book may be out on Honor Huff, and the first 8 minutes of this game are proof of that. Honor has been running all over the court to never even get a clean look. It’s like during the Tavon Austin days where he’d run 40 yards just to get a 7 yard game. They’ve done a really good job containing him so far but hopefully we can find the answer soon. I feel like if we don’t, we won’t stand a chance in this game.
As the half time buzzer sounds, I feel the sense of impending doom. It could have been relief, but Iowa State went on a 8–2 run to end the half. We’re down 41–28 and all of the things I was concerned about have made themselves known. The phrase “we’re trying” is about all we can say for ourselves. At the half we’re tied in the turnover department (5) but that’s really the only thing that we’re even remotely doing well. They’re shooting 47% from the field, 41% from 3, and they are KILLING us on the boards 22–10. I’m really hoping that water finds its level at some point, but so far, this Iowa State team looks like they could very well win the National Championship and we… well… do not.
It was precisely at the 12:27 mark in the second half that I knew this game was over. Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic hit a 3, his 5th of the game, to put the Cyclones up 59–38. There’s really no point when someone is THAT hot, ya know? I think that we can try some extra stuff out in this game that we probably wouldn’t be able to otherwise, but this one is all but over. I will chalk this up to the fact that this team is really fucking good. I’ve watched a couple of their games prior to this (for scouting purposes if anyone would ever hire me) and both times I came away from the game thinking that this may be the best team in the country. They just so happen to prove that against us as well. It’s unfortunate, but we’re not the first that they’ve done this to and we certainly won’t be the last.
This is one of those games that you can’t even really be mad at. It was their night, it wasn’t ours, and that’s that. We just have to walk this one off and regroup for Cincinnati on Tuesday.
I don’t even want to do this really, but… despite the loss, The Roundball Big 3 of the Game:
Chance Moore: 17 points, 7 rebounds
DJ Thomas: 10 points, 2 steals
Jasper Floyd: 9 points, 2 stocks
Rough loss, but hopefully we won’t let that define our Big 12 season. I guess we’ll have to see how we act on Tuesday before I make any definitive statements. I love you, Dad. I miss you. I’ll see you soon.
Round The Game 
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