Fantasy NASCAR PROS Rankings - Talladega #2 2025 https://t.co/ApA4kpfdXQ
Just posted member exclusive for what ten drivers I think were subjectively the strongest last fall at Talladega
I asked Mark Pope what makes Iowa State's defense so difficult to play against even when you know what's coming. Here is his full response:
"They're unique in the fact of how they push up the boards. It's a real credit to TJ and a real credit to his team. I'm not totally convinced -- they have a couple of world class defenders on that team. But that roster is not made up of defensive specialists aside maybe from a couple of guys. But their team concept is really good and they hide a lot of it by being overaggressive and putting you in compromising positions and getting you sped up, and it certainly showed that today."
A T.J. Otzelberger masterclass.
Iowa State started the game 0-11 from three. Kentucky couldn't miss. Iowa State shot just 29% from the field in first half and somehow still led going into the locker room.
The genius of Otzball is that it's designed to destroy teams when shots are falling. However, the true beauty is how it keeps the team in games where they can't buy a bucket.
Kentucky was miserable. Their guards hated having the ball in their hands. 25 points off of 20 turnovers doesn't just happen, it takes force and a desire to suck the will out of your opponent. That's what Iowa State did today.
Oh yeah... Iowa State was missing their consensus All-American in the process.
Masterpiece.
📸: Jamie Squire - Getty Images
I pulled down this video to do the math:
At 30 frames per second, it took Nate Heise 12 frames to catch and release this shot.
That’s four tenths (.4) of a second.
For reference, Stephen Curry’s release time is typically about .65 seconds. Kyle Korver averaged .76 seconds.
This is your periodic reminder that the year before T.J. Otzelberger took over Iowa State won two games.
Two.
As good a coach as there is in this sport.