For all the people dogging Iowa State's D in this thread, please understand that a big part of their alleged "defensive problem" is due to the fact that they are one of the ever-dwindling number of teams in D1 basketball (I can probably count them on my fingers) that LEGITIMATELY plays up-tempo basketball. The Mayor doesn't just talk the talk, he walks the walk, and I have a ton of respect for him because of it.
Yeah, they give up some easy baskets, but how relevant would they be, on any level, if Hoiberg played the "turtle hiding in its shell" style that's come to completely dominate the college game? They might have better defensive stats, but would they get the type of players they have, would they win as many games as they have? I think not.
I think the easiest coaching philosophy in the world is to play a low-possession game. Hold the ball, keep the score down, preach defense and rebounding, pray that some of your guys make some shots. It can work, but more often than not, it leads to mediocrity that sucks to watch. I think it's far tougher to do what Hoiberg does, which is give his guys some freedom, let them make plays, take some gambles, and make it all work.