One Down, Ten to Go

[businesslawyer]

Only paid partial attention while working, but that better be the last time this year that either (i) we give up an 11-0 run, or something similar, and (ii) shoot less than 50% from the line. If not, it will be a short, boring March.

It's the giving up incredible runs that is probably this team's biggest achilles heel. We just don't seem able to play 40 minutes without going through one horrific stretch.

 

[UConn76]

Agreed. Hard to figure how it happens. Seems to focus on a hurried UConn possession that turns into a run-out 3 pointer by the opponent. Spirals out of control for a few minutes before the UConn ship rights itself again.
FT's are another story. No excuse for that many misses. If I had an extra big man or forward, I'd consider fouling Drummond every time he even sniffed the hoop.

 

[tzznandrew]

It felt like the team missed Shabazz. Boatright had a good game, but he was too "go go go" when we needed to slow it down. He forced the issue a little too much, and the missed baskets led to easy scores for DePaul.

Essentially, it was about a 4 minute window when DePaul took the lead from 24 to 11. After that, they were fine again.

 

[Inyatkin]

It shouldn't happen, but I'm trying to imagine any team, college or otherwise, that doesn't relax a little with a huge lead. As long as you wake up before it gets out of hand, you're fine. That's why you build big leads

 

[businesslawyer]

The difference between relaxing and giving up 6 point runs and relaxing and giving up 14 point runs is the difference between winning and losing a lot of games.

 

[housekeys]

The difference between relaxing and giving up 6 point runs and relaxing and giving up 14 point runs is the difference between winning and losing a lot of games.

That's right. Someone also needs to tell the team there is a difference between staying cool, calm, and confident versus casual, complacent and cocky.

A win is a win, so there is not much to complain about. Even a rather poor Depaul team can come up with a good game and pull out a win on any given day. I only wish that the coaches realize that we won a championship last year with a core of players that are still on the team. Kemba obviously was a HUGE factor, but still they were there doing whatever a KW could not do. Those players need to see the most minutes in most situations. Those players are not perfect and still do some boneheaded plays. But over the course of a game and a season, that is who I want to see playing. Those are the players I want to either win or lose with. It is not always about who stuffs the stat sheet. It is about winning and those players proved they could win last year.