Slow Starts

[GhostOfJoeMcCray]

I did a little research because it feels like this team doesn't get off to good starts and we're playing a lot of catch-up with our bench. I just used the first under-4 media timeout as a barometer for how we start the game (Fred usually makes his first subs then). Here's what I found:

 

-We have outscored our opponents by +126 points this season. 

-In the first four minutes before the media timeout, we are -1 (131-132). The regular starting lineup we use is -11 (103-114) in the first four minutes. The three times we've deviated from it we are +10 (28-18). Small sample size, but those games were FDU, UNF and Michigan State.  

-Away from PBA it's really bad. In road/neutral games we are outscored -22 (56-78) before the first media timeout. We've trailed in 6 of 8 road/neutral games at the first break. In the other 36 minutes of neutral/road games, we are only a combined -10. 

-We're 12-4 overall so winning is great and our bench depth is very good, but this has overshadowed some red flags, in my opinion. Remember in some of our more competitive games, St. Mary's had us down 23-9 at one point. Bethune-Cookman had us down 10-4. Hawaii had us down 17-9. Oregon State was up 17-13 midway through the first half. UCLA 7-0. Iowa 13-6. Purdue...let's not even go there and that one obviously turned out uncompetitive. 

-Yes it's not how you start, it's how you finish. But constantly playing from behind out of the gate cannot mathematically set you up for sustained success in the long run. 

 

The only 2 games against real competition that we started well were at Creighton (12-8) and vs. Indiana (17-10). Could that be because Meah had a clearly defined role out there guarding a very good big man? Not sure. 

 

I don't think there's any one player to blame or any one player who would fix it. But something about the chemistry of that first 5 seems way off. We do not seem to come out with much intensity or execution at the start. 

 

Edited Monday at 05:14 PM by GhostOfJoeMcCray

[hskr4life]

In the games you mentioned, our first shots were…

 

@PU- Gary missed 3

@Iowa- Gary missed jumper

@MSU- Williams missed jumper

UCLA- Berke missed jumper 

Ore St- Berke missed 3

Hawaii- Bryce made 3

BCook- Berke missed 3

St Mary’s- Gary missed 3

 

I realize it’s just the first shot. However multiple of these games also started with a Nebraska turnover. Only once did one of the, what many would be considered one of our better shooters, take a three. And none of the times did we get a shot at the rim for an easy bucket/attempt. We know this team needs to live and die at the rim, but we appear to be starting off taking mid-range or 3 point jumpers. The two games you mentioned as strong starts…

 

@Creighton: Gary made 3

 

Indiana: Williams fouled on 2 point shot, Gary layup, Williams layup, Williams layup 

[cozrulz]

I had the same thought after the St. Mary's game.  I thought maybe it was Meah then but I'm not so sure now.  I wouldn't mind seeing the first offensive set going towards Meah and tell him to go up.  There have been multiple times this year he should have tried to score but just kicked it out.

 

I wonder if you start Essegian over either Worster or Gary.