It's strange since we're on a 7 game win streak, but we have been behind at the first TV timeout in all 7 games (average score trailing 11-5) and 8 in a row overall. Last time we had a lead at the first TV timeout was 16-14 against Georgetown. We were behind at the half in 5 of the 7 games (and one of the games we led at the half was Louisville where we started out behind 18-2.) Since Big East play began, we've only had two comfortable leads at the half (33-21 vs USF and 43-29 at Georgetown).
I guess its better to play well in the second half vs the first half (see Georgetown), but I'd like to see us start putting together 40 good minutes. We will probably need to to win at ND Saturday.
The one positive of our slow starts is that this team is comfortable playing through adversity. That can be a double edged sword, as they feel no need to step it up when they are playing poorly at the beginning, as they don't believe there is any deficit they can't overcome. It is entertaining. And infuriating.
I'm sure many will call me crazy, but I'm actually starting to believe Buzz actually has the guys playing "consistently" for 40 minutes. While the opponent goes cojones out, and wears themselves down during the game (while holding MU nearly scorelessfor the first 10 minutes unfortunately). MU might just be playing the same in minute 1 as they are after 35 minutes. Which of course means we look terrible at the beginning, and good at the end.
Though it still leaves me nervous regardless how well the endings have gone. And, it's just something I thought of while watching the replay of the Louisville game this morning, I don't have any numbers to back it up, just a random thought that I decided to throw out there.
Rocky may very well be correct. It seems as though the Warriors are "rope-a-dopping" their opponents. Sort of like Mr. T punching himself out in Rocky III.
If you look at the game flows you see a few things.
1) Marquette has a tendency to not show up for the first few minutes
2) From that point on their scoring is relatively even and consistent throughout the game
3) You do see instances where point per minute increase for a 5 (or so) minute span which is when the lead is taken or expanded
4) Opponents scoring in points per minute does fluctuate more than MU's overall
So, you're on to something, but there are cases where we step it up for a bit, and I don't see many long spans without scoring like we saw pre-conference.
Keith
I have not looked at the numbers to prove this, but it would seem our turnover rate in the first five minutes of each game is much higher than the rest of the game.
So I am not sure we are playing that consistent throughout. Maybe when we look at the numbers it will disprove my theory.
We really have to cut down the turnovers in the beginning of games. I think we are being too aggressive with passing and driving to the basket early on in games.
One of the stats guys might have data on this but I think that we also get the opponents into far more foul trouble that we are in and helps later in the game.
I was just wondering what the reccords are for the most 10+ point comebacs or 15+ point comebacks in a season. We have to have a shot at it.
It's funny how after the Georgetown debacle alot of us were probably hoping the opposite were true
When we blow leads it's because we choke. When our opponents do likewise it's our comeback. It's like the other team isn't out there.
Quote from: rocky_warrior on February 01, 2012, 01:08:01 PM
I'm sure many will call me crazy, but I'm actually starting to believe Buzz actually has the guys playing "consistently" for 40 minutes. While the opponent goes cojones out, and wears themselves down during the game
I don't think we're playing consistently but there may be something to your last statement. This team doesn't execute well in the half court against a set defense particularly a zone. But when the game turns helter skelter they can score in bunches. They are very streaky and they seem to all get hot at the same time. They also have a better defense than years past (cracked sidewalks ran some numbers recently backing this up) So what they do is execute awful on offense while the other team is fresh and playing decent defense but then all the sudden the other team has a lapse, maybe because they are tired and MU gets in this helter skelter mode and because they can score so quickly they catch and pass them. Then it seems much more difficult to make up a 3-6 point deficit when you've given up a 10+ point lead then it would be if the whole game has been pretty even, you're fighting momentum as well as the score. The problem with this approach is that if you play against a team that has a great offense you get down so far that you can't make it all the way back (Syr, Vandy). For us to beat good teams (Louisville is the only W in this streak against a good team and they were depleted) we have got to get better against set defenses whish will avoid us falling behind to start. Getting more reliable outside shooting from Mayo would help, DG scoring in the low post would help, Junior driving to create would help.