Jekyl-Hyde Halves

[DaCoach]

In the past 2 games we have played great 1st haves only to completely lose our composure after halftime. Those turnarounds were a direct result of the turnovers we committed in the game. We turned the ball over 10 times in the 2nd half against Creighton and 11 times versus Xavier.
Our offense is not getting the ball inside to Fischer all game but it seems to be a message at half to get him more touches. We try to force it inside and bad passes result from poor positioning and bad spacing by the team. Luke isn't strong enough to demand a favorable low post. All our guards are trying to force it to him and resultant turnovers occur negating the advantage we had at the half.
Finally, it's impossible not to notice the team's failure to maintain their strong effort on defense and offense as game minutes take their toll.

[brandx]

8-man roster!

[GooooMarquette]

8-man roster!

Followed by a (hopefully) temporary reduction to seven.

[Daniel]

8-man roster!

Yes. Not a strong second half team yet and the limited roster certainly plays into it.

[muwarrior69]

Yeah! Just like the Packers.

[tower912]

Yes. Not a strong second half team yet and the limited roster certainly plays into it.

Don't say 'fatigue' though, or somebody will stalk you for it.   

[esotericmindguy]

First half - team misses wide open 3s am turns ball over.

Second half - team makes wide open 3s and stops making dumb turnovers.

Pretty simple, watch the games again.

[MerrittsMustache]

First half - team misses wide open 3s am turns ball over.

Second half - team makes wide open 3s and stops making dumb turnovers.

Pretty simple, watch the games again.

+1

Just like offenses look great when the ball is going in the hoop, defenses look great when the opponent is missing shots.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

The truth is, average teams can look really good sometimes, and really bad sometimes.

MU is pretty average, and relatively inexperienced. They will probably win a road game we are totally surprised by, and they will probably drop another home game we are totally surprised by.

That's how you end up being average.

[DaCoach]

We can all agree that MU is currently an average team. However we are expected to understand why we're not better and what we can improve on to make us better.

1. Our 2nd half numbers are terrible. Why? Fatigue?Perhaps but what is it that causes us to fall apart right after halftime, not during the last 7 minutes of the game. It seems we come out of the locker room at half aware that Fischer has had on 2-3 shots. The first few minutes of the 2nd half our people are desperately trying to get him more touches and force passes into coverage. The truth is that Luke, while a big asset to the team, isn't strong enough to get good down low position.

2. While our defense is very good in the 1st half of games, it recedes after halftime. Again, fatigue is partly the problem, but it's also because our offense doesn't put enough pressure on their defense. The opposition builds momentum and their confidence soars. On the contrary to our changeable defense, our offense is predictable. And it becomes more predictable as we have DuWilson and Carlino the only effective offense after the half.

[tower912]

Is it possible that at this point in his career, other coaches are making better half time adjustments than Wojo is?

[Dr. Blackheart]

The truth is, average teams can look really good sometimes, and really bad sometimes.

MU is pretty average, and relatively inexperienced. They will probably win a road game we are totally surprised by, and they will probably drop another home game we are totally surprised by.

That's how you end up being average.

According to Pomeroy, MU plays the 4th most experienced line up in the BE behind Creighton, and barely below DePaul and Nova.  Yet, at the end of the games, turnovers seem to crop up.  I wouldn't mind it if it was the youngins but the fact is, they transferred or at sitting.

This is a reset not rebuilding year. Experience has hekped DU and Nova but CU and MU are still in transition.

[MUfan12]

Is it possible that at this point in his career, other coaches are making better half time adjustments than Wojo is?

There's some truth to that. But, I still think it comes down to players. MU has one guy that can create offense consistently, and a couple complimentary pieces. That really limits the amount of adjustments Wojo can make.

[tower912]

I agree.   I think it is a combination of things.    Adjustments, number of players and limitations and (this one is for you, stalker boy) fatigue at the end from playing so few players. 

[DaCoach]

I agree.   I think it is a combination of things.    Adjustments, number of players and limitations and (this one is for you, stalker boy) fatigue at the end from playing so few players. 

It seems the majority of turnovers happen at the beginning of the 2nd half rather than towards the end of the game. We have been trying to get Fischer more involved and our guys are trying to force the ball inside. Unfortunately Luke isn't strong enough to establish a good low post position and the passes are not working. Thus, while I expect the fatigue is causing problems, why isn't it happening at the end of the game

The one area where I notice fatigue is on defense. We're not nearly as quick as the game progresses.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

According to Pomeroy, MU plays the 4th most experienced line up in the BE behind Creighton, and barely below DePaul and Nova.  Yet, at the end of the games, turnovers seem to crop up.  I wouldn't mind it if it was the youngins but the fact is, they transferred or at sitting.

This is a reset not rebuilding year. Experience has hekped DU and Nova but CU and MU are still in transition.

Hmm...

MU returned 1 player with significant D1 experience. Derrick. Carlino is a transfer, and Steve & Juan have had limited roles in the past.

I understand how on paper that can look like a more veteran team, it's not like they are starting 3 frosh. But, I still think they are relatively limited on experience.

I've harped on how "game minutes" are overvalued by fans, but, I think as we are seeing now, there is something to learning how to compete for a whole game, and not just stretches of a game. Winning is hard. You have to play well for 40min. You can't just blow the doors off of a team and then coast. MU tried that against DePaul, and they lost.

So, I still think "game minutes" are still over-valued (THIS GUY NEEDS MORE MINUTES!), but guys like Duane, Luke, Sandy, Steve and JJJ  have a learning curve on how to actually win games. MU is counting on these guys to be AT LEAST role players, and more often than not, they will need to be key players in order for MU to win.