Why the lousy starts?

[EnderWiggen]

I am not trying to make a negative thread.  In fact, I think we have a great team and I am really proud of how they are performing.  That said, it seems like we have started out slow in a few games and am curious why this is happening.  Here are four examples...

Louisville - 18-2
Pittsburgh - 18-10
Syracuse - 35-15
Vanderbilt - 31-6

Of course, we cut the deficit in all of these games and came back to win two of them, so again, not trying to be negative because I am happy that they stuck in there and play strong. But why the rough starts?

[Markusquette]

I think we've just come out slow and sluggish sometimes.  Not only that but those games the teams were really hitting their shots and we just couldn't buy a basket.  Once we dig in and play tougher D and get some transition points that sparks the team. 

I think it's just a matter of bringing that intensity level back up and playing hard defense and executing more smoothly on offense.  Just seems to take this squad a while to get in the groove sometimes.

[MUMac]

I could not go or watch the game today.  Watching for the first time right now.  MU was taking good shots.  Just a lid on the hoop. 

[PE8983]

Just play some solid defense to start, and let the offense come.  Gave 18 pts in 4 1/2 minutes.  Yeah, they hit some shots, but they were all defensive breakdowns and wide open shots.

[Benny B]

If you bring your "A" game in the first half, the other team has 15 minutes to make adjustments.  Keep it close at the half, then bust out the moves in the 2nd... not as easy for the other team to make major adjustments during timeouts.


(Disclaimer - I'm not claiming this is the intent, I'm just saying it's a nice side effect of a slow start.)

[marqfan22]

We need mike deane to call some early timeouts