WVU Basketball
WVU Basketball Knows They Can’t Afford Another Slow Start vs. Houston

Getting off to a slow start was one of the biggest reasons WVU basketball lost both of its games last week.
West Virginia (13-6, 4-4 Big 12) went down 10-2 to start its game against Arizona State and then began down 19-2 on the road at Kansas State, ultimately losing both contests.
If the Mountaineers are to end their losing skid and topple No. 6 Houston, they cannot afford to have another misstep out of the gates.
“Thatโs something weโve talked about this week, the slow starts are tough,โ WVU coach Darian DeVries said Tuesday. โWhen youโre playing a team like Houston, it can be double tough.โย
The Cougars (16-3, 8-0) have not spent a lot of time trailing this season. Their margin of victory on the season is 21.1 points and theyโve won 12 games in a row.
โWhen theyโre playing with a lead, itโs challenging to try and crawl back into the game because of the way they defend and rebound,โ DeVries said.
The Mountaineersโ slow starts havenโt been contained to one side of the ball either. Against ASU, WVU made just one of its first 10 shots while the Sun Devils opened 4-9. At KSU it was even worse as the Mountaineers made their first shot then missed their next 11 while the Wildcats made five of their first six.
โWe sometimes get frustrated because theyโre making shots and weโre not,โ said sophomore guard Sincere Harris. โSo I think we end up tending to spread away from each other on the defensive side instead of staying packed in and helping each other out.โ
As much as WVU would like to get off to a hot start on offense, playing sound defense to slow down Houston is even more important.
โA game in the 80s, weโre probably not winning that one,โ DeVries said. โWe have to make this a game where every possession is valued more. Possessions are so important, taking care of the ball is so importantโฆEvery possession has to be a priority. Thereโs just not enough of them in the game to overcome it if you donโt.โ
Getting off to a fast start isnโt as easy as making one or two changes, because slow starts arenโt caused by one or two simple issues. Itโs a delicate balance of execution, aggression and energy.
โYou have to do everything you can to minimize mistakes, but you canโt lose your aggression at the same time,โ DeVries said. โIf youโre playing on your heels because youโre afraid to make mistakes, youโre going to make more. We still have to be aggressive and play to win the game.โ
โJust play hard,โ was Harrisโs solution. โIโm going to do my part, Iโm going to bring more energy. I think I was lacking so Iโm going to bring that for everyone to feed off.โ
Being at home will also help, as Houston makes its first-ever trip to the WVU Coliseum. The game will tip off at 7 p.m. and be broadcast on ESPN+.
For a related story,ย consecutive losses cost WVU basketball top 25 ranking.