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

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WVU Basketball against Houston
Image credit to WVU Athletics

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.

“Thatโ€™s something weโ€™ve talked about this week, the slow starts are tough,โ€ WVU coach Darian DeVries said Tuesday. โ€œWhen youโ€™re playing a team like Houston, it can be double tough.โ€ย 

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 theyโ€™ve won 12 games in a row.

โ€œWhen theyโ€™re playing with a lead, itโ€™s challenging to try and crawl back into the game because of the way they defend and rebound,โ€ DeVries said.

The Mountaineersโ€™ slow starts havenโ€™t 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.

โ€œWe sometimes get frustrated because theyโ€™re making shots and weโ€™re not,โ€ said sophomore guard Sincere Harris. โ€œSo 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.

โ€œA game in the 80s, weโ€™re probably not winning that one,โ€ DeVries said. โ€œWe have to make this a game where every possession is valued more. Possessions are so important, taking care of the ball is so importantโ€ฆEvery possession has to be a priority. Thereโ€™s just not enough of them in the game to overcome it if you donโ€™t.โ€

Getting off to a fast start isnโ€™t as easy as making one or two changes, because slow starts arenโ€™t caused by one or two simple issues. Itโ€™s a delicate balance of execution, aggression and energy.

โ€œYou have to do everything you can to minimize mistakes, but you canโ€™t lose your aggression at the same time,โ€ DeVries said. โ€œIf youโ€™re playing on your heels because youโ€™re afraid to make mistakes, youโ€™re going to make more. We still have to be aggressive and play to win the game.โ€

โ€œJust play hard,โ€ was Harrisโ€™s solution. โ€œIโ€™m going to do my part, Iโ€™m going to bring more energy. I think I was lacking so Iโ€™m 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.

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