BarnBoy
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- Jan 12, 2009
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We sound like we're improving in every aspect. Bigger, faster, stronger. But don't expect that to translate to "putting teams away early" in the non-conference.
My theory: We're in for some agonizing non-conference first halves.
1. The Wins
Look at our 9 wins in non-conference under Kill. (We had three losses in Year One to USC, NMSU, and NDSU).
Opponent: First Half Lead / 3rd Quarter Lead / 4th Quarter Lead
'11 Miami Oh: 3 / 0 / 6
'12 UNLV: 4 / -3 / 0 (OT Win)
'12 New Hampshire: 23 / 30 / 37
'12 W Michigan: 11 / 11 / 5
'12 Syracuse: 4 / 11 / 7
'13 UNLV: 3 / 14 / 28
'13 New Mexico St: 20 / 16 / 23
'13 W Illinois: 1 / 3 / 17
'13 San Jose State: 3 / 12 / 19
New Hampshire and New Mexico State were relatively easy wins from start to finish. But look at the other 7 games. Halftime leads of only 3, 4, 11, 4, 3, 1 and 3 with eventual wins of 6, 0T, 5, 7, 28, 17 and 19.
2. The Losses
What's also interesting is that we outscored the competition (in the second half) in all three non-conference losses.
Opponent: First Half Lead / 3rd Quarter Lead / 4th Quarter Lead
'11 USC: -16 / -12 / -2
'11 NMSU -7 / -14 / -7
'11 NDSU -14 / -14 / -13
Net, net:
Prepare for four weeks of GopherHole experts telling you we are "limiting the playbook" or "we aren't very good" with a double helping of "we'll get killed in the B1G if we do this". I predict GopherHole will be in full melt-down mode for the first half of three or maybe all of four of our non-conference games.
Kill will not win the game in the first half, but he might lose it. Our game plan seems to be predicated on time of possession, making fewer mistakes, and being better conditioned. That doesn't normally translate to jumping out to huge leads. We will cut you 100 times and bleed you to death.
My theory: We're in for some agonizing non-conference first halves.
1. The Wins
Look at our 9 wins in non-conference under Kill. (We had three losses in Year One to USC, NMSU, and NDSU).
Opponent: First Half Lead / 3rd Quarter Lead / 4th Quarter Lead
'11 Miami Oh: 3 / 0 / 6
'12 UNLV: 4 / -3 / 0 (OT Win)
'12 New Hampshire: 23 / 30 / 37
'12 W Michigan: 11 / 11 / 5
'12 Syracuse: 4 / 11 / 7
'13 UNLV: 3 / 14 / 28
'13 New Mexico St: 20 / 16 / 23
'13 W Illinois: 1 / 3 / 17
'13 San Jose State: 3 / 12 / 19
New Hampshire and New Mexico State were relatively easy wins from start to finish. But look at the other 7 games. Halftime leads of only 3, 4, 11, 4, 3, 1 and 3 with eventual wins of 6, 0T, 5, 7, 28, 17 and 19.
2. The Losses
What's also interesting is that we outscored the competition (in the second half) in all three non-conference losses.
Opponent: First Half Lead / 3rd Quarter Lead / 4th Quarter Lead
'11 USC: -16 / -12 / -2
'11 NMSU -7 / -14 / -7
'11 NDSU -14 / -14 / -13
Net, net:
Prepare for four weeks of GopherHole experts telling you we are "limiting the playbook" or "we aren't very good" with a double helping of "we'll get killed in the B1G if we do this". I predict GopherHole will be in full melt-down mode for the first half of three or maybe all of four of our non-conference games.
Kill will not win the game in the first half, but he might lose it. Our game plan seems to be predicated on time of possession, making fewer mistakes, and being better conditioned. That doesn't normally translate to jumping out to huge leads. We will cut you 100 times and bleed you to death.