For Bronco fans, the second half comeback last Saturday vs San Diego and the closeout win Thursday at Portland was the SCU team we thought we'd see all season. Shots falling when needed and stops on "D" to finish games.
We're half right.
Two halves still make a whole, but this season it seems we have different Bronco teams each half. In the first half, we just can't get started. It's like the old excuse the dog ate our game plan. In fact, we've either been even or behind at half in 18 of our 27 games.
It's hard to win a half when you make a lot less than "half" of your shots. Add to that, it seems that half our shots come late in the clock; leaving more difficult shots to try to convert.
In the second half, we've been much better in most games. However, our 10-17 record indicates how hard it is to fight the uphill battle in the second half and win.
At 7-8 in the WCC, we're not half wins, half losses.
But that's only half the story.
Based upon our schedule, the season script would have been to have won 10 games in the first part of our schedule leading up to the Gonzaga game. 10-3 was very doable and frankly expected. In the WCC, or second half of our schedule 10-7 would have been acceptable. Add it up, and that's a 20-10 season and with an upset along the way; NIT eligible.
Unfortunately, the first half of our season was a precursor to the first half of our game performances - off. It just doesn't add up.
More than half of our roster are experienced veterans expected to provide stability to the lineup; especially on defense. The red-shirts and newcomers offered size and speed. The opportunity for a better season was evident until Alaska; when a whole lot went wrong.
This season half of our veterans have played about half of the minutes per game they played last year. We've had key players out with injuries for half our games this season.
Even with our shooting woes, we are averaging the same number of points per game as last season - 66.8. Unfortunately, on defense our opponents are making more than half their shots and scoring 72 points per game. Do the math.
We all wish we played the first half of our season like last two games - solid.
Our last three games are winnable. St. Mary's has been vulnerable after the pummeling from Gonzaga. USF showed that the other night.
The future again offers promise. With the new recruiting class and returners, three quarters of the team will be Coach Sendek's handpicked players - not half and half.
So, my question - are we "half" way there to becoming more competitive? Not yet.
But three season ending wins and the infusion of newer, hopefully better talent, sounds a "whole" lot better than where we are this season.
Don's forget to send along to other Bronco fans.
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