There was no energy in the first half, none. They punched us in the mouth and bullied us around, getting pretty much whatever they wanted. There are a lot of teams in college basketball that we wouldn’t have been able to climb out of that hole against. Thankfully Texas, although better than any non Michigan St team we’ve played all year, doesn’t have the scoring punches needed to deliver the knock out blow. But make no mistake, we can’t afford to come out sluggish and get pushed often, or we will have a lot of L’s.
I think this team can play good man to man defense, and definitely better than they displayed in the first half. But we have to buy in and talk as a unit and play with an attitude that our opponent is not going to score against us. Right now we seem content trying to outsfore people every night.
Rebounding should never be an issue with this group, we are big and long. The zone really doesn’t help, but we need to find bodies when the shot goes up not just turn and jump.
Good win, fun win as a fan. Back to work, lots to improve upon.