2nd-half effort could cost us...

We played such a nice first half, but haven't brought the same energy and execution in the 2nd. The result is TCU keeping it just close enough that we have to keep our primary rotation on the floor...meaning more energy expended, less time to rest up and get ready for the 40 minutes of hell coming next against West VA.

Not good.

We're up by 20 with under 4 minutes to go, and the "core four" are STILL out there.

Not smart, on so many levels. But it underscores Self's lack of trust in the team to close out games strongly. I'm surmising he wants the team to finish this game with strength, not on the other end of a TCU run (which he fears if he puts in the other guys). I can't say I disagree with that impulse (wanting to take positive mojo into the WVU game), but the flip side is it takes strength and energy away, and you risk injuries (or deepening injuries in Frank's case) by going with them so long.

God bless, SELF, why do you do this???

The thing that makes it bad is a) he was notably gassed our last game and could use a little rest; b) he came into the game with nagging injuries and nicks; c) everyone knows his game style is to go full-force and that often means driving and falling down, risking more injury; d) he's not our sole PG--Devonte is there--and we have lots of guards on the bench; e) we were up by 20 late, with the game obviously more than in hand; and f) we know we have WVU in 3 scant days--a team whose entire game plan is predicated on attacking the guards in press, making them work 2-3x harder than usual, speeding them up, and forcing mistakes.

Other than this one issue, I was really happy with the performance today. So I'm not griping just to gripe--I'm very positive about the game outcome, but the way we handled Frank, and the fact that he then actually did get injured, was really frustrating.

Hope it was a mild tweak and he heals up well, but with ankles, once you do to them what he did today, it can recur (and get worse) anytime.