What worked and what didn’t in WKU’s win over Austin Peay?
By Wally Hughes
Early in the season, many teams go through a learning curve as returning veterans learn to play with newcomers. This can sometimes result in sloppy play, and games being closer than they should.
WKU escaped Diddle on Saturday with a 77-70 victory over Austin Peay, but make no mistake about it – the Hilltoppers played an ugly, sloppy game, and head coach Ray Harper was not pleased with the overall performance. The Hilltoppers were clearly the better team, but allowed the Governors to stay in the game until the end.
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WKU must quickly figure out what went wrong, because it faces a quick turnaround game Tuesday night against Big 10 foe Minnesota. Historically, the Big Barn has been a tough place to play, and if WKU plays like it did against Austin Peay, it will be a long night for the Toppers.
Minnesota won the Postseason NIT Championship last season, and are coached by Richard Pitino, son of Louisville head coach Rick Pitino. Pitino plays the same full-court press and up-tempo style as his father, albeit with not as much talent.
However, the Gophers will be one of the toughest teams the Toppers will face this season, and it will take a complete team effort to come away with a win.
What does WKU need to do to increase its chances of victory? Although the performance against Austin Peay was uninspiring, it gave some insight on what the Toppers need to work on. Let’s take a look at what worked, and what didn’t.
Next: What Worked For The Hilltoppers?