SMU head coach Tim Jankovich didn't know how long it would last on Wednesday, but he feared a slow start for his team was a near certainty. A 10-day break will do that to a team, said Jankovich, who's now in his 36th year coaching college basketball.
"It's not because they're not ready," Jankovich said. "They have to get out there, move around, get the game speed."
What his team had to do was shake the rust off, he said. The process lasted for just over 12 minutes against visiting East Carolina. But once the rust was off, the Mustangs shined, opening conference play with an 82-54 victory.