Dabo always drags his feet during the regular season. He's been doing it for over a decade now. You ought to know every game is going to be close and losing one won't ruin the season. He never turns the hounds loose until the Scar game at which time we get to see the best of our best.
He wants to keep promises to recruits and get them playing time. Promises kept mean a lot to future recruits. Dabo wants film on everyone, top to bottom. He gets that this time during the season, live action film on every man who has any hopes of getting into the rotation in the coming years.
He wants the troops hardened and the best way is to set them up to fail if they don't give it all. Situations in which every man must do his job to win, every play is critical and every position must be executed well or the game is lost.
Dabo's out there playing 3D chess and some of you think it's a checker game where the guy who jumps the most wins.