First, let's talk BYU...
Man what a game today, that was a spirited win and you needed that one. Not in the sense like you needed it to prove anything to anybody, but for pride’s purposes, taking down BYU felt good.
It felt weird to be on the other end of the “We’ve had that one circled” conversation, which I know @B. Golan has had plenty to say about.
We know winning in March is heavily centered around guard play and Tech’s guards continue to show up in a huge way.
Pop has turned this thing around and has many people who owe him an apology for writing him off in that tough month of February. Kind of like what he did against Baylor, he got it going early and that gave him confidence throughout the game. It really feels like he’s doing just enough to hold the ship steady and let the other’s games come to them while still being aggressive himself.
It is a blessing for Chance McMillian that none of the remaining games are in your own confines because he stars when this team is not on the floor of the USA. Another huge night for him from the field, but that tally of eight rebounds really sticks out. Sneaky good rebounder as some have pointed out.
Part of the result was BYU missing a bevy of open looks but Tech's defensive rotations continue to standout during the game. It's a testament to the kind of players on this team that defending and defending well has been something they're capable of on a regular basis. BYU shot 35 threes and made 7 of them, they don't shoot that low of a tally if they're all WAO.
Overall, to keep it brief about this game over BYU, it was a challenge that the Red Raiders took head on and got after it early. Would you have liked to have not seen it get as close as it did in the second half? Absolutely. But then again, who cares how you win now as long as you just keep doing it. There was definitely a crowd that thought this team peaked too early, but in my opinion, their true peak is right now.
Now, about that Houston game tomorrow...
I was really hoping Houston would put up a stinker or maybe just coast enough against TCU that maybe the Frogs could surprise us. 17-73 from the field? Really? We know UH’s defense is great but TCU could not have made them look any better today.
For all intents and purposes, winning or losing tomorrow might do absolutely nothing to your resume. But let’s be real, I don’t think the head coach would stand to hear any of that. I’m gonna expect Tech to fight to at least give itself a chance in this game.
The success of the guard play in the past week and a half or so has been critical in this run you’re on and their style of play has looked a lot more like what it is going to take to touch Houston.
Pop Isaacs specifically has been a lot more physical, specifically in the lane but he’s not forcing bad shots from deep either. You’re gonna need Toussaint to be assertive with the ball, something that has become more commonplace than it was at the point in the season when you first played the Cougs.
And it sucks that he got hurt today, but Darrion Williams, if healthy, could be the key to cracking this code. The physicality, emotion and execution that he brings to the game is different now. He is not the same player he was two months ago.
Defensively and on the glass, especially after the kind of performance put up in both against BYU, Tech can really make the Cougs earn it and the inconsistencies of some of their players will have to be forced to continue tomorrow.
It’s like the ingredients are there to beat Houston, figuring out how to take those ingredients and make the winning recipe is a different animal in itself. We know what the points of emphasis are but everything against them is easier said than done. Rebound, limit turnovers, make shots, all things that Tech has proven over the course of the season it is capable of. Knowing there is not much riding at stake might ease our minds, but winning against a team like this would be so satisfying.
Man what a game today, that was a spirited win and you needed that one. Not in the sense like you needed it to prove anything to anybody, but for pride’s purposes, taking down BYU felt good.
It felt weird to be on the other end of the “We’ve had that one circled” conversation, which I know @B. Golan has had plenty to say about.
We know winning in March is heavily centered around guard play and Tech’s guards continue to show up in a huge way.
Pop has turned this thing around and has many people who owe him an apology for writing him off in that tough month of February. Kind of like what he did against Baylor, he got it going early and that gave him confidence throughout the game. It really feels like he’s doing just enough to hold the ship steady and let the other’s games come to them while still being aggressive himself.
It is a blessing for Chance McMillian that none of the remaining games are in your own confines because he stars when this team is not on the floor of the USA. Another huge night for him from the field, but that tally of eight rebounds really sticks out. Sneaky good rebounder as some have pointed out.
Part of the result was BYU missing a bevy of open looks but Tech's defensive rotations continue to standout during the game. It's a testament to the kind of players on this team that defending and defending well has been something they're capable of on a regular basis. BYU shot 35 threes and made 7 of them, they don't shoot that low of a tally if they're all WAO.
Overall, to keep it brief about this game over BYU, it was a challenge that the Red Raiders took head on and got after it early. Would you have liked to have not seen it get as close as it did in the second half? Absolutely. But then again, who cares how you win now as long as you just keep doing it. There was definitely a crowd that thought this team peaked too early, but in my opinion, their true peak is right now.
Now, about that Houston game tomorrow...
I was really hoping Houston would put up a stinker or maybe just coast enough against TCU that maybe the Frogs could surprise us. 17-73 from the field? Really? We know UH’s defense is great but TCU could not have made them look any better today.
For all intents and purposes, winning or losing tomorrow might do absolutely nothing to your resume. But let’s be real, I don’t think the head coach would stand to hear any of that. I’m gonna expect Tech to fight to at least give itself a chance in this game.
The success of the guard play in the past week and a half or so has been critical in this run you’re on and their style of play has looked a lot more like what it is going to take to touch Houston.
Pop Isaacs specifically has been a lot more physical, specifically in the lane but he’s not forcing bad shots from deep either. You’re gonna need Toussaint to be assertive with the ball, something that has become more commonplace than it was at the point in the season when you first played the Cougs.
And it sucks that he got hurt today, but Darrion Williams, if healthy, could be the key to cracking this code. The physicality, emotion and execution that he brings to the game is different now. He is not the same player he was two months ago.
Defensively and on the glass, especially after the kind of performance put up in both against BYU, Tech can really make the Cougs earn it and the inconsistencies of some of their players will have to be forced to continue tomorrow.
It’s like the ingredients are there to beat Houston, figuring out how to take those ingredients and make the winning recipe is a different animal in itself. We know what the points of emphasis are but everything against them is easier said than done. Rebound, limit turnovers, make shots, all things that Tech has proven over the course of the season it is capable of. Knowing there is not much riding at stake might ease our minds, but winning against a team like this would be so satisfying.
