Texas Tech is coming off back-to-back wins and has another huge road test Saturday, traveling to Ames to take on Iowa State. Let’s get into some pregame thoughts, personnel and stats, and a little bit of my analysis on what the Cyclones put on tape.
It goes without saying that tomorrow’s game is another great opportunity for Tech to prove itself as a contender or a pretender. If you have been keeping up with the league, it is still hotly contested at the top of the table, but the two who have basically been just a slight cut above the rest have been Houston and Iowa State. Their similarities in play are evident.
Measurable-wise, their length stems mostly from their ridiculous wingspans. The Cyclones, much like Houston, are hyper-aggressive and active on the ball. Their efforts have been good enough to give them the No. 3 rated defense in the country per KenPom, where they rank ninth overall.
EvanMiya has ISU in an identical situation defensively and overall, while the NCAA’s NET rankings holds the Cyclones at No. 8 with an 8-5 combined record against Q1 and Q2 teams. Win on Saturday– yes, easier said than done– but you’re in legitimate conversation to win the conference based on what’s left in the schedule.
What I find interesting about Iowa State is how poor its rebounding numbers stand in comparison to the rest of the conference. For a team that has as much length and athleticism, the Cyclones are No. 13 in the conference in total rebounding per game (30.9), a number that is carried by their average of 10 per game on the offensive glass.
ISU has only won the rebounding advantage in four of its conference games, its worst margin of -16 coming against TCU in the pair’s first matchup in Fort Worth.
If Warren Washington is able to go, he will be the tallest player on the floor more often than not, and this team has been on a roll as of late when it comes to the glass. Definitely an area to pay attention to, especially if Tech can continue its rebounding run, regardless of Washington’s availability.
If you tuned into that game against TCU, you would have seen a prime example of how stout this ISU defense is. That game was the one in which the Cyclones forced 27 TCU turnovers, though the Horned Frogs did have several chances to still win that game in the dying moments.
I watch tape of the ISU v. BYU game and it was pretty clear that the brand of basketball the Cougars play is a rough matchup for how the Cyclones want to defend the ball. What Iowa State is going to do is pressure ball handlers and deny the easy exit passes, which BYU was able to exploit by finding the lane on dribble drives and back cuts.
This played to BYU’s advantage because they were able to get drive-and-kick going, and we are all aware now of how deadly that team’s three-point shooting can be when it is rolling.
Now, it is important to remember that this Tech team cannot replicate that same style, nor do they necessarily have to. However, when thinking about how this Red Raider offense succeeds the most, it is when they are flowing facilitators, getting paint touches that McCasland stresses constantly which leads to easier offense.
I will be interested to see how effectively Tech can attack Iowa State’s helpside due to its lack of size. It’s easy to say you’re going to expose the high-rising help, but in order to do that you have to also be big enough to be able to see over it or around it.
Because of ISU’s aggressiveness when it comes to doubling post players, you’re really going to count on Joe Toussaint and Pop Isaacs to continue being solid facilitators like they have been over the last couple of games.
Overall, it will be an extremely tough game, especially with how well ISU plays at home. Something like a 28-point average margin of victory at the Hilton is a ridiculous number. There is a recipe for success and I won’t say this matchup is as frightening as Houston is, but I’m not certain Tech will have the right ingredients to cook up a win.
Scouting Report
#3 Tamin Lipsey - 6’1 - Crafty guard, facilitator and solid defender for his size. Likes to play in passing lanes, averaging three steals per game. Averages 13.3 points and team-leading 5.5 assists a night.
#10 Keshon Gilbert - 6’4 - Best scorer, shifty wing/guard. Leading scorer at 13.8 points per game, falls in love with dribble drive. Doesn’t look to shoot often, but did go 5-6 from three against Baylor.
#12 Robert Jones - 6’10 - Big man, not very dynamic offensively. Plays straight up very well defensively, effective in challenging shots. Hesitant in PNR coverage, but long enough to make up for it.
#0 Tre King - 6’7 - Physical force, has good thickness for 6-foot-7. 50 percent field shooter, only 27 percent from three, not afraid to pull one here or there. Solid post defender because of his build, does well at boxing out. X-factor kind of player
#22 Milan Momcilovic - 6’8 - Quick trigger freshman. Will dribble, but doesn’t seem to want to very much, Cincinnati gave him trouble. Averaging 12 points per game on 45/40/82 shooting splits. Very long arms will cause problems defensively.
#5 Curtis Jones - 6’4 - Reserve guard who gets plenty of run. Seven-game streak of double-digit scoring, wants to find space and spot-up to shoot. Pressure him.
#24 Hason Ward - 6’9 - Reserve big, long 6-foot-9 frame but quick enough to maneuver as perimeter and post defender.
It goes without saying that tomorrow’s game is another great opportunity for Tech to prove itself as a contender or a pretender. If you have been keeping up with the league, it is still hotly contested at the top of the table, but the two who have basically been just a slight cut above the rest have been Houston and Iowa State. Their similarities in play are evident.
Measurable-wise, their length stems mostly from their ridiculous wingspans. The Cyclones, much like Houston, are hyper-aggressive and active on the ball. Their efforts have been good enough to give them the No. 3 rated defense in the country per KenPom, where they rank ninth overall.
EvanMiya has ISU in an identical situation defensively and overall, while the NCAA’s NET rankings holds the Cyclones at No. 8 with an 8-5 combined record against Q1 and Q2 teams. Win on Saturday– yes, easier said than done– but you’re in legitimate conversation to win the conference based on what’s left in the schedule.
What I find interesting about Iowa State is how poor its rebounding numbers stand in comparison to the rest of the conference. For a team that has as much length and athleticism, the Cyclones are No. 13 in the conference in total rebounding per game (30.9), a number that is carried by their average of 10 per game on the offensive glass.
ISU has only won the rebounding advantage in four of its conference games, its worst margin of -16 coming against TCU in the pair’s first matchup in Fort Worth.
If Warren Washington is able to go, he will be the tallest player on the floor more often than not, and this team has been on a roll as of late when it comes to the glass. Definitely an area to pay attention to, especially if Tech can continue its rebounding run, regardless of Washington’s availability.
If you tuned into that game against TCU, you would have seen a prime example of how stout this ISU defense is. That game was the one in which the Cyclones forced 27 TCU turnovers, though the Horned Frogs did have several chances to still win that game in the dying moments.
I watch tape of the ISU v. BYU game and it was pretty clear that the brand of basketball the Cougars play is a rough matchup for how the Cyclones want to defend the ball. What Iowa State is going to do is pressure ball handlers and deny the easy exit passes, which BYU was able to exploit by finding the lane on dribble drives and back cuts.
This played to BYU’s advantage because they were able to get drive-and-kick going, and we are all aware now of how deadly that team’s three-point shooting can be when it is rolling.
Now, it is important to remember that this Tech team cannot replicate that same style, nor do they necessarily have to. However, when thinking about how this Red Raider offense succeeds the most, it is when they are flowing facilitators, getting paint touches that McCasland stresses constantly which leads to easier offense.
I will be interested to see how effectively Tech can attack Iowa State’s helpside due to its lack of size. It’s easy to say you’re going to expose the high-rising help, but in order to do that you have to also be big enough to be able to see over it or around it.
Because of ISU’s aggressiveness when it comes to doubling post players, you’re really going to count on Joe Toussaint and Pop Isaacs to continue being solid facilitators like they have been over the last couple of games.
Overall, it will be an extremely tough game, especially with how well ISU plays at home. Something like a 28-point average margin of victory at the Hilton is a ridiculous number. There is a recipe for success and I won’t say this matchup is as frightening as Houston is, but I’m not certain Tech will have the right ingredients to cook up a win.
Scouting Report
#3 Tamin Lipsey - 6’1 - Crafty guard, facilitator and solid defender for his size. Likes to play in passing lanes, averaging three steals per game. Averages 13.3 points and team-leading 5.5 assists a night.
#10 Keshon Gilbert - 6’4 - Best scorer, shifty wing/guard. Leading scorer at 13.8 points per game, falls in love with dribble drive. Doesn’t look to shoot often, but did go 5-6 from three against Baylor.
#12 Robert Jones - 6’10 - Big man, not very dynamic offensively. Plays straight up very well defensively, effective in challenging shots. Hesitant in PNR coverage, but long enough to make up for it.
#0 Tre King - 6’7 - Physical force, has good thickness for 6-foot-7. 50 percent field shooter, only 27 percent from three, not afraid to pull one here or there. Solid post defender because of his build, does well at boxing out. X-factor kind of player
#22 Milan Momcilovic - 6’8 - Quick trigger freshman. Will dribble, but doesn’t seem to want to very much, Cincinnati gave him trouble. Averaging 12 points per game on 45/40/82 shooting splits. Very long arms will cause problems defensively.
#5 Curtis Jones - 6’4 - Reserve guard who gets plenty of run. Seven-game streak of double-digit scoring, wants to find space and spot-up to shoot. Pressure him.
#24 Hason Ward - 6’9 - Reserve big, long 6-foot-9 frame but quick enough to maneuver as perimeter and post defender.
