Just figured I would give you guys the quick look facts and a little bit of analysis on the Tigers before the game this afternoon. Will do the same for Purdue or Utah State for tomorrow...
UTAH STATE AGGIES
Record: 3-1
Best win: 93-84 over NJIT
Scoring defense: 69 PPG allowed (T127th)
Scoring offense: 78.5 PPG (120th)
Rebound margin: +3.8 RPG (T143rd)
Turnovers: 13 TPG (T123rd)
Assist/turnover ratio: .1.38 (40th)
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
Record: 3-1
Best Win: 90-71 over Eastern Kentucky
Scoring defense: 62 PPG allowed (41st)
Scoring offense: 84.3 PPG (58th)
Rebound margin: +10 RPG (T37th)
Turnovers: 12 TPG (T74th)
Assist/turnover ratio: 1.27 (77th)
QUICK OVERVIEW
The Red Raiders certainly didn't have the kind of performance they wanted against a talented but green Auburn team on Tuesday night, as Tech played their worst half of the early season to open things up against the Tigers before making a late furious comeback and playing the kind of second half I expected to see out of Chris Beard's team all game. Now that they've had a wakeup call, I would think they won't take Utah State lightly, and they shouldn't.
The Aggie are shooting very well this year, .504 as a team overall and .395 from three point range with most of those threes coming from veteran senior wing Jalen Moore and freshman guard Koby McEwen, who was a four star player out of high school a year ago.
On top of that, Utah State is a long team, with six wings and forwards that are at least six foot eight. Prime among them is 6-11 forward Norbert Janeck, who is currently shooting over 70 percent on the year, most of that obviously coming in the paint because of his size.
This is hands down the biggest team the Red Raiders have played so far this year and will be one of the longer groups they'll play period. Purdue had elite big men like Haas and Swanigan to match up evenly with the Aggie in the paint, and the stats came out pretty evenly really across the board for the game. What sticks out, however, is that Purdue shot 55 percent from three and shot 27 free throws while Utah State only shot 41 percent from three and shot 14 free throws. That's the difference in the contest and why it was almost a 20 point game.
So, to me, this is a game where Tech is going to really need Aaron Ross, Anthony Livingston, Keenan Evans, and the rest of the crew to have a great day behind the arc while the likes of Zach Smith, Justin Gray, and Shadell Millinghaus really try to drive it inside. and either get the buckets or get fouls.
Regardless, because of the size and versatility of Utah State and the way that Tech hasn't defended the three well as of late, I think this will end up being a close, high scoring contest. It'll be hard for Tech to win the rebound battle, however.
UTAH STATE AGGIES
Record: 3-1
Best win: 93-84 over NJIT
Scoring defense: 69 PPG allowed (T127th)
Scoring offense: 78.5 PPG (120th)
Rebound margin: +3.8 RPG (T143rd)
Turnovers: 13 TPG (T123rd)
Assist/turnover ratio: .1.38 (40th)
TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS
Record: 3-1
Best Win: 90-71 over Eastern Kentucky
Scoring defense: 62 PPG allowed (41st)
Scoring offense: 84.3 PPG (58th)
Rebound margin: +10 RPG (T37th)
Turnovers: 12 TPG (T74th)
Assist/turnover ratio: 1.27 (77th)
QUICK OVERVIEW
The Red Raiders certainly didn't have the kind of performance they wanted against a talented but green Auburn team on Tuesday night, as Tech played their worst half of the early season to open things up against the Tigers before making a late furious comeback and playing the kind of second half I expected to see out of Chris Beard's team all game. Now that they've had a wakeup call, I would think they won't take Utah State lightly, and they shouldn't.
The Aggie are shooting very well this year, .504 as a team overall and .395 from three point range with most of those threes coming from veteran senior wing Jalen Moore and freshman guard Koby McEwen, who was a four star player out of high school a year ago.
On top of that, Utah State is a long team, with six wings and forwards that are at least six foot eight. Prime among them is 6-11 forward Norbert Janeck, who is currently shooting over 70 percent on the year, most of that obviously coming in the paint because of his size.
This is hands down the biggest team the Red Raiders have played so far this year and will be one of the longer groups they'll play period. Purdue had elite big men like Haas and Swanigan to match up evenly with the Aggie in the paint, and the stats came out pretty evenly really across the board for the game. What sticks out, however, is that Purdue shot 55 percent from three and shot 27 free throws while Utah State only shot 41 percent from three and shot 14 free throws. That's the difference in the contest and why it was almost a 20 point game.
So, to me, this is a game where Tech is going to really need Aaron Ross, Anthony Livingston, Keenan Evans, and the rest of the crew to have a great day behind the arc while the likes of Zach Smith, Justin Gray, and Shadell Millinghaus really try to drive it inside. and either get the buckets or get fouls.
Regardless, because of the size and versatility of Utah State and the way that Tech hasn't defended the three well as of late, I think this will end up being a close, high scoring contest. It'll be hard for Tech to win the rebound battle, however.
