Well that felt good.
It felt good to win, at Kansas no less. I really dislike KU basketball because of all the years they cheated and gamed the system and came out smelling like a rose. It infuriated me to the point that even though the playing field is now a lot more level I still dislike them. I'm not this kind of person with very many teams*, but every time they lose I have a little party in my heart to celebrate and do a little dance in my head - usually an Irish jig or mariachi, but sometimes in my mind I'm dancing like that break dance girl from Australia.
Hunter Dickinson can score some points. He's a big goof but he puts himself in a position to score as well as about anyone does, so kudos to him. Were he on my team though I would have a hard time not being mad all the time, because that guy really could not guard my sister. Oh he'll beat her one on one, but the score will be 21-11. I saw the stupid people on X that were bashing Zeke Mayo, and he had a rough game for sure, but they should be more upset with Dickinson because Texas Tech abused him. They had no answer for JT Toppin at all, Toppin answered himself with foul trouble otherwise he may have scored 30 points. Shoot he may have scored 40, let's be real: He had 21 points in 22 minutes. It was basically 5 on 4 every time Tech had the ball.
I have a minor concern with all the jumpers Tech takes. I hear things like this all the time: "If Tech shoots like this, they will be tough to beat in the tourney!" Well, that's true for Texas Tech and that's true for anyone. Hot shooting wrecks a lot of game plans and ends a lot of seasons. It's hard to think back to a big tourney upset that didn't involve hot shooting. I love it when the shots are falling for the Red Raiders, but it infuriates me when the shots don't fall.
On the other hand, Tech has three elite shooters where most teams struggle to have one. Chance McMillian, Kerwin Walton, and Chris Anderson can all absolutely kill it. Underrated or not talked about enough is that both McMillian and Anderson can do it off the dribble, a rare skill. That is definitely a weapon for Tech and definitely something the Raiders should, and do, take advantage of. It will likely be a long time before a team has three shooters like this again.
Unusually, I'm struggling to think of a player that Anderson brings to mind favorably. In the game thread yesterday I noted that Toppin has crazy spatial awareness, and our man @frostyraider510 chimed in at practically the same time with, "Toppin is a skinny version of Zach Randolph." That is spot on, a great comparison. So who does Anderson remind you of? I'm struggling here but it could be, even after 100 years of college basketball and a zillion players that Anderson is the first of his kind. Ok it's not likely but for now I'm a blank on this. I'm giddy about his future.
There was a really misplaced thread, or section of a thread, on the board this week with some misguided posters kind of being down on Darrion Williams. He may or may not be the best player on the team, but he is without question the leader of this team. Guy had 14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and a block yesterday. He also hit a critical shot late, the kind of shot made by winning players for winning teams. He's not as fast as some guys, he can't shoot like some guys, but he's the leader and Tech is at their best when he plays well.
Colorado comes to town Wednesday, I'll be interested to see if Tech is suffering from any Kansas hangover. Last home game of the season, man it goes by so fast.
A note on seeding - we're hearing a lot about 2 vs 3 vs 4 vs 5. I see conversation about 2 v 3, and thoughts about just avoid the 5 seed. So one at a time here are my thoughts:
I think at some point today, CBS will unveil the weekly top 4 seeds bracket. If you know when that's coming please let us know.
*It's a lot of teams.
It felt good to win, at Kansas no less. I really dislike KU basketball because of all the years they cheated and gamed the system and came out smelling like a rose. It infuriated me to the point that even though the playing field is now a lot more level I still dislike them. I'm not this kind of person with very many teams*, but every time they lose I have a little party in my heart to celebrate and do a little dance in my head - usually an Irish jig or mariachi, but sometimes in my mind I'm dancing like that break dance girl from Australia.
Hunter Dickinson can score some points. He's a big goof but he puts himself in a position to score as well as about anyone does, so kudos to him. Were he on my team though I would have a hard time not being mad all the time, because that guy really could not guard my sister. Oh he'll beat her one on one, but the score will be 21-11. I saw the stupid people on X that were bashing Zeke Mayo, and he had a rough game for sure, but they should be more upset with Dickinson because Texas Tech abused him. They had no answer for JT Toppin at all, Toppin answered himself with foul trouble otherwise he may have scored 30 points. Shoot he may have scored 40, let's be real: He had 21 points in 22 minutes. It was basically 5 on 4 every time Tech had the ball.
I have a minor concern with all the jumpers Tech takes. I hear things like this all the time: "If Tech shoots like this, they will be tough to beat in the tourney!" Well, that's true for Texas Tech and that's true for anyone. Hot shooting wrecks a lot of game plans and ends a lot of seasons. It's hard to think back to a big tourney upset that didn't involve hot shooting. I love it when the shots are falling for the Red Raiders, but it infuriates me when the shots don't fall.
On the other hand, Tech has three elite shooters where most teams struggle to have one. Chance McMillian, Kerwin Walton, and Chris Anderson can all absolutely kill it. Underrated or not talked about enough is that both McMillian and Anderson can do it off the dribble, a rare skill. That is definitely a weapon for Tech and definitely something the Raiders should, and do, take advantage of. It will likely be a long time before a team has three shooters like this again.
Unusually, I'm struggling to think of a player that Anderson brings to mind favorably. In the game thread yesterday I noted that Toppin has crazy spatial awareness, and our man @frostyraider510 chimed in at practically the same time with, "Toppin is a skinny version of Zach Randolph." That is spot on, a great comparison. So who does Anderson remind you of? I'm struggling here but it could be, even after 100 years of college basketball and a zillion players that Anderson is the first of his kind. Ok it's not likely but for now I'm a blank on this. I'm giddy about his future.
There was a really misplaced thread, or section of a thread, on the board this week with some misguided posters kind of being down on Darrion Williams. He may or may not be the best player on the team, but he is without question the leader of this team. Guy had 14 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and a block yesterday. He also hit a critical shot late, the kind of shot made by winning players for winning teams. He's not as fast as some guys, he can't shoot like some guys, but he's the leader and Tech is at their best when he plays well.
Colorado comes to town Wednesday, I'll be interested to see if Tech is suffering from any Kansas hangover. Last home game of the season, man it goes by so fast.
A note on seeding - we're hearing a lot about 2 vs 3 vs 4 vs 5. I see conversation about 2 v 3, and thoughts about just avoid the 5 seed. So one at a time here are my thoughts:
- 12 seeds are 55-101 against 5 seeds, so bring it on.
- 4 seed is functionally equivalent to a 5 seed, just as a 2 seed is functionally equivalent to a 3 seed.
- If a bracket goes to seed then 2 and 3 are going to play each other in the Sweet 16, 4 and 5 are going to play each other in the round of 32.
- And, finally, my favorite - you have to beat all comers anyway so I don't care who or when Tech plays.
I think at some point today, CBS will unveil the weekly top 4 seeds bracket. If you know when that's coming please let us know.
*It's a lot of teams.
