I keep thinking this Raider team has good players who just haven't put a whole game together yet. Maybe that's true, but I chug so much delicious basketball koolaid that sometimes I can't trust my own eyes. I think maybe I have drank too much of something because this Tech team is pretty good.
Texas Tech has lost four games by a combined 11 points, including a pair of one point losses. That seems close.
JT Toppin had a nice game yesterday, I guess everyone knows that but I did not realize he only played 26 minutes. 26 really big, noticeable, heavy minutes.
I know some people have been expecting this, and I have too: I think the starting guards from here on out are Chance McMillian, Elijah Hawkins, and Christian Anderson. The best Texas Tech team game by game will feature a combination of these guys. I think Kevin Overton spells them, and along with position-less Darrion Williams that is the guard rotation. Any other guard play will be of the 1 to 2 minute variety. That's just where the team is right now, and these five guys in the guard role give Texas Tech their best guard play.
Toppin and his gigantic 26 minutes not to be undersold, but team lead in minutes was McMillian (37), Hawkins (35), and Anderson (34). These guys must play. Anderson, I think, is most susceptible to losing minutes because, and only because, Big 12 road life is rough on freshmen.
Somebody probably knows the exact statistic, but by my count Hawkins has 700 assists and no turnovers. I expect guys who handle the ball a lot to lead the team in turnovers, but man Hawkins is seeing the floor at a high level right now. At some point he could really cool off, but I hope that's in July summer leagues if it has to happen at all.
We talked about seeing Toppin and Federiko Federiko on the floor together, I think maybe after the Utah or BYU game. I still want to see more of it. Federiko has shown some really nice passes, I'm very comfortable with him getting the ball anywhere on the court. I saw some chatter about having him for two years? Bring it on.
On a personal note, I don't now nor never have I wanted Texas Tech to be Just A Guy. You know who's just a guy? Kansas State. TCU. Oklahoma State. Most teams. I always like teams that get after it defensively, I was always really pleased to watch Beard's Tech teams because they got after it. When Adams fell apart and last year with McCasland's first team, the defense was just a guy. It was heartbreaking - but now we see some old school defense. These guys stay between their man and the basket at all times. That's about as old school as defense gets, and really it's a lot like a Bob Knight defense - man to man, stay between your man and the basket. Really it gives Tech extra opportunities to win, because some nights the ball just isn't going to fall but a good defense can make up for that.
At Cincinnati Tuesday night (ESPNU, 6p LLT), will be interesting to see how Tech plays. They've been a solid road team and are going into a team that really needs some wins. UC won in Lubbock last season and I've had to hear about it from my in-laws for a year, hopefully it's payback time.
The Big 12 version of Texas Tech, at this moment, is solidly without question a tourney team. The Raiders have elevated their play in conference, that's what good teams do.
I will say this too, bring back Iowa State. Bring back Central Florida. Bring back the Aggies and St. Joseph's School Of Doodoo.
Texas Tech has lost four games by a combined 11 points, including a pair of one point losses. That seems close.
JT Toppin had a nice game yesterday, I guess everyone knows that but I did not realize he only played 26 minutes. 26 really big, noticeable, heavy minutes.
I know some people have been expecting this, and I have too: I think the starting guards from here on out are Chance McMillian, Elijah Hawkins, and Christian Anderson. The best Texas Tech team game by game will feature a combination of these guys. I think Kevin Overton spells them, and along with position-less Darrion Williams that is the guard rotation. Any other guard play will be of the 1 to 2 minute variety. That's just where the team is right now, and these five guys in the guard role give Texas Tech their best guard play.
Toppin and his gigantic 26 minutes not to be undersold, but team lead in minutes was McMillian (37), Hawkins (35), and Anderson (34). These guys must play. Anderson, I think, is most susceptible to losing minutes because, and only because, Big 12 road life is rough on freshmen.
Somebody probably knows the exact statistic, but by my count Hawkins has 700 assists and no turnovers. I expect guys who handle the ball a lot to lead the team in turnovers, but man Hawkins is seeing the floor at a high level right now. At some point he could really cool off, but I hope that's in July summer leagues if it has to happen at all.
We talked about seeing Toppin and Federiko Federiko on the floor together, I think maybe after the Utah or BYU game. I still want to see more of it. Federiko has shown some really nice passes, I'm very comfortable with him getting the ball anywhere on the court. I saw some chatter about having him for two years? Bring it on.
On a personal note, I don't now nor never have I wanted Texas Tech to be Just A Guy. You know who's just a guy? Kansas State. TCU. Oklahoma State. Most teams. I always like teams that get after it defensively, I was always really pleased to watch Beard's Tech teams because they got after it. When Adams fell apart and last year with McCasland's first team, the defense was just a guy. It was heartbreaking - but now we see some old school defense. These guys stay between their man and the basket at all times. That's about as old school as defense gets, and really it's a lot like a Bob Knight defense - man to man, stay between your man and the basket. Really it gives Tech extra opportunities to win, because some nights the ball just isn't going to fall but a good defense can make up for that.
At Cincinnati Tuesday night (ESPNU, 6p LLT), will be interesting to see how Tech plays. They've been a solid road team and are going into a team that really needs some wins. UC won in Lubbock last season and I've had to hear about it from my in-laws for a year, hopefully it's payback time.
The Big 12 version of Texas Tech, at this moment, is solidly without question a tourney team. The Raiders have elevated their play in conference, that's what good teams do.
I will say this too, bring back Iowa State. Bring back Central Florida. Bring back the Aggies and St. Joseph's School Of Doodoo.
