Man I feel for the OSU program right now. The basketball is not great, and that is keeping fans away. GIA had a lot of echoing last night. I tell you what though, I don't remember the guy's name but that freshman post player for them looks pretty promising. I think they play 3 freshman on the regular so lumps are to be expected - if these guys stay together they will get better.
When Pop Isaacs hit that first three pointer to start the scoring I said out loud, "Well that's different. Let's see what happens." I don't know if anyone else felt it but for me when Pop hit that shot I as a fan had a burst of confidence, it seemed to me there was a real chance that Texas Tech was going to be on - and they were. I love great defense but it's also nice to get a blowout win now and then, everyone can get loose and unwind - including me. I slept like a baby.
Here's the list of Big 12 teams that have swept two game road trips this season:
Texas Tech
TCU
That's the list. The longest road winning streak in conference play is two games. These teams have won consecutive road games but not back to back:
Houston twice but not back to back road games. If they beat UCF they will have won back to back road games.
Iowa State not back to back.
OU not back to back.
If UCF can close with a win at TCU that will be two but not back to back.
UC but not back to back.
There can be no doubt now that Texas Tech is firmly on the sunny side of the bubble. Win on Saturday and their first conference tourney game and it could bump them up a seed line. I see Tech often forecasted to be an 8 seed, I'm not sure that's true. It seems to me they are more currently a 7 seed. Getting Washington back at 100% and win the next two and I think they are a 5/4 seed caliber team even if they get seeded 7 or 8.
Unpopular opinion I'm sure, but I'm disappointed to see Lindsay apparently go. All talk is he's not very coachable, and if true Texas Tech doesn't need that nonsense. Lindsay does have a knack for scoring the ball and he will find a good landing spot where they let him score the ball and maybe not do much else. It's too bad a guy with skills like that can't have the mindset of an Andre Emmett or a Martin Zeno.
Robert Jennings last night had a couple of really, really nice plays. He made a sweet, timely pass that led to a bucket and then later he set a heads up screen that led to a basket. That screen was very heady and I like to see it. A lot of guys don't make that screen or have the situational awareness to know to make that screen. Good for him, plays like that should give him confidence - they sure give me confidence watching him.
Eemeli Yalaho seems to fit right in now and is definitely an asset out there. One thing I have noticed is he does not tend to get the ball knocked loose out of his hands, when he gets the ball he's got it and that's that.
It sure seems like Joe Toussaint, Darrion Williams, and Isaacs are peaking at the same time. Mabye Williams is always peaking because while I often say that Washington is the most important player for Texas Tech, I'm not sure that's as true as it once was. For certain Toussaint and Isaacs have elevated their play lately, or more accurately maybe they have returned to the play that made Texas Tech a terror to open conference play. The timing is perfect because good teams are the teams that surge to end the regular season.
I have to give a special mention to Chance McMillian. That guy is true road warrior. I think our man @J. Ramirez noted that McMillian has scored in double figures in every conference road game except one. Someone will probably research this, but for a true sixth man that is some rare air. It will be really fun to watch this guy develop as a player, and you can say that about a lot of Texas Tech players.
Baylor going to get rolled on Saturday.
When Pop Isaacs hit that first three pointer to start the scoring I said out loud, "Well that's different. Let's see what happens." I don't know if anyone else felt it but for me when Pop hit that shot I as a fan had a burst of confidence, it seemed to me there was a real chance that Texas Tech was going to be on - and they were. I love great defense but it's also nice to get a blowout win now and then, everyone can get loose and unwind - including me. I slept like a baby.
Here's the list of Big 12 teams that have swept two game road trips this season:
Texas Tech
TCU
That's the list. The longest road winning streak in conference play is two games. These teams have won consecutive road games but not back to back:
Houston twice but not back to back road games. If they beat UCF they will have won back to back road games.
Iowa State not back to back.
OU not back to back.
If UCF can close with a win at TCU that will be two but not back to back.
UC but not back to back.
There can be no doubt now that Texas Tech is firmly on the sunny side of the bubble. Win on Saturday and their first conference tourney game and it could bump them up a seed line. I see Tech often forecasted to be an 8 seed, I'm not sure that's true. It seems to me they are more currently a 7 seed. Getting Washington back at 100% and win the next two and I think they are a 5/4 seed caliber team even if they get seeded 7 or 8.
Unpopular opinion I'm sure, but I'm disappointed to see Lindsay apparently go. All talk is he's not very coachable, and if true Texas Tech doesn't need that nonsense. Lindsay does have a knack for scoring the ball and he will find a good landing spot where they let him score the ball and maybe not do much else. It's too bad a guy with skills like that can't have the mindset of an Andre Emmett or a Martin Zeno.
Robert Jennings last night had a couple of really, really nice plays. He made a sweet, timely pass that led to a bucket and then later he set a heads up screen that led to a basket. That screen was very heady and I like to see it. A lot of guys don't make that screen or have the situational awareness to know to make that screen. Good for him, plays like that should give him confidence - they sure give me confidence watching him.
Eemeli Yalaho seems to fit right in now and is definitely an asset out there. One thing I have noticed is he does not tend to get the ball knocked loose out of his hands, when he gets the ball he's got it and that's that.
It sure seems like Joe Toussaint, Darrion Williams, and Isaacs are peaking at the same time. Mabye Williams is always peaking because while I often say that Washington is the most important player for Texas Tech, I'm not sure that's as true as it once was. For certain Toussaint and Isaacs have elevated their play lately, or more accurately maybe they have returned to the play that made Texas Tech a terror to open conference play. The timing is perfect because good teams are the teams that surge to end the regular season.
I have to give a special mention to Chance McMillian. That guy is true road warrior. I think our man @J. Ramirez noted that McMillian has scored in double figures in every conference road game except one. Someone will probably research this, but for a true sixth man that is some rare air. It will be really fun to watch this guy develop as a player, and you can say that about a lot of Texas Tech players.
Baylor going to get rolled on Saturday.
