It is absolutely insane to think that this matchup was the home opener in conference play for this Texas Tech team back in January. Let’s dive into a little bit of what went right back in Lubbock and the keys to victory Tuesday night.
First, some numbers
Tech shot the ball incredibly well: The Red Raiders put on one of their most efficient nights shooting the basketball when these two played in Lubbock. Tech shot 59 percent from the field and 54 percent (7-13) from three. These two numbers are still the best that the Red Raiders have put up in either category in conference play and was the best overall shooting display of the season.
Tech got busy in the paint: It is hard to shoot the ball so well by purely stroking it on jumpshots. The Red Raiders went to work in the paint against the Cowboys in round one, dropping 46 points in the lane with seven second chance points. Tech’s offensive identity was slowly beginning to really take shape towards the beginning of conference play and this was one of the more pure definitions of it. This offense has been class when it revolves around ball distribution and paint touches, which feels like something we cannot stress enough on this site now.
OSU’s stars got theirs but nobody else did: Going into a game like this, it is essentially commonplace to assume the other team’s best players are going to get their shots and their points. In the first meeting, Bryce Thompson led the Cowboys with 17 points, but he has been out for several weeks with a torn labrum. Javon Small had 15 and John-Michael Wright had 14. Other than those three, though, OSU was pretty lackluster offensively. Brandon Garrison, the big kid, had just put up a monster performance against Baylor and was stifled in Lubbock.
Keys To The Game
Continue to spread the love: In the last game against West Virginia, Tech had 21 assists on 31 made shots. That is a ridiculous tally, just two shy of a season high. In the first matchup against OSU, the Red Raiders had 17 assists on 35 made shots, still close to 50 percent. This will kind of lead into my next point but if you want to disguise that you’re without the team’s best distributor, having everybody act as one is a great start.
Shooters shoot shots, Makers make shots: The Red Raiders have been at their best offensively this season when they are making shots. Very rarely have we seen them have to muscle their way into a win, and that is what it felt like against West Virginia Saturday. It was one of those days where everybody shot it well and that has to continue to win against the Cowboys.
Don’t let Garrison get away from you: Touching on the last point from the previous section, it’s not likely that Tech is going to completely take away guys like Javon Small or JMW. Wright has scored double-figures in 11 of the last 12, and he’s taken 22 threes in the last two games. I’m more intrigued than I am concerned about the matchup of Brandon Garrison against RJ and EY. Don’t really know what to expect there but he is capable of a big night.
Overall, this game feels a bit more like if Tech can handle business then the Red Raiders should get it done. Will not be a walk in the park but definitely not one I’m scared of.
First, some numbers
- KenPom No. 102, No. 116 in NCAA NET
- Averaging 68.8 points/game, allowing 77 points/game
- No. 12 in the Big 12 in three-point percentage, 30.9 percent
- Middle of the pack in defending the three-point line, giving up 33.7 percent
- One of the worst rebounding teams in the league, only pulling down 30 per game and 13th in both offensive and defensive rebounding statistics
Tech shot the ball incredibly well: The Red Raiders put on one of their most efficient nights shooting the basketball when these two played in Lubbock. Tech shot 59 percent from the field and 54 percent (7-13) from three. These two numbers are still the best that the Red Raiders have put up in either category in conference play and was the best overall shooting display of the season.
Tech got busy in the paint: It is hard to shoot the ball so well by purely stroking it on jumpshots. The Red Raiders went to work in the paint against the Cowboys in round one, dropping 46 points in the lane with seven second chance points. Tech’s offensive identity was slowly beginning to really take shape towards the beginning of conference play and this was one of the more pure definitions of it. This offense has been class when it revolves around ball distribution and paint touches, which feels like something we cannot stress enough on this site now.
OSU’s stars got theirs but nobody else did: Going into a game like this, it is essentially commonplace to assume the other team’s best players are going to get their shots and their points. In the first meeting, Bryce Thompson led the Cowboys with 17 points, but he has been out for several weeks with a torn labrum. Javon Small had 15 and John-Michael Wright had 14. Other than those three, though, OSU was pretty lackluster offensively. Brandon Garrison, the big kid, had just put up a monster performance against Baylor and was stifled in Lubbock.
Keys To The Game
Continue to spread the love: In the last game against West Virginia, Tech had 21 assists on 31 made shots. That is a ridiculous tally, just two shy of a season high. In the first matchup against OSU, the Red Raiders had 17 assists on 35 made shots, still close to 50 percent. This will kind of lead into my next point but if you want to disguise that you’re without the team’s best distributor, having everybody act as one is a great start.
Shooters shoot shots, Makers make shots: The Red Raiders have been at their best offensively this season when they are making shots. Very rarely have we seen them have to muscle their way into a win, and that is what it felt like against West Virginia Saturday. It was one of those days where everybody shot it well and that has to continue to win against the Cowboys.
Don’t let Garrison get away from you: Touching on the last point from the previous section, it’s not likely that Tech is going to completely take away guys like Javon Small or JMW. Wright has scored double-figures in 11 of the last 12, and he’s taken 22 threes in the last two games. I’m more intrigued than I am concerned about the matchup of Brandon Garrison against RJ and EY. Don’t really know what to expect there but he is capable of a big night.
Overall, this game feels a bit more like if Tech can handle business then the Red Raiders should get it done. Will not be a walk in the park but definitely not one I’m scared of.
