This is quite a bit of my prep for tonight after watching two taped games of #25 KSU and from talking to a few broadcasters around the league that have seen the Wildcats in person recently.
KSU LOSSES: to Maryland by one point (69-68) and to Kansas in Lawrence last week by two (90-88) after no travel was called on KU’s Svi Mykhailiuk.
KSU'S NOTABLE WINS: Boston College, Washington State, Saint Louis, Colorado State, Oklahoma and Texas
* Kansas State starts three sophomores and two seniors and essentially their top six players are quality. Their RPI is 48, yours is currently 56.
* Make no mistake, this game for Texas Tech is a big one. There are no off nights in this league and tonight is a perfect example of that .... if you can't hold serve at home vs this KSU team it can wreck your season in some ways as you'll be chasing this loss for the rest of the way. Must take care of business tonight to get back to .500 in the league with games in Norman this weekend and back at home versus TCU and Oklahoma State next week.
What Kansas State is:
* KSU is very disciplined and patient on offense. The Wildcats will set multiple screens and hand offs with constant movement in the half court and use clock to get a good shot. They'll wait for you to screw up on a switch or your defensive rotation and then capitalize.
* KSU is very opportunistic in transition ... they know when to push and when to slow it down, all with taking care of the ball in mind.
* On defense, their identity is a really solid man to man team. They look to help one another. They’ll switch some and almost always double team in the post.
* Ultimately they don’t turn it over, play solid defense and work to get good shots on offense.
Key KSU Personnel:
Wesley Iwundu (6-7, Senior): Leading scorer and team leader. Very versatile and can play or guard anyone from 1-4. In the games I watched he will try and post up smaller players on the block. Tech must limit the damage he can do in transition.
DJ Johnson (6-9, Senior): Lefty, physical post player. He’s got 25 blocks on the season and tries to block everything. He will have a hard time guarding Ross and Livingston I’d think but I think the same will be true on the other end of the floor too. Temple and Norense will see time on him too I’d think. Must make him guard though and possibly double him in the post since he’s turnover prone . Had 26 points vs the Terps.
Dean Wade (6-10, Sophomore): Very skilled and can shoot it. I watched their game vs Maryland and when he comes out to set a high ball screen if you don’t switch it he will pick and pop for a good look from three. He missed both of ‘em vs the Terps but I’d switch everything if I’m Tech.
Barry Brown (6-3, Sophomore): Aggressive to score and has shot it more than anyone on the roster. In the games I watched, he takes some bad/tough shots … but he will keep shooting. He’s mainly trying to get to the rim and get you to foul him.
Kamau Stokes (6-0, Sophomore): Half of his shots are threes … appears Bruce Weber has given him the green light if he’s open. Versus Colorado State he had eight assists … likes to drive to suck the defense in and then kick it out but when he’s forced to finish he really struggles.
How you win this game:
* Their senior post player, DJ Johnson is a big, physical 4-5 man likes to block shots. They aren't the same team without him on the floor. He will go for the shot fake as he tries to block everything ... getting him in foul trouble and making him guard is something that needs to happen tonight.
* The rebounding battle is also something to watch, they live off of 2nd chance opportunities and average 10 offensive rebounds a game. Zach Smith and Justin Gray will be big here.
* Ball screen defense. KSU will work the shot clock at times and wait for you to make a mistake and then try and capitalize. Communication by Texas Tech on the defensive end is pertinent.
* Must limit turnovers. Chris Beard preaches 8 turnovers or less a game and you wouldn't think it but Kansas State is forcing 17 turnovers a game in their three league games ... if you limit turnovers you'll win.
KSU LOSSES: to Maryland by one point (69-68) and to Kansas in Lawrence last week by two (90-88) after no travel was called on KU’s Svi Mykhailiuk.
KSU'S NOTABLE WINS: Boston College, Washington State, Saint Louis, Colorado State, Oklahoma and Texas
* Kansas State starts three sophomores and two seniors and essentially their top six players are quality. Their RPI is 48, yours is currently 56.
* Make no mistake, this game for Texas Tech is a big one. There are no off nights in this league and tonight is a perfect example of that .... if you can't hold serve at home vs this KSU team it can wreck your season in some ways as you'll be chasing this loss for the rest of the way. Must take care of business tonight to get back to .500 in the league with games in Norman this weekend and back at home versus TCU and Oklahoma State next week.
What Kansas State is:
* KSU is very disciplined and patient on offense. The Wildcats will set multiple screens and hand offs with constant movement in the half court and use clock to get a good shot. They'll wait for you to screw up on a switch or your defensive rotation and then capitalize.
* KSU is very opportunistic in transition ... they know when to push and when to slow it down, all with taking care of the ball in mind.
* On defense, their identity is a really solid man to man team. They look to help one another. They’ll switch some and almost always double team in the post.
* Ultimately they don’t turn it over, play solid defense and work to get good shots on offense.
Key KSU Personnel:
Wesley Iwundu (6-7, Senior): Leading scorer and team leader. Very versatile and can play or guard anyone from 1-4. In the games I watched he will try and post up smaller players on the block. Tech must limit the damage he can do in transition.
DJ Johnson (6-9, Senior): Lefty, physical post player. He’s got 25 blocks on the season and tries to block everything. He will have a hard time guarding Ross and Livingston I’d think but I think the same will be true on the other end of the floor too. Temple and Norense will see time on him too I’d think. Must make him guard though and possibly double him in the post since he’s turnover prone . Had 26 points vs the Terps.
Dean Wade (6-10, Sophomore): Very skilled and can shoot it. I watched their game vs Maryland and when he comes out to set a high ball screen if you don’t switch it he will pick and pop for a good look from three. He missed both of ‘em vs the Terps but I’d switch everything if I’m Tech.
Barry Brown (6-3, Sophomore): Aggressive to score and has shot it more than anyone on the roster. In the games I watched, he takes some bad/tough shots … but he will keep shooting. He’s mainly trying to get to the rim and get you to foul him.
Kamau Stokes (6-0, Sophomore): Half of his shots are threes … appears Bruce Weber has given him the green light if he’s open. Versus Colorado State he had eight assists … likes to drive to suck the defense in and then kick it out but when he’s forced to finish he really struggles.
How you win this game:
* Their senior post player, DJ Johnson is a big, physical 4-5 man likes to block shots. They aren't the same team without him on the floor. He will go for the shot fake as he tries to block everything ... getting him in foul trouble and making him guard is something that needs to happen tonight.
* The rebounding battle is also something to watch, they live off of 2nd chance opportunities and average 10 offensive rebounds a game. Zach Smith and Justin Gray will be big here.
* Ball screen defense. KSU will work the shot clock at times and wait for you to make a mistake and then try and capitalize. Communication by Texas Tech on the defensive end is pertinent.
* Must limit turnovers. Chris Beard preaches 8 turnovers or less a game and you wouldn't think it but Kansas State is forcing 17 turnovers a game in their three league games ... if you limit turnovers you'll win.
