Kansas 67, Texas Tech 58
* The Flex is a shout-out to Tubby Smith’s flex offense and a place for us to set some screens, make some cuts and discuss the game.
- Don’t be down. I think I remember the graphic during the game that Texas Tech is 0-15 at Allen Fieldhouse and it’s one of the tougher places to play in the country. Plus, Kansas is really good, 2nd best team in the country. To only lose by 9 at Kansas says a little something about this team. Kansas has some terrific athletes and when Texas Tech gets down on the shot clock, other teams have to switch or there are some match-ups that someone can exploit and with those long defenders for Kansas can defend and make the shot difficult.
- Texas Tech uncharacteristically turned the ball over. During Texas Tech’s five game winning streak, Texas Tech had more than 10 turnovers only 1 time. Against Baylor, where Texas Tech had 13, but they also had 16 assists. Texas Tech finished with 14 turnovers, as did Kansas and I’d guess that a bunch of those Kansas turnovers was in the second half.
- Toddrick Gotcher did a terrific job of keeping Texas Tech in the game on the first hal. He was brilliant from deep and it makes me think how Texas Tech is going to replace him next year. Gray, Williamson, Evans, Thomas and Jackson all need to improve that three-point shot. Gotcher had 12 points and was just launching three-point shots. Gotcher was the only player that finished in double-figures, making 6 of 13, including 5 of 9 three-point shots and had 20 points, 2 assists, and 3 steals.
- Texas Tech was down by 8 at the end of the first half and when the second half started, Keenan Evans found Matthew Temple for a layup and then Kansas seemingly went on a run and I wasn’t sure that Tech would recover. Texas Tech was down by 18 at one point, 49-31, and I thought that Kansas was about to open the faucets full blast, but Texas Tech continued to battle. Texas Tech went on a 8-0 run and it ended up being a 10 point game.
- I think part of the comeback was because Texas Tech went to a zone defense, to try to curb Kansas’ three-point shooting, which killing Texas Tech for spurts. That zone defense effectively shut things down for Kansas for better part of the second half and the other result was that Texas Tech was able to get their hands on a handful of passes.
- A handful of players contributed even though Gotcher was the only one to break double-figures. Evans had 9 points, but he also had 4 turnovers to just 5 assists, and Aaron Ross finally cooled down a bit, as he made only 2 of 10 from the floor with 8 points. Zach Smith ended up with 14 boards and 3 points.
- Aside from Gotcher, Texas Tech was pretty abysmal from the field, making only 32% of their field goals.
- On the positive end of the stats, Texas Tech did out-rebound Kansas, 39-34 and had 14 offensive boards to Kansas’ 9. Texas Tech had 10 steals on the day, again, thanks to that zone defense in the second half. Texas Tech made 16 of 18 free throws, which is great, but really didn’t get to the line like they did when they went on that 5 game winning streak.
- Texas Tech has to face West Virginia in Morgantown on Wednesday. That will be tough game as well with the last game of the year being at home, next Saturday against Kansas state.