Date: Wednesday, November 30th
Time: 6:30 pm
Good Guys: Texas Tech Red Raiders (5-1 0-0)
Bad Guys: Incarnate Word Cardinals (2-2, 0-0)
Location: United Supermarkets Arena | Lubbock, Texas
TV/Stream: FOX College Sports (FOX Sports Go App)
Radio/Stream: 97.3 FM/104.3 FM/950 AM
| THE STARTERS | Pts / Reb | |
|---|---|---|
| POINT GUARD | Devon Thomas (6-0/170) | 5.0 / 3.0* |
| SHOOTING GUARD | Kennan Evans (6-3/180) | 12.8 / 3.0* |
| SMALL FORWARD | Justin Gray (6-6/210) | 9.2 / 5.5 |
| POWER FORWARD | Zach Smith (6-8/220) | 11.5 / 7.7 |
| CENTER | Anthony Livingston (6-9/260) | 12.7 / 5.0 |
| THE BENCH | Pts / Reb | |
| SIXTH MAN | Niem Stevenson (6-6/205) | 7.3 / 2.3 |
| SEVENTH MAN | Aaron Ross (6-8/225) | 14.8 / 4.8 |
| EIGHTH MAN | Shadell Millinghaus (6-2/195) | 7.8 / 3.5 |
| NINTH MAN | Giovanni McLean (6-2/195) | 3.2 / 0.6 |
| TENTH MAN | Matthew Temple (6-10/240) | 2.2 / 1.3 |
| THE STARTERS | Pts / Reb | |
| POINT GUARD | Jalin Hart (5-11/152) | 16.5 / 6.0* |
| SHOOTING GUARD | Tyler Singleton (6-3/175) | 12.8 / 3.3 |
| SMALL FORWARD | Sam Burmeister (6-4/200) | 6.0 / 4.0 |
| POWER FORWARD | Shawn Johnson (6-5/195) | 23.0 / 9.3 |
| CENTER | Devin Wyatt (6-8/205) | 5.3 / 4.8 |
| THE BENCH | Pts / Reb | |
| SIXTH MAN | Simi Socks (6-6/210) | 10.0 / 2.5 |
| SEVENTH MAN | Jorden Kite (6-3/180) | 6.5 / 1.0 |
| EIGHTH MAN | Jerred Kite (6-11/215) | 1.0 / 2.8 |
* Assists.
1. KenPom says that Incarnate Word is 291st overall, 298th in AdjO and 267th in AdjD. Meanwhile, Texas Tech is hovering around that 35 to 30 range, and as of Monday night when I’m writing this post, Texas Tech is 31st overall, 42nd in AdjO and 27th in AdjD. The defensive numbers are probably the most important as far as I’m concerned. Defense travels.
2. How in the heck are there two players named Kite, presumably brothers, one is 6-3 and the other 6-11? Jorden is a redshirt freshman while Jerred is a senior. They also have a player with the last name “Socks” which I pretty much love.
3. I didn’t get a chance to do a post-game write-up on the win against Idaho State. It was by far the best the team has looked offensively, but Idaho State was playing short-handed, without their best player who was suspended, and they just aren’t a highly rated team. The soft non-conference schedule will get a little tougher as Rice comes to town and they’re 112th in KenPom ratings, while Richmond is 96th overall. This team is going to start Big 12 play against Iowa State largely untested.
4. There was a point in the game against Idaho State where Texas Tech ran out a lineup of Evans, Millinghaus, Stevenson, Gray and Temple. That’s a four-guard lineup that’s really interesting. Plus, the lineup designated above is how Beard started the game, with Thomas at the point with Evans at the off-guard, Gray at small forward and Smith at the power forward while Livingston is at center. Beard really isn’t afraid to tinker with the lineup and with Ross sitting out a few games to make sure he’s all healthy, Beard has plenty of options and he’s not afraid to use them.
5. Tonight’s game shouldn’t prove to be much of a challenge and I’d expect another 20-point win. As an aside, Gio McLane had to stay an extra couple of days in Cancun with some sort of passport issue. I hope he had the time of his life unchaperoned and in Cancun without a care in the world. I also hope he’s back in Lubbock.