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Game Recap
I wasn’t in Lubbock, so I didn’t get to see the game. I followed along as best I could online and would love it if you guys could help out and fill in any blanks.
Player of the Game: Let’s go with Zach Smith, finished in double-figures this game with 10 points on 5 of 7 from the floor, which is something that hasn’t happened all that much this year to go along with 5 rebounds, a block and a steal.
High Flyer of the Game: Just on watching what we have in terms of highlights, it appeared to be the Zhaire Smith and Keenan Evans show.
Defender of the Game: Tough to tell without seeing the game, but when you have 6 steals, you’re probably going to get defender of the game and that’s what Jarrett Culver did. That’s just stupid and probably soem sort of record.
Multi-Purpose Player of the Game: Let’s go with Culver again, who finished with 8 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 0 turnovers, 2 blocks and 6 steals.
Game Notes:
- Loved seeing James Dickey coming back, and to all of the players like Tony Battie, who hasn’t been back in a long time. Just a great feeling to see those people get back. And shout-out to Chris Beard for pushing this. He wasn’t just a coach this week, he was a salesman and he’s really proud of this program and that makes me feel great.
- Rice hung around for most of the first half, keeping things close and they were apparently doing it with a zone defense that was keeping the Texas Tech offense stagnant. The first half, Texas Tech shot 36% and in the second half, the Red Raiders shot 63%. That will turn things around.
- I don’t recall a team shooting so poorly from the free throw line and still winning the game. If Texas Tech makes their free throws, then we’re talking about a 30 point win rather than a 20 point win. The biggest offenders were Zach Smith who missed all three of his free throws, as did Brandone Francise and Norense Odiase missed both of his attempts.
- Rice also started out pretty hot from beyond the three-point line and that’s somethign that this team has to do a better job of defending.
- The difference in the game was probably turnovers. Rice out-rebounded Texas Tech by 1, 35-34, but Texas Tech forced 26 flipping turnovers, while only turning the ball over 9 times themselves, 3 of them by Zach. Not only that, but this team started to roll in the second half and they had 14 fast break points and 48 points in the paint. There were 16 layups or dunks in the second half compared to just 3 in the first half.
- Kinda weird to think that this team can play a terrible first half of basketball and still win by 20. Texas Tech hosts Florida Atlantic on Tuesday and Abilene Christian on Friday before the holiday break.
Highlights