Game Links:
Tortilla Tossin’ Player of the Game: It seems silly to give this to Kyler Edwards, but honestly, I’m just happy that he decided to shoot a bit more and make more of an effort offensively, and these are all things that I think are important despite the lack of box score production. Edwards finished with 10 points, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, and just 1 turnover, and I’d add that his defense was exceptional yesterday.
The Motion:
- You know why I love a game like this? Texas Tech was just slightly better. Just enough better in a handful of categories to be better than Texas and that’s always fun. Texas Tech shot better, making 44% of their shots compared to 35% for UT. Texas Tech being the better team at the line, which is honestly the reason why Texas Tech won, making 20 of 26, while Texas made just 18 of 27. Most of the box score was indiscernible for the most part as these two teams were really pretty even overall.
- Mac McClung, despite having a pretty junky game, he took a lot of shots to get to 16 points, 13 overall, had a team-high 3 turnovers, and had it not been making 6 of 7 free throws, this would maybe be one of his worst games that I can remember.
- The sweetest number in the box score? Terrence Shannon did not attempt a three-point shot. Amazingly that was the perfect game for Shannon who made 5 of 7 for 11 points, 3 boards (could be more), and most importantly taking it to the damn rack.
- I love that the freshmen helped lead that second half lead. Lots of good minutes for Chibuzo Agbo, Tyreek Smith, and Clarence Nadolny where they didn’t just fill minutes, but excelled. That’s got to feel goo for so many people, from the players themselves to the coaches who trusted them. And Agbo hitting those 2 free throws at the end of the game. Don’t tell my that Beard wasn’t proud of him.
Every day should end like this. pic.twitter.com/RrOkB0DI34
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) February 28, 2021
- I love seeing 5 guys in double-figures and Marcus Santos-Silva with a near-double-double, 10 points, 9 rebounds, and as Carlos Silva, Jr. noted, not one foul. MSS was much better passing out of the post and that’s beneficial
- The defense really tightened up in the second half. Texas shot a ton more free throws, so they went to the line 19 times, but they only made 5 of 25 for 20% and 2 of 14 from the three-point line, good for 14%. I’d say the free throws for Texas Tech, 12 of 17 in the second half and the additional defense was so much better.
- Head coach Chris Beard:
“I thought today was a good game,” said Texas Tech coach Chris Beard who improved his home record to 72-13. “Two teams that are trying really hard. Felt like last day of February type game. From our perspective, for the first time in a while we felt like we played stretches of Texas Tech basketball. We get the five guys in double figures scoring balance offensively. We had another low turnover game today, had a couple bad timing turnovers, but for the most part our guys took care of the basketball. Then, our defense showed up in the second half when we needed it the most.”
- Up next? TCU on Tuesday, March 2nd at 6:00 p.m. with the game being bradcast on ESPN+.
Highlights