Game Links:
Tortilla Tossin’ Player of the Game: Devan Cambridge was that guy for me yesterday, just so explosive down low and San Jose State didn’t have an answer for his ability to maneuver down low. 15 points, which led the team, on 7 of 12, with 5 boards, a block and 2 turnovers.
The Motion:
- SJSU is a fun team to watch, I like watching that offense and they’ve got players that can put the ball in the bucket. I first thought that Texas Tech would have their hands full keeping pace, but the Spartans really had a tough time from deep, only 4 of 25 and pretty well shot themselves out of the game, well, they technically never really shot that well, 36% in the first half and 32% in the second half.
- Texas Tech sort of won the game because of points in the paint, 38 to 22 over San Jose State. Texas Tech didn’t really shoot that well, only 39% for the game and only 19% from deep. That was really a problem, just couldn’t get open looks and SJSU wasn’t going to let Pop Isaacs get a clean look, if there was a double-team on Washington down low, it wasn’t going to be his man.
- That sort of bleeds into the next item, which is that when there’s really only one shooter on the floor, it makes it that much easier to defend that shooter, which is Isaacs. Toussaint isn’t a shooter, and neither is Cambridges, they are scorers, but not shooters. Darrion Williams is, but he’s pretty selective thus far.
- I am pretty sure that Chance McMillian is going to be a good shooter, he wasn’t yesterday, but I think over the course of the year he will be good and fine. Some his shots were maybe a bit forced, but I think he’ll be okay.
- This will be one of those things that Pop Isaacs will learn, and he’s definitely getting it I think, which is that if his shot isn’t falling, he has to contribute in other ways and continue to be a pest on defense. He did that. Only 1 of 7 from the field, but he had 7 boards, 5 assists, 2 steals, and only 1 turnover. Isaacs led the team with those 7 boards.
- Texas Tech definitely made better on the turnovers, only 11 for the game, which is better than the 18 the last time out.
- I’m not certain what to think about Joe Toussaint, he’s a throwback to a point guard that’s not a shooter, which I think this team needs ore of, but he’s tough and has those qualities that you sort want. He’s relentless on defense and fearless going to the basket.
- Head coach Grant McCasland: “I thought our guys’ grit, rebounding, and guarding just through a lack of offense, to be honest, shows that our team’s really mature and I thought it was a gritty win. Give them credit though because I thought they came in here with a great plan and made it hard on us. Our guys showed some composure and found a way to separate late in the game.”
- Up next? Thursday, November 16th at the United Supermarkets Arena against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, tip-off is at 7:00 pm and will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Highlights