Game Links:
Tortilla Tossin’ Player of the Game: Warren Washington gets it for me and I know other players had more points, but Washington’s affect on the game on offense and defense was great. Washington was a perfect 5 of 5 from the floor, with 15 points, just 3 boards and 1 turnover, 3 blocks, and 1 steal.
The Motion:
- Texas Tech won this game because they had a better offense. And not just better, but significantly better. Also, Texas Tech can credit their defense for holding Texas to some low shooting percentages, but Texas simply couldn’t keep pace. In fact, Texas had a couple of players that were issues, Shedrick went 1 of 7 and he was much better heading into the game, and Disu was 3 of 9. Had they shot better, I think this is a different game, but with Washington and Williams playing defense here, it was a problem for them.
- Want some stats that usually mean Texas Tech loses? Texas had 15 offensive boards to just 4 for Texas Tech and the Longhorns had 21 2nd chance points to just 5 for Texas Tech. That meant that Texas had a 38 to 27 rebounding advantage. As far as stats that were in Texas Tech’s favor? Texas Tech forced 14 turnovers and only had 9 on their end and the points off of turnovers was 23 to 12 in favor of Texas Tech.
- Texas couldn’t stop the Texas Tech offense, 53% from the field and 47% from deep. It was the flow of the dribble drive and the screens up top that Texas couldn’t stop. Not only that, but Texas Tech just didn’t turn the ball over and to have 1.2 points per possession on the road against a ranked opponent is sort of ridiculous.
- Pop Isaacs was terrific and we’re now at 3 games where he’s shooting much better and that makes a huge difference. Isaacs was 7 of 15 including 3 of 5 from deep and he also only had 2 turnovers. He didn’t add much else, except for 2 steals, but those steals were critical and he was engaged defensively.
- Joe Toussaint was so good and his play is so unconventional. McCasland just lets him cook because sometimes what he does isn’t in the offensive playbook. Toussaint ended the night with 15 points on 7 of 13, 5 boards, 5 assists, a steal and 3 turnovers.
- When Texas or any other team has to cover 3 players who can shoot like Isaacs, McMillian, and sometimes Walton, then it’s that sort of pressure that creates problems. McMillian was electric and when he guarded Abmas he was relentless. McMillian only had 11 points, but the exclamation point, that breakaway dunk, and 5 boards was perfect off the bench.
- I do want to mention that bench. Texas was maybe the deeper team, but Texas Tech’s bench scored 20 points and Washington scored 4 and Jennings game the team 5. I’ll take it.
- Some advanced stats (Box Score +/-), Isaacs was +11.2 and Washington was +13.5, while Walton was a -8.2. He wasn’t bad, he just wasn’t present in 28 minutes. Everyone has harped on Cunningham from Texas and he was -8.9, which was the worst for the game, but Walton wasn’t that far behind.
- Texas Tech head coach Grant McCasland: “The way Big 12 games are, you have to stay connected for 40 minutes. Their rebounding caused us problems but our ability to get to the free-throw line was the difference in the game. When we needed to step up defensively, I thought we did.”
- Up next? Texas Tech hosts Oklahoma State on Tuesday, January 9th at 7:00 pm with the game on ESPN+.
Highlights