Game Links:
Tortilla Tossin’ Player of the Game: Pop Isaacs put on the heat in the first half, scoring 15 of his team-leading 22 points. He shot 6 of 11 in that 1st half and had just 1 turnover.
The Motion:
- I am hoping to watch some of this game before I post this, but that’s not likely. I’m currently at Youssouf’s basketball practice with screenshots (because there’s no internet) of box scores and previews. I’m definitely watching extended highlights.
- That second half Chance McMillian was heating up, going 3 of 6 (missing both 3-point attempts) and making 5 of 6 from the free throw line. McMillian finished the day going 6 of 11 overall and scoring 17 with 8 boards, 2 assists and just 1 turnover for the game.
- If I would have told you after 10 games that Robert Jennings would be indepensible by the end of the season what would you have said. I know what I would have said and I would have been wrong. Jennings scored 10 points in just 22 minutes, had 7 boards and the 3 turnovers hurt, but getting any production from the post that’s not named Darrion Williams or Warren Washington is an absolute bonus.
- It’s a coincidence or maybe it’s good defense, but Baylor couldn’t hit a 3-pointer to save their lives and neither could BYU. they were just 7 of 35 overall for 20% and 37% from the floor overall. When you don’t hit shots and you don’t get to the line, it’s a tough game to win and BYU only went to the line 12 times to 25 for Texas Tech.
- Texas Tech had 16 2nd chance points and just 7 for BYU. That’s a huge stat, to limit the Cougars to just 7 when they had an advantage inside. And to add to it, BYU only had 10 offensive boards to 9 for Texas Tech. BYU had 30 points in the paint, but Texas Tech pretty much neutralized that figure with 26 of their own.
- Two other 2nd half heros were Williams and Toussaint. Williams scored all 7 of his points in the 2nd half and Toussaint had 8 on 1 of 3 from the field, including a big 3-point shot, and 5 of 6 from the charity stripe.
- Any time this team gets production from 3 players it’s usually a pretty good sign. To get double-figures from Isaacs, Toussaint, Walton (who had 12 including 10 in the 1st half), Jennings with 10 and McMillian with 17, that’s some good stuff right there.
- Advanced stats and the box score +/- said that McMillian was the best player at +19.2 followed by Isaacs at +8.6, Walton at +8.4, Jennings at +2.2, and Toussaint at +1.1. Negatives were Williams at -1.8 and Yalaho at -4.2. I’d also like to mention that Lamar Washington, despite juust playing 9 minutes was a +7.0. He always gives full effort.
- Head coach Grant McCasland: “What a great atmosphere, it’s awesome to be at the Big 12 Championship. We knew facing a really talented offensive team in BYU that they would put you in a lot of problems. Early in the game our connected defense continued to improve and I thought we made it hard enough on them, even though they did miss a few open ones, our rebounding was tremendous. We’ve got a great fight. We’ve got a great team. I’m really thankful to be moving on.”
- Up next? Houston, today with tip-off at 6:00 p.m. in Kansas City.
Highlights