Game Links:
Tortilla Tossin’ Player of the Game: JT Toppin is so good on the block. it’s crazy and seemingly a lost art to be able to operate down low. Toppin scored 24 points in just 23 minutes, making 10 of 15 including 1 of 2 from deep, 12 boards, 1 assist, 2 steals, and 2 turnovers.
The Motion:
- That’s pretty basketball. Like ridiculously pretty basketball. A resounding 1.455 points per possession is crazy efficient, shooting 64% from the field and 56% from the three-point line, and I think it is all because JT Toppin is a threat to score if he’s on the block and everything opens up. Oh, and the defense allowed just 0.721 points per possession, which is equally as impressive.
- But to just say that it’s because of Toppin is reductive because the offense is flowing and moving and it is difficult to cover anyone and the cuts to the basket
- Elijah Hawkins and Christian Anderson made their debuts last night. Hawkins played just 13 minutes, but scored 7 points, had 5 assists, 2 steals and 3 turnovers on the night, while Anderson played 25 minutes scoring 9, grabbing 3 boards, dishing 4 assists and taking 3 steals. They affected the game defensively significantly, they were pests and their ability to find scoring plays were a big deal.
- Chance McMillian is quietly one of the most efficient players in the country right now. McMillian is the 13th best player right now in the nation (shoutout to Batcho who is 7th) and that is largely because he’s affecting the game is so many ways and just not taking bad shots (and making everything right now). McMillian was 6 of 7, 4 of 4 from deep with 3 assists, 1 rebound and 1 turnover in 25 minutes.
- The lob pass to Federicko was a beauty and although he played just 16 minutes, he was 4 of 4 from the floor and had 5 boards. He made a difference.
- Darrion Williams had 14 points on 5 of 9 from the field and scored 14 points. I thought the defensive play to get that ball where he had a technical foul was great, but the tech was appropriate, he walked right over that player and had no reason to do so. He had already punked the player by stealing the ball he didn’t need to do that.
- Some dominating team stats had Texas Tech holding Wyoming to 34% from the field and 21% from deep (which was supposed to be their strength and Texas Tech really guarded the 3-point line). The Cowboys had 25 turnovers and Texas Tech had 40 points off of those turnovers. Texas Tech dominated inside, 44 points in the paint to just 24 for Wyoming and also dominated the fast break points, 15 to 0 for Wyoming. Oh, and Texas Tech had 21 assists to just 5 for Wyoming, the Cowboys were having to work for every shot.
- Advanced stats says that the best player was McMillian with a BPM of +26.1, the Hawkins at +19.2, Federick at +13.6, Anderson at +13.2, Toppin at +11.5 and Williams at +10.8. It’s crazy to think that as good as Toppin was, there were other players affecting the box score even more than him and that’s a compliment to the rest of the team.
- Head coach Grant McCasland: “I thought for our team to have added Christian and Elijah it really showed how aggressive we can be defensively. The difference in the game for me was forcing turnovers. Our ball pressure ramped up and those guys just did a great job making it difficult for them. Our offense has a lot of guys who can score. As long as we keep sharing the basketball, this team can be really good. They’re so much fun to be around and to coach.”
- Up next? Texas Tech hosts Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Monday at 7:00 p.m. and broadcast on ESPN+.
Highlights