Game Links:
Tortilla Tossin’ Player of the Game: Federiko Federiko, come on down. Federiko was fantastic, including defensively, where he went 11 of 13 from the floor with 12 boards, 5 assists, 1 block and 1 turnover. A dominant performance from the man with the same first and last name.
The Motion:
- Also dominant was Chance McMillian, who is just so efficient, going 8 of 9 from the floor, including 3 of 4 from deep, 3 boards, 5 assists, 1 turnover and 1 steal. His ability to take good shots and make them is obscene. He’s so smooth and he’s going to play professionally, not sure if with the NBA, but he’s so good.
- The team scored 86 points despite no one else really shooting that well, or over 50%. That’s the power of how two players can dominate a game, 53% from the floor and 35% from beyond the arc and only 62% from the free throw line. ORU was just terrible shooting the ball, 7 of 25 from deep (28%) and 18 of 53 from the floor (34%) with just .781 points per possession and scoring only on 34% of their possessions. That’s not good.
- Compared to Texas Tech, the Red Raiders scored on 59% of possessions, and 1.323 points per possession, which is great. The problem from an offensive and defensive point of view is that ORU is a terrible team and they sort of proved that out last night. I don’t think the offense or defense are “fixed” as a result of having played this game, ORU wasn’t going to really be a barometer for you at all.
- Texas Tech out-rebounded ORU 41-28 without your best rebounder. Texas Tech had just 10 turnovers, to 15 for the Golden Eagles, but converted those 15 turnovers into 24 points to just 4 for ORU, which means much better transition defense. Points in the paint was in favor of Texas Tech, 46-10, ORU settled quite a bit.
- Kerwin Walton is in a slump and this game and the next game, don’t be surprised to see Walton try to shoot his way out of it. He should take better shots, and he missed that one at the rim, but he needs to score in different ways.
- Darrion Williams scored 10 on 3 of 7, but he had 9 assists and just 2 turnovers, which is great. Also happy that Elijah Hawkins also had just 2 turnovers with 4 assists. He was much better overall, not really any bad mistakes. Having multiple guys like McMillian, Hawkins, Williams and Anderson pass the ball makes an offense especially dangerous.
- Christian Anderson is a really good freshman, Anderson finished with 11 points on 4 of 10 from the floor, 3 of 8 from deep. He’s definitely a shooter and would be good with him creating more inside, but for a freshman, he is really advanced.
- Advanced stats say that McMillian was +24.8, then Federiko with +23.0 and Williams at +19.2. The rest were negative: Overton -0.6; Anderson -2.0; Hawkins -2.1; Walton -8.4; and Yalaho -13.3.
- Head coach Grant McCasland: “I think our ability to guard in the middle of the floor and do it consistently was the difference. Guarding over the course of the game showed growth. We just played better on that end that led to early baskets in transition to open the game up. We started great. I was thrilled with that. Fede was unbelievable tonight, his composure, aggressiveness. His floor game. Tremendous and solid in every area.”
- Up next is Lamar on Saturday, December 21st at noon against Lamar. Final non-conference game.
Highlights