Game Links:
Tortilla Tossin’ Player of the Game: Elijah Hawkins had a pretty terrific game overall, especially in the 2nd half. Hawkins had 16 points, 3 boards, 9 assists, 1 steal and 3 turnovers. Of those 16 points, 10 of them were scored in the 2nd half and Texas Tech needed every single one of them.
The Motion:
- Yes, the last 5 minutes of the game was very ugly and yes I am glad to get a win. McCasland said after the game that this was an admittedly ugly last 5 minutes and that’s okay, as long as you get a win. Also after the game, McCasland said that he needed to do a better job with minutes. For the record, Overton played just 10 minutes and Walton played 13 and Toppin played 15.
- I thought that that K-State really sort of gifted this win because for whatever reason they fell in love with the 3-point shot and they really shouldn’t have. They aren’t making a ton of them for the season and maybe the idea of making 36% in the first half teased them, but they made 25% in the second half.
- Also after the game McCasland said that Toppin wasn’t 100%, but he wanted to go and I don’t know that Texas Tech wins without a second post player.
- When K-State’s Hawkins hit those 2 3’s in the second half, that was Darrion Williams just failing to get out there to guard him. I know on the broadcast they mentioned that McCasland didn’t like how Elijah didn’t necessarily play pick and rolls correctly or something like that, but that sort of defense, where he’s just not getting to his man, is somewhat infuriating for me personally.
- Texas Tech did get back to some better team stats. They dominated points in the paint, 40-18. Somehow Texas Tech shot just 7 free throws, while K-State shot just 12 in a very physical game. Talk about swallowing your whistle. Texas Tech also out-rebounded the Wildcats, 35-24, that’s a pretty healthy advantage.
- Texas Tech uncharacteristically had 14 turnovers, while 4 of them were within that last 5 minute stretch.
- Despite Williams’ defensive struggles, he did show up on offense. 15 points on 7 of 15, 4 boards, 3 assists, and 3 turnovers (that weird situation between him and Hawkins). I also don’t know how someone like Chance McMillian just gets up 4 shots the entire game.
- Head coach Grant McCasland: “I’ve got be honest, this was one of the ugliest finishes to a game that I’ve been a part of, and I say that thankful that we won,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said. “Both teams struggled to put the ball in the hole. We were dropping the ball out of bounds, they were throwing it away and we were throwing it away. I felt like we got stalled out. Give credit to their switch ability, size and length. They anticipate well and when they played in between it made it difficult on us.”
- Advanced stats say that Christian Anderson was +11.3, Hawkins +11.2, Federiko +8.6, Walton +3.1 and Williams +0.8. McMillian, Toppin and Overton were negative.
- Up next? Texas Tech will host Arizona on Saturday, January 18th with tip-off at 1:00 p.m. and the game on ESPN2.
Highlights