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Game Recap
Tortilla Tossin’ Player of the Game: Davion Warren had himself a night. The senior scored 23 on 9 of 11, including 2 of 4 from three, 4 boards, 1 assist, 4 steals, and 4 turnovers on the night. His clutch scoring, especially his 13 in the second half, were crucial (understatement).
Multi-Purpose Player of the Game: Adonis Arms has changed his game so much over the course of the season, just amazing to watch. His ability to pass has improved so much, like his mind has caught up with what’s supposed to happen. Arms was just 2 of 9, but scored 10 points, making all 6 free throws, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals, and 1 turnover.
Game Notes:
- I am ready for a player to not career against Texas Tech. Mike McGuirl was insanely hot and thought that he’d will the Wildcats to a win. I am glad that he did not. Kansas State’s entire plan was to shoot from deep, which is the Achille’s heel for Texas Tech, making 10 of 25 for the night, but 5 of 14 in the first half and 5 of 9 in the second (hence the reason the game was so close).
- Stylistically, this was a game that was a bit difficult to watch. The lack of creativity on offense in the second half was weird. Dump the ball to Williams. Watch him get double-teamed. Williams tries to pass out of the double-team. Sometimes something good happens and sometimes it is a turnover. Texas Tech had 7 of their 13 turnovers in the second half and those good looks that Texas Tech had in the first half were forced in the second half, 0 for 7 from three.
- Thank goodness for Bryson Williams, who scored 19 on 7 of 12 from the floor with 4 rebounds, an assist, and a blocked shot.
- Bruce Weber complained about the lack of fouls called in the last couple of minutes, but I have a problem with the fouls called against Williams and Mylik Wilson in what were clean blocks. Seems as if those things evened out so for Weber to complain is disingenuous at best and could have been called for being on the court multiple times. Sit down.
- The commentators astutely noticed that KJ Allen was getting abused defensively and if he can improve his quickness just a bit, he’s going to be terrific. In just 18 minutes, he scored 6 points, had 8 rebounds, and was very active. He’s bouncy and very useful.
- The points in the paint again was hugely in favor of Texas Tech, 36 to 10, which led to 13 second chance points compared to 6 for K-State. The wildcats had an advantage of 14 to 7 in points off of turnovers.
- I think it’s great that this team went undefeated this season and think that’s a pretty significant accomplishment, given the Big 12 is so difficult to win games. I am concerned about how Obanor, Santos-Silva, and Shannon are performing. Just 5 points between the 3 of them and right now, Arms is a better player than Shannon and it might not be close. I hope that McCullar is good, just needed time off with a short turnaround.
- Advanced stats box score? Considering this was a 5-point game, all but 1 Kansas State player was negative. For Texas Tech, your best lineup was Arms, Warren (who was +8.1), Williams, Allen, and Wilson
- Head coach Mark Adams: “First of all, it was just an emotional night for me. The opportunity to coach these seniors, these five guys has been incredible. God has blessed me to coach not only good basketball players, but good men. Men who want to be coached and put the team first and who just set a great example for this culture. I first just want to say how lucky I am and how we are as a Red Raider nation, to have players like that in uniform that represent us every game. I wish we could play the rest of the games right here, but I don’t know if I can talk the NCAA into doing that. What an unbelievable arena and what a great atmosphere this is.”
- Up next? Oklahoma State in Stillwater on Saturday, March 5th with tip-off at 2:00 p.m.
Highlights