Game Links:
Tortilla Tossin’ Player of the Game: I’d like to split this between Jaylen Petty and JT Toppin. They were both really good, Toppin registered another double-double, 18 points, 9 of 14 from the floor, 11 boards, 5 blocks, 3 turnovers, and 1 steal. Petty was 6 of 10, 5 of 9 from deep, 3 boards, 2 assists, 1 steal, and 4 turnovers.
The Motion:
- There were a couple of critical moments at the end of the game on Texas Tech’s side of things, none of which has anything to do with Houston’s ability to get a good shot or Flemings just making a tough shot. I thought that the refs missed the and-one on the foul on Watts, that seemed like it was not on the floor, but an obvious continuation call. It’s only 2 points, but that is a pretty big deal in a close game. And then to end the game, the two fouls on Watts where the 2nd was on a failure to block-out, which ended up giving two free throws to Houston and they knocked down both. Just a simple failure to play every single second on the floor. I know Watts will learn from this, but he should know better.
- If you are a fan of college basketball then this game was for you. The defense was incredibly good on both sides. I know that Houston is annoying, especially with their players claiming fouls or constantly falling and looking for fouls, but that’s a tough squad and program. I mentioned yesterday that Texas Tech tried like heck to get Flemings to Texas Tech, which imagine that pairing next to Anderson. That would have been pretty special. Regardless, I get whatever frustration there might be, but that’s college basketball.
- Anderson had a really tough game and when I write that it would be great if Anderson had a point guard paired with him, this is the type of game where it makes sense. Anderson was doubled at the top and Houston made the decision to not let him be the guy to beat Texas Tech. If there was a point guard to take some of that pressure and let Anderson work off the ball, on screens or pick and rolls in other areas, then he might have a better scoring day, but Houston was pretty determined. Anderson ended up 3 of 11 from the field with 7 assists and 3 turnovers while playing 40 minutes. The fact that the staff had recruited Flemings so hard is an indication that they would have liked to pair Anderson with a true point guard as well. And that says nothing about how good Anderson is and Petty being a surprise for me, but that this team would be so tough with a guy like Flemings.
- Watts tried to initiate the offense towards the end of the game and that just wasn’t working really well. They will need to figure out to get better sets and looks for the offense. There were too many times when he was initiating the offense and by the end of the shot-clock the offense was just throwing up a shot.
- I was wrong about Petty and his shot from earlier in the year. I didn’t think it would translate after some early season struggles. Petty is capable of coming off screens and getting a shot off, but there are times where I wonder if he really knows how to run an offensive set otherwise. Why can’t he be the one that on occasion sets up Anderson in an offensive set? They don’t even really seem to try to do this. And don’t get me wrong, Petty gives a ton of effort, especially on defense.
- Houston forced 14 turnovers, which is 21% for Texas Tech and that’s a pretty high number. Houston only had 6. That ended up being a pretty big deal.
- Houston also grabbed 4 more offensive boards, 12 to 8, and so despite Houston shooting slightly worse overall, 39% to Texas Tech’s 41%, these additional opportunities added up. Free throws also ended up being a bigger thing, Houston made 17 of 22 while Texas Tech was 10 of 11. Texas Tech doesn’t have anyone inside to generate fouls.
- Nathan Giese asked after the game about Akuentok, Bamgboye, and Moseley and said that Akuentok and Bamgboye are closer than Moseley, but that he’s just stopped asking. Also of note, Houston had 9 fast break points to just 2 for Texas Tech. Also of note, is that T-Rank had Texas Tech losing by 8 or so and it was a 5-point loss, but that 3-pointer at the end of the game ended up saving a bad beat because the line was Houston by -6.5.
- Advanced Stats: Petty +5.9; Toppin +4.5; Atwell +1.8; Watts -6.0; Anderson -6.1; Horner -0.6.
- Up next? Texas Tech is in Boulder to take on Colorado on Saturday, January 10th at 6:00 p.m. and will be on CBSSN.
Highlights