A New Formula: Since
Big 12 play began, it has become abundantly clear that the Red Raiders don’t
have the offensive firepower to blow away the opposition. Tech has only one
shooter (Dusty Hannahs) and no consistent post scoring threat. Relatedly, Tech
cannot count on Josh Gray to collect six or seven steals against Big 12 point
guards and thereby catalyze the offense. A new approach was needed if this team
was to become competitive.
We saw what that approach will look like in Tech’s
surprisingly close 60-46 loss to the number six Kansas Jayhawks. The Red
Raiders trailed by only two at halftime and basically kept the score
respectable by playing very scrappy half-court defense and crashing the glass
like a horde of Mongols.
Tech outrebounded Kansas 26-25, led in that category 16-8 at
halftime, and blanked the Jayhawks on the glass 5-0 until 11:44 remained in the
first half. The Red Raiders also held Kansas to a very respectable 46 percent
from the floor.
This formula is what Tech must employ for the remainder of
the season. The question is, can Chris Walker coax this sort of effort from the
team on a regular basis.? If he can, several more wins
could be in the offing.
A Consequence: In
order to defeat the bigger Jayhawks on the boards, Chris Walker sent every Red
Raider to the glass. This approach obviously worked well in the first half, but
in the second the Jayhawks leaked out for numerous fast break layups and dunks
because no Red Raider was in a position to get back on defense. This is a pill
Tech will simply have to swallow whenever they fail to sweep the defensive
glass.
Patience Most
Definitely a Virtue: The contrast between this game and the Baylor debacle
could not have been more stark. Against the Bears, the
Red Raiders fell into the rotten rut of heaving up terrible shots—many of
them from three-point country—very early in the shot clock. Indeed, 41
percent of Tech’s attempts were three-pointers, and suffice it to say a great
many of them came less than 10 seconds after crossing midcourt.
Against Kansas, contrariwise, the Red Raiders attempted only
11 three-pointers (21 percent of their total shots), made a solid 36 percent,
and routinely took shots with less than 10 seconds remaining on the clock. Now
a partial explanation of this phenomenon is that finding shots against the KU
defense is extremely difficult. Even still, the Red Raiders resisted the
temptation to hurl up bad and rushed shots. This is a better way of doing
business.
Dirty Dusty: Credit
every Red Raider who played with putting forth good effort on the defensive
end. But Tech’s best defender—surprisingly—may have been Dusty
Hannahs. He was credited with no steals—the Red Raiders as a team had
only three—but he hustled like a mad man, got his hands on a few passes,
and played very sound, sticky defense. Pure shooters are often defensive
liabilities. Hannahs looks like he won’t fit that mold.
Wrong-way Jaye: In
non-conference play, Jaye Crockett was clearly Tech’s best player. But Big 12
competition has done him no favors. In conference play, Crockett is connecting
on a mere 35 percent of his shots (down from 54 percent), and his rebounding
average has declined from 8.2 to 4.7. Crockett was a woeful one of eight from
the field against Kansas, and a few of those misses were open, in-rhythm
jumpers. Crockett has clearly lost his confidence. The Red Raiders need him to
regain it because he has talent and skill this team cannot afford to do
without.