Chris Flanagan’s game notes and thoughts from the Texas vs. Texas Tech basketball game in Lubbock.
1st Half: Texas Tech 35 Texas 24‘”
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[*]Texas Tech knows the game plan – attack the paint. That’s exactly what they did in the first half.
[*]The most disappointing thing about the first half for Texas was 6 players had at least 2 fouls with a little over six minutes to play. The Red Raiders forced themselves onto the Longhorns which resulted in lazy play. Texas only had one foul in the final six minutes of the half but didn’t get much from the front court.
[*]Shooting 29% from the field isn’t going to get the job done.
[*]An 11 point deficit isn’t massive so I would caution the Longhorns about playing hurry-up, but they will need to hit from 3 to open up driving lanes for Isaiah Taylor and Javan Felix.
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2nd Half:‘”
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[*]Isaiah Taylor had 10 points in the first 3:27 of the second half. Does Taylor feel the pressure? Yes. Does it bother him? Nope.
[*]Texas has been contesting the shots better in the second half but the Red Raiders have been hitting the shots. The only thing Texas can do is make those shots tougher to make. If Tech continues to make the shots, you just have to tip your hat to the other side. If Texas can get the deficit cut a little at a time, then a comeback is possible.
[*]At one point, Isaiah Taylor had 25 of the Longhorns’ 54 points. That’s a great individual performance but others need to step up.
[*]Tevin Mack has been stepping up and making 3 three pointers but not much from the front court.
[*]Texas cut the lead to 6 with 3:36 to go. There’s a chance.
[*]Gotcher with a very deep 3 and he nailed it. Can’t beat that.
[*]Well, it went from 6 to an 11 point lead for Texas Tech with 1:21 to go. It will take a miracle at this point for the Longhorns.
[*]4 quick points in 11 seconds. Lead down to 6.
[*]A nice block from Texas Tech on Felix’s 3 and Texas turns the ball over.
[*]Down 10 with 26 seconds to go. That’s all she wrote.
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Final: Texas Tech wins 82-74
Epilogue
The Longhorns will have a difficult time in the Big 12 if they can’t find ways to defend without making opponents turn the ball over. I would like to see Shaka implement the press more often than in the waning minutes of an almost impossible game to win, but I don’t want to see it all game. Texas needs to play Kendal Yancy and Jordan Barnett more often because it would give Texas the depth it needs to run the press. Isaiah Taylor did most of the work in the loss, scoring 35 of the 74 points. That does mean 39 points were scored by the rest of the team but it was very heavy on 3 pointers. Tevin Mack scored 9 points, all on 3 pointers (33% from 3). Javan Felix added 13 points, 9 from 3 point range. I saw flashes of what Eric Davis can do as a lane driver as he scored on a nice layup.
However, Texas Tech controlled the game throughout and Texas couldn’t keep up.
Texas will host Kansas State Tuesday night at the Frank Erwin Center. Both teams will be looking for their 1st conference win.
