Returning to form?

FINAL SCORE: Texas 56 – Texas Tech 41

1^st Half: Texas 29 – Texas Tech 19

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[*]As soon as Cam Ridley caught an entry pass into the post, Tech rolled a double team. It produced a turnover from Ridley. The Red Raiders stayed with the quick rotation on defense throughout the half.

 

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[*]Texas Tech started off with a three-pointer, but then missed their next 5 shots. Not the hot start they need to stay competitive. But the Texas offense obliged by missing a few easy buckets and the Red Raiders were gifted a 6-0 run.

 

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[*]Tech has 11 rebounds in the first 12 minutes and is rotating aggressively on defense. They aren’t playing like a team that hasn’t won in Austin since 1996.

 

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[*]Texas Tech is using the high post much more effectively than Texas in the first 15 minutes. The Horns have a considerable size advantage, but aren’t using it.

 

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[*]Consecutive 3’s by Felix put Texas up by 7 with 1:08 in the half. The story has been mini-runs by both teams, but five three pointers in the half are carrying the Horns’ offense.

 

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2^nd Half: Texas 27 – Texas Tech 22‘”

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[*]Myles Turner and Javan Felix are the only two players on the team that actively look to score. Turner scored on a catch-and-shoot from the high post, reinforcing why he should not be hovering outside near the three point line.

 

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[*]Texas Tech is trying to stay patient on offense, but the Horns’ length and hustle in the zone are forcing them into low percentage shots or shot clock violations.

 

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[*]At the 10:30 mark, Turner was 8-10 from the floor with 19 points. Tech had no answer for him.

 

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[*]After shooting free throws very well as a team throughout the first half of the season, the Longhorns have been much less consistent this month – in both the number of trips they take per game and their shooting percentage.

 

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Top takeaways

1. When Texas took a 10-point lead right before the halftime buzzer, this game was over. Tech doesn’t have the talent to comeback from that kind of deficit on the road. Credit them for hanging around, but it wasn’t going to happen for them tonight.

2. Kendal Yancy was trending positively; Jonathan Holmes was back on the floor tonight; Isaiah Taylor has been scoring almost at will…but tonight belonged to Myles Turner. The freshman needs to bottle confidence from tonight and carry it into the February stretch. Turner finished with 25 points (10-13 shooting), 12 rebounds, and 3 blocks.

The stat story‘”

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[*]Myles Turner had 9 points and 7 rebounds in the first half.

 

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[*]Tech hustled for 14 rebounds in the first half – only one less than Texas.

 

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[*]Demarcus Holland only played 12 minutes. Keep an eye on that this week….

 

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[*]Texas shot 44.4% in the first half (12-27) and again in the second half (8-18).

 

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[*]Tech was held to 33.3% from the floor and was under 30% from beyond the arc.

 

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Looking ahead

It’s make-or-break time for Texas – 3 of the next 4 games are on the road (OU, WVU & KU) and the lone home game is against Iowa State. The Horns have painted themselves into a corner with early struggles, so the remainder of February is now critical for postseason positioning.