These guys again: Texas Tech

By Staff     Feb 9, 2015

Kansas forward Cliff Alexander (2) celebrates a dunk by Kansas forward Jamari Traylor (31) as he casts a glare at at Texas Tech player during the first half on Saturday, Jan.10, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse. At left is KU guard Brannen Greene.

Little — if anything — went right for Texas Tech the last time it faced Kansas.

The Red Raiders [lost by 32 points in their Jan. 10 trip to Allen Fieldhouse][1], and they struggled to hit shots from anywhere:

– 18 for 55 from the floor (32.7%)

– 5 for 17 from 3-point distance (29.4%)

– 13 for 25 at the free-throw line (52.0%)

Kansas guard Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (10) gets to the bucket past Texas Tech forward Justin Jamison (4) and guard Devaughntah Williams during the second half on Saturday, Jan.10, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse. Also pictured is Kansas forward Hunter Mickelson.

And those types of nights have kept the Red Raiders (12-12 overall, 2-9 Big 12) from finding much success in conference play. Texas Tech ranks:

– Last in scoring, 53.8 points

– 9th in free-throw shooting, 63.7%

– Last in field-goal percentage, 34.9%

– 9th in field-goal percentage defense, 46.2%

Kansas guard Wayne Selden Jr. (1) looks to put a lob pass over Texas Tech guard Robert Turner (14) to teammate Cliff Alexander during the first half on Saturday, Jan.10, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse.

– 7th in 3-point shooting, 31.6%

– Last in assists, 9.2 per game

– 9th in steals, 4.9 a game

What Texas Tech has done, however, is win it last two home games, most recently against Kansas State, and Jan. 24 against Iowa State.

Kansas forward Cliff Alexander (2) gets a hand on a shot by Texas Tech forward Zach Smith (11) during the first half on Saturday, Jan.10, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse. Also pictured are Kansas forward Perry Ellis (34) and Texas Tech center Isaiah Manderson.

Now, the Red Raiders are coming off a 75-38 spanking at the hands of the very same (and vengeful) Cyclones this past weekend.

But No. 8 Kansas (19-4, 8-2) also enters the rematch off a loss, at Oklahoma State, and need look no further than the ISU loss at Lubbock, Texas, as reason to show up at United Supermarkets Arena ready to compete.

As a refresher, here are the Red Raiders the Jayhawks will have to worry about as they look to get back in the win column.

RED RAIDERS STARTERS
——————–

**No. 0 — Devaugntah Williams, 6-4, junior G**

Kansas guard Brannen Greene (14) puts up a three over Texas Tech forward Norense Odiase (32) during the second half on Saturday, Jan.10, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse. At left is Kansas forward Cliff Alexander (2)

> — Jan. 10 at KU: 3 pointa, 1/6 FGs,
> 1/14 3s, 0/0 FTs, 2 rebounds, 1 assist
> in 24 minutes

Williams is the only Red Raider averaging double-digit points on the season (10.5 points) and the Jayhawks completely shut him down in Lawrence.

He’s shooting 36% from the field and 32.6% from 3-point range in Big 12 games, and tied with Robert Turner for the team’s leading scorer honors at 9.1 points per game.

He punished both ISU and K-State in home wins, scoring a career-high 22 points against each of them.

*– [hoop-math.com][2] update: On 32 of his 36 made 3-pointers, Williams’ teammates have set him up with an assist. But he can get to the rim on his own, with 42 field goals there (only 12 assisted on).*

Kansas forward Jamari Traylor (31) pulls the ball away from Texas Tech guard Randy Onwuasor (3) during the second half on Saturday, Jan.10, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse.

**No. 14 — Robert Turner, 6-3, senior G**

> — Jan. 10 at KU: 6 points, 3/8 FGs, 4
> rebounds, 1 TO in 22 minutes

Like Williams, his shooting numbers in conference games aren’t great: 35.2% from the floor, 37.2% on 3-pointers.

Still, by hitting 16 of 43 3-pointers in Big 12 action, he has been Tech’s best long-range shooter.

Turner hit three 3-pointers in both of Tech’s Big 12 wins, against the Cyclones and Wildcats.

Kansas guard Kelly Oubre Jr. (12) turns for a shot against Texas Tech guard Toddrick Gotcher (20) during the first half on Saturday, Jan.10, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse.

*– hoop-math.com update: Turner has only made 8 of his 44 2-point jump shots (18.2%), and hasn’t hit one since the last time Tech played KU.*

**No. 11 — Zach Smith, 6-8, freshman F**

> — Jan. 10 at KU: 8 points, 1/5 FGs,
> 1/2 3s, 5/8 FTs, 3 rebounds, 1
> assists, 3 TOs, 1 block, 1 steal in 28
> minutes

He’s actually the only Red Raider who has started all 11 Big 12 games, and accordingly leads Tech with 30.3 minutes a game in the conference. His 5.2 rebounds and 1.5 blocks in league games lead the team, and he scores 5.4 points on 35.7% shooting.

On the season, he makes 47.4% of his shots in Tech wins and 40.4% in losses.

Kansas guard Frank Mason III (0) hustles for a loose ball after knocking it away from Texas Tech guard Keenan Evans (12) during the first half on Saturday, Jan.10, 2015 at Allen Fieldhouse.

*– hoop-math.com update: 51 of his 90 2-point attempts have come at the rim, where Smith has converted 60.8% of his point-blank looks.*

**No. 32 — Norense Odiase, 6-9, freshman F**

> — Jan. 10 at KU: 4 points, 2/3 FGs,
> 0/2 FTs, 1 rebound, 3 TOs in 14
> minutes

The guy is massive, but his minutes have been limited in Big 12 play (16.4 a game) in part because of his struggles offensively. Odiase is only hitting 34.3% of his shot attempts and 28% of his free throws in the league, while averaging 3.1 points and 3.5 rebounds.

Since the Tech loss at KU, he has made just 6 field goals on 22 attempts (27.2%) in seven appearances.

Odiase’s 52 offensive rebounds lead the team, and he averages 2.3 a game on the offensive glass.

*– hoop-math.com update: As you might expect from a guy his size, Odiase leads Texas Tech with 20 put-backs on the offensive glass. That’s how 29.1% of his shots at the rim are generated — a percentage that has increased since the first meeting with KU.*

**No. 3 — Randy Onwuasor, 6-3, sophomore G**

> — Jan. 10 at KU: 3 points, 1/6 FGs,
> 0/2 3s, 1/2 FTs, 2 rebounds, 2
> assists, 2 blocks in 19 minutes

Another Red Raider who really is struggling in Big 12 play, he has only made 25% of his shots overall and 23.1% of his 3-pointers, while scoring 3.0 points.

Onwuasor scored 10 points in a loss to TCU, when he made 2 of 5 3-point tries. But since then, he has totaled 14 points on 4 for 20 shooting in six games.

*– hoop-math.com update: Onwuasor isn’t helping his shooting percentage with his shot selection. He has made just 6 of 34 2-point jumpers (17.6%) this season.*

RED RAIDERS BENCH
—————–

**No. 20 — Toddrick Gotcher, 6-4, junior G**

> — Jan. 10 at KU: 0 points, 0/5 FGs,
> 0/3 3s, 0/0 FTs, 5 rebounds, 1
> assists, 1 TO in 14 minutes

Already lacking depth entering Big 12 play, the Red Raiders have even less fire power now that freshman Justin Gray is expected to miss the rest of the season due to knee issues. He was averaging 6.7 points on the season.

To make matters worse, coach Tubby Smith dismissed junior forward Justin Jamison from the team last week for violating team rules. And he was the only player on the roster who scored in double figures at Kansas, in January: 12 points, 4/7 FGs.

That leaves Gotcher, sometimes a starter, as the best option — by far — off the Red Raiders’ bench.

Averaging 7.1 points in Big 12 action, KU rendered him a non-factor offensively in the first meeting.

Gotcher caught fire in Tech’s home win over ISU, hitting 5 of 9 3-pointers on the way to 17 points.

Against K-State, in the Red Raiders’ other Big 12 win, he made 2 of 4 from deep and scored 15 points.

Tech needs him hitting to have a chance.

*– hoop-math.com nugget: Most of his shot attempts (58.9%) come from long range and teammates have set Gotcher up for 25 of his 27 made 3-pointers.*

**No. 12 — Keenan Evans, 6-3, freshman G**

> — Jan. 10 at KU: 2 points, 0/4 FGs,
> 0/1 3s, 2/4 FTs, 3 rebounds, 1 assist,
> 1 block, 1 steal, 2 TOs in 16 minutes

His minutes have increased as the season progresses, and in Big 12 games he’s averaging 5.3 points and 2.7 rebounds, while shooting 29.6% from the floor and 30% from 3-point range.

Evans had a breakout game at Oklahoma State, scoring 18 points, powered by 3-for-4 shooting from 3-point range.

He has only made 3 of 13 3-pointers (23%) in five games since, though.

*– hoop-math.com nugget: 35.5% of his shots come at the rim, but Evans has only converted 17 of his 36 tries (47.2%).*

[1]: http://www2.kusports.com/news/2015/jan/10/didnt-miss-beat-grahams-return-sparks-ku-rout/
[2]: http://hoop-math.com/TexasTech2015.php

PREV POST

Column: Sadly, Alzheimer's wins again

NEXT POST

46055These guys again: Texas Tech