Stat nerd info vs TT...intended to reduce anxiety for Saturdays game.

In TT's losses (Duke, Kansas, KSU, Baylor, WV, ISU) there seems to be a common theme.  If Culver has an off night shooting, they lose. Of course it stands to reason. Seems as though they just don't have another scorer to carry the load if Culver is D'd up.

9/21
7/21
9/16
6/16
5/17
11/24

Also TT is not an efficient rebounding team.  Last in the Big 12 in ORG, 5th in DRG.  MSU leads the B1G in DRG and 2nd in ORG %

TT 312 total offensive rebounds on the year.  MSU had 413

MSU has a 1.5 assist to turnover ratio, TT 1.1 This might not seem like alot but its HUGE.  TT had 56 more assists than to's.  MSU had 227....

TT can turn you over +3.4 margin per game but they also have a tendency to turn the ball over themselves. 12.3 per game vs MSU's 12.7

TT had 498 asst on the year vs MSU's 709.  Interestingly the 498 ended up being the 3rd most in the Big 12, would have them 7th in the B1G.... They have the same avg as SCum per game btw....(13.8)

To me it breaks down this way

Texas Tech is Michigan with a turnover problem.  They don't rebound well, but defend very well.  Don't particularly distribute well.  They will guard you, no doubt.  On offense if the play doesn't develop in the first 15 seconds of the shot clock you're gonna see some suspect ball movement, and Jordan Poole type black hole offense.  MSU has the same turnover statistics as TT but waaay better distribution, ball movement, and play making ability.  With MSU's assist numbers they've shown if they limit turnovers (6 vs Duke, 6 vs LSU), they're almost unbeatable. Now if they have 20 like they did vs Minn it could end up bad.  I have faith Izzo will find a way to defend 6"6" Culver with McQuaid, Henry, and maybe Goins and frustrate him.  Moretti the wild card.... see SCum game and they did turn Gonzaga over.  TT did lose 2 conference game to horrible defensive teams in Kansas and WV.

Nice work KL, good writeup!

I'm not worried

Nordic wrote:I'm not worried

This. Play our game and I'm not worried about any of the three teams that are left. Haven't been able to say that in a final four since the 2000 title run

Not stating anything you don't already know, and I know UM has high d efficiency ratings, but TT is on another level in terms of how aggressively they will play the ball once it gets into the paint. They will dig and dive at the ball. I would hesitate to say they're UM with a turnover problem. UM plays sound D. TT plays hellcat scraping clawing grabbing slapping at ball D.

Nordic wrote:I'm not worried

As long as you and Izzo do your jobs tomorrow, neither am I!!

WhiteBoyHatcher wrote:Not stating anything you don't already know, and I know UM has high d efficiency ratings, but TT is on another level in terms of how aggressively they will play the ball once it gets into the paint. They will dig and dive at the ball. I would hesitate to say they're UM with a turnover problem. UM plays sound D. TT plays hellcat scraping clawing grabbing slapping at ball D.

Agreed. One thing I think that is interesting is the difference in assist stats between the two leagues. They fall to the bottom half of the Big ten with their numbers but top 3 in the Big 12. To me that tells me the Big 12 isn't big on set plays, ball movement, and patience offensively. That plays right into their defensive style. MSU don't play that homie, lol. No doubt they proved their metal beating SCum and Gonzaga. But we saw what solid defense does to an impatient SCum squad. Haven't dug into Zaga and their offense against really good defenses. Don't think a conference comparative is apples to apples. All I'll say is SCum's offense played right into TT's hand.

My simpleton view fom the two games I watched (Michigan & Gonzaga), Culver is a chucker. He's their Carson Edwards, but a forward. He takes some suspect shots, but he can make them. You can see why he is an NBA talent. He took a few shots against Michigan that would turn Izzo's face red, but he was hitting them. Not only hitting them, they were pure netters. Outside of Culver their two guards are scrappy and can play, but nothing we haven't seen before. #11 is a defensive piece, not much on offense. Not the crispest passing team (even Culver) as noted above with the ball distribution.

Defensively they protect the middle and force you to the corners and baseline. I bet we see a lot of 3s going up offensively, especially McQuaid from the corner, with Cash being more of a distributor than score in this one. That said, Cash has a sneaky way of getting shots off in traffic and we've proven we can ball screen you to death till they get a matchup they want. #11 can swat it. Izzo will have something dialed up for their unique D.

DEFEND

REBOUND

RUN

Reset your brains to last Saturday. Would you rather play Culver's T. Tech or Zion's Duke?

Nordic wrote:My simpleton view fom the two games I watched (Michigan & Gonzaga), Culver is a chucker. He's their Carson Edwards, but a forward. He takes some suspect shots, but he can make them. You can see why he is an NBA talent. He took a few shots against Michigan that would turn Izzo's face red, but he was hitting them. Not only hitting them, they were pure netters. Outside of Culver their two guards are scrappy and can play, but nothing we haven't seen before. #11 is a defensive piece, not much on offense. Not the crispest passing team (even Culver) as noted above with the ball distribution.

Defensively they protect the middle and force you to the corners and baseline. I bet we see a lot of 3s going up offensively, especially McQuaid from the corner, with Cash being more of a distributor than score in this one. That said, Cash has a sneaky way of getting shots off in traffic and we've proven we can ball screen you to death till they get a matchup they want. #11 can swat it. Izzo will have something dialed up for their unique D.

DEFEND

REBOUND

RUN

Cash is our leading scorer and assist leader. He has shown he can do both if needed. Like you said Culver is their guy but a chucker. Their problem is he also leads them in assists per game. Don't see him with the ability to do both.

Clarett's Folly wrote:Reset your brains to last Saturday. Would you rather play Culver's T. Tech or Zion's Duke?

I'm gonna say TT. Defense travels as they say and they're gonna play it for sure. I just don't see TT's top 4 on offense being anywhere near as dangerous as Zion, Reddish, DeLaurier, and Barrett. I think we frustrate them to no end on defense and they do very well against us be we have more offensive talent to counter in a squeaker. And this team wont die, quit, or get rattled.

It sounds like the refs could be a big part of the equation here. For the most part, I think they’ve done a pretty good job in the games I’ve seen, but it depends on the crew and whether they feel like calling slappy fouls. Maybe TTs style gets them into trouble with a great ball handler like Winston driving.

Ward passing out of the double team is what worries me.

kingstonlake wrote:

Nordic wrote:I'm not worried

As long as you and Izzo do your jobs tomorrow, neither am I!!

Izzo and I will be ready. Hay is in the barn. Come prepared tomorrow tSwill.

Nordic wrote:

kingstonlake wrote:

As long as you and Izzo do your jobs tomorrow, neither am I!!

Izzo and I will be ready. Hay is in the barn. Come prepared tomorrow tSwill.

I'm so fired up.