Trap game tonight
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I will preface this by saying this isn’t your typical “trap game” where KU might be looking ahead to another game after this, but I think it’s a trap game given the circumstances.
First and foremost, Kevin McCullar is returning to Texas Tech after playing 3 years for them. The inter-conference transferring has seen an uptick with the transfer portal the way it is, this used to be unheard of but now it’s becoming the norm. Returning to the place you bled for, won’t be easy. Tech isn’t a forgiving fanbase- just see Chris Beard. They will give him hell tonight. Going to be an emotional game for him, Kev seems like an emotional player on the court and this team does not perform well when he’s not playing well (1st half against OSU for example).
Second, this team is not playing great. The last two games have been average performances, both victories but close games at home. First road game for a lot of these guys in a tough environment, these guys are going to have to shoot the ball well to win tonight which has also been a bit of an issue in the last pair of games.
Thoughts? This isn’t going to be an easy game by any means.
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Yes I concur.
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Every league game is going to be a battle.
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Hopefully the guys rally around Kev tonight. Use it as fuel.
If we see a few early threes go in that would be great. Feels like we haven’t been getting Dick enough quality touches lately. If they are going to cover him at the 3, get some back door dunks from him. Force them to change the game plan.
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@BeddieKU23 said in Trap game tonight:
I will preface this by saying this isn’t your typical “trap game” where KU might be looking ahead to another game after this, but I think it’s a trap game given the circumstances.
First and foremost, Kevin McCullar is returning to Texas Tech after playing 3 years for them. The inter-conference transferring has seen an uptick with the transfer portal the way it is, this used to be unheard of but now it’s becoming the norm. Returning to the place you bled for, won’t be easy. Tech isn’t a forgiving fanbase- just see Chris Beard. They will give him hell tonight. Going to be an emotional game for him, Kev seems like an emotional player on the court and this team does not perform well when he’s not playing well (1st half against OSU for example).
Second, this team is not playing great. The last two games have been average performances, both victories but close games at home. First road game for a lot of these guys in a tough environment, these guys are going to have to shoot the ball well to win tonight which has also been a bit of an issue in the last pair of games.
Thoughts? This isn’t going to be an easy game by any means.
The line opened at KU -1.5, and is now KU -1. This is going to be a barnburner. Remember, they beat us last year at their place.
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Tech is not great this year by any means, they are not as good as previous years. They have lost 3 games so far to the 3 best teams they have played. Still, expecting to come into any opposing gym and win easily is unrealistic, even if this team was playing at its highest level.
Individual matchups to worry about
I’ll start with Pop Isaacs; a player KU did recruit a bit in the last cycle before he ended up at Tech. He’s 9-16 from 3 in his last 2 games including 5 makes against TCU over the weekend. He’s playing heavy minutes as a freshman for them. Can’t let him get comfortable shooting from 3 in this one especially at home.
Ole friend De’Vion Harmon is back in the Big-12 after stints at OU and Oregon. He’s been solid for Tech so far and gives them a steady hand in the backcourt. Struggling from 3 this year, hopefully keeps that going however I recall him having several big games against KU in the past. Reunites with best friend Jalen Wilson again (they were former HS teammates).
Daniel Batcho is the matchup down low that will test us. The 6’11 big man has improved a lot this season playing heavy minutes and is a rebounding/rim protector threat as well. The key with this matchup as TCU exposed was getting him in foul trouble. He had only 2 points in that one.
Leading scorer Kevin OBanor has been really solid this season so far, he’s a tough matchup for Wilson and co. Very similar in size to Jalen and has hit 20+ points 4 times this season, all against weaker competition. TCU forced him into his lowest scoring game of the season (6) so something to watch there if KU can figure a way to slow him down. As their leading scorer he isn’t a dominant player but a guy that can absolutely get his over a course of a game. One or more of these guys listed will have to play above their pay grade if they want to win tonight.
Tech’s bench- Normally Tech plays about 9-11 guys and gets solid play from their bench. Some injuries have limited their bench so far. They are not deep or developed here at all. They lack post depth as Jennings/Allen are 6’6 bigs off the bench. Guard depth is spotty as well, two freshman are getting minutes & a transfer from UNC that’s a 3-point shooter only. No game changers off their bench.
I like the matchup overall. I will be ecstatic if we can pull out a W. An early tone-setter in conference play here is on the table.
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We can’t sleepwalk through this game like we did the last two. They are going to punch us in the mouth right out of the gate and the crowd intensity will be nuts especially because of the Kevin transfer.
My keys to the game:
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Possession battle. The team who controls possessions will win. This means we focus of low TOs while defending hard and creating them. And then there are rebounds. We need to win the boards. This would be a great game for us to get plenty of runouts off of TOs because it is going to be a battle to score in half court offense.
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McCullar factor. Will Kevin rise to the occasion or stiffen up? Here is the thing… we create a severe matchup problem for TT. They have one big guard, Tyson. Is he going to guard Kevin or Gradey? If we can get solid performances from both Gradey and McCullar we win. Period. It was great seeing Gradey rebound well in that OSU game… let’s see him do it again! For Kevin… if he gets anxious his shot may not drop, but I think he will be a complete beast on the boards in this game because no one can stop him from doing that! He has his mind set on contributing however he can!
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Foul trouble. This is going to be a battle. That often means foul trouble. We need to keep our cool and not foul. That means Juan, Kevin, and Adams has to maintain good emotional intelligence.
This could easily end up being one of those BAD BALL games we often talk about. Probably will. Two teams focusing on defense. I’m thinking our guys might be one of those teams that usually performs better on the road than at home. Now would be a great time to prove that.
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Turnovers could definitely be a big key in this game. Tech had 23 of them Saturday at TCU, they lack a true PG imo. Both Harmon and Isaacs are more score first guys and that’s something KU should be looking to exploit in this one.
Will be interesting to see if we trap the post in this one. It didn’t work Saturday, and Self-abandoned it after OSU got 3 easy buckets off trapping. Batcho is a double team worthy guy but not sure we’ll look to double him right out the gate or not given how poorly it went a few days ago. Something to monitor there.
Really good point about KU having a mismatch advantage with Kev or Gradey depending on who guards who. Regardless it’s definitely a matchup they have to take advantage of.
I recall Tech’s gym being a really tough place to get a fair call. Last year being a good example of that thinking back. We seem to have issues getting out the first half with foul trouble especially Harris/Adams. Neither of those positions have trustworthy backups on the road. No diss to Bobby but he’s still very inexperienced & we all know the revolving door going on behind KJ still so those two positions are the key foul trouble spots tonight.
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Just seems like a game, not any kind of trap game.
Roadies are tough in the league. I expect a competitive game, as i’m sure the team does. They won’t be sleeping on Tech.
IMO fouls will be an issue tonight. We’ll have to dig into the bench.
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Can you say umm - -HELLO KEVIN McCULLAR ? - -could be and will most likely be a very rough night for Kevin. - Would love for him to come out and have him Game up - -to shut-em up. – ROCK CHALK ALL DAY LONG BABY
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Tech has won 29 straight at home, and the spread is 1.5. I will actually be a little surprised if KU leaves Lubbock with a win. They are going to have to shoot the 3 ball really well in order to do that. The atmosphere will be really good.
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I will be surprised and not at any possible outcome. We could go in there hot, motivated, stealing balls for easy runouts and blow them out of their gym and make it like a Mizzou smoke where you can hear a pin drop.
Or… you know…
I believe we have the right players in this game and it is ours to lose.
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Tech fans crap on Kevin:
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@Jethro Only one thing for him to do tonight… tear them a new one, heheh
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Just read no yesefu tonight.
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I think we’ll beat them like a drum
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Real trap game is Saturday against Huggy at a weird start time after a long travel week.
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Everyone busy getting beverages or something or am I on the wrong game thread?
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Not going to be an overtime in this UT-MissSt game, but it is dragging on.
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Might as well make up for some comments, since I missed the last couple game chats. Happy New Year everyone!
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here ew go. - – need a good start
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@DanR me too! Frosh guards!
