Preview and Game Day Thread :: Northwestern St. Demons vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders

by Seth C on Nov 19, 2009 3:00 PM CST in Basketball Comment 7 comments

INFORMATION:	Detail
OPPONENT:	Northwestern St. Demons (1-0, 0-0)
LOCATION:	Lubbock, TX :: United Spirit Arena
DATE:	November 19, 2009
TIME:	7:00 p.m. CST
TV:	TTSN
RADIO:	Affiliates
GAME CAST:	Fox Sports

Game Day Stat:

Northwestern St.: The Demons dismantled East Texas Baptist State 77-54, which is their only game of the season. Statistically, the Demons were good against a lesser opponent and the scary part is that as small a school as NW St. actually is, there's still a fairly significant talent gap between them and other schools.

Texas Tech: We've talked about stats ad naseum, but to throw one more out at you, the hot start that G David Tairu is experiencing is pretty remarkable as he is shooting 81.8% from the free throw line, 51.9% from the field, 55.6% from beyond the arc. Tairu's true shooting percentage is 65.1% [PTS/(2 * (FGA + (0.475 * FTA)))], which is remarkable in itself, but is still behind the hot starts of Darko Cohadarevic (66.6%) and D`Walyn Roberts (69.2%).

Players Focus:

Northwestern St.: G Damon Jones led the Demons in scoring in their first game with 16 points appears to be the team leader, although G Charles Clark appears to be a jack-of-all-trades, scoring 8 points, 10 boards, 3 assists and 3 steals.

Texas Tech: SF Mike Singletary didn't get a ton of mention after the 3 wins last week, but the thing that I've preached about Singletary's progression as a player is scroring, rebounding and making positive plays each and every night. Singletary had 15, 14 and 15 points in his first 3 games. If he can give this type of production, while cutting down on turnovers, then he's going to be a valuable player for the Red Raiders in that he's consistent and he can create his own shot.

Needs Repair

Northwestern St.: <sarcasm>The Demons only managed 54 rebounds in their first game, and out-rebounded ETB only by 9 boards.</sarcasm>

Texas Tech: Defensively the Red Raiders have been good, but are sitting at a lowly 6.7 steals per game. Before the conference starts, I'd love to see a more aggressive nature to the defenders and force these types of turnovers by the opposition.

GO RAIDERS . . .

0 recs | Comment 7 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

game’s on espn360

Team looking ok, but playing dirty defense and lose offense. lots of turnovers, ticky-tack penalties and easy points.

by kayakyakr on Nov 19, 2009 8:11 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Anybody watching the OSU-Colorado game also? Colorado’s hanging in there, actually winning in the 3rd quarter and OSU finally completed a pass. Colorado’s MVP so far is Jamar Wall.

by pcrawttu on Nov 19, 2009 8:48 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don’t have the game.

I checked the half time stats and noticed NWS had 44 points. I thought, where is the focus on defense ???

Roberson was 0-5 and a couple other low stats, I am hoping he is getting some steals and assists….especially assists.

O.K., I am eating Crow Pie, Fried Crow, and Crow al Mode for dinner tonight. Tairu is one JC who looks like a from the git-go player !!! /s/ Mr Anti JaCee’r

It looks like Singletary is on a tear, his has 25 points and an amazing stat line, abt 4 minutes showing in the 2nd.

by TallMike on Nov 19, 2009 9:03 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

So, after watching this team:
1) Last year, we would have lost this game. When John Roberson goes 2-9 from the field and 0-3 from 3 point range, our team would have struggled mightily. Great to have a team.
2) The defense was having an off night and Pat Knight knew that as well. They gave up way too many easy buckets, easy fouls, and bad matchups. That said, they also forced a lot of poor shots when they were able to force nw state into a half court offense and generated a mess of turnovers.
3) Roberts is showing that all the potential he showed last year is being developed. Produced a double-double tonight, active on the boards and above the rim on offense
4) Speaking of above the rim: this team is much more active and fun to watch. Def a more athletic team this year than last. Will it lead to more wins? We’ll see Dec 2nd against #13 Washington.

by kayakyakr on Nov 19, 2009 10:19 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I have heard about Tairu for a while now,

but from South Plains students. Is he as good as they say?

by RdrPwr on Nov 20, 2009 12:20 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

fastest JC → Big XII transition I’ve seen.

by kayakyakr on Nov 20, 2009 8:19 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Kayakyakr, I am holding back on him for the Big12. He has not seen that yet. But the point is well taken, he has stepped into his role with aplomb and has made impact on the team.

I am wondering how Darko’s game will hold up when we hit Big12 play also.

Being 4-0 this year is head and shoulders better than what we experienced last season and is clear improvement. We can almost put Saturday’s game in the win column. They we whipped mightily in Beaumont, it was ugly, the Singletary is quoted in the LAJ as remembering and wanting to settle that with them.

by TallMike on Nov 20, 2009 8:31 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs