Post Game Thoughts :: Kansas St. Wildcats 83, Texas Tech Red Raiders 64

Result :: Loss : 83-64 : SB Nation Box Score
Record :: 16-11, 4-11
Big 12 Standings :: 8th (tied with Oklahoma)
Up Next :: 02.27.2010 : @ Nebraksa (13-14, 1-11)

The Result :: Expected. I my expectations and interest level has severely decreased over the last two weeks. I hate that I'm like that, but right now, this is where I'm at and I'm incredibly disappointed that I feel that way. It felt like this game was about turnovers, although the final statistics show that KSU and Texas Tech both had 14. The problem with a team that's less talented, which is what Texas Tech is, is that if you're team that's sloppy with the ball and don't value each and every possession, then you're missing opportunities and sometimes giving your opponent easy opportunities is going to lose you more games than you win. This team cannot afford to be careless with the ball and for the most part, this team has been pretty good in assist to turnover ratio, but in a game like last night, where the game is not totally out of hand in the second half, giving up the ball is a killer.

The Storylines ::

Easy Buckets: The Wildcats shot 47% from the field including 32 points in the paint and 13 second chance points. Of course, I should also mention that KSU didn't absoolutely man-handle Texas Tech on the boards, only an 8 board deficit. It seemed as if Jacob Pullen and Denis Clemente could drive shoot layups all night (moreso Pullen who finished with 28 points on 9 of 14 from the floor, including 3 of 6 from beyond the 3-point line). Alternately, Texas Tech shot 37% from the field, including 2 of 15 from the 3-point line. When PG John Roberson is struggling with sore ribs and SF only contributes 4 points on 1 of 7 from the field.

Just Better: As I watched the game last night, all I could think of is that this is yet another example of how the opposing team is simply more talented than Texas Tech. Quite simply, Kansas St. is a team that has better players, more athletic players, and taller players. That's sorta the game of basketball and as mentioned above, it's driving me a bit into depression. Per DT's Mike Graham, Roberson admits that this team is simply not playing good basketball right now, but I'll say this again, it's a matter of talent, and right now, over the past 4 games, that's absolutely been the case.

"To be honest with you, we’re not playing good basketball at all right now," Roberson said. "I think we just need to come together as a team. I mean, we’ve been together as a team all year, there’s no reason to fall apart now. We’re fighting for the postseason right now."

Only One That Cares: Per LAJ's Courtney Linehan, head coach Pat Knight said after the game that the only player that looked like they cared last night was SG Nick Okorie:

Tech coach Pat Knight said senior guard Nick Okorie was the only Red Raider acting like he had a chance to beat a top-10 team. Okorie, who scored 21 points in Saturday’s 71-67 loss to then-No. 15 Texas, scored nine of his 13 points in the first half.

The senior said he doesn’t like to think about having one more home game left in his career. But Knight said if he maintains this pace, Okorie will be happy with how college ends.

"I liked what he’s done the last two games," Knight said. "If he can keep that up hopefully the next couple weeks it’ll be a good way to finish up."

As for the rest of the Tech players, Knight said they just looked flat. Even when Tech went on mini-runs to stay within 10 points at various points in each half, a turnover or missed bucket would sap the momentum.

Isn't this a huge problem? I'm somewhat at a loss and I'm not sure what to write about this team any longer.

The MVP :: SG Nick Okorie: Truly, he was the only player that gave a damn and that stinks.

Four Factors, Player Impact, Stat Comparison and Game Flow: Terrific graphs from StatSheet after the jump:

Four Factors:

Player Impact:

Stat Comparison:

Game Flow: