Coming into the season, I though Texas Tech would be solid, but never imagined they would be this good. Their returners have been solid, or in Keenan Evans case, special, but it is the play of two freshman, Jarrett Culver and Zhaire Smith, who have really elevated this team. Smith is the son of former K-State player Billy Ray Smith. Both are very impressive freshman.
First and foremost, Tech is an athletic team that is physical, tough, and relentless. K-State must match that intensity to give themselves a chance. This isn't a game where the Wildcats can consistently get beat to loose balls.
Tech is a true motion team that doesn't rely on a ton of sets so unlike past scouts where I have walked through specific plays, I am going to focus on some general thoughts/keys on both ends of the floor.
Texas Tech Offense / K-State Defense
Kansas State must do a good job of playing good individual scouting report defense. Justin Gray is a great athlete, but not a very good 3 point shooter. Force him to make shots and supply help when needed. Tommy Hamilton, the backup 5 man, loves to leak out on the floor and shoot the spot up 3. You must run him off the line and make him put it on the floor. Zhaire Smith is capable shooter, but does most of his damage in the lane and around the basket.
Stokes has yet to make a field goal in this two games back from injury and I will go out on a limb and say he won't go the rest of the season without making one. If he can get his minutes up to the 15-20 range in this game and be a solid distributor and make a couple of open shots, it could be the boost this teams needs to get over the hump.
First and foremost, Tech is an athletic team that is physical, tough, and relentless. K-State must match that intensity to give themselves a chance. This isn't a game where the Wildcats can consistently get beat to loose balls.
Tech is a true motion team that doesn't rely on a ton of sets so unlike past scouts where I have walked through specific plays, I am going to focus on some general thoughts/keys on both ends of the floor.
Texas Tech Offense / K-State Defense
- Defending the curls - In their motion offense, Tech sets a lot of off the ball screens. If you trail them coming off a screen, they are very good at curling into the middle of the lane. The Wildcat defender defending the screener, has to step out and and divert the cutter.
- Defending the flare/back screens - You more commonly see down screens from most teams, but Tech is a team that sets a lot of flare and back screens. An example of a flare screen is when a player on the wing gets a screen on the baseline side and cuts to the corner. Similar to the curls, if you go over the top of the screen, they will cut into the lane instead of cutting along the perimeter. The man defending the screener must take a step back to help on the cutter until his man has a chance to recover. Another option would be for K-State to switch all of these screens except when the 5 man is involved.
- Cheating or anticipating the screen - Tech will set up situations where the cutter has a two-way go and can either cut off a down screen or a back/cross screen. If you anticipate him cutting off the down screen and move up the floor, they will fake that action, and cut off the back screen.
- All 5 defenders must see ball and man - With all of the screens Tech sets, it is easy to let your focus drift solely on helping on the screens and lose sight of where the ball is. Even with all of the action taking place away from the ball, you must be able to see the ball and provide help on back doors or drives to the basket.
- Defending Evans on the ball screens - I would trap him immediately on every ball screen. Make him give up the ball early. He is too dangerous making plays for himself and others if you let him keep the ball in his hands.
- Changing defenses to change Tech's offensive rhythm - This is a game where I would like to see K-State change up their looks between man and zone. Make Tech regularly adjust their style of play.
- Get the ball moving side to side - In the first match up, K-State had far too many possessions where the ball only changed sides of the floor once or not at all, especially in the first half. You have to make their defense move in order to open up driving lanes. Scoring off of one pass against this team will be difficult.
- Drive to kick - Several times in the first game, K-State guards drove into the lane and tried a dump off pass to the post and turned it over. Tech is a team that protects the basket and is very good with their first rotation. That pass will rarely be there, unless you have had good ball movement and have them out of position. The pass that is more likely to be there will be the kick out pass for a 3. K-State will need to knock down open shots in this game off of drive and kicks.
- Limit Turnovers - Turnovers were an issue in the first half of the first game and have crept back up as an issue the last two games. Against ISU, Tech outscored them 18-4 off of turnovers. Tech will get some easy baskets in their half-court offense. You can't also give them transition opportunities. Not only will the guards have to solid, Wade will need to be as well. When both teams have their starters on the floor, Justin Gray will most likely defend Wade. He is a strong, athletic player who will try to get into Wade on the perimeter.
- Get out in transition - Against a good defensive team, you can make things a lot easier on yourself by getting some easy baskets in transition. It has been a mixed bag for K-State when they have had numbers this year. When they have those opportunities they must make good decisions and finish.
Kansas State must do a good job of playing good individual scouting report defense. Justin Gray is a great athlete, but not a very good 3 point shooter. Force him to make shots and supply help when needed. Tommy Hamilton, the backup 5 man, loves to leak out on the floor and shoot the spot up 3. You must run him off the line and make him put it on the floor. Zhaire Smith is capable shooter, but does most of his damage in the lane and around the basket.
Stokes has yet to make a field goal in this two games back from injury and I will go out on a limb and say he won't go the rest of the season without making one. If he can get his minutes up to the 15-20 range in this game and be a solid distributor and make a couple of open shots, it could be the boost this teams needs to get over the hump.
