Tech Preview:
They are currently 23rd in KenPom - 13th on offense and 67th on defense
Offensively they are really hot - shooting 40% from deep in conference games and 76+% from the FT line. They aren't dominate in any other metrics, they don't get to the rim a lot, they are a just okay offensive rebounding team and they turn the ball over an average amount.
Defensively they are quite a bit lower - they are below average in defensive rebounding, getting steals and blocking shots. If we are engaged we should be able to score.
They play 7 players the bulk of the minutes - which is something that I think plays to our advantage, especially at home - our defense is REALLY hard to handle for 40 minutes. It wears guards down, especially if they are playing 35+ minutes.
In conference games, Pop Isaacs is scoring 17+ per game and 5 others are between 9-12.
Isaacs, a soph, is their leading scorer and offensive focus. He's scoring 17.2 per game in conference games and shooting 36+% from deep. He also turns the ball over almost 3 times a game, which is a key in this one
Joe Toussaint, previously of Iowa and WVU, is the other co-PG. He and Isaacs both average over 4 assists per game, and he also turns it over 2+ times a game. He's a very good FT shooter (84%) and he and Isaacs average ~9 FTs per game.
The backup guard is Chase McMillan, a 4th year transfer from Grand Canyon U. He plays starters minutes (~28) and shoots 40% from 3 and never misses from the FT line. He's slighter and quicker than Isaacs and Toussaint, but a very good bench piece.
The '3' is Kerwin Walton, the 4th year transfer from UNC. He really struggled to find a role on the dysfunctional team last year, and started this year coming off the bench. But then one of their transfer guards got hurt and he's started every game in conference play. He's mainly a 3pt shooter only - but he's been scorching hot in conference play - shooting 23-45 for 51%. In those 8 games he's 4-8 from the FT line and has only 2 assists (somehow).
Their '4' is really another guard transfer - one we were in on this offseason - in Darrion Williams, a soph from Nevada. He's only 6'6", but strong and battles tough on defense for them. He's coming off a dream game - going 12-12 from the field and 4-4 from deep in their blowout of KU. He's only averaging ~11 ppg, but is shooting 44% from 3 and 87% from the FT line in conf play. He's just a really good player - just a couple FTs from the exclusive 50/40/90 club - and is their leading rebounder at over 7 a game
Their post in their 4-out / 1-in scheme is the well traveled 7-fter Warren Washington, who is on his 4th team in 6 years of college bball, playing at Oregon St, Nevada, Arizona St before TTU. He's averaging 12 points and 7 boards. He's not a good FT shooter at 53% and doesn't shoot from 3. He's been battling an injury and may not play, which changes their game quite a bit.
Their bench post is soph Robert Jennings, a big bodied 6'7" (physically looks a bit line Tre King). He just averaging 4 and 2 in conference play in about 10 minutes per game - and has been foul prone when he plays more than that.
Tech's defense does a good job of defending without fouling, especially when Washington is protecting the paint. Their game @ Baylor he didn't play and Baylor shot 34FTs. I think that's the key - attack the paint, and keep TTU's guards away from the rim without fouling.
And turning them over a season high - as usual. Their high TOs in conference is just 14 in that loss at Baylor.
