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Preview: LA Tech vs. North Texas
North Texas likes to take the air out of the ball so it will make our possessions more valuable. We do seem to match up with them (and vice versa) fairly well in terms of starting line-up. The only possible advantage they have might be Bell (6'6, 205) against Christon (6'4, 200). But I do think Christon is a better defensive match-up against Bell than Green is.Originally Posted by Dwayne From Minden
Have you considered those Dogs?
Preview: LA Tech vs. North Texas
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Louisiana Tech concludes its three-game home stand on Saturday by hosting North Texas at 3 p.m. inside the Thomas Assembly Center on Karl Malone Court.
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This will probably be a low scoring game. UNT likes to play defense and keep the scores LOW! Out of 18 games played this season, UNT has only scored more than 70 points 3 times (16.67% of the time), and those 3 games were against LSU-Shreveport (73), Oklahoma Christian (84) and Rice (75).
In 8 CUSA games each:
- UNT is averaging 67 ppg.
- LA Tech is averaging 76 ppg.
Last time Tech played UNT --in the CUSA Tournament-- the Mean Green held Tech to only 48 points. FORTY-EIGHT POINTS!!! UNT won the game 54-48. I've never been so bored in my life. If Tech basketball has any manhood leftover, they won't let THAT happen again.
So this game against UNT needs to be about SCORING offense for LA Tech. If Tech can score 70 points or more, UNT can't keep up. That's just not their style. So Tech's got to have successful drives to the basket, and hit their free throws.
A key stat for Tech is Cobe Williams' scoring.
Tech is 11-0 this year when Williams scores in double figures. He is averaging 16.8 points in those 10 games.
Tech is just 5-4 this year when Williams does not score in double figures.
In the five wins he scored 7 (Jackson State), 2 (Jarvis Christian), 9 (NSU), 3 (Texas Southern), and 4 (Santa Clara) for an average of 5 points in those games.
In the four losses he scored 0 (Alabama), 2 (N.C. State), 7 (LSU), and 3 (UAB) points. That's an average of 3 points a game.
Taking it further, Tech is 14-1 this year when Williams scores 4 or more (LSU being the loss). Tech is 2-3 when Williams scores less than 4 points.
Last edited by FriscoDawg; 01-28-2022 at 03:53 PM.
So, the message is, stop Cobe Williams, and you stop LA Tech.
Yeah, that's why I was saying we need successful drives to the basket. So many scoring opportunities emerge from those hard drives to the basket. From the "dish" feeds to Lofton, to the "kick-outs" to Willis & Archibald, to the fouls that are created and send us to the free throw line. Williams is the key.
I agree with you and Frisco - as good as Jr is, Cobi is the straw that stirs the drink...
''Don't be a bad dagh..."
I imagine McCasland knows this and will defend accordingly. Wouldn't surprise me if he pressures Cobe from the jump and tries to get him out of sorts. I thought Cobe tried to do too much from the tip in the UAB game.
Have you considered those Dogs?
I agree about Williams in the comments above. He is a different maker, because it takes a lot of pressure off of Jr. If we are "on" from three point land, though, Archibald and Willis can make up for a lot. Drive the ball in and either score with Jr. or kick it back out to whomever is hot in this game from the outside. BIG KEY: Always for us is to not start off in a hole. I don't think that will be a big problem, as I believe our defense can handle North Texas. We need to speed things up and not play their game. Full court them whenever possible to speed them up and get the scoring up into the 70's. If we do that, we will be fine.
Certainly agree about Cobe's importance, been saying that all year. Our trio of guards "WAW" are (can be!) the best set of guards in CUSA. They need to play their game(s) and not disappear as a group in any game. Cobe, though, is the catalyst. He has to score, yes, 10-12 pts on average is usually enough and has to make his FTs. Even more critical is his ball-handling (minimize turnovers) and breaking down defenses setting up teammates for open looks. We don't have a halfcourt offense, since Konkol is a mere spectator, so it is up to the players to be creative on the floor.
We all know the loss of Crawford threw a glass ceiling over this year's team. Meaning, we are not going to go as far as we would have had we had him. This team might win the auto-bid and go dance, but then as a #14 seed lose a tough game to a #3. With a healthy Crawford all year we would have done better and would be a #12 seed and probably beat a #5 in the opening round. Water under the bridge...
As it stands now we have WAW and Junior, and really need a fifth guy to step up and deliver key minutes, points, rebounds, etc...I think David Green is the most likely to do that and should be our 5th starter. Hunter is continuing to get better and can be counted on to spell Junior for brief periods. Thomas has hops! He looks physically fit and capable, just needs guidance, you know COACHING! Well...darn, forget that.
Beat the Green Meanies!
A new article has been posted on www.latechsports.com:
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Here's to a safe, injury free game!
GO MEAN GREEN!
Drawing fouls early will hopefully pay off as the game progresses.
Just following stat tracker on Yahoo sports. Slow paced, just like UNT wants it. But we are going pretty much stride for stride so far. If we survive the first half and come out with our hair on fire in the second, we may can flip the game to more our speed.
Yeah seem to be drawing a lot of fouls and that may change things halfway through the second.
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