from justin apodaca reporter, red raider sports
1) From watching 1.5 halves of TY ball its evident they are defensive oriented.
What defenses do they run? I don't remember much pressing just 94 foot pick up. accurate ?
That's been the MO under Mark Adams, and even Chris Beard, a defensive-focused team that runs the no-middle defense. The Red Raiders do a ton of switching on the defensive end, which can lead to mismatches, it also leads to the three-ball being a good way to beat them. Tech had one of the best defenses in the nation last season, but they are not where Adams wants them to be as of yet.
2) Offensively it seems as if TT is not a perimeter shooting team, with frosh Pops Isaacs being the only knockdown type guy. Accurate?
Pop Isaacs has been excellent to start the season as a true freshman out of Las Vegas, Nevada, and is definitely the best shooter on the team. However, Kevin Obanor can shoot the ball from beyond the arc at a streaky pace along with North Carolina transfer Kerwin Walton, who was heralded as a three-point shooter when he transfered.
3) Tell me more about this Uber athletic, tall Frenchman.
Daniel Batcho has taken so many steps this season, it is truly astonishing. Last season, he looked slow and didn't move laterally very well, this year, it's a completely different story. Batcho was key for the Red Raiders in Maui, despite the outcome, and they desperately needed it with the absence of Utah Valley transfer, Fardaws Aimaq.
4) People have called TT "grown men" around the Hoyas' program. Accurate?
I would push back on this notion a little. This team is very young, with five true freshmen and only returning three (Obanor, Batcho, KJ Allen) from last season's Sweet Sixteen team. Physically, however, they are pretty built, despite lacking some length at times if Batcho gets in foul trouble.
5) How would you stop TT?
I think the formula hasn't changed much since last season. Teams found success by shooting the three well and out rebounding the Red Raiders on the offensive boards. If a team is able to score a ton of points, they will have a good chance of winning, even though that's a hell of a challenge.
6) Does the school have an inferiority complex so to speak, as Texas amd Texas A&M seem to get the shine down there? Many times TT seems forgotten.
I wouldn't say so but there is definitely dislike of both schools from the students and alumni. On paper, Texas and Texas A&M both have more funding for athletics and academics. The UT & A&M systems are definitely larger than Tech's, but the Tech system has done some catching up. It could be the echo-chamber of being in Lubbock, but I don't feel the sentiment that Tech goes forgotten.
1) From watching 1.5 halves of TY ball its evident they are defensive oriented.
What defenses do they run? I don't remember much pressing just 94 foot pick up. accurate ?
That's been the MO under Mark Adams, and even Chris Beard, a defensive-focused team that runs the no-middle defense. The Red Raiders do a ton of switching on the defensive end, which can lead to mismatches, it also leads to the three-ball being a good way to beat them. Tech had one of the best defenses in the nation last season, but they are not where Adams wants them to be as of yet.
2) Offensively it seems as if TT is not a perimeter shooting team, with frosh Pops Isaacs being the only knockdown type guy. Accurate?
Pop Isaacs has been excellent to start the season as a true freshman out of Las Vegas, Nevada, and is definitely the best shooter on the team. However, Kevin Obanor can shoot the ball from beyond the arc at a streaky pace along with North Carolina transfer Kerwin Walton, who was heralded as a three-point shooter when he transfered.
3) Tell me more about this Uber athletic, tall Frenchman.
Daniel Batcho has taken so many steps this season, it is truly astonishing. Last season, he looked slow and didn't move laterally very well, this year, it's a completely different story. Batcho was key for the Red Raiders in Maui, despite the outcome, and they desperately needed it with the absence of Utah Valley transfer, Fardaws Aimaq.
4) People have called TT "grown men" around the Hoyas' program. Accurate?
I would push back on this notion a little. This team is very young, with five true freshmen and only returning three (Obanor, Batcho, KJ Allen) from last season's Sweet Sixteen team. Physically, however, they are pretty built, despite lacking some length at times if Batcho gets in foul trouble.
5) How would you stop TT?
I think the formula hasn't changed much since last season. Teams found success by shooting the three well and out rebounding the Red Raiders on the offensive boards. If a team is able to score a ton of points, they will have a good chance of winning, even though that's a hell of a challenge.
6) Does the school have an inferiority complex so to speak, as Texas amd Texas A&M seem to get the shine down there? Many times TT seems forgotten.
I wouldn't say so but there is definitely dislike of both schools from the students and alumni. On paper, Texas and Texas A&M both have more funding for athletics and academics. The UT & A&M systems are definitely larger than Tech's, but the Tech system has done some catching up. It could be the echo-chamber of being in Lubbock, but I don't feel the sentiment that Tech goes forgotten.