Fresno Recap

Final 55-42 Tech

I was very interested to see how Tech played tonight against the one WAC opponent that had absolutely destroyed Tech the last time they play. Long story short it was ugly. From both teams. Lots of turnovers. Bad shooting. However one player had a special night. Kyle Gibson was at his best. But more on that later.

Thoughts on one player’s great game and 17 others having bad ones.

Starters
Guyton
Gibson
Loe
Rolle
Rogers

* Kyle Gibson better be WAC player of the week. If not someone else must drop 40. He scored all night. He drained NBA threes. He made his first eight shots before finally missing a contested one late. In 39 minutes he went 8 for 9 from the field, 6 for 6 from deep, 4 for 4 from the charity stripe. That’s 26 points. But the most magnificent part of his game wasn’t even his shooting. It was his defense. He was matched up man for man on Paul George the future lottery pick who at 6’7 had three inches on Kyle. Monday George dropped 29 and 10 on Boise. With Kyle on him George went 1 for 6, 8 points, with six turnovers. Did I mention Kyle had five steals. You do the math. WAC player of the Week or I’ll calling Karl Benson. Oh yeah. Kyle was one point shy of his career high.

Now that my man crush on Kyle Gibson is over let’s look at the rest of the game. Yikes. Reading on is not suggested if you have a queasy stomach.

*I hate when officials take over a game. This crew was very whistle happy. In the first half Rupp had to play ten guys to get to halftime. Including subbing a player with two fouls back in because he couldn’t risk another foul on a key player. At one point the lineup was Guyton, B Gibson, Behre, Oliverson, and Ashalou. That’s nasty. In all the officials called 27 fouls and the visiting team (Fresno in this example) had 32 free throw attempts compared to only 19 for the home guys.

* If you are a fan of turnovers this was the game for you. If the officials weren’t deciding how a play should run both teams were finding new creative ways to turn it over. 20 on the night for the home Bulldogs. Only 17 for the visiting Bulldogs.

*As much as Kyle Gibson was on – Jamel Guyton was off. He did not seem to get his feet set on his jumpers tonight and Fresno seemed to pay extra attention to him. Maybe cause he had the big game there and Kyle Gibson was off. Whatever the reasons the numbers are not pleasant. Numbers – 0 for 7, 0 for 4 from deep, 3 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists.

*I really think Rolle is still limited by his hip. He just didn’t look as active to me as he usually does. Foul trouble was a big issue to him as well (there’s a theme among Tech bigs tonights). Fresno also would double him on the catch on the block. He did (as he always seems to do) have a volleyball spike of a block in the final four minutes. Numbers – 18 minutes, 4 for 8, 8 points, 5 rebounds.

*Loe only played three minutes before he picked up two fouls and had to take a seat. The Fresno point was just way too quick for him to stay with and Guyton switched to him later. Loe did play the majority of the second half and ended with 20 minutes and a nice three assist no turnover night. But his shot selection was atrocious. At the end of the game with Tech nursing a double digit lead and trying to milk some clock twice Loe decided to do his patented drive and try to score over two bigger players in the paint and miss badly trick that he does. Also the three he took was on a hop step to his left (away from the basket), fading and no chance to make it. When he catches and shoots in rhythm he is a surprisingly good perimeter shooter. If he moves chalk up a miss.

*Adrian Rogers got a good bit of unusual playing time due to the foul situation. Not that that was a good thing. He did put back a point blank rebound to notch in the scoring column. He missed the only offensive move that he seems to be comfortable with – the 8 foot jumper. Also contributed a rebound. I’m really starting to wonder how a fourth year senior does not grasp the fact that on a screen you must be still. Another offensive foul (seems to be a nightly occurrence).

*David Jackson played the most minutes off the bench with 25. Hit his only triple attempt and got in the lane and scored on a drive plus earned two trips to the free throw line. Numbers – 3-5, 1-1 from three, nine points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks.

*The more I watch Yonas Behre the more I want two point guards in this recruiting class. Due to Loe’s foul trouble he was the first sub in the game and I’m just not comfortable with him running the offense. In 12 minutes he had one assist and no turnovers but there were at least two occasions that he made a bad pass that should have been a turnover that was instead knocked out of bounds and Tech regained possession. Also went 0/2.

*Brandon Gibson got late first half burn with seven minutes played and took two three’s against the zone from the corner. The first he didn’t get set and use his legs and he missed it but the second was perfect form and it dropped true. He’s a kid that I think can make the big jump from freshman to sophomore year and really help us next year. Numbers – 1 for 2, 1 for 2 from three, 4 points.

*I waited to talk about Ashalou and Oliverson together at the end because foul trouble killed both of them. The officials wouldn’t let the bigs get physical at all in the paint. Sad thing is with all of Oliverson’s strength I only remember one of his five fouls where he got in a good shot. Oliverson numbers – 10 minutes, 2 rebounds, 5 fouls.

*Now Ashalou lasted 17 minutes and did have a good game on the boards with nine. But again he had a chance to explode quickly straight up under the rim and score and he decided to make a harder play by going under the rim. It’s frustrating because if he’ll just make the easy play it’s there. Numbers – 1/3, 2 points, 9 boards, 2 assists.

*Any win no matter how ugly is a good win. Nice to pay Fresno back. Up next is a trip to New Mexico State the only WAC schools that the Bulldogs haven’t faced yet. Somehow we’ve played five WAC opponents twice but not NM State once. I think the WAC schedule maker drinks.