Big 12 Tournament - Texas Tech Game Review

There are few things more embarrassing than letting a one-man team beat you. Giving up a 21-point lead in a game which you are dominating has to be right up there, though. Texas A&M managed to accomplish both in their 88-83 loss to Texas Tech last night.

I will acknowledge the difficulty in beating the same team three times in one season, especially a team from the same state you are in, because you have the whole local rivalry thing going on. However, there is simply no excuse for letting one player beat you by himself. For $1.2 million a year, I would hope Turgeon knows the benefits of double-teaming a hot player. If the double-team doesn't work, you send three after him, and have them trap him. I really don't understand why we didn't do everything in our power to force anyone BUT Mike Singletary take a shot when he got hot in the second half. 43 points? Really?

Instead of trying to figure out what we need to do to take down Missouri today, we're instead forced to look at the silver lining after this game. The early loss means Josh Carter will have some extra time to rest his ankle before we begin NCAA Tournament play next week. We had four players who hit double-figures, led by Donald Sloan's 22 points; in games where we don't have a Mike Singletary going unconscious on us in the second half, that means we win.  Eighty-three points scored in the game means our offense is still performing at a high level; we just need to work on our defense.

The loss to Tech probably means we'll fall out of the #9 seed we were projected to take in ESPN Bracketology, which means we avoid the dreaded 8/9 game. We played in the 8/9 game last season against BYU, and the winner of the 8/9 game is paired with the #1 seed in that particular bracket. So, by avoiding the 8/9 game, we're guaranteeing ourselves a tougher first round game, but we're also getting an easier second round game in the Dance, should we win in the first round. I'll take that. At this point, I'm hopeful we'll be a #10 seed, and face the #7 seed. I'll take that match-up.

This loss also might have just saved Pat Knight's job; lose this game, and he is under some pressure ending the year, and is probably in a make-the-tournament-or-you're-fired situation next season. Now, Knight looks like he is doing it the "right way", and he has some breathing room. I hope Turgeon is embarrassed that he was outcoached by Pat Knight last night.

Now, we are left to wait until Sunday, to see where we are headed in the Big Dance.