1. Ouch
Utter annihilation.
2. How did Texas Tech get that many points?
It wasn’t just one guy. Nobody scored twenty for the visitors. It was just a blitz of buckets, from all angles.
3. So about that defensive revival:
This was just one data point, and it’s not fair to call it dead yet. But ouch.
4. The turnovers actually weren’t that bad.
Fifteen’s kind of a lot, but the rate brought down Iowa State’s average. Whether that was because they were playing a large chunk of the game against Texas Tech’s JV team is another matter.
5. No Xavier Foster
Hopefully just more rest for the foot. Wonder if there’s a possibility of him being shut down to fully rest it.
6. Solomon Young, always there.
ISU did get him ten shots, plus some free throws, but you have to wonder if there’s a way to get him more. By KenPom, he, Foster, and Rasir Bolton are the only above-average offensive producers efficiency-wise, and Bolton’s hardly above the average (and Foster’s production has come on limited minutes). In other words, Solomon Young is the only offensive thing that’s consistently working.
7. From here, where?
Can Iowa State bounce back against Kansas State on Wednesday. That is the question. If they don’t, a winless Big 12 season is still highly unlikely, but the path will suddenly look painfully clear.
