Texas Tech basketball: Numbers to know as Red Raiders head to Ames

Without guard Tyrese Haliburton, Iowa State is missing tons of production

You could make the argument that Iowa State’s sophomore guard Tyrese Haliburton was the best all-around player in the Big 12 this year…was being the operative word.  Two weeks ago, he broke his wrist in a game at home against Kansas State ending his season and likely his ISU career as he is an almost certain NBA lottery pick.

That means the Cyclones are missing 15.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 2.5 steals per game from their lineup.  Haliburton leads their team in every one of those categories leaving huge shoes to fill.

In the three games since he’s been injured, ISU has averaged 71 points per game.  That’s almost three points below their season average.

Senior Prentiss Nixon has stepped into the starting five and performed well in Haliburton’s place though.  Coming off of a 20-point showing earlier this week in a loss to Kansas, he’s averaging 15.6 points and three assists per game.  Keeping him in check will be key especially from 3-point range where he is 7-20 in his last three games combined including 4-8 against KU.

In the Red Raiders’ 72-52 win against the Cyclones in Lubbock last month, Nixon got the start but had only four points in 36 minutes of action.  Not long after that, the Colorado State transfer was taken out of the starting lineup because of his shooting struggles.

He’s back into the starting mix and playing well and if he can continue to do his best Tyrese Haliburton imitation today, ISU will be a handful.   It will be interesting to see how the Red Raiders attack the Cyclones’ new catalyst.