Texas Tech basketball: Pop Isaacs lifts Red Raiders over NIU in final second

Texas Tech gave us a look at how close games will be handled

Life in the Big 12 is always going to present teams with close games.  As a result, it is imperative that a team knows what it wants to do in the closing minutes of one-possession games.

Prior to Thursday, we hadn’t seen this incarnation of the Red Raiders in a one-score game late.  So it was telling to see where McCasland turned when the game was on the line.

When the game had only two minutes left, Tech led 70-67.  At that point, Cambridge and McMillan would miss makeable shots.

However, in the last two possessions, it was Toussaint and Isaacs that McCasland gave the ball to.  While Toussaint couldn’t deliver on a shot with 55 seconds to play, Isaacs did come through with the game-winner to answer a UNI 3-pointer that tied the game with 27 seconds left.

There is no question what Tech is going to do in close games this year.  The plan is going to be to isolate either Toussaint or Isaacs and let them go to work and create their own shot or make something happen for a teammate.

Both have the ability to get into the lane but again, their size makes one question whether or not they can truly get to the rim against elite defenders.  UNI didn’t feature great individual perimeter defenders so Toussaint and Isaacs were able to create late.

However, Big 12 teams will likely have bigger defenders to throw at the two smallish Red Raider guards.  When those situations arise in conference play, will Toussaint and Isaacs be able to answer the call?

We will eventually find that out but for now, we at least know that the plan is going to be to rely on the two guards in crunch time.  Thankfully, Isaacs came through and carried his team to a win in a game that seemed for almost 30 minutes like it was going to be another frustrating loss.