Louisiana Tech set to open C-USA tourney run; better matchup Marshall or UTEP?

RUSTON – Louisiana Tech may be the three-seed with a first-round bye in the Conference USA tournament later this week, but head coach Eric Konkol knows that regardless of who his team will matchup against in its first game Thursday night that a stiff challenge awaits.

Konkol and his staff will live-scout the contest between the six-seed Marshall and 11-seed UTEP Wednesday night at the Star in Frisco, Texas. They’ve already begun zeroing in on concepts and trends for both squads, but the full game plan won’t be put together until late Wednesday.

In the meantime, Tech (22-8, 13-5), which has won six of its last eight games, including two straight over FIU and Charlotte at home to close out the regular season, will focus on things that have gone its way and things that have not over the last few weeks, as well as breaking down the good and the bad from each of its games at UTEP and Marshall from earlier this year.

“Even though we have many of the same guys from last year’s team, roles change and players change, and you evolve over the season,” Konkol told media members Monday. “Sometimes that takes place outside of your control with injuries and illnesses, but we’ve had a number of guys improve.

“We need to continue to focus on improvement. It’s about us getting better. We need to get better at executing the little things that goes into winning basketball games in March.”

Redshirt junior JaColby Pemberton is one of those injuries that has shifted how Konkol utilized his bench during the last two games of the regular season. Konkol said Monday that Pemberton, who led the Bulldogs in scoring in the 83-79 overtime loss at Marshall back on Feb. 8, is “pushing in the direction” to return sometime during the C-USA tournament, but evaluation of his foot injury continues.

“He’s a big part of our team, not only physically but mentally. He’s been in our program for four years and he’s a guy that’s tough to keep off the floor,” Konkol said. “We’ll test his foot and see how he’s doing.”

Which potential opponent does Louisiana Tech matchup better against? Let’s take a look:

Marshall Thundering Herd

The Thundering Herd have shaken off a slow start to the conference slate by winning six of their final eight games to finish as the sixth seed entering the league tournament. Scoring hasn’t been a problem for Marshall the last month, putting up at least 71 points in seven of the last eight games. Where Tech was hurt in its only meeting with the Herd this season was at the 3-point line as Marshall drained 13-of-32 triples that which  it to erase as 11-point deficit with less than 13 minutes left in regulation to force overtime. On average, the Bulldogs defense has allowed 39 percent of 3-point shots to fall this season. Junior guard Jarrod West and redshirt freshman guard Andrew Taylor convert 37 and 35 of their shots beyond the arc, respectively. Tech will need to close out on them.

Louisiana Tech will also need to handle Marshall’s pressure defense, made effective by its length and athleticism with guys like Taevion Kinsey and forward Mikel Beyers, who found his offensive groove versus the Bulldogs earlier season, dropping a season-high 24 points in the win.

UTEP Miners

What’s fueled the Miners’ four-game winning streak to end up the top team from the bottom pod? Defense. But really that dates back to January as UTEP hasn’t given up more than 72 points since Jan. 18 at UTSA. Louisiana Tech only managed 64 points against Conference USA’s fifth-best defense in its 64-61 win in El Paso this year. But the Bulldogs come into the C-USA tourney with an offense that has scored at least 76 points in five of its last nine contests, although that hasn’t spelled sure success with going 3-2 in those games. Against the other top four defensive squads in the conference, Tech went 5-1 this season.

Staying out of foul trouble will be big for Tech, if UTEP knocks off Marshall in the opening round. Senior forward Mo Muhammed, had been struggling to stay on the floor due to fouls before having a monster game against Charlotte, recording a double-double. Redshirt junior Bryson Williams leads UTEP scoring and rebounding and that matchup between him and Muhammed will be the one to watch.

Louisiana Tech will face the winner of the Marshall/UTEP game Thursday night at 9:30 p.m. CST. The game can be seen on Stadium Facebook.