College Basketball
College Hoops Preview: #12 Kansas vs #14 Texas Tech
- Matchup: #12 Kansas Jayhawks (20-6, 9-4 Big 12) at #14 Texas Tech Red Raiders (21-5, 9-4 Big 12)
- Date: February 23rd, 2019
- Time: 8:00 pm EST
- Network: ESPN
- Location: Lubbock, TX
- Venue: United Supermarkets Arena
- Seating Capacity: 15,000
Big 12 Juggernauts go head to head
Tonight features a huge Big 12 matchup between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Texas Tech Red Raiders. In their first meeting, Kansas ran away with a 79-63 victory.
Both teams are coming off of huge wins. Kansas toppled West Virginia by 25, and Texas Tech smoked Baylor by 25. Expect a much closer game between these two Big 12 rivals.
Kansas had to overcome a lot this season
Throughout the season, Kansas had to overcome injury problems. Their third leading scorer Udoka Azubuike (13.4 points per game) only played nine games and has been ruled out for the season. Marcus Garrett missed the last five games with a high ankle problem, but he’s expected to suit up tonight against Texas Tech. Also, senior guard Lagerald Vick is on personal leave, and his return is unknown. Despite these issues, Kansas remains competitive in a tough Big 12 Conference.
Junior forward Dedric Lawson makes the Kansas offense tick. He has been a handful for opponents to handle this season, averaging a double-double (19.2 ppg, 10.3 rebounds per game). In addition to Lawson’s stellar play, the freshman guard duo Devon Dotson (12.2 ppg) and Ochai Agbaji (10.8 ppg) have stepped their game up. Both guards have shown flashes of good play, and if Kansas is to pull out a win on the road, Dotson and Agbaji have to put up double digits in points.
Currently, Kansas is riding a three-game winning streak, with victories over Oklahoma State and TCU — in addition to West Virginia. Bill Self will be hoping to lead his young men to another victory over a tough Red Raiders team.
Texas Tech has one of the best defenses in the nation
Texas Tech eats, sleeps, and breathes defense. The Red Raiders currently boast the third-best scoring defense in the nation, holding opponents to 57.2 ppg. Chris Beard has transformed Texas Tech into a team that causes havoc defensively, forcing opponents to turn over the ball at a high rate and controlling the paint. At the moment, the Red Raiders rank third in the nation in turnover percentage, fourth in two-point percentage defense, and seventh in block rate.
For the Red Raiders, the weaknesses lie on offense. Offensive, Texas Tech averages only 71.5 ppg, which is 220th in the nation. Also, it doesn’t help that the team turns the ball over at an alarming rate. If Texas Tech is to pull out the win, taking care of the ball has to be of the utmost priority.
Sophomore guard Jarrett Culver is the man Beard turns to for offensive production. He’s a born scorer, and he’s the only Texas Tech player who scores over 15 ppg (17.7 ppg). Culver has to have a big game tonight if the Red Raiders are to coast to victory. Sophomore guard Davide Moretti provides some pop from long range, shooting 43.5% from deep, and Senior guard Matt Mooney scores 10.7 ppg. There has to be a strong effort from both players offensively to help relieve some of the defensive attention off of Culver.
Since losing to Kansas in early February, the Red Raiders have destroyed their last four opponents. Beard will be hoping to avenge the earlier loss to the Jayhawks.
Prediction
Tonight, Texas Tech will get revenge. The last time the Red Raiders and Jayhawks butted heads, Culver finished with 10 points on 5-17 shooting. That won’t be the case in this game. The home crowd will lift Culver to drop 20+ points, and Texas Tech will be stout defensively. Expect a low scoring game with the Red Raiders coming out on top.
Texas Tech: 69
Kansas: 62
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Photo Credit
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Written by Ryan Gayle
