Texas Tech preview
I thought I'd do an in-depth preview of the Texas Tech game since it will be an interesting barometer of where we are as a basketball team.
Rice (6-1) at Texas Tech (6-1), Saturday, December 3, Lubbock, 1 pm (Fox Sports Southwest)
Probable starting lineups
Rice
Marcus Evans, 6-2, SO (22.6 PPG, 5.0 APG)
Marcus Jackson, 6-3, JR (14.0 PPG)
Connor Cashaw, 6-5, SO (8.7 PPG)
Egor Koulechov, 6-5, JR (18.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG)
Corey Douglas, 6-8, FR (5.1 PPG)
Key Reserves
Marquez Letcher-Ellis, 6-7, SO (6.0 PPG)
Chad Lott, 6-3 FR (4.4 PPG)
Texas Tech
Devon Thomas, 6-0, SR (4.9 PPG, 3.0 APG)
Justin Gray, 6-6, JR (9.9 PPG)
Keenan Evans, 6-3, JR (12.6 PPG)
Zach Smith, 6-8, JR (11.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 2.0 BPG)
Anthony Livingston, 6-8, SR (11.4 PPG, 4.9 RPG)
Key Reserves
Shadell Millinghaus, 6-2, JR (9.0 PPG)
Niem Stevenson, 6-5, JR (6.8 PPG)
Aaron Ross (a 6-8 forward) is actually their leading scorer at 14.8 PPG but has missed their last 3 games with a leg injury. They have another big guy (6-9 Norense Odiase) who hasn't played at all this year due to an injury. Even without their two big guys, they're still a formidable team who can shoot the ball (52 pct in 2 pointers, 40 pct in 3 pointers) and a solid rebounding team (+10 rebounding edge a game).
Schedule-wise, Tech has played a tougher slate than Rice in getting to a 6-1 mark. But they haven't played a killer schedule either. They have a 2-point loss vs Auburn (neutral court) and impressive 27 and 24 point wins vs. North Texas and Utah State.
Rice hasn't played Texas Tech in 20 years (since the break-up of the SWC) and should be playing on the road in a hostile environment in front of at least 6-7,000 fans. Due to the homecourt advantage and a big edge in experience (Tech's top 7 are all juniors and seniors), I'd expect about a 10-point Texas Tech win (without Ross - perhaps a few more if he plays).
But if Rice can limit its unforced turnovers and continue to shoot the ball well on the road (they're actually shooting better on the road this year than at home - 52.5 pct in 2 pointers and an astonishing 54.7 pct in 3 pointers), then I give Rice a fighter's chance at a big road upset.
Prediction - Texas Tech 82, Rice 73
(This post was last modified: 12-02-2016 03:04 PM by Fort Bend Owl.)
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