GAME INFORMATION
vs
Texas Longhorns (8-10, 0-5)
Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-8, 2-4)
January 26, 2013 @ 7:00 pm
Frank Erwin Center | Austin, TX
TV: Longhorn Network | Radio: Affiliates | GameCast: FoxSports
Probable Starters
Javan Felix (5-10/190)
PG
Josh Gray (6-1/175)
Julien Lewis (6-3/190)
SG
Dusty Hannahs (6-4/210)
Iannis Papapetrou (6-8/225)
TG
Jamal Williams, Jr. (6-4/190)
Jaylen Bond (6-7/224)
PF
Jordan Tolbert (6-7/225)
Cameron Ridley (6-9/270)
C
Dejan Kravic (6-11/240)
SCOUTING THE LONGHORNS
Just to clear this up. This game is on the Longhorn Network. This is not Texas Tech's decision. This game was not picked up by ESPN or the Big 12 Netowork so the home team gets the opportunity to broadcast the game. It stinks, but the same option is available for Texas Tech, but the final decision to broadcast a game is left to the home team.
Now to the Longhorns. They are a fantastic defensive team. They are 3rd in the country in defensive field goal percentage and 1st in the country in three-point field boal percentage. I say this somewhat tongue and cheeck, but the Longhorns are only 80th in the nation in scoring defense. The problem for Texas is that they are absolutely dreadful on offense. They are 257th out of 345 in scoring offense and 289th in field goal percentage. This is similar to Texas Tech's problem. They're just not as bad offensively or as good defensively.
The only two players scoring in double-figures is Lewis, who is averaging 11.5 PPG, 3.5 RPG and 1.4 APG, and Sheldon McClellan who comes off the bench to average 15 PPG, 4.2 RPG and 0.9 APG. Felix does average 8.8 PPG, but that's about it. There's not a lot of height that plays, but there is some size. Big guys.
KEYS TO SUCCESS
The Longhorns are a big team, just not incredibly tall, so that bodes well for Texas Tech. These are both defensive teams that don't score particularly well. Like every other team, UT has a much better RPI and strength of schedule, but this is getting better for Texas Tech. The Longhorns are 0-5 on the road and 7-2 on the road, so they obviously play much better at home.
This will be Texas Tech's game plan from this point forward, which is to absolutely grind out each and every game. Texas Tech is very much starting to get their defensive legs to play in this style and with the Iowa St. upset, that's really what Texas Tech needed. Much like the Longhorns, they win games at home and Texas Tech is better at home. The Red Raiders are going to over-come that hump at some point of the season. I mentioned above that the Longhorns only have two players in double-figures, but Texas Tech only has one player scoring in double-figures, Jaye Crockett scoring 13.1 PPG. Since Texas Tech has become more defensive oriented those scoring averages have gone significantly down. Texas Tech has a number of players who are close to getting to double-figures including Gray, Tolbert, and Kravic.
GAME DAY LINKS
Texas Tech Travels To Austin To Face Texas - Texas Tech Red Raiders Official Athletic Site
Texas Longhorns Hoops vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders: Preview & Open Thread - Barking Carnival
Carlton: Momentum slowly builds for Texas Tech basketball | Texas Tech Red Raiders News - Sports News for Dallas, Texas - SportsDayDFW
Two decades after memorable Big East battle, Walker and Barnes meet in key Lone Star showdown | Red Raiders
Clark and Connor Lammert, longtime teammates, meet as rivals when Tech visits Texas | Red Raiders