Game of the Week: Houston vs Texas Tech
Time: 5:30 p.m. CST
Date: Saturday, Jan. 24
TV: ESPN
We have a Big 12 top 15 matchup on our hands for 5:30 p.m. Saturday Jan. 24, between the No. 7 Houston Cougars and the No. 15 Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Both of these teams are sitting at the top of the conference alongside Arizona and BYU. The latter is most important as the Red Raiders just came off of an 84-71 win against BYU just yesterday. Let’s take a look at both teams in this upcoming game.
Houston
As usual, Houston has been a dominant force in Division I basketball with their only loss being to a No. 17 Tennessee team back in November. At the start of the year, they were ranked the No. 2 team in the country. Even though they have slid somewhat after that loss, the talent of this team could still easily be a No. 1 team in the country without question. Although, they have had a few close calls against Auburn, Syracuse, and what’s this? Texas Tech just a few weeks ago? Then that might just be the story for round two.
Still, Houston is a team that should scare anyone. They have dominated teams like Baylor and won with near double-digit games against Arkansas, Notre Dame, and Cincinnati.
Before this game, their next matchup is against Arizona State, who is 10-7 on the year. Unless something crazy happens, Houston should walk through that game and prepare for the tougher matchup against Texas Tech.
Players to watch: Kingston Flemings, Emanuel Sharp, Joseph Tugler, and Chris Cenac Jr.
Main thing to watch: Freshman Kingston Flemings scored 15 points in the second half. What the Cougars would need to do in this game is play excellent defense and force turnovers on the Red Raiders. The offense is already there with this group of four players and can score points very quickly on any mistakes.
Texas Tech
The Red Raiders have had a bit of a rougher time this year, but they are heating up in conference play. They started off the year No. 10 in the country but fell to No. 14 Illinois early into the season. Then, they had a close call against Wake Forest in the Baha Mar Championship and had a really bad game against No. 1 Purdue, being outscored 86-56. With some more close calls against Wyoming and a loss to No. 17 Arkansas, it looked like the Red Raiders were cold.
That was until they defeated No. 3 Duke in Madison Square Garden, defeating the Blue Devils 82-81. That victory seemed to ignite the Red Raiders as they would go on to defeat Oklahoma State, Colorado, Utah, and one of their most recent opponents, BYU. Their only other loss since then was to Houston.
They have a tough opponent coming up before the Cougars as well, Baylor. That game might be a precursor to this game, albeit that is a road contest while the Red Raiders play Houston at home. Although Texas Tech lost to Houston in the first round, it was a close contest, 69-65, and the Red Raiders typically play better at home.
Players to watch: JT Toppin (who had a double-double against Houston), Jaylen Petty (who put up a career-high 20 points against Houston earlier), and Donovan Atwell.
Main thing to watch: Turnovers killed any momentum the Red Raiders were getting. In almost every other statistic, the Red Raiders were even with the Cougars.