Previewing Texas Tech Basketball

The Oklahoma men's basketball season plays its second road game of the week tonight when they visit the Texas Tech Red Raiders. After dropping Tuesday night's game at Texas A&M this game becomes a must win for the Sooners in order for them to continue to jockey for one of the top four spots in the conference. While Tech's overall record is impressive, their slow start in conference play provides the hope that Oklahoma can sneak out of Lubbock with a win.

The Red Raiders are 11-1 at home with their loss coming at the hands of the Missouri Tigers. They are 13-5 overall but 1-3 in conference after gaining their first Big 12 win Wednesday night against Iowa State. After starting the season 9-0 Texas Tech has gone 4-5 over their last nine games and have dropped from being #16 in the AP poll to being an unranked team.

The Red Raiders are shooting 45% from the floor which ranks them 9th in Big 12. They are hitting 35% from 3-point range (7^th in the Big 12) and 72% from the free throw line (4^th in the Big 12). 

Defensively, the Red Raiders are holding opponents to 42% shooting from the floor and 34% from three-point range both of which rank 9^th in the Big 12

Texas Tech has three players who average double figures in scoring led by Mike Singletary's 14.9 points. Singletary also grabs nearly seven rebounds per game as well while shooting 48% from the floor and 73% from the charity stripe where he earns 7 attempts per game. Junior guard John Roberson averages 14.2 points and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 40% from beyond the arch where he's made 35 this season. He also shoots 80% from the free throw line. Junior guard David Tairu scores 10.9 points per game (while coming off the bench) and grabs 3 boards. He's dangerous from long range where he's shooting 47% from three-point range.   

Texas Tech is 1-3 in their last four conference games (All Big 12 conference play) and the Sooners are in the good position of being the underachieving team on the Red Raider's schedule before they play the formerly top ranked Texas Longhorns. The Sooners played well enough Tuesday night to get a win at College Station before they collapsed down the stretch. An effort like that tonight in College Station would most likely send OU home with a victory.