Game Info
Good Guys: Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-2, 0-0)
Bad Guys: LSU Tigers (8-0, 0-0)
When to Watch: Sunday, December 7th @ 2:00 pm
Where to Watch: Dickies Arena | Fort Worth, Texas
How to Watch: ESPN2
How to Listen: 97.3 FM | Affiliates | Varsity Network
The Line: Texas Tech -4.5
Advanced Stats
| TEXAS TECH | STAT | LSU |
|---|---|---|
Lineups
| THE STARTERS | Pts / Reb | |
|---|---|---|
| POINT GUARD | Christian Anderson (6-3/178) | 18.1 / 6.9* |
| SHOOTING GUARD | Donovan Atwell (6-5/200) | 12.4 / 3.0 |
| SMALL FORWARD | Tyree Bryan (6-5/215) | 6.4 / 4.3 |
| POWER FORWARD | JT Toppin (6-9/230) | 22.1 / 11.0 |
| CENTER | Luke Bamgboye (6-11/220) | 5.0 / 3.0 |
| THE BENCH | Pts / Reb | |
| SIXTH MAN | LeJuan Watts (6-6/225) | 11.6 / 5.6 |
| SEVENTH MAN | Jaylen Petty (6-1/168) | 5.9 / 3.1 |
| EIGHTH MAN | Leon Horner (6-4/215) | 4.2 / 2.8 |
| NINTH MAN | Nolan Groves (6-5/205) | 2.3 / 2.0 |
| TENTH MAN | Marial Akuentok (6-11/240) | 2.3 / 3.0 |
| ELEVENTH MAN | Josiah Moseley (6-8/225) | – / – |
| TWELFTH MAN | Jazz Henderson (5-11/180) | 1.0 / 1.5 |
| THIRTEENTH MAN | LaTrell Hoover (7-0/230) | – / – |
| FOURTEENTH MAN | Jack Francis (6-3/180) | 0.0 / 1.0 |
| THE STARTERS | Pts / Reb | |
| POINT GUARD | Dedan Thomas Jr. (6-1/178) | 15.5 / 7.0* |
| SHOOTING GUARD | Max Mackinnon (6-6/195) | 12.9 / 3.3 |
| SMALL FORWARD | Pablo Tamba (6-7/206) | 6.0 / 7.4 |
| POWER FORWARD | Marquel Sutton (6-8/225) | 13.3 / 9.0 |
| CENTER | Mike Nwoko (6-10/261) | 16.8 / 5.6 |
| THE BENCH | Pts / Reb | |
| SIXTH MAN | Robert Miller III (6-10/230) | 7.3 / 3.6 |
| SEVENTH MAN | Rashad King (6-6/217) | 4.4 / 2.6 |
| EIGHTH MAN | Jalen Reece (6-0/185) | 3.8 / 1.3 |
| NINTH MAN | PJ Carter (6-4/183) | 3.6 / 0.1 |
| TENTH MAN | – (-/-) | – / – |
* Assists.
Starting 5
1. Stats. LSU is a very good offensive team, top 30 and that stems from being a team that pounds the rock, 12th in the nation in 2-point shooting percentage, 58th in offensive boards, and 34th in free throw rate (while 22nd in the nation in free throw percentage). The only negative is that they are 178th in 3-point shooting. Defensively, they are similarly very good, a very careful team that doesn’t force turnovers, 304th, but they 16th in defending 2-point shots, 38th in limiting offensive rebounds, 61st in opponent free throw rate, and teams are shooting just 61% in made free throw percentage.
2. Scouting. Thomas is the engine, a very good assist guy and low turnover, while making nearly 60% of his 2-point shots. Mackinnon is the biggest 3-point threat, making 43% of those shots, so he’s definitely dangerous there. Sutton is probably the most well-rounded player, a decent shooter from deep, 34%, and 64% in 2-point shots while being a terrific rebounder on both ends of the court. Nwoko is a good shot-blocker as is Miller. Tamba and Reed will also rebound the ball really well.
3. How They Match Up. This is a really good match-up for Texas Tech. These are similar teams and I’d say that LSU has played a bit of an easier schedule, but I think that Drake, DePaul, and Boston College are all decent games. Where they got a bit hung up against BC was that they just shot the ball from deep way too much, 3 of 19 and it took overtime to beat the Eagles. The other big issue is that they simply do not turn teams over and giving a team like Texas Tech that can get after the offensive boards is a good thing for the Red Raiders. The thing that I think worries me about Texas Tech is that they aren’t excelling at anything defensively, they are just sort of a mid-team in terms of stopping opponents. Texas Tech is top third-ish, but I think they have to step up the defensive intensity.
4. lagniappe | something given as a bonus or extra gift.
This is more of an FYI, Iowa State demolished Purdue in West Lafayette yesterday, 81-58, and I’d tell you that Iowa State is maybe quietly the best team in the Big 12.
5. Official Site. The official site has their preview right here:
No. 19 Texas Tech is set to play consecutive games against SEC opponents, starting with a US LBM Coast-to-Coast matchup against unbeaten LSU at 2 p.m. on Sunday at Dickies Arena in Fort Worth. The Red Raiders (6-2) are nationally ranked for a program-record 14 straight Associated Press Top 25 Polls and enter the game against the Tigers (8-0) on a two-game winning streak after home wins over New Orleans and Wyoming to extend a 44-game non-conference home winning streak which is the third longest in the nation.
“They’re significantly improved,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said. “It’s not a coincidence that they’re 8-0. They have every position with experience and every position can leverage you. From the point to the rim to perimeter scoring to rebounding. They’re switching defense and they’re really competitive. They have firepower. I think they’re a tremendous team. They’ve gotten great players and also have a great plan. They’re a legit top 25 team.”