Game Thread and Preview: Baylor vs. Texas Tech

Texas Tech vs. Baylor
The Red Raiders hit the road and travel to Waco to take on the Baylor Bears in the last conference game of the season before the Big 12 Tournament. We’ve got how to watch, a game preview and your open thread for the game.

Game Details:

Date: Friday, March 6th
Time: 8:00 pm
Good Guys: Texas Tech Red Raiders (13-17, 3-14)
Bad Guys: Baylor Bears (22-8, 10-7)
Location: Ferrell Center | Waco, TX
TV/Stream: ESPN2
Radio/Stream: Broadcast Affiliates and TuneIn App

Starting Lineup

Pts / Reb Pts / Reb
POINT GUARD Robert Turner (6-3/180) 8.2 / 1.7* Kenny Chery (5-11/185) 11.0 / 4.0*
SHOOTING GUARD Toddrick Gotcher (6-4/190) 7.4 / 2.6 Lester Medford (5-11/185) 7.9 / 3.2*
SMALL FORWARD Zach Smith (6-8/205) 6.1 / 5.0 Royce O’Neale (6-2/190) 10.0 / 5.9
POWER FORWARD Norense Odiase (6-9/270) 7.0 / 4.8 Rico Gathers (6-7/235) 11.4 / 11.8
CENTER Isaiah Manderson (6-10/240) 4.2 / 2.8 Johnathan Motley (6-8/230) 8.1 / 4.2

* Assists.

Three Keys to the Game:

1. Scouting the Bears. Baylor was on fire before the loss earlier this week to Texas, going back to the win against Texas Tech, and then beating Kansas State, Iowa State, and West Virginia. Baylor was up most of the game against Texas, but faltered in the end. No lie, I really like this Baylor team, much more than previous teams for Baylor. I think their top five or six players are as good as you’ll see in the conference (sans Kansas). I think that Baylor is comparable to Iowa State and Oklahoma in terms of their starting five players. With this being Baylor’s senior night, this could be a very tough game for Texas Tech (very tough).

2. Stats. Much like a few weeks ago, Baylor is a better shooting and better rebounding team, as well as having an advantage in not turning the ball over.

Statistically, Baylor is really good, a top 10 team according to KenPom (I think they’ve gotten much better since a few weeks ago) #9 overall, #12 in AdjO and 25th in AdjD. Being so much better in that defensive area is really significant. Texas Tech has hovered around the 160 for a few weeks and are 162nd overall now. You know the drill, Texas Tech is 249th in AdjO and 101st in AdjD.

*AdjO and AdjD via KenPom.

3. Matching Up. At home, I really thought that Texas Tech stood a pretty decent chance of pulling off an upset, but I’ve got a bad feeling about playing opposing teams during senior night. Baylor is such a good/great offensive team and the splits between home and away for Texas Tech shooting the ball is pretty significant. Not only that, but Vegas has Baylor as a 16 point favorite. For Texas Tech, it is the story that has been written in all of the upset wins, which is hit your outside shots and it will stay close. Keep things close, then ya never know.

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