Game Info
Good Guys: Texas Tech Red Raiders (16-4, 5-2)
Bad Guys: Cincinnati Bearcats (14-7, 3-5)
When to Watch: Saturday, February 3rd @ 5:00 pm
Where to Watch: United Supermarkets Arena | Lubbock, Texas
How to Watch: ESPN+
How to Listen: 97.3 FM | Affiliates | Varsity Network
The Line: Texas Tech -4.5
Advanced Stats
Lineups
| THE STARTERS | Pts / Reb | |
|---|---|---|
| POINT GUARD | Joe Toussaint (6-0/195) | 13.0 / 4.3* |
| SHOOTING GUARD | Pop Isaacs (6-2/180) | 17.4 / 3.6* |
| SMALL FORWARD | Kerwin Walton (6-5/210) | 7.8 / 2.2 |
| POWER FORWARD | Darrion Williams (6-8/225) | 9.0 / 6.9 |
| CENTER | Warren Washington (7-0/235) | 10.5 / 7.7 |
| THE BENCH | Pts / Reb | |
| SIXTH MAN | Chance McMillian (6-3/185) | 10.4 / 3.5 |
| SEVENTH MAN | Lamar Washington (6-4/200) | 2.8 / 1.7 |
| EIGHTH MAN | Robert Jennings (6-7/230) | 2.4 / 2.0 |
| NINTH MAN | KyeRon Lindsay (6-8/215) | 2.0 / 0.0 |
| TENTH MAN | Eemeli Yalaho (6-8/240) | 0.3 / 0.3 |
| ELEVENTH MAN | D’Maurian Williams (6-3/195) | 0.4 / 0.4 |
| TWELFTH MAN | Jack Francis (6-3/185) | 0.7 / 0.3 |
| THIRTEENTH MAN | Devan Cambridge (6-6/210) | Out for Year |
| THE STARTERS | Pts / Reb | |
| POINT GUARD | Day Day Thomas (6-0/185) | 10.9 / 3.3* |
| SHOOTING GUARD | John Newman, III (6-5/215) | 10.0 / 5.3 |
| SMALL FORWARD | Simas Lukosius (6-8/225) | 9.2 / 3.1* |
| POWER FORWARD | Viktor Lakhim (6-11/240) | 12.1 / 7.3 |
| CENTER | Aziz Bandaogo (7-0/235) | 7.4 / 8.3 |
| THE BENCH | Pts / Reb | |
| SIXTH MAN | Dan Skillings, Jr. (6-6/215) | 12.0 / 6.0 |
| SEVENTH MAN | Jizzle James (6-1/195) | 7.0 / 1.7 |
| EIGHTH MAN | Jamille Reynolds (6-11/275) | 5.3 / 3.7 |
| NINTH MAN | Josh Reed (6-7/220) | 2.4 / 2.2 |
| TENTH MAN | Ody Oguama (6-9/230) | 3.3 / 2.9 |
* Assists.
Starting 5
1. Stats. Cincy is top third offensively, and the biggest reason they are even that good is because they are absolute beasts on the offensive boards, 9th in the nation. That could be a problem. They are not a great shooting team, 219th in 3-point shooting and 148th in 2-point shooting. They are a terrible free throw shooting team, 306th, which has probably cost them games at some point. They are also prone to turn the ball over, 130th. On the defensive end, things are much better. They hold opponents to just 45.9% for 2-point shots, good for 39th in the nation, and they severely limit 2nd shots and are 7th in opponent offensive boards.
2. Scouting. Lakhim is the best player, a terrific rebounder and shot-blocker as well as making 58% of his shots inside the arc. He’ll also shoot from deep, but is just 29%. Skillings is maybe their 2nd best layer, but comes off the bench. Another terrific rebounder, as is Bandaogo, who much like Lakhim is an even better shot-blocker and a much better shooter, 64% from inside the 3-point line. I love that they have a guy named Day Day and another guy named Jizzle.
3. How They Match Up. Cincy has dropped games because they are allowing teams to shoot too well from deep, and they are also putting up too many shots from outside and not connecting. Texas Tech’s biggest issues are on the defensive side, particularly on allowing 3-point shooting. McCasland has mentioned that the team has to be a better rebounding team and that is absolutely a Cincinnati strength. Texas Tech isn’t bad, but the Bearcats are elite at it. This is the type of game that Devan Cambridge would be great at helping because Cincinnati is a very long team and they are going to need all hands on deck.
4. lagniappe | something given as a bonus or extra gift.
5. Official Site. The official site has their preview right here:
Texas Tech center Harold Hudgens scored 26 points but it wasn’t enough as Cincinnati advanced with a 78-55 win in the NCAA Tournament Midwest Region semifinal matchup at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. The game was played back on March 17, 1961, and is the only time the two programs have previously met on the basketball court until this weekend. The Bearcats went on to win the 1961 National Championship after topping Texas Tech Hall of Fame members Del Ray Mounts and Hudgens who were playing in the program’s third national tournament and legendary head coach Polk Robison’s final season.
Now in 2024 and playing for the first time as Big 12 foes, the No. 15-ranked Red Raiders are back on their home court after a two-game road trip hosting the Bearcats at 5 p.m. on Saturday at United Supermarkets Arena. Tech (16-4, 5-2 Big 12) is 11-0 at home coming into the game and is looking to bounce back after an 85-78 loss at No. 25 TCU on Tuesday in Fort Worth. Tech has not lost back-to-back games this season coming into the first trip to Lubbock for Cincinnati (14-7, 3-5 Big 12) which is coming off a 69-65 loss at West Virginia on Wednesday night in Morgantown.
“In this league, you’re going to face a lot of different challenges and I think playing against Cincinnati they have strengths in our greatest weakness,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said. “They are one of the best offensive rebounding teams in the country and obviously at TCU that’s where we struggled. Wes Miller is doing a fantastic job. Life on the road is difficult in this league. Playing at home, we have to be more physical and play our best. This will be a big test that exposes that weakness. I like their roster and upside. They are a team that will keep getting better throughout the season with great size and athletes in space. They are physical and attack the rim. Personnel and rebounding will be a key in this one.”