Game Info
Good Guys: Texas Tech Red Raiders (16-4, 7-2)
Bad Guys: Houston Cougars (17-3, 9-0)
When to Watch: Saturday, February 1st @ 5:00 pm
Where to Watch: United Supermarkets Arena | Lubbock, Texas
How to Watch: ESPN2
How to Listen: 97.3 FM | Affiliates | Varsity Network
The Line: Houston -10.5
Advanced Stats
| TEXAS TECH | STAT | HOUSTON |
|---|---|---|
Lineups
| THE STARTERS | Pts / Reb | |
|---|---|---|
| POINT GUARD | Elijah Hawkins (5-11/160) | 8.9 / 6.1* |
| SHOOTING GUARD | Chance McMillian (6-3/190) | 15.0 / 4.3 |
| SMALL FORWARD | Kerwin Walton (6-5/210) | 4.4 / 1.2 |
| POWER FORWARD | Darrion Williams (6-6/225) | 14.7 / 5.4 |
| CENTER | JT Toppin (6-9/225) | 16.4 / 8.9 |
| THE BENCH | Pts / Reb | |
| SIXTH MAN | Kevin Overton (6-5/200) | 9.2 / 3.9 |
| SEVENTH MAN | Christian Anderson (6-2/165) | 9.4 / 2.2* |
| EIGHTH MAN | Federiko Federiko (6-11/215) | 7.0 / 5.4 |
| NINTH MAN | Eemeli Yalaho (6-8/240) | 3.1 / 2.1 |
| TENTH MAN | Leon Horner (6-4/215) | 0.3 / 0.6 |
| ELEVENTH MAN | Jack Francis (6-3/185) | 0.3 / 0.3 |
| TWELFTH MAN | Corbin Green (6-5/230) | 0.0 / 0.5 |
| THIRTEENTH MAN | Jazz Henderson (5-11/175) | – / – |
| THE STARTERS | Pts / Reb | |
| POINT GUARD | L.J. Cryer (6-1/200) | 13.7 / 2.0* |
| SHOOTING GUARD | Emanuel Sharp (6-3/210) | 12.9 / 3.0 |
| SMALL FORWARD | Milos Uzan (6-4/190) | 9.5 / 4.9* |
| POWER FORWARD | J’Wan Roberts (6-8/235) | 10.9 / 6.6 |
| CENTER | Joseph Tugler (6-8/230) | 6.1 / 5.7 |
| THE BENCH | Pts / Reb | |
| SIXTH MAN | Terrance Arceneaux (6-6/205) | 8.2 / 3.4 |
| SEVENTH MAN | Mylik Wilson (6-3/175) | 6.0 / 3.7 |
| EIGHTH MAN | Ja’Vier Francis (6-8/235) | 5.5 / 4.1 |
| NINTH MAN | – (-/-) | – / – |
| TENTH MAN | – (-/-) | – / – |
* Assists.
Starting 5
1. Stats. Houston has won 13 in a row and they are projected to win the remainder of their games. Houston’s offense is elite, but the defense is the best in the nation. Offensively, the only thing that they don’t do is go to the free throw line (something they share with Texas Tech), 344th in the nation, but are 6th in the nation in 3-point shooting, 11th in turnover percentage, and 11th in offensive rebounding. They aren’t great inside the arc, 226th, and don’t shoot free throw wells particularly well, 156th in the nation. Defensively, they are pretty well great at everything. They are 4th in guarding 2-point shots, 28th in guarding 3-point shots, and 7th in forcing turnovers. They will put teams at the line, 197th in opponent free throw rate, and will allow some offensive boards, 119th.
2. Scouting. Sharp is the best shooter with Cryer right there behind him. Sharp is making 93% of his free throws and 44% of his 3-point shots. Cryer makes 91% of his free throws and 41% of his 3-point shots. Sharp will get some steals as well. Uzan is a terrific passer (also doesn’t turn the ball over) and makes 38% of his 3-point shots, so he’s not shabby either. Roberts, Tugler and Francis are terrific rebounders on both ends of the court, plus they do a good job of blocking shots. As an aside, in Houston’s 3 losses, they just didn’t shoot well in all 3 of them and on defense, didn’t turn the ball over or allowed the opposing team to shoot well or grab offensive rebounds and get to the line.
3. How They Match Up. Texas Tech really needs Williams on the court, but he needs to be healthy to be effective I think. Houston doesn’t let teams shoot from deep, and Texas Tech isn’t dependent on it, but the Texas Tech offense will have to show up and be present for this one. I could see this turning into a defensive slug-fest and I’d probably take the under whatever it is.
4. lagniappe | something given as a bonus or extra gift.
ESPN’s Jeff Borzello: NCAA Men’s Basketball Power Rankings: Houston surges into the top tier
6. Houston Cougars (17-3)
Previous ranking: 8
Houston didn’t play its best game against West Virginia on Wednesday — the Mountaineers shot 57% from the field in the second half (47% for the game), attempted more free throws, had fewer turnovers and outscored the Cougars 9-2 in points off turnovers. And yet, Houston won by 14, holding West Virginia to 49 points.
Houston’s floor is remarkably high. The Cougars don’t need to play anything resembling a perfect game, and they can still roll to a win. On Wednesday, it was offensive rebounding, second-chance points and performance beyond the arc that were their keys to success — they just have so many different ways to win.
Next seven days: vs. Texas Tech (Feb. 1), vs. Oklahoma State (Feb. 4)
22. Texas Tech Raiders (16-4)
Previous ranking: 23
Texas Tech has risen quickly up the rankings over the past few weeks, especially in the efficiency-based metrics, but the Red Raiders are about to be put to the test. They head to Houston this weekend before hosting Baylor, then hit the road again for a rematch with Arizona.
Grant McCasland will hope to have Darrion Williams back for those games, as the versatile forward has been bothered by an ankle injury. Without Williams, Tech went bigger with Federiko Federiko in the lineup.
Next seven days: at Houston (Feb. 1), vs. Baylor (Feb. 4)
Touched down in H-Town. pic.twitter.com/RsIaidzgBr
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB) February 1, 2025
5. Official Site. The official site has their preview right here:
No. 22 Texas Tech takes a five-game winning streak and 4-0 road record into a game against one of the top teams in the nation on Saturday with a tough test against No. 6 Houston at 5 p.m. in the Fertitta Center. The matchup between two of the hottest teams in the Big 12 and country will be broadcast on ESPN2 while the Texas Tech Sports Network radio call can be heard locally on Double T 97.3, and on the Varsity app.
“What you’ve got to respect in this day and time when you look at their roster is that they have guys who have stayed in their program,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said of Houston which is on an 11-game winning streak. “That is the ‘X Factor’ in having elite teams every year. It’s about retaining your roster and guys who understand winning. They’ve been able to get great talent and kept them and allowed them to grow within their system.”