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Preview and Open Game Day Thread: Texas Tech v. New Mexico

v.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-3, 0-0) v. The New Mexico Lobos (8-2, 0-0)

Saturday, December 15, 2007 @ 3:00 p.m.

Television:
Versus
Channel 603 on DirecTV

The Numbers:

Texas Tech Statistic New Mexico
39 K.P. Rank* 46
104.9 (115) Adjusted Offensive Efficiency* 110.0 (58)
83.6 (13) Adjusted Defensive Efficiency* 89.3 (48)
69.2 Points Scored 74.3
32.7 Rebounds 35.6
13.9 Assists 18.0
15.7 Turnovers 13.9

Keys to the Game:

  1. Tough Defense: I've always thought that the best remedy against a long layoff is to focus on the defense, which should come back a little quicker than the offense. I'd like to see a dominating defensive performance, and I'd imagine that it starts with Rizvic in the middle clogging up the lane. New Mexico doesn't have any real height, so Rizvic could be a real factor.
  2. Continue to Create Turnovers: This team is averaging 8 steals a game, which should translate into some easy buckets, again, a key coming back from a long break. Roberson and Burgess need to make sure an take advantage of those opportunities.
  3. Get Voskuil in the Groove: The only guy that I want to make sure keeps his sweet, sweet touch is Voskuil. This team cannot afford for Voskuil to lose any part of what made him so efficient the early part of this year. Make sure that Voskuil gets the ball and gets some clean looks at the basket.

Probable Starting Lineups:

Texas Tech Ht. Wt. Pos. Yr. PPG RPG APG
John Roberson 5-11 165 G Fr. 10.2 2.3 3.0
Alan Voskuil 6-3 175 G Jr. 13.6 4.3 2.0
Martin Zeno 6-5 208 G/F Sr. 16.7 5.7 3.6
Mike Singletary 6-5 226 F Fr. 4.8 2.5 1.4
Esmir Rizvic 7-0 c252 F Sr. 3.3 1.9 0.1
New Mexico Ht. Wt. Pos. Yr. PPG RPG APG
Dairese Gary 6-1 205 G Fr. 7.1 1.7 4.9
J.R. Giddens 6-5 205 G Sr. 11.5 7.8 2.6
Roman Martinez 6-6 185 G/F So. 5.4 3.5 1.9
Chad Toppert 6-7 215 G Jr. 12.0 3.4 1.5
Daniel Faris 6-9 245 C Jr. 8.0 3.9 0.8

This is your open game day thread so feel free to sign up for a free account and leave all predictions, comments and thoughts about the game here.

GO RAIDERS . . .

*Stats can be found Ken Pomeroy, via Basketball Prospectus: K.P. Rank = the Ken Pomeroy Rank; Offensive Efficiency = the national rank in terms of points scored per 100 possessions; Defensive Efficiency = the national rank in terms of points allowed per 100 possession. Numbers in parentheses are national rank.