Preview | Arizona Wildcats vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders

GAME INFORMATION
	vs
Arizona Wildcats (4-0, 0-0)		Texas Tech Red Raiders (4-0, 0-0)
December 1, 2012 @ 7:00 pm
United Spirit Arena | Lubbock, TX
TV: ESPNU | Radio: Affiliates | GameCast: FoxSports
Probable Starters
Mark Lyons (6-1/200)	PG	Josh Gray (6-1/175)
Nick Johnson (6-3/200)	SG	Trency Jackson (6-2/185)
Solomon Hill (6-7/220)	TG	Jamal Williams, Jr. (6-4/190)
Brandon Ashley (6-8/235)	PF	Jordan Tolbert (6-7/225)
Kaleb Tarczewski (7-0/255)	C	Dejan Kravic (6-11/240)

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS

Arizona is ranked #9 in the country and they've played Charleston Southern, UTEP, Long Beach St. and N. Arizona, all were about 20 point wins or more. Arizona is a well balanced team thus far, there isn't a star, but F Solomon Hill is probably their best player. Hill is similar to Royce White in that he's a forward that is more than capable of passing the ball and setting up his teammates as well as scoring either in the post or outside. He's very versatile and this is going to be an interesting match-up for Texas Tech. F Brandon Ashley is a true freshman and he's listed as being 235, but he doesn't appear to be that big. In his high school video, he's tall and lanky, very athletic. Nick Johnson is a smooth guard that can score inside or out. Quite frankly, this is going to be a very tough match-up for Texas Tech on a number of fronts because of the overall height of Arizona.

KEY TO SUCCESS

The biggest for Texas Tech is that they have to rebound. Being out-rebounded by 20 by Jackson St. is not a good indication of what might happen against Arizona. Arizona is tall and deep and just looking at the lineups above, it looks like Williams is going to have to cover either a 6-7 player or a 6-8 player. Either Williams is going to force the issue or Ashley or Hill will force the issue and Walker will need to make a decision. I don't think Williams will back down defensively, that's part of his New York attitude.

From a size perspective, Arizona presents a real problem for Texas Tech in that they only have four post players, while Arizona has the luxury of starting a guy that would be a power forward for Texas Tech. Gray, Robinson, Jackson, Gotcher and Williams are going to have to create match-up problems on the outside and I think this could be very problematic for Arizona if they have post players attempting to guard the Texas Tech pick and roll. The Texas Tech players must not only work around the Arizona big men in a pick and roll situation, but must also find open teammates that are setting the screens.

I think that Jaye Crockett can be the real wildcard here. He's been through more battles than any other player on this team and he needs to continue to be a match-up problem in that he's so much better if he varies his game, go inside or outside and hit the boards. That's been a huge success for Crockett thus far this year.

GAME DAY LINKS

No. 9 Arizona Stands In Way Of 5-0 Record - Texas Tech Red Raiders Official Athletic Site

Red Raiders Give Back - Texas Tech Red Raiders Official Athletic Site | If you are a student then do this. If you know a student then send this link to a student to donate your ticket during the break. It costs you nothing and you help underprivileged kids. Do this.

Miller, Walker in far different situations but coaching with similar principles | Red Raiders | Excellent stuff from head coach Chris Walker on what to expect from Texas Tech:

"We’re going to go out and play exactly the way we want to play," Walker said. "That’s the attitude that we’re bringing. We’re not going to go out and say, ‘Guys, we can’t play with the same attitude we played with the last five games.’ I tell my kids there’s only two things they have to worry about ... and that’s playing harder and more together than any other team."

Tech prepares to battle No. 9 Arizona Wildcats - The Daily Toreador: Sports | Here's F Jaye Crockett on the challenge of playing Arizona:

"(The game) is a great opportunity," he said. "It’s a test for us to play at higher competition and just to show people that we can play at this level, and that we’re not, like, the stepchild of the Big 12."

The video below is pretty neat. It gives a look at what type of coach Chris Walker is and how he motivates. Pay attention to about 3:15 in the video. AD Kirby Hocutt is in the background smiling and nodding at Walker's post-game talk from the Jackson St. game. Pretty cool to see Hocutt there and it gave me goose bumps to see him that excited. I think Hocutt believes in Walker.