Preview | Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. TCU Horned Frogs

GAME INFORMATION
	vs
Texas Tech Red Raiders (7-4, 0-0)		TCU Horned Frogs (9-4, 0-0)
January 5, 2013 @ 5:00 pm
Daniel-Meyer Coliseum | Ft. Worth, TX
TV: FOX Sports SW | Radio: Affiliates | GameCast: FoxSports
Probable Starters
Kyan Anderson (5-11/175)	PG	Josh Gray (6-1/175)
Nate Butler Lind (6-6/200)	SG	Dusty Hannahs (6-4/210)
Connell Crossland (6-7/190)	TG	Trency Jackson (6-2/185)
Garlon Green (6-7/210)	PF	Jordan Tolbert (6-7/225)
Adrick McKinny (6-8/250)	C	Dejan Kravic (6-11/240)

SCOUTING THE FROGS

TCU is very much similar to Texas Tech. Not a highly rated RPI or strength of schedule (better than Texas Tech's) and a relatively new coach. This is a defensive minded team. TCU is 8th in scoring defense with 54.5 points allowed per game and 329th in scoring offense at 57.3 points per game (out of 345 teams). Pretty glaring disparity and obviously TCU is probably going to keep things incredibly close for the better part of the Big 12. It seems like TCU is going to beat you down with excellent defensive play.

Anderson and Green are the leading scorers for the Frogs, Anderson at 13 PPG and Green at 12 PPG. Both players shoot very well, above 45%, which is pretty darned impressive and they both make about 40% of their three-point shots.

McKinney is the rebounding force and the guy in the middle that is going to be tough to move as he averages 6.3 PPG and 6.7 RPG. TCU has a McKinney type of clone off the bench in Devonta Abron, who is 6-8/255 so that's another really big body and he averages 6.4 PPG and 5.5 RPG.

Seemingly, TCU really seems like they are built off of those four players, so it will be interesting if some of the ancillary players step up.

KEYS TO SUCCESS

It's going to be really important for Texas Tech to get into some sort of offensive flow. TCU is most likely going to drag down Texas Tech to a very defensive game. This means that possessions are going to be incredibly valuable and this team is going to have to watch the turnovers. There probably isn't a more important key to the game than turnovers and so that means that Gray and Daylen Robinson have to protect those possessions.

Texas Tech has more dynamic scorers in Crockett and with his first rough game against FAMU, it will be interesting to see if Crockett can get back on track. He's the 2nd leading scorer in the Big 12 and he's done a terrific job of leading this team. I'd also add that after having a rough game a few games ago, he's really improved the last two games. I really like seeing players go through a rough stretch to then come back and be really good and that's what Kravic has done.

I'd also add that TCU is terrific defending against the three-point shot. It seems imperative that Texas Tech not do what they've done all year, which is shoot an incredibly low percentage of three-point shots, 26.6%. Get the ball inside and if the shot is there, take it, but there's no reason to take a wasted shot.