Preview and Game Thread | Oklahoma St. Cowboys vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders

GAME INFORMATION
	vs
Oklahoma St. Cowboys (17-5, 7-3)		Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-12, 2-8)
February 13, 2013 @ 6:00 pm
United Spirit Arena | Lubbock, TX
TV: ESPNU | Radio: Affiliates | GameCast: FoxSports
Probable Starters
Marcus Smart (6-3/225)	PG	Josh Gray (6-1/175)
Markel Brown (6-3/190)	SG	Dusty Hannahs (6-4/210)
Le'Bryan Nash (6-7/230)	TG	Jamal Williams, Jr. (6-4/190)
Michael Cobbins (6-8/220)	PF	Jordan Tolbert (6-7/225)
Philip Jurick (6-11/225)	C	Dejan Kravic (6-11/240)

SCOUTING THE COWBOYS

Oklahoma St. has won five straight and they have done it in somewhat surprising fashion. In reading the OSU blogs, they have seemingly been disappointed in what Travis Ford had done. Recruiting lots of talent, but not producing the desired result on the court with significant wins, NCAA Tournament wins and filling Gallagher-Iba Arena. Well, from what I can tell, two of those three things are happening. The students have not showed back up, but Oklahoma St. and Ford are winning games.

Largely on the talents of Marcus Smart, the uber-talented freshman guard who is dominating games in some form or fashion. Playing 35 to 40 minutes a game and being a leader on the floor. He's not perfect, but he's put Oklahoma St. over the top. Markel Brown is still leading the team in scoring at 15 PPG, but Smart, Nash and Forte are all in double-figures.

KEYS TO SUCCESS

Texas Tech just needs to continue to take steps in the right direction. I have a hard time not measuring the success of Texas Tech on wins or losses. I have very much had to adjust my brain and it's not fun. This is yet another opportunity for Josh Gray to play one of the elite point guards in the Big 12. It is an opportunity for Dusty Hannahs to match-up with and try stop one of the elite shooters in Forte. There is an opportunity for Jaye Crockett to try to stop Nash.

As a team, the players can work on their rebounding margin and limiting Oklahoma St. and limit second chance points. The team can try to value every possession as if it were their last and the team can work on running the offense with a purpose.

Texas Tech only made 13 field goals for the game the last go-round and they only shot 28% from the floor. Texas Tech has to create their own shots and maybe look more inside rather than shoot 17 three point shots. Texas Tech has to keep Oklahoma St. off the boards as the margin in favor of Oklahoma St. was 17 in the last game.

GAME DAY LINKS

Texas Tech Hosts No. 17 Oklahoma State On ESPNU - Texas Tech Red Raiders Official Athletic Site

One of nation's top basketball recruits set to attend Tech-OSU game | Red Raiders | Kimball SG Keith Frazier is set to visit Texas Tech.

Rivals.com Football Recruiting - Mailbag: USC working to keep prospect | Hat-tip to @RedRaiderHoopsFan, but here is some background on Kendal Yancy-Harris, who played at Berkner last year, signed with USC and is now wanting out of his commitment. Harris is supposed to visit Texas Tech very soon, along with Kimball's Keith Frazier.

Texas Tech set to face second straight top-25 foe at home in Oklahoma State | Red Raiders