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THE INFORMATION
| Game Details | |
|---|---|
| TEAMS |
 Kansas Jayhawks (19-6, 10-2)  Texas Tech Red Raiders (13-12, 5-7) |
| WHERE | United Spirit Arena | Lubbock, Texas |
| WHEN | 7:00 pm Tuesday February 18th |
| CONSUME | Radio - TTSN | TV - Big 12 Network |
THE CHARACTERS
| Starters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Texas Tech | Iowa St. | |
| Robert Turner (6-3/180) | PG | Naadir Tharpe (5-11/170) |
| Toddrick Gotcher (6-4/195) | SG | Wayne Seldon, Jr. (6-5/230) |
| Jaye Crockett (6-7/210) | SF | Andrew Wiggins (6-8/200) |
| Jordan Tolbert (6-7/225) | PF | Perry Ellis (6-8/225) |
| Dejan Kravic (7-0/235) | C | Joel Embiid (7-0/250) |
THE ANALYSIS
Key Matchup | Embiid vs. Kravic: Embiid is going to be back and it’s going to be one heck of a challenge for what might be the best player in this year’s NBA draft. Kravic has been up and down, but no matter, he’s going to be on the big stage. Embiid is averaging just 10 points a game and almost 8 boards, but he also averages 2 and a half block a game and can just dominate a game. If he’s healthy, then Kravic has to be fully on his game.
Take Aim: Kansas is a fantastic offensive team, one of the best five in the nation and when they are fully healthy, they’re incredibly tough to stop. Most teams don’t get to start two top three players in the nation and that certainly helps. The depth and the size is just amazing for the Jayhawks as they start Tharpe, who doesn’t average double-figures, but he is a fantastic ball distributor, averaging 5.3 assists a game. And most teams don’t get to start shooting guards that weigh 230, so that’s going to be interesting for Gotcher tonight.
And Wiggins and Crockett should be a fantastic match-up. Wiggins is an incredible talent and a gifted scorer and it will be interesting to see Crockett crash the offensive boards and see if Wiggins follows. That could either lead to Wiggins being late on offense if he sticks around or down the court really early for an easy look at the bucket. And the match-up between Ellis and Tolbert should prove really interesting. Another spot where KU has a terrific player and it’s up to Tolbert to match what Ellis is capable of producing.
Game Day Links:
The official site with their official preview (via Texas Tech).
Texas Tech head coach Tubby Smith had some good things to say about his senior forward, Jaye Crockett (via FWST):
"I said, ‘Where do you want to go with this?’ Smith said. "And he has shown remarkable resiliency and coachability that is contagious. If your best player is willing to be led then it makes a world of difference and he has been a difference maker."
Good profile on Dusty Hannahs and his father, who is a former Major League pitcher (via LAJ).
Texas Tech tries to knock off Kansas (via DT).
Action: