:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/29691321/20140225_tcb_aj7_229.0.jpg)
THE INFORMATION
| Game Details | |
|---|---|
| TEAMS |
 Texas Longhorns (22-8, 11-6)  Texas Tech Red Raiders (13-17, 5-12) |
| WHERE | United Spirit Arena | Lubbock, Texas |
| WHEN | 3:00 pm Saturday March 8th |
| CONSUME | Radio - TTSN | TV - ESPNews |
THE CHARACTERS
| Starters | ||
|---|---|---|
| Texas Tech | Texas | |
| Robert Turner (6-3/180) | PG | Isaiah Taylor (6-1/170) |
| Toddrick Gotcher (6-4/195) | SG | Demarcus Holland (6-2/185) |
| Jaye Crockett (6-7/210) | SF | Kendal Yancy (6-3/200) |
| Jordan Tolbert (6-7/225) | PF | Jonathan Holmes (6-8/240) |
| Dejan Kravic (7-0/235) | C | Cameron Ridley (6-9/285) |
THE ANALYSIS
Key Matchup | Taylor vs. Turner: The last time these two teams met, Isaiah Taylor scored 14 points on 5 of 9 from the floor with 4 assists and just 2 turnovers, while Turner scored 19 on 6 of 9 from the floor, including 3 three-pointers and 2 assists. Turner kept Texas Tech in that game and I have been writing for weeks that Turner has to have a huge game as the offense has been sputtering of late without a fully healthy Crockett.
Take Aim: This is it for me. This is the game that means the most and I want more for Jaye Crockett, Kader Tapsoba, Dejan Kravic and Jamal Williams. I haven’t felt this way about a group of seniors, at least I don’t think. I want this group to end their time at Texas Tech on a win. A win that would stop a six game losing streak and beat the Longhorns. That has to be motivation enough.
Texas Tech is unique this year in that they have three players that have already received their undergraduate degrees, Crockett, Kravic and Tapsoba. Each and every one of them could have transferred to some other program and gotten away from this program, but they didn’t. They stuck through it and I am unbelievably thankful that this is the case and very much appreciate your loyalty. Thank you for always being a Red Raider.
As to the game, Holmes didn’t play well at all against Texas Tech the first time out and I wouldn’t expect that to last. He’s been good all year for the Longhorns and Tolbert and/or Crockett will need to keep him off the boards and not let him get going offensively. Texas Tech has struggled on offense and personally, I think the key is Turner because he can create his own show, much like Crockett. Turner has been unselfish during conference play for the most part, but I’d love to see him poke and prod that Texas defense to help create some easier looks for the Gotcher’s, Hannahs’, Crockett’s and Kravic’s of the game. He can do this, he just hasn’t done it in a long time.
Game Day Links:
The official site with your official preview (via Texas Tech).
The four seniors are set to play their lat game at the United Spirit Arena (via LAJ).