West Virginia Mountaineers vs Texas Tech Basketball Preview & How To Watch: Struggling Mountaineers Head To Lubbock To Face Red Raiders

Game Day Vitals

• #6 West Virginia Mountaineers (15-3, Big 12 4-2, NCAA RPI 23) vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-5, 2-4 Big 12, ESPN RPI 30)
• Location: United Supermarkets Arena (Capacity: 15,020) Lubbock, Texas
• Series Record: WVU leads series 7-1
• Last meeting: WVU 77 TT 58, WVU Coliseum, Jan. 31, 2015
• Vegas Lines: WVU (-4) O/U 145.5
  
• Date: Saturday, Jan 23, 2016, 1:00 PM EST
• Television: ESPNNews
• Online Streaming: WatchESPN
• Radio Affiliates

Opponent Information

• Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-5, 2-4 Big 12, ESPN RPI 30)
• Head Coach: Tubby Smith, Third year as TTU head coach, career 550–268 (.672)
  
• Last Result - Win at TCU 76-69
• Official Texas Tech athletics website
• Texas Tech SB Nation site - Viva The Matadors

Interwebs

Game Preview

What a difference a week makes. Going into last Saturday, the West Virginia Mountaineers were riding high after knocking off the #1 Kansas Jayhawks and flirting with an AP #1 ranking. After two straight losses, Huggs was searching for answers to a common question in collegiate athletics: how to properly motivate young men to approach every game with maximum effort and focus. He alludes to this in the United Playbook video along with some quality Dr. Phil analysis, but let's hope it stays a joking matter rather than a systemic issue. These things can get out of hand quick, but it doesn't seem to be a mental block or slump, but more of attitude thing as Huggins himself suggests. There are ways to adjust attitudes and I have a feeling the Mountaineers received the treadmill equivalent to an old Herb Brooks lesson. 

Texas Tech has had some recent struggles of their own. After a 10-1 showing in the nonconference slate and a win against Texas at home to kick off Big 12 play, Tubby Smith's squad dropped four games in a row. Even with this most recent win against TCU, the Red Raiders might have suffered a net loss in the long run:

Odiase ended up going down in the first half against the Horned Frogs, but losing the 6'9 sophomore center and his 9.pts/4.4rebs will be tough. The two main contributors for Texas Tech are their two senior guards that are easily first ballot best name HOFers: Devaugntah Williams (13.2pts/3.5rebs) and Toddrick Gotcher (10.9pts/4.5rebs.) As always, the key to the game will be how well TTU is able to weather the storm (sorry) of West Virginia's press that will probably be all primed up on players wanting to show their coach that they still care. Tech has had problems historically against West Virginia and I think those continue on Saturday.

Prediction

WVU 78 - Texas Tech 65