OPENING THOUGHTS
First off, I’d like to start off with telling everyone Happy New Year! I hope 2017 is a healthy and prosperous year for all of you.
It looks like it definitely will be for our basketball team.
I was very impressed with WVU’s performance at Oklahoma State. I figured that the Cowboys had enough success in their non-conference schedule to have the motivation to give the Mountaineers more of a game. I was wrong, not that I’m upset by that!
Texas Tech is a decent team, but nothing in their non-conference schedule really jumps out at me. They beat Auburn and Richmond on the road, but they’re far from elite basketball programs. It is worth noting that they gave Iowa State some trouble on Friday up in Ames, but the Cyclones finished that game on a 20-4 run (Hilton Magic is REAL) to extinguish the Red Raiders 63-56.
This will be the last game before the students begin to trickle into Morgantown and WVU plays their first conference game at home against an improved TCU in front of a rowdier crowd. It will also be somewhat of a Backyard Brawl rematch with former Pitt coach Jamie Dixon now leading the Horned Frogs. Now that is something to get excited about!
WHEN/WHERE
Date: Tuesday, January 3rd
Tip-Off Time: 9:15 PM ET/8:15 PM CT
Where: United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, TX
Tickets: General Public
WATCH/LISTEN
TV: ESPNEWS
Streaming Video: WatchESPN (or the WatchESPN app for smartphones)
Radio: WZST Variety 101 (100.9 FM in Morgantown) and the Mountaineer Sports Network from IMG (Radio Affiliates)
Streaming Audio: Locate the Mountaineers Sports Network from IMG on TuneIn Radio (or the TuneIn app for smartphones)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 81; XM 81
ODDS
Spread: WVU by 4-4.5
O/U: 145
THE ENEMY
Where are they from? Lubbock, Texas
Series History: WVU leads series 9-1. First meeting was in the 2005 Sweet 16 in Albuquerque (65-60 win for WVU)
Last Time: No. 10 West Virginia 90, Texas Tech 68 on March 2, 2016 in Morgantown
SB Nation Blog: Viva The Matadors
Record: 11-2 (0-1 Big 12)
Record in 2015-16: 19-13 (9-9 Big 12); Lost to Butler in the NCAA First Round
Head Coach: Chris Beard (coached Arkansas-Little Rock to a 30-5 season and upset of Purdue in the NCAA Tournament last season)
KEYS TO THE GAME
- Keep the high scorers out of foul trouble. Nathan Adrian, Daxter Miles and Jevon Carter all had four fouls. They also accounted for 46 points. Let’s try not to make this a thing.
- Beat Texas Tech off the glass. The Red Raiders recorded 27 defensive rebounds at Iowa State on Friday. Limit their opportunities off the glass, and it should keep them out of the game.
HOW AFRAID SHOULD WE BE (ON A SCALE OF 1-10)?
Five. The Red Raiders are not going to be as much of a problem as Oklahoma State was, but the United Supermarkets Arena is nearly sold out for this game. I’m as afraid of Texas Tech as I am of getting in a gun fight with Neil Patrick Harris. Menacing at first, but a non-threat later. {VIEWER DISCRETION ADVISED}
PREDICTION THAT WILL BE WRONG
I think that the first half will be fairly entertaining for the Red Raider fans in Lubbock, but the Mountaineers will have a bit of a run in the second half and take Texas Tech almost completely out of it by the second media timeout in that half. Let’s Go Mountaineers!!
West Virginia 84, Texas Tech 67