Esa Ahmad Rejoins The No. 2 Ranked Mountaineers To Take On No. 8 Texas Tech In Lubbock

The Mountaineers get one of their best players back just in time for a tough matchup with the Red Raiders

By Michael Miller@uncle_drank Jan 13, 2018, 9:00am EST

NCAA Basketball: Texas Tech at West Virginia

WHEN/WHERE

Date: Saturday, January 13th, 2018

Tip-Off Time: 2:00 PM ET

Where: United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, Texas

Tickets: General Public

WATCH/LISTEN

TV: ESPN

Streaming Video: WatchESPN

Radio: 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: SiriusXM 81

ODDS

Spread: Texas Tech -4.5

O/U: 143

THE ENEMY

Where are they from? Lubbock, Texas

Series History: West Virginia leads the all-time series 10-2

Last Time: No.9 West Virginia Mountaineers 83, Texas Tech Red Raiders 74 on February 18, 2017 in Morgantown

SB Nation Blog: Viva The Matadors

Record: 14-2 (3-1 Big 12)

Record in 2016-17: 18-14 (6-12 Big 12)

Head Coach: Chris Beard (2nd Season)

KEYS TO THE GAME

Keep the scorers out of foul trouble. This applies to everyone, but I mainly have Teddy Buckets in mind. Allen disappeared against Baylor after picking up four fouls in a short amount of time. Allen relies on taking shots until he shoots himself into a rhythm, and that’s when he really shines. If Allen can’t stay in the game to get his shots in, he’s going to be a non-factor once again.
Win the offensive glass. Texas Tech is averaging about 30 defensive rebounds per game. West Virginia will have to be more effective in the offensive boards, in order to get those second-chance shots up.

HOW AFRAID SHOULD WE BE (ON A SCALE OF 1-10)?

Ten. I just don’t feel good about this one at all. West Virginia has never won more than four Big 12 consecutive Big 12 games, and I don’t expect that to change today. United Supermarkets Arena is going to be sold out and loud. Texas Tech is a good all-around team, and I’m just not a fan of this matchup in Lubbock.

With that said, if West Virginia does pull out the win, I’m all in on a Mountaineer Big 12 Championship and NCAA title run.

PREDICTION THAT WILL BE WRONG

Texas Tech just proves to be the better team in their own gym. West Virginia gets their first loss on US soil in a close one.

Texas Tech 78, West Virginia 75