Texas Tech?

[Zimwillett]

I've seen very little of the Red Raiders this season. I know they built up a gaudy RPI in the non-conference, but unsurprisingly have crashed back to earth now that they hit conference play. Those of you that have seen them, what are they all about? What do they do well? Where can OU take advantage of Tech?

 

[oudna]

Really good athletes. They guard and rebound. Don't have much outside shooting or a go to scorer. Really impressed with what they did at the FT line vs WVU. They couldn't miss!

The game in Lubbock may be scary.

 

[Stikboy]

You can never look past Tech. A couple years ago we were in a similar position and they wore us out at home. For some reason this is a team that jumps up and bites us every once in a while.

 

[Soonerinkc]

bu had to hit a 3 with clock expiring to win at home against them.

Tubby is a good coach. They'll be a tough game...course all of the Big 12 is minus tcu.

 

[opsooner]

You can never look past Tech. A couple years ago we were in a similar position and they wore us out at home. For some reason this is a team that jumps up and bites us every once in a while.

Agree, and we get them on a Tuesday and probably in front of a quiet crowd. However, I think this is a case where being #1 will actually help us. I think the guys will be motivated to protect it.

 

[StatGeek]

I'm more nervous about this game than any other we have played this season, I don't know why and I can't explain it.

 

[MsProudSooner]

I'm more nervous about this game than any other we have played this season, I don't know why and I can't explain it.

I know why. Tubby Smith.

 

[TheMont]

Concerns are fair, but I think this particular OU team is too focused to lay an egg against inexperienced teams.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

I'm more nervous about this game than any other we have played this season, I don't know why and I can't explain it.

seems a little absurd

 

[campbest]

If this was on the road, maybe. I was at the TT/WV game on Saturday, the Red Raiders don't do anything particularly well. Even though they've been in almost every game, they can't really score at a high rate.

In a weird way, they are very similar to West Virginia, just with less talent. They try to grind games down, which I believe our guards should be able to exploit.

 

[scrybe]

I've been "a little nervous" about two OU games this season –– and we lost them both.

Nerves are holding up quite well for the Red Raiders.

 

[chuckb]

Our game in Lubbock will definitely be a game we can't look beyond. They're going to beat at least 1 top conference team at home this season.

They have a legitimate shot at making the tournament.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Texas Tech loses starting big man Odiase for up to 6 weeks
By Scott Phillips / Jan 23, 2016
http://collegebasketball.nbcsports....for-up-to-6-weeks/?ocid=Yahoo&partner=ya5nbcs

Texas Tech took a huge blow to its interior depth this week as head coach Tubby Smith confirmed on his radio show that starting big man Norense Odiase is expected to miss the next six weeks with a broken bone in his foot.

The 6-foot-9 Odiase broke his fourth metatarsal in a win over TCU this week and he is expected to spend the next three weeks in a cast before being reevaluated. Starting in all 17 games for the Red Raiders this season, Odiase averaged 9 points and 4.4 rebounds per contest in 19.5 minutes per game. Although he doesn’t put up huge numbers, Odiase has been a steady interior presence for a Texas Tech team that doesn’t have much depth up front.

Without Odiase in the lineup, head coach Tubby Smith will likely rely on reserves like junior forward Matt Temple or other options that have seen more regular rotation minutes like sophomore forward Zach Smith and junior forward Aaron Ross.

Texas Tech sits at 12-5 and is hoping for some upsets in Big 12 play to spring an NCAA tournament bid, this is not a good sign of the Red Raiders making that postseason run happen.

Profile: Norense Odiase
http://www.texastech.com/sports/m-baskbl/mtt/norense_odiase_907711.html

 

[Zimwillett]

I'm more nervous about this game than any other we have played this season, I don't know why and I can't explain it.

Again, I haven't seen a lot of Tech with my own eyes, but in looking over their stats, nothing jumps out at me as a problem OU can't handle. They don't shoot it all that well from 3 (31.5%). They don't seem to have a scorer that's capable of taking over a game (leading scorer 12.5 ppg). They don't seem to have extraordinary size in the post. They're don't block a lot of shots, and they're actually poor on the offensive glass. KenPom puts them around 60 in both AdjO and AdjD, which is respectable, but not great. About the best thing they do is shoot free throws (about 75%).

At least on paper, this isn't a game that OU should have much trouble winning, but we all know games aren't played on paper.

 

[usedtobe1]

Losing Odiase is a big loss for TT. He's a big body that can really push his way around underneath.

I'm not very worried about tomorrow's game. Actually, I hope we can rest some starters the last few minutes.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

I hope you are right usedtobe1. The Tubby Smith coached Texas Tech team comes to play. They fight. They have had some tough losses. Texas Tech (2-5) in conference games.

vs. Texas ......................Won 82-74
at No. 13 Iowa State ...... Lost 76-69
vs. No. 1 Kansas ............ Lost 69-59
at Kansas State ............ Lost 83-70
vs. No. 22 Baylor ........... Lost 63-60
at TCU (Fort Worth) ....... Won 76-69
vs. No. 6 West Virginia .... Lost 80-76

Hopefully, the veteran Sooners will not take the Red Raiders lightly.

 

[WaymanFan]

Prior to the game against WVU, they were in Joe Lunardi's "last 4 in". That means OU cannot (or should not) take them lightly. Tubby Smith may have never been much of a recruiter, but that guy can coach. He took Rick Pitino's recruits and led them to the national championship title in '98. That said, it's a game where the OU starters should be resting when the under-four timeout occurs...assuming they take the game seriously.

 

[oudna]

Again, I haven't seen a lot of Tech with my own eyes, but in looking over their stats, nothing jumps out at me as a problem OU can't handle. They don't shoot it all that well from 3 (31.5%). They don't seem to have a scorer that's capable of taking over a game (leading scorer 12.5 ppg). They don't seem to have extraordinary size in the post. They're don't block a lot of shots, and they're actually poor on the offensive glass. KenPom puts them around 60 in both AdjO and AdjD, which is respectable, but not great. About the best thing they do is shoot free throws (about 75%).

At least on paper, this isn't a game that OU should have much trouble winning, but we all know games aren't played on paper.

They are much better than the boxscore indicates. Length and athleticism. They play D.

 

[oudna]

Only 2 teams have beaten Hawaii. The other is Tech.

 

[oudna]

I hope you are right usedtobe1. The Tubby Smith coached Texas Tech team comes to play. They fight. They have had some tough losses. Texas Tech (2-5) in conference games.

vs. Texas ......................Won 82-74
at No. 13 Iowa State ...... Lost 76-69
vs. No. 1 Kansas ............ Lost 69-59
at Kansas State ............ Lost 83-70
vs. No. 22 Baylor ........... Lost 63-60
at TCU (Fort Worth) ....... Won 76-69
vs. No. 6 West Virginia .... Lost 80-76

Hopefully, the veteran Sooners will not take the Red Raiders lightly.

I saw every game except the KSU loss. They were all close/competitive games.