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Texas Tech basketball has plenty to play for tonight

By Matthew Conner

Feb 23, 2016; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Zach Smith (11) slam dunks the ball against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena. Texas Tech defeated TCU 83-79. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 23, 2016; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders forward Zach Smith (11) slam dunks the ball against the TCU Horned Frogs in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena. Texas Tech defeated TCU 83-79. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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The resurgence of Texas Tech basketball has become the story of the year in the Big 12 (Unless you count Kansas’ 12th consecutive regular season conference title as a big deal. I don’t because it happens every year just like the sun comes up every day, no one writes stories about that.) Now, Big 12 Coach of the Year Tubby Smith leads his team into the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City riding a wave of momentum but he must make sure that his young players avoid a trap game tonight.

On the surface, it appears that there is little for the Texas Tech basketball team to gain this week. Almost every pundit has the Red Raiders squarely in the NCAA Tournament so one must wonder if the team will be hungry heading into tonight’s game against TCU.

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The Horned Frogs finished last in the conference and have no hope of a postseason birth unless they win the Big 12 Tournament, which is about as likely as seeing Donald Trump win a courtesy contest. Yet knocking in-state rival Texas Tech out of the tournament on the first day would be a huge feather in the cap of the Frogs as they head into the offseason.

Texas Tech has been in similar situations in recent years and should know how desperate a last place team is to pull off an upset on the big stage of championship week. Plus, neither game Texas Tech has played against TCU this year has been easy.

On January 18

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, (in the game where Texas Tech forward Norense Odiase broke his foot) the Horned Frogs led the game 68-67 with 2:48 to play when Red Raider forward Aaron Ross hit a crucial three-pointer to give Texas Tech the lead for good.

Ross was once again huge on February 23rd when Texas Tech defeated TCU in Lubbock 83-79. After a lethargic start for Texas Tech and a hot shooting first half for the Horned Frogs, the Red Raiders trailed by 12 points at halftime.

Ross’ 25 points and forward Zach Smith’s 23 would help Texas Tech squeak out an 83-79 win that had Texas Tech basketball fans squirming throughout the game. For the second time on the year, TCU had given the Red Raiders an unexpected fight.

TCU point guard Chauncy Collins has given Texas Tech fits this year. The sophomore from Oklahoma City who was the state’s home school player of the year as a senior in high school put up 48 combined points in the teams’ two head-to-head matchups this year.

Sophomore forward Vladimir Brodziansky from Slovakia also hurt Texas Tech in the game in Ft. Worth. Coming off the bench the lanky stretch forward scored 18 points to give the Frogs a second scoring threat meaning that if TCU plays its best game it can beat the Red Raiders.

Contrary to popular belief, the Texas Tech basketball team has plenty to play for tonight. Nothing is guaranteed until the NCAA Tournament bracket is released on Sunday evening and the Red Raiders should play as the more desperate team.

It would be sickening for Texas Tech to lose tonight and then find out that it has been unexpectedly left out of the NCAA Tournament. Every year there are a handful of teams that are snubbed by the selection committee and what a miserable offseason it would be if Texas Tech were to be left out of the big dance and have to ponder its first round conference tournament to No. 10 seeded TCU until November.

This is a situation where the Texas Tech basketball team must leave no doubt that it will be included in the field of 68. Leaving one’s fate up to a committee is always risky.

Furthermore, this is a game against an in-state university that Texas Tech does not think highly of. Five of the players on Texas Tech’s roster are from the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, including Odiase who is from Ft. Worth.

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There should be intensity in Texas Tech’s game tonight. The team knows that it will be playing in a tournament of some kind next week and this week is a perfect opportunity to experience tournament play and fine tune the team’s game heading into next week’s do or die game.

If Texas Tech basketball is going to continue to rise in through the ranks of the Big 12 it must learn how to handle success. Tonight the team must show that it is mature enough to put the success of this year and the adulation of the media out of its mind and play like a team desperate to prove that it is one of the best in the Big 12.

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