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Texas Tech basketball finally returns to court to take on Memphis

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 13: Head coach Chris Beard and the bench of the Texas Tech Red Raiders react to a made three point shot during the second half of the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on February 13, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 88-78. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 13: Head coach Chris Beard and the bench of the Texas Tech Red Raiders react to a made three point shot during the second half of the game against the Oklahoma Sooners on February 13, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 88-78. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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The Texas Tech basketball team returns to the court today after a week off to take on 3-3 Memphis in Miami.

For the first time this season, the Texas Tech basketball team will take the court today to defend as a ranked team when the No. 19 Red Raiders face off with Memphis in Miami.  The event is part of the Hoophall Miami Invitational, a quadrupleheader being played at the home of the Miami Heat.

Texas Tech is 6-0 and coming off a week that featured three wins including two over USC and Nebraska in the Hall of Fame Classic in Kansas City but has not played in a week wince beating Northern Colorado last Saturday.  Memphis is 3-3 on the season having alternated wins and losses throughout its six games thus far. The Tigers have beaten Tennessee Tech, Yale and Canisius while dropping games to LSU, Oklahoma State and Charleston.

Both the Red Raiders and the Tigers are averaging exactly 78.5 points per game this year.  6-foot-8 forwards Kyvon Davenport leads Memphis with 14.5 points per game.  He is one of three players to average double digits thus far joining Jeremiah Martin (14.0) and Tyler Harris (13.8).

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Like so many teams, the Tigers are not shy about hoisting shots from deep.  The are averaging 22 three-point attempts per game  (five more than Texas Tech) but hitting just 29%.

Memphis head coach Penny Hardaway believes that poor shot selection has been a problem for his team this year.

"“(The hero shot) is the 3-pointer ahead of time, where we could have gotten it way later in the shot clock,” he said. “But we’re taking it early, which is making us play defense way longer than what we want to, and we’re not allowing anyone else to play defense against us.”"

But where the Red Raiders should have the advantage is on the defensive end of the court.  While the Red Raiders are allowing just 51.0 points per game, Memphis is giving up slight more points that it scores at 78.8.

The Red Raiders lead the nation by allowing opponents to shoot just 33.6% from the field.  Meanwhile, Memphis ranks 254th in the nation allowing 46.3% shooting.  The Tigers penchant for launching from behind the arc could play into Texas Tech’s hands so look for Tech to be aggressive on the perimeter and contest long jumpers.

Turnovers also could give the Red Raiders an advantage.  The Red Raiders are forcing 17.1 per game, 24th most in the NCAA.

Meanwhile, the Tigers are committing 16 turnover per game ranking them 308th in the nation.  On the other hand, Texas Tech has done well taking care of the basketball with just 11 turnovers per game.

This game could be a contrast in styles with the team able to dictate the pace likely to have an advantage.  The best way for Memphis to counteract the tough Red Raider defense will be to score in transition and push the ball.

The Tigers will also use multiple defensive tactics like half-court traps and full-court presses to try to create easy buckets off of turnovers.  It will be a great test for Texas Tech which has not faced much in the way of the press thus far.

Next. Football: New OC David Yost will keep the offense rolling. dark

The game airs on ESPNU at 1:30 pm.  Of course, Wreck ‘Em Red will have complete analysis afterwards.

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