Texas Tech basketball: Turnovers will be key against UTRGV

The Texas Tech basketball team must cut down on its turnovers tonight against UT-Rio Grande Valley, which is an aspect of the game that cost the Red Raiders dearly against Duke.

The last time we saw the Texas Tech basketball team in action, the Red Raiders were committing a season-high 24 turnovers on the way to the season’s first loss against then No. 2 Duke. So naturally, tonight as Chris Beard’s team returns to action at home against UT-Rio Grande Valley, turnovers will certainly be a focus.

But making ball security even more paramount tonight is the fact that the Vaqueros are one of the most larcenous teams in the nation. UTRGV ranks 10th in the nation by forcing 9.6 steals per game and after the trouble the Red Raiders had taking care of the ball against the Blue Devils, the Vaqueros will try to pressure Texas Tech’s guards tonight the way Duke was able to last week. After all, turning Tech over will be RGV’s only shot at pulling off the upset.

Forcing 18.4 turnovers per game, they rank 12th in the nation having forced 254 turnovers in 14 games. That means Tech’s three starting guards, Jarrett Culver, Matt Mooney and Jarrett Culver, who combined for 15 turnovers against Duke, will have a clear directive tonight, take care of the ball.

Thus far, Tech has done a good job in that respect giving the ball away just 12.6 times per game. And even after the Duke loss, the Raiders are tops in the Big 12 with a turnover margin of +4.4 per game.

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If Tech can protect the ball tonight, they should have little trouble with the Vaqueros. At 8-6, RGV has already lost big to two Power 5 schools falling 91-76 to Oklahoma and 72-44 at Georgia Tech out of the ACC. They did take undefeated Houston to the wire before falling 58-53 but they have yet to score a signature win this year. Beating the Red Raiders would certainly fit that description and help bolster their resume.

What is interesting is that the Vaqueros are putting up just 69.1 points per game despite playing at one of the most frenetic paces in the nation. Our friends at Busting Brackets point out that the Vaqueros average 53 shots per game, 22nd-most in the nation.

But the fact that they do not score at a higher clip underscores the fact that they are not a good shooting team. They are hitting only 38.9% from the field and 26.1% from 3-point range making an upset unlikely unless the Red Raiders give the ball away.

Poor shooting teams do not typically get right against Texas Tech. The Raiders lead the nation in field goal shooting defense allowing opponents to shoot just 32.8% overall.

6-foot-7 forward Lesley Varner II leads the team at 13.5 points per game to go along with 6.1 rebounds. The only other Vaquero averaging double-digit points is another senior forward, Terry Winn III, who averages 10.9.

But the player that makes everything work for UTRGV is 5-foot-10 sophomore guard Javon Levi. Besides averaging 9.8 points, he leads the team with 2.4 steals per game. He’s a true stat sheet stuffer averaging 4.1 rebounds and 5.4 assists while playing 32.0 minutes per game.

Levi will likely be matched up against Moretti or Mooney for most of the night making the Red Raider backcourt duo’s ability to handle the ball a key. Mooney’s three turnovers per game lead the team and with Big 12 play set to start Tuesday against a West Virginia team that utilizes the full-court press as well as any team in the league, he must use tonight’s game as an opportunity to work on ball security.

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ESPN.com’s Matchup Predictor gives Tech a 98.5% chance of moving to 11-1 tonight. While the Red Raiders should continue this season’s trend of bludgeoning mid-major teams at home, the Vaqueros are a useful opponent ahead of Big 12 play. Their propensity for turning the ball over is going to be a great opportunity for the Red Raiders to improve upon one of the few areas of concern that has arisen in non-conference play.

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