Texas Tech has fared well against elite offenses this year

Kansas

The two games between Tech and Kansas this season were as different as any two games could be.  So it is tough to know which contest was the more accurate depiction of how the teams actually measured up against one another.

The 79 points KU scored in their 16-point win in Lawrence was the second-most Tech has allowed this season.  In that game, the Jayhawks were on fire from deep as they drained 13 of 30 3-pointers.

Ball movement was key for Bill Self’s team that day, as KU racked up 19 assists on 27 made baskets.  But that poor defensive showing could be somewhat chalked up to a lack of effort from Texas Tech.

After the game, senior forward Norense Odiase called out his team’s effort and addressed their lack of competitiveness with his teammates.  Chris Beard also acknowledged that his team lacked any sort of fight against the Jayhawks.

That was not a problem in the rematch in Lubbock.  In holding KU to just 62 points, Tech embarrassed the Big 12’s perpetual bully 91-62.

But the Jayhawks shot well in that game going 22-48 (45.8%) overall and 9-21 from long-range.  Where Tech was able to make Kansas pay was by forcing 13 turnovers.

In all, KU averaged exactly what Iowa State did against the Red Raiders, 70.5 points per game, 5.2 below their season average.  Certainly today, against another one of the game’s big-time programs, Tech will be looking for the same type of defensive effort it had in the win over the Jayhawks.