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Texas Tech basketball: 5 early-season games that will loom large in March

By Matthew Conner

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

vs. Louisville at Madison Square Garden

The first time most people in the nation will pay attention to the Red Raiders this year will be on November 10th when they play Louisville at Madison Square Garden in New York City.  That’s going to be the toughest test of the pre-Christmas test this team will face by far.

The Cardinals will begin the season at No. 5 in the nation.  It’s easy to see why.

6-foot-7 junior Jordan Norwa is the ACC’s leading returning scorer this year after putting up 17 p.p.g. in 2018-19.  6-foot-10 senior center Steven Enoch is a legitimate NBA prospect and grad transfer Lamarr Kimble averaged 15.6 points last season for St. John’s.

Like last year’s game with Duke at MSG, this game will tell us just how ready this team is for the brightest of lights.  The only players on this roster with experience in such a big-time atmosphere are Davide Moretti, Kyler Edwards, and Virginia Tech grad transfer Chris Clarke.

Will the freshmen be ready to step up with the entire country looking on?  Is Tech talented and athletic enough to hang with a team that will be a trendy pick to reach the Final Four in Atlanta?

There’s only one way to find out.  That’s why it is such a great advantage to have the opportunity to play in these marquee showdowns.

Aside from the fact that this game will give the program the greatest exposure possible, it will also test this new roster like no other game prior to Big 12 play.  If Tech can hang with or even beat Louisville, we will know that the Red Raiders will be capable of taking on any team the Big 12 has to offer.  What’s more, this is a resume-building game that will pay huge dividends in March if Tech can find a way to come out on top.

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