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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 Peter Aiken/Getty Images)
(Photo by Peter Aiken/Getty Images) /

vs. Southern Mississippi in Lubbock

Despite going 20-13 last year, Southern Mississippi isn’t expected to be an NCAA Tournament team this year.  Having to replace a ton of talent and bringing in a new head coach will make the upcoming season a challenge in Hattiesburg.

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In April, USM alum Jay Ladner beat out Texas Tech assistant Mark Adams for this job so it will be interesting to see how this matchup shakes out.  Of course, Tech will have a huge advantage in talent being as the Golden Eagles have just two returning starters.

Still, this will be a telling game because it is as close to a trap game as there is in the first two months of the season.  Will this young roster come home after four-straight high-profile games outside of Texas and handle its business against a team that will cause problems if Tech isn’t ready to play?

Beard is a master at pumping up every opponent to make it seem as if each game is going to be a true war.  Will that tactic work again this year now that he can’t play the disrespect card?

Tech is going to be the hunted rather than the hunter now.  National Title Game appearances will do that to a program.

Southern Miss will see this as an opportunity to shock the college hoops world and earn a season-changing win.  We can only imagine how much goodwill that would garner for Ladner.

Next. The best point guards in Tech history. dark

One of the most impressive aspects of Tech’s run over the last two years is that Beard’s team never seems to take opponents lightly, no matter what the opposition’s pedigree may be.  That’s a trait that will help teams avoid huge upsets in March and if Tech comes out and takes care of USM after a rugged four-game stretch away from home, we will know that this team is taking on the personality of its head coach.

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