Texas Tech basketball: Scouting the Kentucky Wildcats
In this year’s Big 12/SEC Challenge, the Texas Tech basketball team will face Kentucky so let’s take a closer look at what to expect from the Wildcats.
The Texas Tech basketball program will take yet another step in its journey towards being one of the nation’s marquee attractions on Saturday when it is featured in the premier game of the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Hosting No. 15 Kentucky, the winningest program in the history of the sport is a great opportunity for Red Raider basketball to put its best foot forward on the national scene once again.
All-time, Tech is 0-4 against the Wildcats. That includes the only trip UK has made to Lubbock, an 89-73 loss to the No. 10 Wildcats in 1965. The last time these programs squared off was in 1994 when the Cats prevailed 83-68 in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Fortunately, the Red Raiders have had better success in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Going 4-2 in the event, Tech is riding a three-game winning streak in this ESPN-created challenge.
Last year, it was Arkansas that came to Lubbock. In a 67-64 win that was nowhere near aesthetically pleasing, Davide Moretti led the way with 21 points and Jarrett Culver made a diving defensive play in the final minute to help seal the victory.
In 2018, the Red Raiders went to South Carolina and secured a 70-63 win. That afternoon, Keenan Evans was fantastic with 31 points including 13-13 at the free-throw line.
2016 brought LSU to Lubbock. In a 77-64 victory, Zach Smith was the hero with 25 points while Niem Stevenson and Aaron Ross each had 15 points.
The last time Tech lost in this event, it was a familiar face that did his old team in. With 25 points in a 75-68 overtime win, Arkansas shooting guard and Texas Tech transfer Dusty Hannahs hit critical buckets down the stretch to carry his new team to a home win.
In December of 2014, the Red Raiders picked up their first win ever in this event by beating Auburn 46-44 in one of the most boring games in the history of the sport. Norense Odiase led the way with 15 points in a game that saw the winning team go 1-9 from 3-point range and just 17-31 at the free-throw line.
In the inaugural year of this challenge, Tech suffered a 74-64 defeat at Alabama. In that game, the Red Raiders were a miserable 4-20 from 3-point range.
Meanwhile, Kentucky is 3-3 against Big 12 teams in the history of this made-for-TV event. Last year, they beat No. 9 Kansas in Lexington and the year prior they took down No. 7 West Virginia in Morgantown. In both 2015 and 2016, the Wildcats lost to Kansas while in 2014-15 they beat No. 6 Texas and in 2013-14 they lost to No. 20 Baylor.
Of course, Red Raider fans know that Tech will bring a 54-game home winning streak over non-conference opponents into this game but it’s safe to say that this isn’t your run of the mill out of conference game. It’s likely that most Red Raider fans haven’t been paying all that much attention to Kentucky as we’ve been focused on our own little Big 12 bubble so let’s go inside the stats to see what we can expect from the Wildcats.