Texas Tech basketball: Numbers to know ahead of rematch with TCU

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Forward TJ Holyfield #22 and center Russel Tchewa #54 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

TCU had 17 second-chance points in the first meeting

In recent weeks, the Red Raiders have been much improved when it comes to rebounding. That’s going to be important tonight after the way the Frogs dominated the glass in round one.

With a 34-27 rebounding advantage, TCU was able to control the game on both ends of the floor. That was especially true on the offensive glass as they pulled down 11 offensive rebounds leading to 17 second-chance points.

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Of course, it all centers around (no pun intended) 6-foot-11 TCU big man Kevin Samuel, who made a joke of the Red Raiders in the paint three weeks ago. Of his eleven rebounds, seven came on the offensive glass. That can’t happen tonight.

Fortunately, since then T.J. Holyfield has played like one of the best forwards in the Big 12. His 10 points in Fort Worth were nice but he grabbed a mere two rebounds and blocked only one shot.

Since then, he’s had three double-digit games while averaging seven rebounds and 3.2 blocks per game. He needs to bring that type of productivity into this rematch with Samuel.

When these teams met in January, Tech was in a stretch that saw the Red Raiders dominated on the glass almost nightly. But since then, that aspect of the game has been much improved as the Red Raiders were within three boards of both Kentucky and Kansas while outrebounding West Virginia by 9.

TCU and Tech sit at No. 4 and 5 respectively in the Big 12 in rebound margin. Thus, there’s no reason for this game to be another Horned Frog domination on the backboards.

Next. How Tech took down Texas. dark

If Tech can rebound the way we’ve seen in the last two weeks, we will likely be much happier with tonight’s outcome. Keeping Samuel off the offensive glass and forcing the Frogs to knock down outside jumpers in someone else’s gym is the recipe that Beard’s team must follow this evening.

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