Texas Tech basketball: 5 potential trap games on the 2020-21 schedule

January 9 @ Iowa State

Playing in Ames Iowa is never easy.  Even when Iowa State is down (as is expected to be the case this season).  Even in the middle of a pandemic.  Thus, Tech’s trip to Hilton Coliseum could be a trap game in the second week of January.

This game falls directly after consecutive home games against Oklahoma State and Kansas State and right before a road trip to Austin.  Oh, and after that game against the Longhorns, Tech will then host conference favorite Baylor.

In other words, there’s an opportunity for a letdown in Ames.  But fortunately, Iowa State is expected to be one of the worst teams in the Big 12 this year as they were picked 8th in the preseason poll.

Don’t forget that ISU is being forced to replace point guard Tyreese Haliburton, who is a sure-fire NBA Lottery pick in this week’s draft.  What’s more, when you add in the losses of Prentiss Nixon and Michael Jacobson, the Cyclones will have to replace 33 points per game from last year’s team, which was already one of the worst in the conference.

Also, Tech has won its last two trips to Ames.  That includes last year’s 30-point blowout that was the biggest Red Raider road win ever over the Cyclones.

But even though Hilton Coliseum will not be the same lions’ den that it usually is thanks to the pandemic, it will always be a tough place to play.  And given that Tech’s annual trip there comes right before two crucial Big 12 games, this could be a place where the Cyclones spring a trap.