Texas Tech basketball: Matchups to watch as Red Raiders face Cowboys

Edwards vs. Likekely

Our next matchup is one that I don’t think we will see play out too often in a one-on-one situation today.  But as the day progresses, look to see which streaky guard, Kyler Exwards or Isaac Likekele has a greater impact on the game because each provides his team with important offense.

We all know what Edwards can bring to the Red Raiders.  We’ve spent plenty of time dissecting how important his 3-point shooting is for a team that struggles in that regard.

But Likekele, the Oklahoma State point guard, is integral to his team’s success as well.  He’s second on the team in scoring at 10.1 points per game and he leads the team in rebounding at 8.3 per game.

The score-first PG is not a shooter.  He’s attempted only eight shots from 3-point range his year.  Rather, he’s a penetrator who gets almost all of his offense off the dribble.  So expect for him to see a huge dose of McCullar and Jamarius Burton, as well as some Nimari Burnett mixed in, when OSU has the ball.

For his career, Likekele has faced Tech four times.  He’s had only one double-digit scoring game as he’s averaged 8 p.p.g.

That’s exactly what he’s averaged in OSU’s two Big 12 games this year, both losses.  So keep an eye on his scoring today because if he is right around 8 points and if Kyler Edwards tops that number, the Red Raiders are going to be in great shape.