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Texas Tech basketball: Matchups to watch as Red Raiders square off with Cyclones

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 07: Guard Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks over his shoulder during the first half of the college basketball game against the Baylor Bears on January 07, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 07: Guard Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks over his shoulder during the first half of the college basketball game against the Baylor Bears on January 07, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Iowa State senior forward Solomon Young puts up a shot in the first half against Baylor at Hilton Coliseum in Ames on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2021.20210102 Isuvsbaylor
Iowa State senior forward Solomon Young puts up a shot in the first half against Baylor at Hilton Coliseum in Ames on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2021.20210102 Isuvsbaylor /

Santos-Silva vs. Young

In the paint today will be a battle of two powerful forwards, Marcus Santos-Silva and Solomon Young.  How that battle of bulls plays out will be pivotal.

Young is a 6-foot-8 senior who averages 11.6 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.  That’s similar to Santos-Silva’s 8.9 points and 6.3 rebounds per game.

Each of these big men has been hot and cold at times this year.  Tech fans know that in Big 12 play, Santos-Silva has alternated between poor and excellent performances on a game-by-game basis.  LIkewise, Young has had four single-digit games and four double-digit games this season.

But when Young plays well, he seems to play extremely well.  He had 24 points earlier this year against South Dakota State and 15 points against Baylor.  What’s more, he’s currently riding a 3-game streak in which he’s averaging 15.3 points per outing.

For his career, Tech has done a great job at limiting Young’s effectiveness.  In six meetings with the Red Raiders, he’s scored double-digits just once, a 16-point showing lasts season in Ames.  In the other five games, the most he’s scored has been eight points.  If Tech can keep him around that number today, it could be a good day in the paint for the road team.

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