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Texas Tech basketball: What the Red Raiders must do to beat TCU

By Matthew Conner

Feb 16, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Mark Adams celebrates with members of the student body on the court after the game against the Baylor Bears at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 16, 2022; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Mark Adams celebrates with members of the student body on the court after the game against the Baylor Bears at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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AMES, IA – JANUARY 22: JaKobe Coles #21 of the TCU Horned Frogs takes a three point shot in the second half of play at Hilton Coliseum on January 22, 2022 in Ames, Iowa. The TCU Horned Frogs won 59-44 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA – JANUARY 22: JaKobe Coles #21 of the TCU Horned Frogs takes a three point shot in the second half of play at Hilton Coliseum on January 22, 2022 in Ames, Iowa. The TCU Horned Frogs won 59-44 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images) /

Make TCU beat you from deep

There are few teams in the nation that shoot the ball worse from 3-point range than TCU.  In fact, hitting only 30.1% of their attempts from deep, they are just No. 325 in the nation in that important statistical category.

Thus, today, the Red Raiders need to make TCU prove that they can win this game from beyond the arc.

Now, that does not mean that the Frogs should just be given unguarded and wide-open looks from the outside.  That happened in the first half of the game in Lubbock and the Frogs went wild with seven 3s on their way to eleven for the game.

Of course, that still wasn’t good enough to beat the Red Raiders.  Thus, Tech should have some margin for error this afternoon, even if TCU hits a few shots from long distance.

Still, the key for Tech will be to pack the defense in the lane.  That’s because only one of TCU’s top six scorers is shooting over 30% from 3-point range.

Today, Tech has to be able to keep players like Mike Miles and Damion Baugh from creating offense off the dribble.  That’s how the Frogs want to get most of their offense.  Thus, if Tech can keep the ball out of the middle of the paint and force the Frogs to hit long jumpers, it might be too difficult for the home team to score enough points to win.

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