Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 12: Center Eddie Lampkin Jr. #4 of the TCU Horned Frogs rebounds the ball during the second half of the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena on February 12, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 12: Center Eddie Lampkin Jr. #4 of the TCU Horned Frogs rebounds the ball during the second half of the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena on February 12, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Win on the glass

Texas Christian is a remarkably average team in most regards.  But the one thing they do at an elite level is rebound.  That’s true on both ends of the court.  So today, Tech has to be able to compete on the glass in order to avoid being upset.

For the year, TCU leads the conference in rebounding margin.  They are averaging 9.3 more boards per game than their opponent.  Meanwhile, Tech ranks a distant second at a +6.86.

One way the Frogs generate offense is by gobbling up offensive boards.  Leading the Big 12, they average 13.4 per game.  And they are led by one of the Big 12’s most unique players.

Former 300-pounder Eddie Lampkin is the Frogs’ best offensive rebounder.  Now down to a “trim” 268 pounds, the 6-foot-11 center is one of the Big 12’s most improved players this season and he has gathered 73 offensive rebounds per game.

Against the Red Raiders in Lubbock, the big man had a decent showing with eight points and seven rebounds.  However, he mustered only one offensive rebound and that was a key to the Red Raider route.

Also, Tech has to keep 6-foot-7 forward Emmanuel Miller off of the offensive glass as he’s second on the TCU team with 65 offensive boards thus far.  But against the Red Raiders two weeks ago, he too had only one rebound on the offensive end on his way to just four points.

Between them, Lampkin and Miller average 5.3 offensive boards per game.  But in round one vs. Tech, they were held to just two as a duo.  If Tech can have similar success today, it will likely lead to another key road win for the Red Raiders.

Home/Texas Tech Basketball