Texas Tech basketball at Iowa State: How to watch, game notes, prediction
It isn't easy to play in Ames, Iowa (regardless of the sport). In basketball, Hilton Coliseum is one of the loudest and most intimidating arenas a team could visit and that's what awaits the Texas Tech basketball team Saturday at Iowa State.
In all, this series is tied 22-22. However, the Cyclones hold a 15-6 edge in games played in Ames.
However, it hasn't been all the long since the Red Raiders won at Iowa State. Back in 2021 the good guys crushed the Cyclones 91-64 at Hilton in a shocking and rare home blowout for ISU. What's more, in 2019, Tech managed to secure a share of its first (and so far, only) Big 12 regular season crown with an 80-73 win at Hilton on an afternoon when Jarrett Culver went off for 31 points.
Repeating those feats will be tough this time around, though. ISU sits at No. 10 in the national polls and has not dropped a home game all year. ESPN.com's matchup predictor gives Tech only a 15.1% chance of coming out on top.
Texas Tech at Iowa State: Broadcast info
Tip: 11 a.m., Saturday, February 17, 2024
TV: ESPN+
TV CALL: Shawn Kenney (play-by-play), Jess Settles (analyst)
RADIO (Texas Tech Sports Network): 97.3 Double T FM
RADIO CALL: Geoff Haxton (play-by-play), Chris Level (analyst)
Texas Tech vs. Iowa State: Game Notes
All game notes courtesy of TexasTech.com
The Red Raiders and Cyclones are meeting for the only time in the regular season with
the new Big 12 schedule matrix... Texas Tech has won 8 of the last 10... The two programs split last season with the home team winning each time. Tech lost 84-50 on Jan. 10, 2023 in Ames before the 3-point, OT win on Jan. 30, 2023 in Lubbock
Tech has held three Big 12 opponents below 60 points this season with its 60-59 win over Kansas State, 66-59 win over UCF, and the 79-50 victory over Kansas… Tech is 14-0 when holding opponents under 70 points this season.
Texas Tech is currently 13-1 at home, 3-1 in neutral-court games, and 2-4 in true road games with road wins at No. 11 Oklahoma and No. 20 Texas on January 6 to begin Big 12 play.
Tech has had only three different starting lineups this season. The starting lineup for the opening eight games was: Cambridge, Isaacs, Toussaint, Warren Washington, Darrion Williams. Kerwin Walton has started since Cambridge's injury, making his first start this season against Vanderbilt. The starting lineup of Isaacs, Toussaint, Warren Washington, Darrion Williams, and Walton is currently 11-3 together with their only losses coming in Big 12 road games at Houston and TCU before the home defeat to Cincinnati. Robert Jennings started in place of Warren Washington who was out due to illness at the Baylor game.
Texas Tech at Iowa State: Prediction
There's good reason to believe Texas Tech will have its hands full in this game. In fact, maybe the only thing going for the Red Raiders is the fact that this game will be an early tip meaning the ISU crowd won't be fully lathered up.
Still, ISU poses some serious problems. They are second in the Big 12 in scoring defense (behind only Houston) by allowing only 62 points per game.
They also lead the conference in steals at 10.8 per game. That's one reason they are second in turnover margin at +7.2 forced per game (again behind only Houston).
This will be a contest where the Red Raider guards will be tested. The Cyclones apply intense pressure on the basketball and get a lot of hands into passing lanes. They also don't let opponents get into the lane with much ease.
However, for most of the year, Tech has been good when it comes to protecting the basketball. Tech is giving the ball away just 10.6 times per game, the second-fewest in the conference. To win this game, that trend must continue.
ISU isn't dominant inside. So if Warren Washington can play after hurting his foot against Kansas, he could be a huge factor. Even if he doesn't play, Tech could compete on the glass as the Cyclones are just an average team on the boards.
Iowa State has a balanced scoring attack with no player averaging over 14 points per game but with four players averaging between 10 and 13.8. Keep an eye on freshman forward Milan Momcilovic who is a 6-foot-8 sharpshooter who hits at a 45.2% rate from 3-point range. He could be an X-factor in this game with his ability to stretch the floor.
In the end, Hilton Coliseum will prove to be enough to given ISU the win. It is as much of an advantage to the Cyclones as United Supermarkets Arena is to the Red Raiders. Tech will fight and have a shot to win down the stretch but ISU is too good at home and the Cyclone defense will be strong enough to keep Pop Isaacs and Co. in check.
Final Score: Iowa State 72 - Texas Tech 64