Men's Basketball: TCU Hits Road to Battle a Surging Texas Tech Team
A road trip to Lubbock against one of the hottest teams in the Big 12 Conference awaits a TCU program hoping to avoid another losing streak.
No. 24 TCU (18-10 overall, 7-8 Big 12) could snag its first sweep of the season against Texas Tech (16-12, 5-10). The Horned Frogs beat the Red Raiders in the conference opener at the end of December.
TCU is coming off a 63-58 loss to No. 3 Kansas in a game defined by offensive struggles. It took the Horned Frogs nearly four and half minutes to hit a shot. By then the Jayhawks had taken a 7-0 lead.
The Horned Frogs shot just 30% from the field and 61% (13-of-21) at the free throw line. This team looked completely different from the one that days earlier had made 68% of its shots in a victory over Oklahoma State.
Guard Mike Miles Jr. scored 13 points on 4-of-14 shooting (28.5%) in his second game back from a knee injury. Forward JaKobe Coles added 12 points and snagged two steals.
Texas Tech is riding a four-game winning streak after beating Oklahoma 74-63. The Red Raiders opened conference play 0-8 but have beaten three top-15 teams since then.
Forward Fardaws Aimaq scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against the Sooners. Guard Jaylon Tyson added 18 points and eight rebounds. Texas Tech dominated down low with a 40-24 scoring advantage inside the paint and a 38-22 rebounding edge.
Aimaq has emerged as the Red Raiders’ best rebounder with 7.3 boards per game. He missed the first half of conference play with a foot injury sustained during the offseason.
TCU controlled the paint during the first meeting with Texas Tech, doubling up Texas Tech on points scored inside (44-22). Forward Emanuel Miller scored 16 points while Red Raider forward Kevin Obanor scored just six points on 2-of-7 shooting. Aimaq’s presence will make it difficult for TCU to put on a repeat performance but winning that battle should be a major key in the rematch.
Getting a win will not be easy versus a motivated Red Raiders team. Texas Tech’s recent performances have put them on the edge of making the NCAA Tournament. A “Next Four Out” team needs every win it can get, especially against a top-25 team.
The Horned Frogs are projected as a six seed in the NCAA Tournament, according to ESPN’s Bracketology. Even though it seems like TCU is solidly in the field, losses over the next few weeks could affect the seed.
This game could also shake up the Big 12 standings.
With three games left in the regular season, TCU currently holds the sixth spot which keeps them out of the play-in round at the Big 12 Conference Tournament. However, only one game separates TCU from Oklahoma State. Texas Tech and West Virginia are two games back.
A win Saturday would give the Horned Frogs a little breathing room in the conference standings and a much-needed spark heading into the postseason.
TCU and Texas Tech will face off at 11am on Saturday. The game will be televised on ESPN2.
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