Kansas Basketball: Keys to success on the road at Texas Tech

Kansas’ streak of 14 consecutive Big 12 titles might be on the line when they face Texas Tech on Saturday. Here are the biggest keys to the game.

Kansas basketball’s historic streak of 14 consecutive Big 12 titles was all but written off in January given their struggles and the play of Texas Tech, but things have changed a month later.

The Jayhawks and Red Raiders are tied for second in the conference, sitting one game behind an injured Kansas State team that hasn’t exactly inspired confidence of late. Both teams have conference title hopes that are very much alive, and the victor of Saturday’s showdown will have the inside track should K-State stumble.

Kansas had no problem in the first matchup of the season between the two, picking up a 79-63 win after leading by 20 points at halftime. Texas Tech outrebounded KU and forced more turnovers, but shot the ball terribly from the field.

Now, things are flipped as the Jayhawks travel to Lubbock this weekend. Kansas has struggled on the road this year (2-6 in true road games) while Texas Tech is red hot, winning four in a row and six of their last seven overall.

Many believe that if Kansas is going to keep their streak alive, they have to win this game. A loss would put them two games behind K-State with only five to play, and they’d also be a game behind Texas Tech and Iowa State – all of whom would have wins over KU.

On the flip side, if the Jayhawks win, it essentially knocks the Red Raiders out of the running and puts them in prime position behind K-State with a home game against the Wildcats looming on Monday.

Sense the importance of Saturday’s showdown? It might be the biggest game Kansas plays all year. Here are the three biggest keys to the game for the Jayhawks.