Kansas vs. Texas Tech: 2018-19 college basketball game preview, TV schedule
By Neil Adler
A huge battle is brewing in the Big 12 Conference, as top-15 teams Kansas and Texas Tech will go toe to toe on Saturday in Lubbock.
TV schedule: Saturday, February 23, 8:00 pm ET. ESPN.
Arena: United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas.
The Big 12 Conference regular-season race is crowded with multiple groups jockeying for premier positioning, and a pivotal tilt will transpire on Saturday evening. No. 12 Kansas (20-6, 9-4) will visit No. 14 Texas Tech (21-5, 9-4), with each squad currently one game behind the league’s leader, No. 23 Kansas State.
This affair has enormous implications for both the Big 12 and March Madness, which is only a few weeks away. The Jayhawks, with a NCAA NET rating of No. 15, are a putrid 2-6 in true road contests. The Red Raiders, meanwhile, possess a NCAA NET ranking of No. 10 and are a stellar 14-1 on their own turf.
On the Bracket Matrix Web site, collegiate-hoops insiders view Kansas as a No. 3 seed in the field of 68, while Texas Tech is projected as a No. 4 seed. Of course, with a handful of duels remaining prior to post-season competition, the Jayhawks and the Red Raiders have numerous opportunities to strengthen, or weaken, their resumes. In my humble opinion, I don’t think either program is in the running for a No. 1 seed in the Big Dance, however, they could reside in the conversation for the two-line.
Texas Tech, without question, is seeking to exact revenge on its conference rival, as Kansas got the best of the Red Raiders, 79-63, at home in early February. Since Saturday’s encounter is at the United Supermarkets Arena, ESPN’s Basketball Power Index says that Texas Tech is the significant favorite, with a 72.7 percent chance to prevail.
During the 2018-19 stanza, the Jayhawks haven’t dominated the Big 12 like we’re accustomed to experiencing, in part because Kansas has lost several key players due to injuries and other reasons. Still, the Jayhawks are a dangerous unit, averaging almost 77 points per game while shooting 47 percent from the field.
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I believe that the clash on the boards, as well as turnovers, are two primary factors that will determine this contest’s outcome. The Red Raiders feature one of the stingiest defenses in the country, but can Texas Tech generate enough offense to emerge victorious? My gut tells me that yes, the Red Raiders can, and Texas Tech will squeak past Kansas.
Prediction: Texas Tech 70 – Kansas 67