Texas Tech vs TCU: 2018-19 College basketball game preview, TV schedule
By Joey Loose
Texas Tech and TCU meet in a critical Big 12 match-up; can the Red Raiders still win the conference or will the Horned Frogs get an important win for their NCAA Tournament chances?
TV schedule: Tuesday, March 2, 4:00 pm ET. ESPN2
Arena: Ed and Rae Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth, Texas
Playing some of their best basketball of the season in recent weeks, Texas Tech (23-5) heads to Fort Worth tied for first place in the Big 12. They’ve won their last six games, including home wins over Baylor and Kansas by more than 20 points. They needed overtime to dispatch of a pesky Oklahoma State squad on Wednesday, but these Red Raiders have been playing elite defense in recent weeks.
A pair of sophomore guards have really stood out for the Red Raiders. Jarrett Culver (18.0 ppg, 6.3 rpg) leads the team on offense, having but up 26 points in their destruction of Kansas last week. He’s also the team’s best rebounder, grabbing 10 boards against the Cowboys. David Moretti (11.2 ppg) led the way on Wednesday with 20 points and has been on fire from behind the arc in recent weeks, 14-22 from the 3 in their last five games.
Texas Tech is ranked first in the nation in defensive efficiency. Prior to the OSU game, their last five opponents had all scored 62 points or less while their offense has gotten hot recently. The team ranks 9th in KenPom and 2nd in forcing defensive turnovers. Their defense is nothing short of elite, though we’ll have to see how they fare on the road after three straight home games.
On the other side, TCU (18-10) just blew an opportunity to solidify their NCAA Tournament resume, dropping a triple-overtime game at West Virginia on Tuesday. The Horned Frogs have won just three of their last nine games, though that does include a pair of wins over Iowa State. They’ve certainly fared better at home this season, though Texas Tech poses quite a challenge.
While this Horned Frogs team definitely misses injured point guard Jaylen Fisher (12.1 ppg), a few other players have stepped up in his absence. Junior guard Desmond Bane (15.1 ppg, 5.6 rpg) has played well in recent weeks while sophomore forward Kouat Noi (15.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg) is emerging as the Horned Frogs’ best rebounder. Senior forward JD Miller (11.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg) led the way with 24 points against the Mountaineers and this TCU squad has a lot of options on offense.
The Horned Frogs are still in most bracket projections, though their recent play has propelled them closer to the bubble. They ranked 45th in KenPom but have struggled at times with turnovers. While playing a tough schedule, they do rank 38th in defensive efficiency, particularly success in not allowed 3-pointers to the opposition (21st in the nation in that stat).
For the Red Raiders, they need to take their stout defense on the road and limit TCU’s ability to get easy shots. Applying pressure and forcing the Horned Frogs into tough shots will be key. For the Horned Frogs, containing Culver and Moretti will be important. This Texas Tech squad has really struggled in games where the offense is limited, and that’s TCU’s best shot to win.
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I really like how Texas Tech has been playing lately, even if they nearly blew it against Oklahoma State. The Horned Frogs have shown that they play better at home, but if they struggle against a depleted West Virginia team, then pulling this off would be a surprise. Expect a close game, but for the Red Raiders to have the edge late.