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Texas Tech Basketball: 2019-20 keys to Red Raiders win at West Virginia

By Tristan Freeman

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 10: Andrei Savrasov #12 and TJ Holyfield #22 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders react from the bench during the second half of their game at Madison Square Garden on December 10, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 10: Andrei Savrasov #12 and TJ Holyfield #22 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders react from the bench during the second half of their game at Madison Square Garden on December 10, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 30: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 30: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

3. Stay patient for all 40 minutes

The odds of this game being high-scoring or ending in a blowout is close to none. Both teams are highly-touted defenses who prefers the game totals in the 50s and 60s. Neither program is great from three-point range and their lead guards are both freshmen in Ramsey and McBride.

This is going to be a low-scoring contest that will be decided by a few runs. The Mountaineers are going to get their fair share, simply by their ability to get easier baskets thanks to their size advantage. Texas Tech isn’t a young team compared to others but unless they can go off from deep, with have some trouble getting easy shots against West Virginia.

Many teams lose to West Virginia simply by losing their composure and forcing it too much, causing turnovers or bad shots. It may take all 30 seconds for the Red Raiders to find an opening but it’s better than forcing it 15 seconds in. This game will test Clarke and Ramsey in a big way in terms of patience and decision-making.

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On the flip side, West Virginia can get flustered themselves if their defense gets picked apart in a short period of time, evident by Kansas’ second-half run to win last week. The Mountaineers’ offense can go on droughts as well, so all Texas Tech needs to is keep it within a few points with a couple of minutes to go. In a battle of halfcourt offenses, the Red Raiders have the edge and that could be enough to get a big road win.

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