West Virginia Basketball: 3 keys to toppling No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders

2. The Red Raiders have feasted on the boards – and they will lineup against a team that can finally outmatch them

Without a doubt, Texas Tech’s reliance – and dominance – on the boards has been one of the biggest keys to their stellar 11-4 start.  Much of that dominance has come on the offensive end, where the Red Raiders rank 39th nationally in offensive rebounds per game with 12.5.

Their overall marks are not necessarily stellar – 287th in defensive rebounds and 148th overall – but that is not necessarily too big of an issue considering Tech’s success on the offensive glass.

In all, the Red Raiders rank among the nation’s best in offensive rebounding percentage, hauling down a carom on 35.1% of their attempts – the 22nd-highest mark in Div. I.  Those putbacks and extra opportunities have been crucial for a team that does not necessarily shoot the ball well, ranking sub-200 in both 3P% and 2P%.

But now, they will face a team that not only matches them – but surpasses them in the battle of the boards.  The Mountaineers have been ferocious on the glass, particularly on the offensive end.  For the season, they rank sixth nationally in offensive rebounding (14.4) and maintain better marks in defensive (210th) and overall (37th) rebounding.

In conference, the Mountaineers have been stellar – while the Red Raiders have struggled, comparatively.  Texas Tech is fifth in the Big 12 in offensive boards, hauling down 11 a game – 1.5 less than their season average.  Contrarily, West Virginia is hauling down just 0.2 less with 14.2 offensive rebounds a game – which ranks first in the Big 12.

If the Mountaineers hope to win this showdown, they will need to beat the Red Raiders at their own game.  Luckily, West Virginia has the capability to do so, and have proven just that – while Texas Tech ranks 22nd in offensive rebounding percentage, the Mountaineers are even better at 37.1% – which ranks eighth nationally.