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Sometimes you want to make a quick pit stop, empty the bladder, grab a bag of salty snacks and limber up the limbs before hitting the open road again. For the fast-minded who enjoy simple $2 scratchers hoping to uncover the jackpot-winning image, here are quick thoughts and the lean on Texas Tech vs. Arizona.
No. 13 Texas Tech (18-4, 9-2) at No. 20 Arizona (16-6, 10-1)
Date: Saturday, February 8
Time: 10:30 p.m. ET
TV: ESPN
The pick — Texas Tech +2.5 (-102, FanDuel)
Point your guns all the way up, Yosemite Sam.
This season, the Red Raiders have had varmints saying their prayers.
In only his second season in Lubbock, head coach Grant McCasland has Texas Tech improbably in contention for a Big 12 title and an attractive single-digit NCAA Tournament seed. Before the season commenced, most publications picked Wreck ‘Em to finish middle-of-the-pack in the highly competitive league.
Talk about exceeding expectations.
Tech’s rise really shouldn’t be all that surprising. As McCasland proved time and time again during his six-year stint with North Texas, his teams consistently overachieved. The former Baylor floor general can flat-out coach.
At 8-1 straight up over the last month, the Red Raiders are not only popping off on the surface but also underneath in several advanced metrics. During that span, they’re the sixth-best overall team per BartTorvik, ranking top-20 in adjusted offensive and adjusted defensive efficiency.
In its last nine contests, Texas Tech has especially excelled on the offensive glass (34.4 OR%) and along the perimeter (35.9 3PT% offense and 26.7 3PT% defense). JT Toppin, Chance McMillian and Darrion Williams have simply balled out.
Arizona has maximized its production, too.
Over the last 30 days, the Wildcats rank No. 12 overall, according to Torvik, and they’re also tucking inside the top 20 in adjusted offensive and adjusted defensive efficiency. Caleb Love remains a complete enigma game in and game out, but big bodies Henri Veesaar, Tobe Awaka and Trey Townsend have crushed it around the tin.
According to Haslametrics, ‘Zona is overall No. 21 in near-proximity offense and No. 4 in near-proximity defense. Given Tech’s feistiness corralling additional opportunities, the U of A trio’s efforts on the glass will be needed.
Tommy Lloyd’s guys are 10-1 at the McKale Center this season, falling short only against Duke last November. However, the Red Raiders are an impeccable 5-0 away from Lubbock, including a still-stunning 82-81 overtime win at Houston on Feb. 1. In those efforts, they are averaging a ridiculous 1.346 points per possession, which is tops among road teams in college basketball.
Texas Tech’s glass command, stellar defense and 3-point marksmanship should prove to be difference makers.
Long live the Matadors.
Season record: 18-17, +0.52 units