 "Photo: Karl Anderson")
Pat Knight and the Texas Tech basketball team are looking forward to testing an improved defense on the road in hopes of stringing together a second-consecutive conference victory for the first time this season.
They get those opportunities when they face Oklahoma at 7 p.m. today in Norman, Okla.
The Red Raiders emphasized defense and rebounding last week leading up to their game against Oklahoma State and kept James Anderson — the Big 12 Conference’s best scorer — in check.
“I thought we did a lot better,” Knight said about the defense during Monday’s coaches teleconference. “To be able to hold Oklahoma State to 26 points in the first half and to keep Anderson at 10 points, I thought it was big for us. We’ve just got to be able to do it on the road.”
Tech is 0-4 in conference road games this season with losses at No. 1 Kansas, No. 14 Texas, Texas A&M and Oklahoma State.
However, the Red Raiders (15-7, 3-5 in Big 12 play) might catch a break tonight against the Sooners – a team they already beat in Lubbock 75-65 on Jan. 23.
OU (13-9, 4-4) has played just three games since taking on Tech in the teams’ January meeting and has a 2-1 record.
The Sooners struggled in their first two games after Tech with an 89-84 win against a shorthanded Iowa State team and loss at Nebraska — the Huskers’ only conference victory.
But the Sooners might have some confidence back going into today’s game after upsetting then-ranked No. 10 Texas in Norman on Saturday in a rivalry game.
One of OU’s biggest problems is the loss of guard Willie Warren.
Along with the departed Blake Griffin, Warren was an instrumental part of the Sooners’ Elite Eight run last season.
But this season has been a different story.
Warren’s season was headed in the right direction until he was injured in practice a few days before the Tech game in Lubbock. He did not play against the Red Raiders and also sat out for OU’s game against Iowa State, and was not much of a factor against Nebraska or Texas.
To help fill the gap, the Sooners have asked for more out of freshman guard Tommy Mason-Griffin. Mason-Griffin scored 26 points against Tech in the first meeting and also scored 38 and 24 points against Iowa State and Texas, respectively.
Mason-Griffin was named the Big 12’s Rookie of the Week Monday after dropping 24 points on the Longhorns.
Tech players were unavailable for comment as they traveled to Norman.
OU’s homecourt advantage is undeniable.
The Sooners are 11-0 this season and historically have had a lot of success in the Lloyd Noble Center.
However, if Tech keeps it close into the final minutes, they have a chance to end OU’s home winning streak.
“Most teams feel more comfortable at home and feed off the energy of the crowd,” OU coach Jeff Capel said. “We have to come out and make things happen, especially against teams in our league that have been good on the road. We could have very easily lost some of these games at home.”
Even with a win in Norman, at 3-5 in conference, the Red Raiders have their work cut out for them if they want to go to the NCAA tournament – but a two-game win streak would be a good start.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if guys keep beating each other up like we are, someone at 7-9 could be on the bubble,” Knight said. “I definitely think 8-8 could get a team in.”
Be the first to comment on this article!