Arkansas Razorbacks Vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders: Game Preview
By Blake Smith
The Razorbacks face off against the Texas Tech Red Raiders this afternoon at 3:00 pm on ESPNU. Can the Hogs avenge the football team’s loss from earlier this season? Or will Kingsbury add another flower to his victory lapel?
This years Arkansas Razorbacks basketball team has sent fans on quite the roller coaster of emotions. The Hogs won three straight and everyone was “high on the Hog”, as they say. Then the roller coaster took a sharp nose dive into three straight losses, only to then pull up with a win over fifth ranked Texas A&M. Now, while I enjoy roller coasters as much as the next person, I’d prefer we just keep doing the whole winning thing, and I avoid a heart attack before 30.
Up next on Saturday for the Hoop Hogs, is the Red Raiders of Texas Tech. (Writers Note: I hate you Chris Berman, I haven’t been able to say Raiders without dragging out the vowels in years.) It will also be in Bud Walton Arena, which no matter if the Hogs are a top five team or having a dumpster fire of a season, it’s always one of toughest places to get a road win in the country.
Arkansas just brought their record up to even money, now 10-10 overall and 4-4 in SEC play. Also, as great as a top 5 win is, it’s even better because I get to use this gif.
I have no idea why this happens, or who thought it was a good idea. All I know, is that you should not go to Aggie land, it is a silly place.
The Red Raiders bring a little better overall record to the game than the Hogs, being 12-7 overall and 2-6 in the Big 12. Texas Tech hit a hot streak early this season, winning 11 of 12 including 10 straight that was capped off with a win over the Texas Longhorns at home. However, they seemed to have cooled off considerably, having lost 6 of their last 7. The Raiders last game was a 24 point beat down at the hands at the number one ranked team in the country on the road, the Oklahoma Sooner’s.
The Red Raiders pass the ball around, as they have 5 players that average 9 points or more per game. The leading scorer is Senior Guard Devaugntah Williams, who averages 12.5 points a game. The Red Raiders are middle to lower half in the Big 12 in most statistical categories. On paper, The Hogs have the edge in points per game, rebounding, turnovers and forcing turn overs. However, Texas Tech shoots 75% from the free throw line, and Arkansas fouls a few more times a game.
KEYS TO VICTORY
Force turnovers and don’t foul. Sounds easy, right? However, the hand checking rule that was put in a few years, has seen the fouls tick up in Coach Anderson’s style of play. Texas Tech shoots very well from the stripe. A&M shot 35 free throws and made 28. Arkansas can’t expect many wins if the other team has a second home at the charity stripe.
Need big play from our stars. Hannahs, Bell and Kingsley all average 16+ points a game. They need to keep that average up, and the #Splashzone needs to be in effect. Arkansas is one of the best three-point shooting teams in the country, and need to take advantage. Kingsley has turned into one of the better big men in the conference and maybe one of the most improved players in the country. He is less than a rebound away from averaging a double-double per game. So, big man needs to load up on some Windex and be prepared to clean some glass on both sides.
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Good team defense. As stated earlier Texas Tech has five players averaging just over 9 points a game. So, anyone on the floor is able to make a basket. The Hogs are going to have to keep their head on a swivel and be aware of the ball at all times.
If the Hogs can avoid sending the Red Raiders to the free throw line, and getting in foul trouble. The Razorbacks should be able to get a nice two-win streak at home going on the road into Florida next week.
This game will be apart of the Big 12/SEC challenge and will tip off on Saturday at 3 P.M. on ESPNU
Woo Pig.