Lubbock ignites as Tech's 3-point fury clashes with Kansas' stifling defense. Can the Red Raiders' elite offense overcome the Jayhawks' lockdown strategy?
Lubbock is about to be loud as ESPN Big Monday brings a heavyweight Big 12 clash to United Supermarkets Arena as Texas Tech Red Raiders host the Kansas Jayhawks in a ranked showdown featuring identical records and very different superpowers.
Both teams enter at 16-5 overall and 6-2 in Big 12 play, and the vibe screams “March” even though it’s only early February.
Texas Tech has been untouchable at home, sitting at 11-0 in Lubbock and 4-0 against Big 12 opponents in the building.
Even after an 88-80 loss at UCF snapped a five-game winning streak, the Red Raiders still have eight wins in their last 10 and a clear identity ... if they’re getting clean looks from deep, it’s going to be a long night for whoever’s on the other side. And Tech gets a lot of clean looks.
The Red Raiders lead the Big 12 with 11.4 made three-pointers per game, shoot 39.1 percent from beyond the arc, and own a 56.6 effective field-goal percentage.
They’ve hit 10-plus 3s in 16 of 21 games, and their ceiling is absurd. Tech has made 17 3s in three different games this season, including a night at Baylor where they set a Big 12 record by drilling 14 triples in the first half.
JT Toppin is playing like a weekly award candidate because, well, he is.
The three-time Big 12 Player of the Week leads the league with 14 double-doubles and 10.9 rebounds per game, while ranking third in the conference at 22.4 points per game.
He just dropped 27 points and 10 boards at UCF, and in Big 12 play, he’s somehow been even better, averaging 24.4 points and 11.3 rebounds per game.
Then there’s Christian Anderson, who leads the Big 12 with 7.5 assists per game, adds 19.6 points per game, and is hitting 43.6 percent of his 3s while making 3.43 triples per game. In conference games, he’s posted 18.0 points and 8.3 assists ... a problem for any defense, even Kansas.
Which brings us to the Jayhawks’ calling card: defense that travels.
Kansas leads the Big 12 with 6.0 blocks per game and holds opponents to 38.3 percent shooting, while scoring 78.8 points per game and allowing just 68.0.
The Jayhawks are riding a five-game winning streak highlighted by a 90-82 win over BYU, where Bryson Tiller scored 21 points and seven rebounds, Darryn Peterson added 18, and Flory Bidunga chipped in 16 points and six rebounds.
Bidunga has been a rim-wrecking force all season, leading the Big 12 at 2.67 blocks per game while shooting 66.8 percent from the field. Peterson leads Kansas at 21.3 points per game, and Tre White adds 14.8 points and 7.2 rebounds.
The storyline writes itself ... Tech’s three-point volume versus Kansas’ shot suppression and rim protection.
Add in McCasland’s dominance at home (41-5 in Lubbock as Tech coach) and the fact Tech is 2-0 against Kansas under him, and you’ve got a Monday night game that feels like a bracket preview ... only louder.