Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Hosts Texas In Big 12 Opener On Saturday
January 02, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Texas Tech opens Big 12 play on Saturday against Texas.
January 2, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas -- After putting together its best start in five years, Texas Tech has closed the chapter on its non-conference season and will open big 12 play with one of its oldest rivals, as the Red Raiders host No. 10/11 Texas on Saturday at 1 p.m. at United Supermarkets Arena.
Saturday's matchup, which will air on ESPNU nationally, will be the 134th all-time meeting between the two schools, which dates back to 1939. The two schools have been conference mates since 1957-58.
The Red Raiders closed the pre-conference schedule with a 10-3 mark. It is only the 13th time in the 90-year history of the program that Texas Tech has started the season 10-3 or better. It is also just the ninth time the Red Raiders have started 10-0 at home. In fact, Texas Tech is currently riding an 11-game home winning streak that dates back to the season finale win over the Longhorns.
"I feel like this Texas team is long and athletic and they do a lot of things right," said Red Raider head coach Tubby Smith. "We have our work cut out for us. They are a team that pretty much is intact from last plus they have some quality freshmen."
Texas is expecting the return of point guard Isaiah Taylor. The guard was leading the Longhorns in scoring at 15.0 points per game before he got injured. Taylor appeared in just three games before his injury. The Longhorns have double-digit scorers in Jonathan Holmes (12.5 ppg), Myles Turner (12.0 ppg) and Javan Felix (10.0 ppg).
The Red Raiders are led by junior guard Devaugntah Williams (11.6 ppg), Robert Turner (9.0 ppg) and three freshmen -- Norense Odiase (8.2 ppg), Justin Gray (7.7 ppg) and Zach Smith (5.3 ppg).
