Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders Battle No. 17 Sooners
February 20, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Norense Odiase has been a big presence inside. He has averaged 8.0 points and 7.0 rebounds over the last four games.
February 20, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas -- When Texas Tech hosts No. 17 Oklahoma on Saturday, it will mark the earliest tip-off in a decade, as the Red Raiders and Sooners are set to tangle at 11 a.m. CT at United Supermarkets Arena.
"When you look at how we played against Baylor, having a chance to win, if we make shots, anything can happen when we are at home," said Texas Tech head coach Tubby Smith. "But then again, you are facing one of the top starting lineups in the country. They have started the same five for 26 straight games. That continuity is invaluable."
Texas Tech has played at another level at the United Supermarkets Arena, including winning 12 games this season. It is only the ninth time in program history that Texas Tech has won 12 home games in a season. If the Red Raiders get past No. 17 Oklahoma, it will mark the sixth time a Red Raider squad will have won 13 or more games at home.
But that might be no easy task, as four of the five Sooner starters average in double figures.
"They have so many options," added Smith. "You have one of the best scorers in the league in Buddy Hield, but then there is (Ryan) Spangler, (Isaiah) Cousins and (TaShawn) Thomas."
Three freshmen who have stood out of late for Texas Tech have been Norense Odiase, Zach Smith and Keenan Evans.
Odiase began the season with a bang, as the freshman scored in double figures in five of his first six games. But at some point, the Fort Worth native hit a wall. The 6-9 Odiase has seemingly crashed through that wall and has averaged 8.0 points and 7.0 rebounds over the last four games.
Smith has been a steady producer all season and leads the team in minutes played. The freshman power forward set the new Texas Tech freshman record for blocks in a season with 38 after swatting a pair of shots against Baylor. He is averaging 8.6 points, 4.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.2 blocks, while shooting 62.9 percent from the field in 33.6 minutes over the last five games.
Evans has become a key off the bench for the Red Raiders. His high-flying athletic ability have allowed him to get into passing lanes and block shots. Over the last nine games, Evans is averaging 5.6 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 22.3 minutes per game.
But the Red Raider success seems to lie in the hands of a trio of upperclassmen -- Robert Turner, Devaugntah Williams and Toddrick Gotcher.
"When Rob, D-Will and Toddrick are hitting shots, we seem to thrive," said Smith. "We need these three to step up to have the kind of success that I think we are capable of having."
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...
As Charles Dickens said in a Tale of Two Cities, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." This quote conveys the Red Raiders at home and on the road this season. Texas Tech is 12-5 in Lubbock and 0-10 outside the Hub City. The Red Raiders average 66.6 points per game at home, while holding opponents to 58.6 points. On the road, Texas Tech averages just 49.8 points per game ... Last season, Texas Tech and Oklahoma split the series with each team winning the road game.
FIVE THINGS TO REMEMBER
?Texas Tech has used eight different starting lineups this season ... at one point, Texas Tech had started the youngest starting lineup in the country with four freshmen and a sophomore ... in its last two wins, Texas Tech has used the lineup of Randy Onwuasor (G), Robert Turner (G), Devaugntah Williams (SF), Zach Smith (PF), Isaiah Manderson (C).
?Red Raider head coach Tubby Smith is in search of his 538th career win. The hall of fame coach is tied with Harry Miller, who won 537 games from 1953-88, for 63rd all-time in NCAA Division I and ranks 18th among active head coaches.
?Oklahoma leads the all-time series with Texas Tech, 34-20, but Texas Tech has a 13-11 advantage in Lubbock. In fact, the Red Raiders have won three of the last five in the Hub City.
?Texas Tech is running the gauntlet, as 10 of its last 12 games are against Top 25 teams or teams receiving votes in the polls. Tuesday's game is Game 9 in the 12-game run to close out the Big 12. Starting with Iowa State (Feb. 7), seven of the last eight games for the Red Raiders are against teams ranked in the Top 35 of the RPI.
?This is just the second 11 a.m. start at home for Texas Tech in the Big 12 Era. The only other time the Red Raiders have played a game this early was an 11 a.m. start at the USA against Iowa State on Jan. 14, 2006. Texas Tech won the game, 76-73.
