Texas Tech University Athletics
Saturday, November 19
United Supermarkets Arena
12:00 PM
Texas Tech Athletics
vs
Eastern Kentucky
Red Raider Preview: Eastern Kentucky
November 18, 2016 | Men's Basketball
The Red Raiders will look for the program’s first 3-0 start since the 2012-13 season.
LUBBOCK, Texas – The Texas Tech men's basketball team will look to cap its three-game homestand to start the 2016-17 season on a strong note versus Eastern Kentucky Saturday at the United Supermarkets Arena.
Tipoff is on-tap for 12 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised by FOX Sports Southwest along with the FOX Sports Go app. Robert Giovannetti and Chuck Heinz will serve as the announcing team with Adam Doyle as the sideline reporter.
The Texas Tech Sports Network will carry the game live on 100.7 FM and 950 AM in Lubbock. Geoff Haxton will have the call. The radio broadcast also will be available on the Texas Tech Sports Network radio affiliates, online at www.TexasTech.com and the TuneIn Radio app.
With a victory, the Red Raiders would earn the program's first 3-0 start since the 2012-13 season. Texas Tech also would move its nonconference home winning streak to 22 consecutive games dating back to the 2013-14 campaign.
Texas Tech (2-0) and Eastern Kentucky (1-2) have split its previous four meetings with the Red Raiders winning the last two, the most recent a 98-84 victory on Nov. 22, 2008 when Chris Beard was an assistant coach. Alan Voskuil was one of five players to tally double figures and poured in 28 points fueled by eight three-pointers.
"It's a process. Our team is a work in progress," Beard said. "It's a coaching cliché, but it's so true. We have to get better each day in practice. I thought we got better yesterday, and we have to get better today. With each day, we have to improve. One thing we really believe in is that we have 16 players on our roster and 12 are active to play this year. But if every day in practice those guys will get one percent better-- maybe it's [paying] more attention to detail, maybe it's playing a little bit harder or maybe it's studying the scout report a little bit better than they ever have. If each player just gets one percent better, then our team gets 16 percent better. That's really the beauty in basketball and in all team sports. The ultimate goal is for your team to improve. To do that, individual players have to improve so that will continue to be our emphasis in practice."
Fans can buy tickets to Saturday's game for as low as $10 online at www.TexasTech.com or in person at the United Supermarkets Arena Ticket Office starting 90 minutes prior to tipoff. Saturday's basketball ticket also allows fans to receive free admission later that evening to the volleyball match versus TCU later at 6 p.m. CT.
Students are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy the student lounge which features a Thanksgiving theme while supplies last.
More season tickets have already been sold for 2016-17 than all of last season. Fans are encouraged to purchase season tickets now to reserve the best available seats. Reserved season tickets are on-sale for as low as $199.
Fans are reminded to go clear at all Texas Tech basketball games. The new clear bag policy provides a safer atmosphere and speeds up the entry process into the United Supermarkets Arena.
About Texas Tech
Texas Tech garnered a strong performance on the defensive end and limited North Texas to a 29.8 percent shooting clip during a 70-73 triumph over the Mean Green on Tuesday. The Red Raiders also converted 16 North Texas turnovers into 24 points.
Zach Smith tallied his third career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. For the season, Smith has produced 8.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. The 2.0 blocks per game are fourth on the Big 12 leaderboard.
Aaron Ross has registered 13 points apiece during the Houston Baptist and North Texas games to start the season. He is the only Tech player to notch 10-plus points in both games and has collected double figures in 16 of his last 20 outings dating back to last season. The Arkansas native is 10-of-17 from the floor coupled with 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Keenan Evans has produced a team-leading 16.0 points per game which ranks eighth in the Big 12 rankings. He also has added 3.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. Evans exploded for a career-best 28 points aided by five three-pointers against Houston Baptist in the season opener.
Anthony Livingston has tacked on 12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He pumped in 16 points on a 6-of-9 shooting clip during the Houston Baptist game. Shadell Millinghaus gives the Red Raiders four players averaging in double figures with 10.0 points per game.
Off the bench, Niem Stevenson and Justin Gray has led the charge with 7.5 and 6.0 points per game, respectively. Gray managed eight points to go along career-bests 10 rebounds and four blocks versus North Texas. Devon Thomas has notched 4.0 points and 3.0 assists per game as Texas Tech's backup point guard.
"It starts with our culture," Beard said. "We pride ourselves on being truth-tellers. It goes without saying, but we don't try to come up with motivational ploys or fake stuff. It is what it is. We've gotten ourselves to 2-0. We set it up to have a three-game season to start the year. We're 2-0, and we have the opportunity to go 3-0 so we have to stay focused. That's really what life is. It's eliminating distractions in a lot of ways. Whether it be social media or all of the outside voices. Elite people that know how to win can focus on the task at hand, and I have a lot of confidence in our players. We have six seniors and six juniors. We're an experienced team, and I hope that that experience correlates into us being mature enough to understand that the most important game on the schedule is the next game."
About Eastern Kentucky
The Colonels have been handed back-to-back setbacks by UNC Wilmington and Auburn after a 10-point win over IUPUI on opening night last Friday. Last time out, Eastern Kentucky hung with Auburn deep into the second half before the Tigers used a 15-2 run to pull away for an 85-64 decision.
Nick Mayo, the reigning Ohio Valley Freshman of the Year and All-Ohio Valley First-Team pick, has secured 21.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He has done damage at the free throw line and converted on 26-of-28 attempts through three games.
Asante Gist has chipped in 13.0 points and 3.7 assists per game from the point guard position. Dillon Avare, Jaylen Babb-Harrison and Isaac McGlone have combined to drain 16 of their 23 field goals from beyond the three-point line.
"We're going to have to have a different kind of game plan and guard different ways," Beard said. "He's [Mayo] a good player, he's skilled. He shoots the three and scores inside on both shoulders so it will be a nice test for us this early in the season. We'll need different players to step up at different times. It'll be a team strategy to defend him. It won't be one player's responsibility."
Up Next
Texas Tech hits the road for the first time during the 2016-17 and faces undefeated Auburn at the Cancun Challenge in Mexico. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.
Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/TexasTechMBB and @TexasTechMBB on Twitter.
Tipoff is on-tap for 12 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised by FOX Sports Southwest along with the FOX Sports Go app. Robert Giovannetti and Chuck Heinz will serve as the announcing team with Adam Doyle as the sideline reporter.
The Texas Tech Sports Network will carry the game live on 100.7 FM and 950 AM in Lubbock. Geoff Haxton will have the call. The radio broadcast also will be available on the Texas Tech Sports Network radio affiliates, online at www.TexasTech.com and the TuneIn Radio app.
With a victory, the Red Raiders would earn the program's first 3-0 start since the 2012-13 season. Texas Tech also would move its nonconference home winning streak to 22 consecutive games dating back to the 2013-14 campaign.
Texas Tech (2-0) and Eastern Kentucky (1-2) have split its previous four meetings with the Red Raiders winning the last two, the most recent a 98-84 victory on Nov. 22, 2008 when Chris Beard was an assistant coach. Alan Voskuil was one of five players to tally double figures and poured in 28 points fueled by eight three-pointers.
"It's a process. Our team is a work in progress," Beard said. "It's a coaching cliché, but it's so true. We have to get better each day in practice. I thought we got better yesterday, and we have to get better today. With each day, we have to improve. One thing we really believe in is that we have 16 players on our roster and 12 are active to play this year. But if every day in practice those guys will get one percent better-- maybe it's [paying] more attention to detail, maybe it's playing a little bit harder or maybe it's studying the scout report a little bit better than they ever have. If each player just gets one percent better, then our team gets 16 percent better. That's really the beauty in basketball and in all team sports. The ultimate goal is for your team to improve. To do that, individual players have to improve so that will continue to be our emphasis in practice."
Fans can buy tickets to Saturday's game for as low as $10 online at www.TexasTech.com or in person at the United Supermarkets Arena Ticket Office starting 90 minutes prior to tipoff. Saturday's basketball ticket also allows fans to receive free admission later that evening to the volleyball match versus TCU later at 6 p.m. CT.
Students are encouraged to arrive early and enjoy the student lounge which features a Thanksgiving theme while supplies last.
More season tickets have already been sold for 2016-17 than all of last season. Fans are encouraged to purchase season tickets now to reserve the best available seats. Reserved season tickets are on-sale for as low as $199.
Fans are reminded to go clear at all Texas Tech basketball games. The new clear bag policy provides a safer atmosphere and speeds up the entry process into the United Supermarkets Arena.
About Texas Tech
Texas Tech garnered a strong performance on the defensive end and limited North Texas to a 29.8 percent shooting clip during a 70-73 triumph over the Mean Green on Tuesday. The Red Raiders also converted 16 North Texas turnovers into 24 points.
Zach Smith tallied his third career double-double with 11 points and 11 rebounds. For the season, Smith has produced 8.5 points, 8.0 rebounds and 2.0 blocks per game. The 2.0 blocks per game are fourth on the Big 12 leaderboard.
Aaron Ross has registered 13 points apiece during the Houston Baptist and North Texas games to start the season. He is the only Tech player to notch 10-plus points in both games and has collected double figures in 16 of his last 20 outings dating back to last season. The Arkansas native is 10-of-17 from the floor coupled with 5.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.
Keenan Evans has produced a team-leading 16.0 points per game which ranks eighth in the Big 12 rankings. He also has added 3.5 assists, 3.0 rebounds and 1.0 steals per game. Evans exploded for a career-best 28 points aided by five three-pointers against Houston Baptist in the season opener.
Anthony Livingston has tacked on 12.5 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game. He pumped in 16 points on a 6-of-9 shooting clip during the Houston Baptist game. Shadell Millinghaus gives the Red Raiders four players averaging in double figures with 10.0 points per game.
Off the bench, Niem Stevenson and Justin Gray has led the charge with 7.5 and 6.0 points per game, respectively. Gray managed eight points to go along career-bests 10 rebounds and four blocks versus North Texas. Devon Thomas has notched 4.0 points and 3.0 assists per game as Texas Tech's backup point guard.
"It starts with our culture," Beard said. "We pride ourselves on being truth-tellers. It goes without saying, but we don't try to come up with motivational ploys or fake stuff. It is what it is. We've gotten ourselves to 2-0. We set it up to have a three-game season to start the year. We're 2-0, and we have the opportunity to go 3-0 so we have to stay focused. That's really what life is. It's eliminating distractions in a lot of ways. Whether it be social media or all of the outside voices. Elite people that know how to win can focus on the task at hand, and I have a lot of confidence in our players. We have six seniors and six juniors. We're an experienced team, and I hope that that experience correlates into us being mature enough to understand that the most important game on the schedule is the next game."
About Eastern Kentucky
The Colonels have been handed back-to-back setbacks by UNC Wilmington and Auburn after a 10-point win over IUPUI on opening night last Friday. Last time out, Eastern Kentucky hung with Auburn deep into the second half before the Tigers used a 15-2 run to pull away for an 85-64 decision.
Nick Mayo, the reigning Ohio Valley Freshman of the Year and All-Ohio Valley First-Team pick, has secured 21.3 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. He has done damage at the free throw line and converted on 26-of-28 attempts through three games.
Asante Gist has chipped in 13.0 points and 3.7 assists per game from the point guard position. Dillon Avare, Jaylen Babb-Harrison and Isaac McGlone have combined to drain 16 of their 23 field goals from beyond the three-point line.
"We're going to have to have a different kind of game plan and guard different ways," Beard said. "He's [Mayo] a good player, he's skilled. He shoots the three and scores inside on both shoulders so it will be a nice test for us this early in the season. We'll need different players to step up at different times. It'll be a team strategy to defend him. It won't be one player's responsibility."
Up Next
Texas Tech hits the road for the first time during the 2016-17 and faces undefeated Auburn at the Cancun Challenge in Mexico. Tipoff is slated for 5 p.m. CT, and the game will be televised by CBS Sports Network.
Visit www.TexasTech.com for the latest news and information on the men's basketball program. Fans also can follow the program on its social media outlets at www.Facebook.com/TexasTechMBB and @TexasTechMBB on Twitter.
Players Mentioned
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Forward
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Forward
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