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TAMPA, Fla. — So, Texas Tech basketball fans. What do you want to talk about?
Oh, right. That March Madness game against Alabama. Seems appropriate, I suppose.
During last year's run to the Elite Eight, Texas Tech got three-straight double-digit seeds to face in the NCAA Tournament. They'll only get one this time. After downing 12-seed Akron in the opener, the fifth-seeded Red Raiders will now have to contend with the fourth-seeded Crimson Tide if they want to get to Chicago for a return trip to the Sweet 16.
There's plenty of ways to dissect this one, but we'll keep it simple by providing key players, stats and a final score prediction to satisfy your appetite before the big game.
A pair of projected first-round NBA draft picks will take the floor for Texas Tech and Alabama. Labaron Philon (6-foot-4, 185 pounds) leads the Crimson Tide averaging over 21 points per game while shooting over 40% from 3-point range. Likewise, Christian Anderson averages over 18 points and seven assists per game while shooting over 42% from distance.
The sophomore duo's head-to-head battle is anticipated by many to be one of the highlights of the tournament's opening week, but Texas Tech players know it's not just about any one player.
"Christian is going to do what Christian does, be a leader, be a point guard for us," LeJuan Watts said. "It's not about matchups on him versus Philon. I think it's just Alabama versus Texas Tech at this point. I think that we're going to be the better team. So it's not one-on-one."
Texas Tech men's basketball: Full coverage of the Red Raiders in March Madness
Donovan Atwell is likely to draw the defensive assignment on Philon. Having guarded the likes of BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Kansas' Darryn Peterson, Atwell has seen it all this season, and sees Philon as a comparison to somebody else's he's gone against.
"I kind of give him like a Rob Wright of BYU," Atwell said of Philon. "He's quick, can score at will, gets to his spots. Honestly I think it's just making sure we can contain him, be in the gaps, make the floor feel smaller for him so he doesn't feel like he has as much space to operate."
Rebounding has been an issue for Texas Tech since the season-ending injury to JT Toppin. The Red Raiders gave up 11 offensive rebounds to Akron and surrendered double-digit offensive boards in five of their last six games.
Alabama picked up 17 offensive rebounds against Hofstra, nine of which came from 6-11 sophomore post Aiden Sherrell. Texas Tech will have to clean up on the glass to keep Alabama's high-powered offense in check.
Texas Tech 82, Alabama 79: One thing Texas Tech has going for it is the plethora of offensive weapons beyond Anderson. Alabama, meanwhile, has to rely on Philon to carry much of the offensive burden without Aden Holloway. The Red Raiders do well when they can let one player do the damage and take everybody else out of the equation.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech vs Alabama prediction, pick for March Madness second round
Continue reading...
Oh, right. That March Madness game against Alabama. Seems appropriate, I suppose.
During last year's run to the Elite Eight, Texas Tech got three-straight double-digit seeds to face in the NCAA Tournament. They'll only get one this time. After downing 12-seed Akron in the opener, the fifth-seeded Red Raiders will now have to contend with the fourth-seeded Crimson Tide if they want to get to Chicago for a return trip to the Sweet 16.
There's plenty of ways to dissect this one, but we'll keep it simple by providing key players, stats and a final score prediction to satisfy your appetite before the big game.
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Texas Tech vs Alabama in March Madness players to watch: Texas Tech's Christian Anderson and Alabama's Labaron Philon
A pair of projected first-round NBA draft picks will take the floor for Texas Tech and Alabama. Labaron Philon (6-foot-4, 185 pounds) leads the Crimson Tide averaging over 21 points per game while shooting over 40% from 3-point range. Likewise, Christian Anderson averages over 18 points and seven assists per game while shooting over 42% from distance.
The sophomore duo's head-to-head battle is anticipated by many to be one of the highlights of the tournament's opening week, but Texas Tech players know it's not just about any one player.
"Christian is going to do what Christian does, be a leader, be a point guard for us," LeJuan Watts said. "It's not about matchups on him versus Philon. I think it's just Alabama versus Texas Tech at this point. I think that we're going to be the better team. So it's not one-on-one."
Texas Tech men's basketball: Full coverage of the Red Raiders in March Madness
Donovan Atwell is likely to draw the defensive assignment on Philon. Having guarded the likes of BYU's AJ Dybantsa and Kansas' Darryn Peterson, Atwell has seen it all this season, and sees Philon as a comparison to somebody else's he's gone against.
"I kind of give him like a Rob Wright of BYU," Atwell said of Philon. "He's quick, can score at will, gets to his spots. Honestly I think it's just making sure we can contain him, be in the gaps, make the floor feel smaller for him so he doesn't feel like he has as much space to operate."
Texas Tech vs Alabama in March Madness key stats
Rebounding has been an issue for Texas Tech since the season-ending injury to JT Toppin. The Red Raiders gave up 11 offensive rebounds to Akron and surrendered double-digit offensive boards in five of their last six games.
Alabama picked up 17 offensive rebounds against Hofstra, nine of which came from 6-11 sophomore post Aiden Sherrell. Texas Tech will have to clean up on the glass to keep Alabama's high-powered offense in check.
Texas Tech score prediction vs Alabama: March Madness second round
Texas Tech 82, Alabama 79: One thing Texas Tech has going for it is the plethora of offensive weapons beyond Anderson. Alabama, meanwhile, has to rely on Philon to carry much of the offensive burden without Aden Holloway. The Red Raiders do well when they can let one player do the damage and take everybody else out of the equation.
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech vs Alabama prediction, pick for March Madness second round
Continue reading...
