Dan
Game Thread: Illinois at Texas Tech
Texas Tech is 101-1 in home non-con games since 2014-15, the best mark in CBB in that span.
That means nothing tonight.
Let's go.
I predict we win by 29 (in honor of the 29 souls aboard the EF)
Although I am still scared of this game (just because of Mirk and Jake), but if Lincoln causes disruption by using his length and speed immediately at the start....gonna be a good game.
This based only on Google AI because I'm too lazy to go through every year to check:
"Texas Tech has hosted 1 ranked non-conference opponent at home (United Supermarkets Arena) in basketball since the 2014–15 season: No. 15 Kentucky on January 25, 2020 (as part of the Big 12/SEC Challenge, where Kentucky won 76–74 in overtime)"
This is game 3, regardless of outcome, assuming we remain as healthy as we are today, it’ll be ok.
I don’t even think this is glass half full—beating TT would be massive, but it doesn’t move the needle we’re already a favorite to win the big ten and natty. Losing to TT would sting like any loss, but they’re a quality opponent and we’re down two projected starters.
Personally I think this game might expose long terms trends and that’s what I’m most interested in. Can this team force others to play to their tempo? Can this team continue this NBA style offense? Is the defense good enough to compete against high major opponents? None of those will be fully answered tonight but it’s our first shot to learn something real about this team.
Perhaps better stated, Texas Tech is 1-1 in home non-con games since 2014-2015 against teams that are ranked in the AP:
- 2017, against 22 Nevada: W in OT, 82-76
- 2020, against 15 Kentucky: L in OT, 76-74
Some other stats:
- They have a historically weak non-conference SOS; their average rank over that same time period is 278. If you remove a strong NC schedule last year, it's 300. (Ours is 186 over that same period)
- They've lost 35 home conference games over that same period