Kentucky’s next challenge? Texas Tech’s ‘gang-guarding’ defensive style.
You could say coaches on Wednesday’s Big 12 teleconference got defensive when asked about Texas Tech. One coach after another cited defense as a reason that Kentucky’s opponent Saturday has established a national basketball presence.
“They do a great job of gang-guarding you,” West Virginia Coach Bob Huggins said of the Red Raiders. “It seems like when you get the ball, they’re stacked up waiting for you.”
Iowa State Coach Steve Prohm and Oklahoma State Coach Mike Boynton echoed that thought. Each spoke of how Texas Tech’s versatility enables the Red Raiders to switch defenders at all five positions.
“The biggest thing that will be interesting to watch and see is how to attack switching,” Prohm said of UK’s game at Texas Tech. “One thing Texas Tech can do is they can really keep you in front at all five positions. That’s the biggest key.”
Added Boynton: “You got five guys totally bought into that being their identity. Because they can switch one through five, there’s not a whole lot of offenses that you can run smoothly because there’s not a lot of breakdowns there. So, their versatility on the defensive end is the first thing that stands out.”
On the other end of the court, Texas Tech has something of a throw-back approach in running a motion offense.
“Something you don’t see a lot,” Baylor Coach Scott Drew said. “It’s harder to prepare for.”
TCU Coach Jamie Dixon suggested that Texas Tech’s offense features versatility, too, with big men and guards adept at the fundamental basketball skills of passing, catching and shooting.
For all the praise, Texas Tech will bring a 12-6 record into Saturday’s game. The Red Raiders have lost three of their last five games.
“We’re a work in progress,” Coach Chris Beard said.
Texas Tech lost four starters from last season’s team, which advanced to the national championship game. This season’s team has 10 newcomers (including two players who redshirted last season) and only three players who had previously played for Tech.
ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla, who covers the Big 12 Conference, cited two games to show Tech’s work-in-progress status: a Dec. 10 victory over then-No. 1 Louisville in New York and a 65-54 loss at TCU on Tuesday.
“It’s a young team,” Fraschilla said. “They’re talented enough to beat Louisville on a neutral court. But also young enough that they’re still a work in progress. Probably not unlike you’ve seen in Kentucky this year.”
After the loss at TCU, Beard balked at the notion that inexperience hindered Texas Tech.
“At this point of the year, I’m just not a big believer in the old young team excuse or cop-out,” he said. “At this point, these guys have played a lot of minutes.”
Home winning streak
After last weekend’s game at Arkansas, Kentucky should be unfazed by any “true” road game.
Texas Tech has won its last 54 home games against non-conference opponents.
“Their arena has become a very, very good home court,” Fraschilla said of Texas Tech’s United Supermarkets Arena (capacity 15,098). “It’ll be a hostile atmosphere…. So, it’ll be no different than when Kentucky goes on the road anywhere else in college basketball. They’ll have a bull’s-eye on their back.”
Boynton, who played for South Carolina in the early 2000s, could compare Texas Tech’s home court to Rupp Arena.
“It doesn’t, obviously, have the historical depth of (Rupp),” he said. “But, at the same time, they’ve built something in the last few years that’s one of the best (environments) in the country at the moment.”
Fraschilla said United Supermarkets Arena lacks the “ghosts” of Kansas’ Allen Fieldhouse. “But they have a very formidable home-court advantage,” he said.
Unimaginable challenge
Beard did not downplay the challenge Kentucky presents to Texas Tech.
“As many challenges that can possibly be imagined,” he said. “(John Calipari) is one of the best coaches in the history of college basketball. So, obviously, one of the most historic programs. Great fan base. Another year of incredible talent …. The respect level is off the charts.
“We’ll have to play the best game of the season to have a chance to be competitive in the game, in my opinion.”
Beard added that UK has a team “good enough to win the national championship.”
Saturday
No. 15 Kentucky at No. 18 Texas Tech
What: Big 12/SEC Challenge
When: 6 p.m. EST
TV: ESPN
Radio: WLAP-AM 630, WBUL-FM 98.1
Records: Kentucky 14-4 (5-1 SEC), Texas Tech 12-6 (3-3 Big 12)
Series: Kentucky leads 4-0
Last meeting: Kentucky won 83-68 on Dec. 17, 1994, at U.S. Bank Arena in Cincinnati.
This story was originally published January 23, 2020 at 8:07 AM.
