LSU Hoops vs Texas Tech - PMAC - Tue 8:30PM - ESPN2

Who: Texas Tech Red Raiders at LSU Tigers
When: 8:30 PM on Tuesday, Nov 18th
Where: PMAC (13,2151, 45th NCAA)
How:
***TV: ESPN2
***Radio: 98.1FM
***Stream: ESPN3.com

Promotions: LSU Student priority point game. Free admission with valid Student ID.

After winning their home opener against Gardner-Webb, LSU looks to continue their winning ways when Big 12 opponent, Texas Tech, comes to town. The 8:30pm game will be nationally televised on ESPN2 as part of ESPN's Tip-Off Marathon. This game will be Texas Tech's only true road out of conference game, and should be their toughest game before conference play starts.

While the Big 12 is a well respected league, Texas Tech will be battling TCU for bottom spot in the loaded conference. A loss here for LSU would certainly be a big mark on their resume come March, however, Texas Tech is still a good squad in a very tough league.

In the Red Raider's opener, they defeated Loyola (Maryland) 71-59 starting three freshman. They blocked 32.3% (10 blocks) of Loyola's 2 point shots, which was the highest percentage in college basketball over the weekend. Interestingly enough, LSU was the least blocked team after having 0 shots altered this weekend.

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Texas Tech's scoring was spread out around 6 players in their opener. Odiase led the team with 16 points on 5/11 shooting and 6/8 from the free throw line. Three other non-starters also scored in double digits with Toddrick Gotcher (6'4" 200 Jr), Devaughntah Williams (6'3" 200 Jr), and Keenan Evans (6'3" 175 Fr) scoring 10, 13 and 10. Randy Onwuasor (8 points) and Robert Turner (7 points) filled out Texas Techs major contributors as far as points go. 28 of Techs 71 points were scored by freshman, so it will be interesting to see how those young players perform on the road for the first time.

Get use to hearing about LSU's "Big 4" because Gray, Hornsby, Martin, and Mickey each bring some impressive offensive weapons to the table, but for LSU to have success this season, it is going to have to start with defense. LSU allowed Gardner-Webb to make 26 of 42 two point shots (61.9%) on Saturday, a stat that cannot continue if LSU plans on making the NCAA Tournament.

Texas Tech only turned the ball over 7 times in their opener having nearly a 2:1 AST:TO ratio. However, the Red Raiders only made 40% of their two point shots. LSU will need to use their length and athleticism to try and create turnovers and prevent players from getting good looks under the basket. LSU will also try and speed up the game. Texas Tech's only had 63 possessions in their opener compared to LSU's 78 possessions.

LSU should see more man to man than they saw against Gardner Webb, but with LSU's height, they may have to get use to a heavy dose of zone. Tech will have more height than Gardner-Webb, but still not as much as many teams LSU will face this coming season.

Note: LSU starts the week as the #41 ranked team in the country receiving 5 votes in this weeks AP Poll.

Prediction:

LSU 84 Texas Tech 73