Texas basketball won a close game against Kansas with a final score of 75-72 that would need overtime to determine a winner. Now the Longhorns face Texas Tech for the second and final time this season in a huge matchup. Let’s break down these two squads.
Texas offense
The last time these two played it was a close game and Texas Tech snuck by with a 79-77 win. That was considered a huge upset at the time. Texas has struggled lately and as a result, it’s been bouncing back and forth between the win and loss column. Its offense needs to play with more consistency. These games have been high scoring as everyone has shaken off that early season rust and these games have now been high scoring as of late.
The Longhorns need to join the club. They’ve done it when it was needed in some of the past games. They’ve won three out of their last four after a two-game skid as a result. They started off the season really well, and now they seem to be trending towards that path again. They just need to do it consistently. This would be a perfect time to get hot, as the season is coming to a close plus both the Big 12 and NCAA tournaments are coming up as well.
Texas defense
Like I mentioned, these games are becoming high scoring contests. This defense needs to find its way, as there could be one or two possessions that could decide the outcomes of these games. That starts with steals and blocks. These help out a lot. With these games being in the upper 70-point range, they need to be able to make those crucial stops or gain possessions through steals. The Longhorns did a good job blocking shots in the first game, they just needs to improve on getting those steals this time around.
Texas Tech offense
This offense only has three players that score in double figures. The two the Longhorns need to worry about are Kevin McCullar and Mac McClung. They both were huge deciding factors in the Red Raiders winning that first game. Texas needs to slow those two down or at the very least make sure they stop their teammates. Either strategy should work. However, one must work if the Longhorns want to give themselves the best chance to go out and win this game.
Texas Tech defense
Texas needs to take care of the ball. Even if it is successful in one of the previously mentioned strategies, turning over the ball could erase that. The Red Raiders average a good number of steals. The Longhorns can’t afford to give Texas Tech the advantage in that category in what should be a close, exciting game.
The Longhorns have fallen in the rankings as of late, but they seem to have found their groove again. They just need to keep it going with every game being important in determining the outcome of the season and the end of season tournaments coming up. Texas will get its revenge and win this game with a final score of 77-74.
Photo courtesy of KStateSports.com
