Keys to the Game: Texas v. Texas Tech

KEEP ON KEEPPING ON... Texas has won 8 in a row, and have been playing their best basketball since the early season wins against UCLA and Tennessee. It seems like a different player has stepped up each game and Texas has won in ever possible fashion. DJ has found his stroke again as he is averaging 23 points and shooting 53% from the field the last two games. Texas dominated Tech in their first matchup in Austin, as the Horns won 73-47. Texas has been playing even better than they were in the earlier matchup, so the Longhorns need to just keep pouring it on the falling Raiders.

KICK'EM WHILE THEIR DOWN... Texas Tech is coming in off a humiliating loss to Texas A&M on Wednesday. The Red Raiders were down by almost 40 most of the game and ended up losing 98-45. That's gotta hurt. Teams respond to games like this in one of two ways: Either they come out on fire and pull off an upset, or continue to be demoralized and let the season spiral downward. If Texas can come out and pound the Raiders early, they may not be able to muster up the will to put up a fight.

REST D.J.... This needs to be one of those games that Texas pulls out to a lead and lets Rick Barnes rest some of his starters. We all know that DJ has played almost every minute of the season, but even Justin Mason did not get to rest against Kansas State. I wouls love to see a heavy does of bench play in the 2nd half and give the Horns some much needed rest as the Big 12 tournament is fast approaching. For this to happen its all about the first half and getting out to a commanding lead. If Texas can go into the break up 15, DJ and Co maybe be resting the last 10 mins of the game.

NO TRAP GAME... I know, even in this article, I seem to be chalking up the Tech win as a foregone conclusion; but let's hope the team doesn't do the same. No game in the Big 12 is a gimme (just ask the last few teams that played Nebraska). While there is no reason Texas should come close to losing to Texas Tech, a #1 tourament seed is still on the line as is the out right Big 12 Championship. There is a lot to play for, and Texas Tech is never going to lay down for the Longhorns. Fight hard, hustle and play some defense and Texas should be walking out of Lubbock with a win.

PREDICTION: Texas 84, Texas Tech 70

Hopefully this is what the arena will look like by halftime...

Post Game Points: Texas v. Kansas State

ANOTHER UGLY WIN... No matter how Texas plays, they keep on winning. 13 turnovers, 10-22 from the foul line, AJ & Connor out the 1st half with fouls, broken noses and a poor shooting night for Damion James didn't keep the Horns from pulling off the huge win in Manhattan. This team has won inside, outside, pretty and ugly. One night it's DJ, then AJ then Connor and Damion. It seems like nothing can slow this team down the past 8 games. Three more winnable games for the Texas and they will bring home their first outright Big 12 Championship since 1999.

BLOWING BUBBLES... It looks like The Wildcats are about to play themselves right onto the NCAA Tournament bubble. They have now lost 3 straight to Texas, Baylor and Nebraska and face an impending 4th loss as they head into Lawrence to face Kansas on Saturday. Thats not to great considering the selection committee tends to look at your last 10-12 games to separate the last few in from the ones left out. If K State loses to Kansas, they are for sure going to have to beat Colorado and Iowa State to finish the year and then maybe have to win a game or 2 in the Big 12 tournament. One thing they have going for them is the "Beasley Factor" in that it is going to be hard for the committee to keep the most talented player in the country out of the NCAAs and into the NIT.

PHOENIX SUNS IN ATTENDANCE... ESPN made it a point to show Kevin McHale of T-Wolves and Steve Kerr of the Suns in attendance at tonight's game. Despite DJ's comments this week that he isn't going to the NBA, you can't tell me Phoenix was not there to look at DJ. I think Texas fans have learned enough from TJ, Kevin Durant and Vince Young to know that the "I will be back next year" is essentially a guarantee they will not. I think everyone is incredibly greatful we have had DJ for 2 years. I love DJ's game and he would be a perfect fit as the heir apparent yo Steve Nash and the Suns offense. I just wish players wouldn't get everyone's hopes up by saying the thing they think fans want to hear.

TEXAS' "X" FACTOR... Is Connor Atchley. He can be such a matchup problem for teams as his offensive game has really developed this year. He works the pick & roll so well with DJ. Connor can bring his man away from the basket, leaving a clear path to the rim for DJ. And Connor is becoming deadly from behind the arc as DJ is finding his open when teams trap him on the high pick & roll. Tonight Connor even hit what can only be described as the "least expected drive to the basket and running jump hook floater of the year." Add in his shot blocking ability and, as long as he stays out of foul trouble, Connor becomes a key man in a Longhorn run into March.

REMAINING SCHEDULE... @ Texas Tech: This game is winnable. Barned owns Tech and the Red Raiders just don't have the size or offensive fire power to stay with Texas. The game in Austin was a blow out, and I only expect the game to be about 5 points closer be cause the game is in Lubbock.
Nebraska: While the Cornhuskers are playing well as of late (wins over K State & A&M), I just don't see them coming into Austin and beating this Texas team. Texas may have some trouble with the 7'0'' Aleks Karic, but Nebraska simply does not have the overall team talent to pull off an upset road win.
Oklahoma State: I am glad Texas gets this game at home. The Cowboys are off wins over A&M and Kansas and PG Byron Eaton has been on fire the past few games. OK State alwasy plays Texas tough, but the Horns seem to pull off the wins in Austin. This is going to be a tough game, but the Cowboys don't have enough scorers around Eaton to win this Big 12 finally.

Big XII Bubble Watch

The Big XII race appears to be sorting itself out, as there is starting to be some seperation between the top 6 teams. The question still remains as to how many tournament teams the Big XII can muster. Oklahoma and Baylor remain the biggest question marks on the bubble as to whether the Big XII will get four, five, or six teams into the dance. The postseason outlook for the Big XII...

#5 Kansas (24-2) (9-2) RPI: 6; SOS: 58
W - vs. Arizona, at USC
L - at Kansas State
To Play: vs. #25 Kansas State, at #22 Texas A&M
- Kansas should be able to win the rematch against Kansas State, as the Wildcats have been struggling as of late, and the Jayhawks should be able to contain the Aggies front line. This would give Kansas either the #1 or #2 seed heading into the Big XII tournament and have them at 29-2. While the record is impressive, they haven't played the most difficult of schedules and if they don't win the Big XII they might not garner a #1 seed.

#7 Texas (22-4) (9-2) RPI: 5; SOS: 3
W - vs. Tennessee, at UCLA, vs. St. Mary's, vs. Kansas
L - at Missouri
To Play: vs. Oklahoma, at. #25 Kansas State
- Texas seems in prime position to take the Big XII title. Though they will need to play their best on the road against Kansas State, a game that will test their front line. Texas has played a great schedule and has three wins against the top 6 teams in the country. If they can manage to win out and make it to the finals of the Big XII tournament, they could sneak into a #1 seed, but they profile best as a #2 seed. If they drop two of their last five, they would probably become one of the most dangerous #3 seeds in the tournament.

#25 Kansas State (18-7) (8-3) RPI: 29; SOS: 33
W - at Oklahoma, vs. Texas A&M, vs. Kansas
L - vs. George Mason, at Xavier, at Missouri, at Texas Tech, at Nebraska
To Play: at Baylor, vs. Texas, at Kansas
- Losing to Missouri, Texas Tech, and Nebraska have really hurt Kansas State in conference play. They now have tough trips to Baylor and Kansas with a visit by Texas to close out the season. If Kansas State goes 2-3 the rest of the way, they should still be dancing, but a win over Baylor or Texas would help cement what has been a solid season for the Wildcats behind Michael Beasley. A 21-9 mark for the season could slot the Wildcats as a #5 or #6 seed that no one will want to play.

#22 Texas A&M (20-6) (6-5) RPI: 39; SOS: 80
W - at Ohio State, vs. Texas
L - at Texas Tech, at Kansas State, vs. Oklahoma State, at Texas
To Play: at Oklahoma, at Baylor, vs. #5 Kansas
- The Aggies have not made things easy on themselves with inconsistent play throughout the conference season. They have a tough stretch ahead of them and really need to take one or both of the OU and Baylor games. The Aggies need to win 3 of their last 5 to avoid going 8-8 in conference and putting themselves in a difficult position come tournament time. Even if the Aggies go 23-8, it might not be enough to make them a #6 seed in the tournament. And while this is an Aggies team that is built for close games in the post season, life as a #7 or #8 seed would make life extremely difficult.

Oklahoma (18-8) (6-5) RPI: 26; SOS: 13
W - vs. Arkansas, vs. Gonzaga, at West Virginia, Baylor twice
L - vs. Stephen F. Austin, at Kansas by 40, at Colorado
To Play: at #7 Texas, vs. #22 Texas A&M
- The Sooners have done well as of late and appear to be finally healthy heading down the stretch. They have impressive RPI and SOS numbers that should help them in front of the selection committee. They have been wildly inconsistent this season, looking very good at times, and at other times, far from it. They should win at least 3 of their final 5, which should be enough to get them in the dance, but a win over Texas A&M would be nice to solidify their place in the tournament. They should end up as a #8 or #9 seed in the dance, which would be a nice accomplishment for a young program under Jeff Capel.

Baylor (17-8) (5-6) RPI: 40; SOS: 38
W - at Notre Dame, at Texas A&M
L - vs. Arkansas, Oklahoma twice, at Oklahoma State
To Play: vs. #25 Kansas State, vs. #22 Texas A&M
- Baylor has CBS executives worried. What once was easily the feel good story of the tournament has fallen on shaky times, as Baylor has free falled the past few weeks as it has forgotten how to play defense. While three easy games will help to turn things around, Baylor really needs to protect their home floor against either one or both of the games against KSU and A&M. A 20-10 record should let the Bears sneak in, but they really need one more big win to cement their resume and not have to rely on mediocre computer numbers. One or two wins in the Big XII tournament wouldn't hurt either.

The Race for the NIT:

Texas Tech (14-11) (5-6) RPI: 62; SOS: 6
- Tough games down the stretch with this Saturday vs. Iowa State as the only one that they will be favored to win. Great computer numbers, but will need to pull an upset somewhere down the stretch.

Missouri (14-12) (4-7) RPI: 86; SOS: 21
- The kindest closing schedule of the NIT hopefulls, with games vs. Colorado, Oklahoma State, and Iowa State looming. Missouri could do the unthinkable if they suspend half their team and then make the NIT. I will be rooting for them.

Oklahoma State (13-12) (4-7) RPI: 111; SOS: 37
- This may come down to the Bedlam Series for the Cowboys as they will probably need to beat Oklahoma at home along with Nebraska at home and Missouri on the road if they hope to have any chance at the NIT. With their sluggish computer numbers, they will need to have a winning record overall and close to .500 in conference.

Nebraska (15-9) (4-7) RPI: 133; SOS: 134
- While the win over Kansas State gave them life, the computer numbers remind you that those 15 wins came against lesser foes. They will need to do some work and get more than just the visit from Colorado. That means beating Oklahoma at home or OSU on the road. Or if they prefer to dream big, A&M or Texas on the road. The computer numbers and the conference record might leave the Huskers at home.

Iowa State (14-12) (4-7) RPI: 135; SOS: 66
- If Iowa State hopes to see a postseason of any sort they will have to do their work away from Ames. Kansas and Kansas State are the only remaining visits they have, but don't count them out as wins are possible at Texas Tech, Missouri, and Colorado. But it may take them two or all three of those road games to make it to the promised land that is the NIT.

Big XII Weekend Capsule: Week 6, Part 2

Oklahoma (16-8) (4-5) at Texas Tech (13-10) (4-5)

- Both teams are fighting for their postseason life as Oklahoma desperately needs a win to keep their tournament hopes alive and Texas Tech needs the win to keep their NIT hopes a live. Oklahoma looked like they were in good position to be the sixth team to represent the Big XII, but after losing Blake Griffin to an injury, and then Longar-Longar, Oklahoma has played wildly inconsistent, losing their third straight in a devisating loss at Colorado. It was thought that Longar-Longar was out for the year, but apparently used an herbal remedy that had him back for the mid-week win over Iowa State. Oklahoma finally had their full lineup and got contributions from Tony Crocker and Austin Johnson and it showed in a good win against Iowa State. If Oklahoma doesn't have to rely on Blake Griffin on the offense end, this becomes a very dynamic basketball team. Texas Tech proved that even under new coach Pat Knight, they will be extremely tough to beat at home. The win over Kansas State was impressive as they got 30 points from Alan Voskuil? Really? The Oklahoma game will tell if it was just a one game outburst or if the Red Raiders have figured out how to get a full team contribution on the offensive end.

Prediction: Texas Tech 71, Oklahoma 65

#11 Texas (20-4) (7-2) at Baylor (17-6) (5-4)

- The Longhorns work is hardly over as they must recover quickly from their Big Monday win over #3 Kansas. They learned a lot about themselves in the Kansas game, and the biggest lesson is that this Texas team is going to win with their defense. If Texas plays hard on the defensive end, they can play with any team in the country. But Texas still has a few issues they need to resolve. DJ Augustin is still struggling to adjust to the way teams are defending him, and he is still stuck in a bad shooting slump. Texas will need DJ to get back to normal if they hope to win conference games on the road. Texas could also used more improved play out of the post. Connor Atchley and Damion James played great, but Texas still needs contributions out of Dexter Pittman, Clint Chapman, and Alexis Wangmene. While Texas is winning games off their defense, Baylor is losing them from no defense. They are letting opponents score at will. If they defend even just a little bit, their offense is good enough that they will be able to get back to winning games. Offensively Baylor will continue to use their guards to attack. They have one of the deepest and most talented back courts in the country and they will get their points. However, Baylor needs to not forget about Kevin Rogers. Getting Rogers involved makes him more active on the boards as well and gives Baylor some more balanced scoring.

Prediction: #11 Texas 89, Baylor 86

Missouri (14-11) (4-6) at #18 Kansas State (17-6) (7-2)

- Missouri has done a remarkable job staying in the conference race and keeping their team together after all the suspensions. Keon Lawerence has stepped up and provided scoring in the absence of Stefon Hannah. But Missouri needs to keep getting contributions from every man on their roster to have any chance of competing. Kansas State has struggled with consistency since their win over Kansas. They have lost both games on the road to Missouri and Texas Tech. Kansas State is a young team and they need to realize that everyone will be coming out and playing their best games against them. Also, Michael Beasley and Bill Walker can't afford to have off nights. They need to carry their team night in and night out if they want to continue to be at the top of the Big XII.

Prediction: #18 Kansas State 85, Missouri 76

Big XII Weekend Capsule: Week 5, Part 2

Texas Tech (12-9)(3-4) at Nebraska (13-7)(2-5)

- Pat Knight's debut fell just short as his team hung tough on the road in Waco. But almost still leaves the Red Raiders where they were before the game. Winless on the road. The tough thing about being a head coach, is that there's nothing that can adequately prepare you for it. All coaches are going to learn from being a head coach, making mistakes, and learning from them. Fortunately, most coaches learn those lessons at smaller schools before working their way up to the big time. Pat Knight will get to take his lumps in the Big XII Conference, and as Sean Sutton is learning, it's not the smoothest ride. Nebraska has shown some signs of life winning two out of their last three. They have been getting some mediocre guard play as of late and that's about all they can ask for. This team still lives and dies behind the play of Aleks Maric. If he can dominate the paint in front of the home crowd, the Cornhuskers can pull the upset.

Prediction: Nebraska 62, Texas Tech 57

Oklahoma State (11-11)(2-6) at #20 Kansas State (16-5)(6-1)

- Oklahoma State knows what they have to do to win this game, but the question remains as to whether they can contain Michael Beasley or Bill Walker. Marcus Dove will have his toughest assignment of the year as he has to guard Beasley. It should go over about as well as covering Kevin Durant did last year. (Not well) On offense, the Cowboys need much more of it, and it needs to come from their guards Muonelo and Terrell Harris. Teams are keying on James Anderson and his teammates haven't stepped up. Sean Sutton is another coach that is learning that road wins in conference are hard to come by, as the Cowboys are winless this season on the road. For the Wildcats, Jacob Pullen is the key. If the freshman point guard plays well, takes care of the ball, and provides a third scoring option, this Wildcats team is tough to beat. If he doesn't play well, Beasley and Walker will still be able to carry them on any given night. Kansas State should have learned their lesson against Missouri about overlooking weak opponents, they shouldn't make that mistake twice.

Prediction: #20 Kansas State 77, Oklahoma State 69

Baylor (17-4)(5-2) at #4 Kansas (22-1)(7-1)

- The Bears need to play a complete game to have a chance to knock off the Jayhawks at Allen Field House. They have the guards to be able to dictate the pace of play and control the backcourt, but they need everyone playing a good game. The biggest thing they will need to do is defend. Baylor can score with anyone in the conference, but they need to put together better defensive efforts on the inside and outside if they hope to win some of their big games. The Jayhawks need to attack the Bears inside. They need to get Darell Arthur and Jackson back on track and getting the Baylor front line in foul trouble. Also, they need Russell Robinson and Sharron Collins to win the point guard battle against Aaron Bruce and Tweedy Carter. If Kansas can dictate the pace they can keep the crowd in the game and keep the Bears off their game. The Jayhawks also need to keep Kevin Rogers and Curtis Jerrells under wraps. Both players are capable of going on a run and keeping their team in the game.

Prediction: #4 Kansas 87, Baylor 76

Big XII Weekend Capsule: Week 4, Part 1

A wild Wednesday was the big story, as Kansas State jumped to the front of the Big XII with their upset win over #2 Kansas. Texas A&M also thrust itself back into the mix in the conference with a trouncing of the #10 Longhorns on their home floor. A few teams have fallen out of the conference race, but eight teams still remain in the thick of the conference race.

#22 Kansas State (15-4) (5-0) at Missouri (12-9) (2-4)

- With two games against Missouri and Nebraska, and one each against Oklahoma State and Texas Tech, 11-0 in conference can be classified as definite possibility as opposed to good possibility. The win against the Jayhawks turns Kansas State into a team with the confidence to make a run during March. They also are a team I don't think anyone wants to see during March. If point guard, Jacob Pullen's 20 point outburst is a sign of maturity out of the freshman, then the Wildcats suddenly become a very dangerous team. Lost in all of the excitement of Wednesday night was Missouri's loss at home to Nebraska. It was confirmation that Missouri will have a slow and painful fall to the bottom of the Big XII. And this season will be hard to watch for Tigers fans.

Prediction: #22 Kansas State 87, Missouri 73

#25 Baylor (16-3) (4-1) at #10 Texas (16-4) (3-2)

- Both teams come off a game where their weak interior defense was exposed. Baylor had a week to think about their home loss to Oklahoma at the hands of the Griffin brothers, and a week to get ready to take on the Texas Longhorns. This game is full of intreaguing matchups as Damion James will face off against Kevin Rogers, DJ Augustin against Aaron Bruce, and Curtis Jerrells will try and stop AJ Abrams on one end, and score against Justin Mason on the other end. Baylor relies on their guard play to win games, and Curtis Jerrells has emerged as the go to player for the Bears. The Austin product has come close to beating the school that spurned him each of the last two years, and they have the talent this year to finish the job. The Longhorns come off an embarrasing defeat against the Aggies in College Station. Texas needs Damion James to reassert himself offensively and exploit mismatch problems against the Bears. The only positive out of the Texas A&M might be the play of Dexter Pittman, as the sophomore scored 14 points and pulled down 7 rebounds. Time will tell however, whether it was one game or a turning point.

Prediction: #10 Texas 75, #25 Baylor 74

Oklahoma State (10-10) (1-5) at Texas Tech (11-8) (2-3)

- Oklahoma State has managed to lose five straight in conference, most in close games. Their one win came against the Red Raiders in Stillwater. They have been able to play with anyone during the streak, but haven't been able to get over the hump late in close games. James Anderson has played well, but the Cowboys have relied too much on the outside shot. Terrell Harris needs to find his confidence and Ibrahim Thomas needs to find a way to stay on the court if this team is going to be successful. Texas Tech is winless on the road in conference and unbeaten at home. Lucky for them, they get to try for redemption in the rematch against Oklahoma State in the tropical oasis of Lubbock*. Martin Zeno has to play well for this team to win as he opens up everyone else on the floor. Freshman guard John Roberson continues to improve each game, and is a huge boost for the Red Raiders when he is playing confidently on his home floor.

Prediction: Texas Tech 64, Oklahoma State 57

Last Week: 5-1
Overall: 14-4

Big XII Weekend Capsule: Week 3, Part 2

Oklahoma (13-5) (1-2) at #25 Baylor (16-2) (4-0)

- Oklahoma avoided going 0-3 to start the conference season with a two point win over Texas Tech on Wednesday. With Blake Griffin out injured, the Sooners turned to his older brother Tony who responded with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Longar-Longar also had a big game as the Sooners attacked Texas Tech in the paint. Oklahoma will need to do that again if they have any hope of pulling off the upset. Oklahoma's guards have let them down so far this season, and it showed against Tech, shooting 29% from three point range. Baylor continues their ride of success as they are planting the seed to become America's Cinderella story for the season. Their 5 OT win at #18 Texas A&M is a milestone win for the program. Curtis Jerrells established himself as the go to player on this team. Also, this team can't afford for Kevin Rogers to get into foul trouble as he is their only reliable interior player. Baylor's weakness is their interior play, but if they can manage to limit opponents inside, their deep and talented guard play will carry them through a lot of games.

Prediction: #25 Baylor 75, Oklahoma 71

Iowa State (12-7) (2-2) at Kansas State (13-4) (3-0)

- Coming off a game where they had no chance against Kansas, the Cyclones will try and rebound on the road at the other Big XII surprise, Kansas State. Iowa State will need to attack inside with Wesley Johnson and Craig Brackins and try to get Bill Walker and Michael Beasley into foul trouble. It would also help Iowa State if they could get some consistent guard play, but most of all they need Rashon Clark to step up and be a leader for this team. As for Kansas State, it all depends on the two-headed monster. If you stop Beasley and Walker, you will beat Kansas State, but that's where people are having trouble. Beasley and Walker are averaging a combined 47 points and 14 rebounds a game in conference play. But as was the case in the Colorado game, that's all that Kansas State had going for it. The rest of the Wildcats combined to shoot 32% against the Buffaloes. Beasley and Walker are a force, but if either player is off or gets in foul trouble, this becomes a decidedly weaker team.

Prediction: Kansas State 77, Iowa State 68

Texas Tech (11-7) (2-2) at #12 Texas (15-3) (2-1)

- Martin Zeno is coming off of a career high 33 points against Missouri and will look to continue attacking a Texas team that has looked like anything but the #12 team in the country. Texas Tech is a guard oriented team which should allow them to match up well with Texas. Zeno is the best of their four starting guards, but freshman point guard John Roberson has come on strong as of late and gives the Red Raiders another offensive weapon. Knight teams are always scrappy and well coached, and with Zeno, they have one potent scorer. It is well known that Texas goes as far as DJ Augustin takes him. This has been even more true as of late as Texas has struggled to develop any inside presence. Damion James needs to have a big game and be active on the boards, but most of all Texas needs to develop their bench. All five starters played over 35 minutes in the Oklahoma State game, and they didn't get much of any contribution from their three freshman power forwards on the bench. It also wouldn't hurt for AJ Abrams, shooting 22% from 3 point range in conference play (32 attempts in 3 games), to get back on track. But regardless, if DJ Augustin plays well, Texas will be in the game at the end.

Prediction: #12 Texas 76, Texas Tech 72

Big XII Weekend Capsule: Week 2, Part 1

Either the Big XII is a very strong conference this season, or an extremely mediocre one. Only Kansas, Baylor, and Kansas State are without a loss as both Texas and Texas A&M were upset in the first week of games. Kansas State won a pivotal match up with Oklahoma and Kansas looked all but unstoppable. Coach Knight got his 900th win as Texas Tech protected their home floor and upset #10 Texas A&M. The biggest news of the week definitely comes from Norman, where Oklahoma will be without their leading scorer and rebounder for at least 4 weeks, as freshman Blake Griffin went down with a knee injury. Saturday boasts another six games with some key early match ups...

Oklahoma State (10-6) (1-1) at Iowa State (11-6) (1-1)
- Road wins have been hard to come by so far this season, and this one shouldn't be any different. Oklahoma State is the better team, but they are young and inconsistent. James Anderson injured his ankle in the loss at Baylor earlier this week, and while he isn't expected to miss any time will be less than 100%. Oklahoma State will have a difficult time dealing with the size of the Cyclones as the guard heavy Cowboys will rely heavily on Marcus Dove. Iowa State will be riding the momentum from their win over Missouri. Wesley Johnson was dominant in the post in that game and should be again. Also look for the senior Rahshon Clark to continue to cause match up problems as a 6'6" combo guard. In a close game like this, you have to go with the home team, especially when you don't feel comfortable with Sean Sutton on the road.

Prediction: Iowa State 69, Oklahoma State 67


Texas Tech (10-6) (1-1) at Oklahoma (12-5) (0-2)
- Oklahoma started the conference slate off on a rough note, with a tough home loss to Kansas State by two. Things didn't get any better as Kansas smoked them by 30, and they lost freshman Blake Griffin for 4 weeks. The guards of Oklahoma are going to have to carry the Sooners if they have any hopes of steadying the ship while Griffin is out. Texas Tech got a huge win last night over #10 Texas A&M and Martin Zeno was great. While Tech is one of those teams that should only be a challenge in Lubbock, Knight will pounce on a Sooner team that has to overcome the mental hurdle of the Kansas loss and losing their best player.

Prediction: Texas Tech 74, Oklahoma 69


#10 Texas A&M (15-2) (1-1) at Kansas State (11-4) (1-0)
- Texas A&M typical pressure defense was nowhere to be found in Lubbock as the Red Raiders got whatever they wanted for much of the game. Texas A&M is also going to need better play out of Joseph Jones and DeAndre Jordan if they want to be a force in the Big XII. Both players got into foul trouble in Lubbock, and the guard play and bench is not as good as last season. Kansas State is a pretty easy scouting report. Contain Michael Beasley and stop Bill Walker and you've won the game. Oklahoma didn't do that as Beasley scored 32 points and pulled down 11 rebounds and Walker scored 22 as the only two Wildcats players in double figures. If A&M's defense can return to form and get better play from their interior, the Aggies should prevail. But it will be short prep time for what should be a hostile arena in Manhattan.

Prediction: Kansas State 81, #10 Texas A&M 77


Season Record: 4-2

Baylor at Nebraska, #3 Kansas at Missouri, and Colorado at #19 Texas tomorrow...

View From The Cheap Seats Texas Tech

It was nice to finally watch a Texas v. Tech game that really seemed like the Longhorns had it in hand all game. Granted, the Horns gave up 43 points, but there were very few moments that you felt like Texas was not going to win this handily. No 21 point comebacks, no last second drives, no missed FG for the win. It was relaxing.

The Good:

Colt McCoy- What can you say? It was as if Colt was channeling Vince Young for most of this game. A quick glance at his stat line will give you all you need to know about his performance: 21-30 for 280 yards and 4 TDs. Colt also added 51 yards on the ground and 2 rushing TDs. Some quick, simple math tells us that Colt scored 6 TDs. That's good. But beyond the stats, Colt's drive after Tech had just scored on a 2 play drive, late in the 4th, really sealed up the game for Texas. Up by only 8, Colt pulled off a double spin, tackle breaking, 20 yard run to put Texas up by 15 and leave Tech in the dust. This was colt's best game of the year.

Greg Davis- This may have also been Davis' best game of the year. How do you beat Tech? you don't let them have the ball. Well, Texas ran 95 plays to Tech's 55. Texas had the ball for 40 minutes, to Tech's 20. Now, granted some of this was because the average Raider TD drive lasted around 45 seconds, but Davis' offense did everything it needed to do to win. He ran it when he needed. Jamaal Charles ran for 165 yards... In the first half! And the offense was balanced and powerful: 283 rushing yards and 268 passing yards.

The Bad:

4th Quarter Defense- Look. 99% of defenses are not going to flat-out stop the Raider offense. The plan has to be to tackle well, give up the yards, but do not allow touchdowns. This is what Texas was able to do for 3 quarters. But Tech exploded in the 4th to rack up 23 points and scored 2 TDs in a total of 3 offensive plays. Texas gave up a 1 play, 75 yards touchdown drive and a 2 play 40 yard drive. If the offense had not been clicking on all cylinders, this might have been a problem. It just looked like the defense got tired and quit. But, hey, Texas won. So I guess I shouldn't nitpick.

The Ugly:

Post Game Press Conference- Once again, Mike Leach likes to say things. And those things are usually insane. The post game presser was no different. Apparently, giving up almost 60 points is not the reason that Tech lost... It was the residence of one of the referees. Specifically, one of the refs was from Austin. Leach connected the dots (all 2 of them) and came to the conclusion that if a call went against his Raiders, it was in direct correlation to where the ref's home was. Now, I usually like Leach when he is drunk and crazy, but when you are a poor loser, it makes it not so endearing. Play some defense, Mike.
Tech's "Defense"- Tech's defense is like law school. You think and joke about how hard it is, but until you actually go though it, you just can't even explain it. Such is the Raider D. You always hear their bad, people are always joking about it, but until you actually see how bad they are, you just have no real idea. No tackling what-so-ever. Texas punted ONCE. They had 2 drives that did not end in points (the other was a Colt goal-line INT). You just wonder what Leach's teams could do if they could just hold opponents to under 50 points a game. But, like an ex-girlfriend that needs your help, that's not our problem.

Keys to the Game: Texas Tech Edition

The 8-2 Texas Longhorns, coming off their second straight come from behind victory, return home to DKR to take on the high powered attack of the 7-3 Texas Tech Red Raiders. Tech bounced back from two consecutive losses with a victory over Baylor, 38-7. For Texas to win their 5th straight game they will need to accomplish several Keys to the Game...

EARLY START
- Texas will need to get out to an early start against the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The last two weeks, Texas has fallen behind big, first to Nebraska then to Oklahoma State. They were able to come from behind because Nebraska's offense isn't that formidable, and Oklahoma State tried to run out the clock far too early in the 4th quarter. Texas Tech's offense is #1 in the country, and they do it throwing the football, with the nation's best air attack at 492 yards per game. Having scored over 40 points in 7 of their 10 games, Texas Tech does not stop trying to put points on the board. Texas can't let Tech jump out to a big lead, because it will be too much to come back from.

TURNOVER BATTLE
- Texas' two losses this season have been because of crucial turnovers. The four against Kansas State and the two crucial ones against Oklahoma cost the Longhorns those games. Colt McCoy has been one of the main culprits this season, throwing 16 interceptions this year, the same number as his touchdowns. It is also a problem for the Red Raiders. In their two most recent losses, Graham Harrell was picked off 4 times in each of the two games. Both teams have given the ball away 21 times this year, and it has certainly kept the other team in games. Whichever team can take care of the football will put pressure on the opposing team's defense and force them to make a stop, something that you can expect either defense won't do with particular ease or frequency.

TURN 7's INTO 3's
- In Texas Tech's three losses, Graham Harrell has thrown for 397 yards, and over 400 yards in the other two. He is going to get his yards. Texas Tech is going to move the football up and down the field. The key for the Longhorns is when Texas Tech gets into the red zone, to tighten up and condense the space that Tech has available. If Texas can force Tech into some 3rd and long situations and come up to opportune stops, they will force Tech into field goals. Tech's kicker Alex Trlica is 8 of 15 this season, and is erratic at best, having missed half of his field goals from every distance. Texas needs to force the Red Raiders into two or three field goals and keep the Red Raiders under 40 points.

RUN THE BALL/T.O.P.
- In Texas Tech's three losses, the Red Raiders gave up 366, 212, and 217 yards on the ground. Their defense gives up 166 per game, and is in the bottom half of the nation in rush defense, while their pass defense is 9th in the nation. Texas needs to get Jamaal Charles 30 carries and control the game early and often. If Texas can win the time of possession and use Charles, McGee, and Ogbonnaya to attack the Raiders defense with at least 50 carries, Texas will tire out the Tech defense as well as keep the offense off the field. This is necessary because Texas is in the bottom half of the country in Pass defense, giving up 248 yards a game through the air.

FORCE HARRELL INTO MISTAKES
- Harrell had looked unstoppable for most of the season, until their two games against Missouri and Colorado, where he threw 4 interceptions each game. Both defenses mixed up their coverages and were able to get some pressure on the quarterback. It apparently caused Harrell problems and he was uncharacteristically inaccurate. Texas needs to be able to get pressure on the quarterback with their front four since they will more than likely need 7 to be dropping back into coverage.

SPEED ON DEFENSE
- Texas Tech has an offense designed to spread the field and hit their receivers on quick crossing plays and force a defense to move laterally. If the Texas defense insists on three linebackers, especially two certain ones, noted for their immobility (Derry, Killebrew) Texas Tech will have a field day. If Texas sticks with one or two linebackers on the field, such as rotating Kindle, Norton, Muckelroy, and Bobino, and uses extra safeties and defensive backs, Texas will have a much more effective time matching up with Tech's speed. It might take a half or three quarters before Texas figures out that three big linebackers on the field is a bad idea.

LIMIT BIG PLAYS
- Though Tech's offense is designed to pick up 5 yards per play and methodically pick defenses a part, that is precisely the way to stop their attack as well. Forcing Tech to convert third downs is the only way to stop their offense. Forcing the Red Raiders into third and long is difficult but it is about the only way to stop their offense. Texas needs to limit the run after the catch, and punish the receivers with every reception. If they can force incompletions through hard hits and drops, Texas will make things more difficult. But if Texas Tech can turn the game into a track meet and pick up 15 yards a play, it will be a long, high scoring day for the Raiders. Also, Texas needs to know where Michael Crabtree is at all times. He has 104 receptions, 1,512 yards, and 18 touchdowns. Those numbers are unreal, and Crabtree is a big target that has figured out how to find holes in the zone. Texas can't let him have a 10 catch, 170 yard, 3 TD day.

SUMMARY
Texas seems to have figured out the Tech offense somewhat, having won 4 straight matchups. But Texas Tech does well when Texas' talent isn't NFL caliber on defense. In Texas' Rose Bowl seasons of '04 and '05, Texas won 51-21 and 52-17 in blow outs. But in years where the talent level hasn't been 5-star, Tech has made the games much closer losing by 3 in 2003 and by 4 in 2006. This year's defense is probably the worst that the Longhorns has had since they lost 42-38 in 2002. Texas will need to catch some breaks along the way, but they have to play much better than they have the past three weeks to get the victory.

2007 Season Preview: Texas Tech Red Raiders

In preparation for the 2007 College Football season, Drinking the Forty will look at every team in the Big XII, sizing up the conference for the 2007 season.

2006 was a bit of a disappointment for the Red Raiders as they were surpassed by Texas A&M in the pecking order in the Big XII South. The season was marred with inconsistent play, with losses to Missouri at home and Colorado on the road. However, the Red Raiders are ready for 2007 with the return of junior quarterback Graham Harrell, ready to build on an outstanding season in 2006.

Graham Harrell leads an offense that averaged 360 yards through the air per game. Coming off a season where he threw for 4,555 yards and 38 touchdowns, Harrell should only build those numbers, and is eyeing 5,000 yards this season. While Harrell loses his top two receivers, there are plenty of receivers waiting in the wings, ready to reap the benefits of playing in Mike Leach's offensive system. The system continues to put points on the board, making stars of whoever lines up. Look for junior tailback Shannon Woods (926 yds/10 TD) and senior receiver Danny Amendola (48 rec/487 yds/5 TD) to emerge and lead this offense.

One knows what to expect out of the Texas Tech offense, but it is on the defensive end where Texas Tech must prove itself. Teams find success running the ball against Tech, keeping their high-powered offense off the field. 2006 was no different as teams averaged 151 yards on the ground a game. This season will be no different as Texas Tech returns only one defensive lineman and one linebacker from a season ago. Tech will once again rely on their safeties, junior Darcel MacBath (75 tackles, 3 int) and senior Joe Garcia (87 tackles, 1 int). They will also need senior linebacker Kellen Tillman (42 tackles, 1 int) to step up. However, Texas Tech's defense will once again struggle this year to support their offense.

Texas Tech will benefit from having Texas A&M and Oklahoma visit Lubbock in 2007, but must go on the road against Oklahoma State, #4 Texas and Missouri. Texas Tech will also struggle to stop offenses like Oklahoma State, Texas and Missouri. Ultimately they will fall short in the shoot-outs if their defense cannot come up with a stop when they need to. However, they will once again be a dark horse in the Big XII South, with Mike Leach's air it out offense.

Big XII Response: Texas Tech

With Kevin Durant's announcement, fans across the Forty Acres have been forced to imagine a world without Kevin Durant. Well, a campus without Kevin Durant. While anyone and everyone with an opinion has chimed in with their thoughts on Kevin's decision, Drinking the Forty not withstanding, we wondered what our neighbors around the Big XII felt on Durant's departure and what it means for their chances in the Big XII next season. So we contacted our correspondents around the Big XII...okay we tried to make new friends around the Big XII, and asked for their input. So over the next few weeks we will feature, the Big XII Response. Today's correspondent comes from the fine folks at Double T Nation.

I was graciously approached by Drinking the Forty to think about life in the Big 12 without Kevin Durant and Texas Tech's prospects next year. First, I think Durant was the most talented player that I've seen play the college game. I have a tremendous amount of respect for the kid and as a Red Raider fan, it was incredibly difficult to watch KD score at will against Tech (Who remembers this line: 40 minutes, 37 points, 23 rebounds?).

Will the Big 12 suffer as a result of Durant leaving? Not likely, that's the beautiful thing about collegiate sports, we love our players but we love the laundry more (vague Seinfeld reference). For me, although I enjoy watching certain players, it's not the particular player, but the team itself. I will still watch every game and I will still hate the Aggies, whether or not the Red Raiders are able to beat up on Gillispie or not.

Of course, I think that Texas fans would might actually agree with Coach Knight as he believes the rule to jump to the NBA should keep a kid in school for 2 years rather than 1. However, if I were advising Durant, there wouldn't have been any question that he should have gone to the NBA. There's just too much to potentially to lose. I don't think Texas will have that difficult a time coping with the loss, the Longhorns have a ton of talented returning players who will improve their games. Augustine, Abrams, James and Mason will all improve significantly, the question of course for Longhorn fans is who will fill that other forward/center slot?

I think Texas Tech's success next year hinges on a few things.

1. I think that John Roberson, a freshman point guard from Plano, will have the same effect at Texas Tech as Augustin had at Texas. In fact they are physically similar players, but I think that Roberson is a more gifted scorer, while Augustin is a more gifted passer. If Knight gives him the opportunity to play then I really like Tech's chances.

2. Will JUCO transfer Ricardo De'Bem and Texas State transfer Trevor Cook, will be able to establish the inside presence that Texas Tech lacked last year? It will be interesting to see if De'Bem and Cook are able to adjust to major college basketball.

3. How will the returning players be able to fill the void left by Jay Jackson. I'm not too worried about Zeno, who I think is one of the more dynamic players in the Big 12, but Decensae White, Alan Voskuil and Charlie Burgess must step up their games.

http://doubletnation.com/