As my high school basketball coach used to always say, "it's nut cuttin' time!" lol. It doesn't get any easier from here on out, folks. Not that the first two rounds were "easy".
The Red Raiders enter tonight's game with a 27-9 record overall - good enough for third place in the Big 12 (12-6). Texas Tech is experienced, big and physical and it plays great defense in the half court. Simply from a talent standpoint, Duke is better on paper - hell we're better than almost every team in the country if talent was all that mattered. But the immeasurable commodities of experience and moxy are going to be colossal tonight.
Led by senior forward Bryson Williams (13.9 ppg), junior guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (10.5 ppg) and senior forward Kevin Obanor (10 ppg) Texas Tech brings back much of its scoring from the last few years under now departed Chris Beard where it enjoyed probably the best run in TT history. Several of the current Red Raiders players played in the 2019 national championship game. They shoot the three well, can run the floor when it's there, and did I mention they defend?
Duke is going to have to shoot the ball well tonight, take care of the basketball and play through Tech runs. It's going to happen when you play an experienced team and the Blue Devils have to be prepared to take a few body punches. As long as we counter, I think we're good.
Entering tonight's game the Red Raiders are favored by -1, which is essentially a pick em' game from a betting standpoint. I think Duke continues it's push to number six and keep Coach K's career alive for another day in an absolute grinder.
Tonight's game is slated to tip at 9:39 est but will actually will likely be a little bit after that as it's scheduled to follow the Gonzaga/Arkansas game that tips at 7:09pm est. The San Francisco regional (both games) will air on CBS.
Duke 74
Texas Tech 72
GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Red Raiders enter tonight's game with a 27-9 record overall - good enough for third place in the Big 12 (12-6). Texas Tech is experienced, big and physical and it plays great defense in the half court. Simply from a talent standpoint, Duke is better on paper - hell we're better than almost every team in the country if talent was all that mattered. But the immeasurable commodities of experience and moxy are going to be colossal tonight.
Led by senior forward Bryson Williams (13.9 ppg), junior guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (10.5 ppg) and senior forward Kevin Obanor (10 ppg) Texas Tech brings back much of its scoring from the last few years under now departed Chris Beard where it enjoyed probably the best run in TT history. Several of the current Red Raiders players played in the 2019 national championship game. They shoot the three well, can run the floor when it's there, and did I mention they defend?
Duke is going to have to shoot the ball well tonight, take care of the basketball and play through Tech runs. It's going to happen when you play an experienced team and the Blue Devils have to be prepared to take a few body punches. As long as we counter, I think we're good.
Entering tonight's game the Red Raiders are favored by -1, which is essentially a pick em' game from a betting standpoint. I think Duke continues it's push to number six and keep Coach K's career alive for another day in an absolute grinder.
Tonight's game is slated to tip at 9:39 est but will actually will likely be a little bit after that as it's scheduled to follow the Gonzaga/Arkansas game that tips at 7:09pm est. The San Francisco regional (both games) will air on CBS.
Duke 74
Texas Tech 72
GO DUKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
