Red Raiders Face LSU In ESPN Tip-Off Marathon
November 18, 2014 | Men's Basketball
Red Raider head coach Tubby Smith will lead the Red Raiders against LSU in Baton Rouge as a part of the annual ESPN Tip-Off Marathon.
November 17, 2014
BATON ROUGE, La. -- Texas Tech will get an early road test on Tuesday, as the Red Raiders square off against LSU at the Pete Marovich Assembly Center at 8:30 p.m. CT on ESPN2 as part of the ESPN Tip-Off Marathon.
The ESPN Tip-Off Marathon features 36 teams, 18 games and 27 hours of programming.
"I think LSU will be a good test for us," said Texas Tech head coach Tubby Smith. "They are a long and highly athletic team that likes to get up and down the floor."
Tuesday's game is a rematch of the thriller that took place in Lubbock last season. The Tigers left United Supermarkets Arena with a 71-69 victory over the Red Raiders.
Both teams enter the contest 1-0 on the season, after Texas Tech came from behind to secure a 71-59 win over Loyola Maryland, while LSU got past Garner-Webb.
The win over Loyola moved Smith into 67th in all-time NCAA Division I coaching victories. He is now 526-244 in 24 seasons at the helm of Tulsa, Georgia, Kentucky, Minnesota and Texas Tech.
"If we are going to have any success, we have to be able to control the tempo and play under control," added Smith. "Matchup-wise we are not as big, but if we play smart, I like our chances."
Smith is 15-3 all-time against LSU, while Texas Tech holds a 3-2 lead in the all-time series, but the Tigers have won the last two meetings.
"We were really tested by Loyola," said Smith. "I think we learned a lot about ourselves in the opener."
In the season opener, Smith's starting rotation featured a senior, sophomore and three freshmen. It is the first time in Texas Tech history that four freshmen have started on opening day and also the first time that four underclassmen have started.
"There is a possibility that we might switch some things up," Smith said. "We are looking to get the right players in there to be successful. Toddrick (Gotcher) came off the bench and did well for us. There are some other things in play, so I could see us adjusting our starting lineup against LSU."
Last year, Texas Tech used seven different starting rotations, beofre settling on one that Smith inserted for 19 games. The Red Raiders' two most veteran players are Robert Turner and Gotcher. Turner has started in 33 consecutive games, while Gotcher has started 31 times in 79 career games.
Against Loyola, freshmen Norense Odiase led the way, as the 6-9 center became the first starting freshmen to record a duble-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Red Raiders also got double-digit scoring from Devaugntah Williams, Keenan Evans and Gotcher.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Men's Basketball
Center
/ Men's Basketball
Guard
/ Men's BasketballFind A Way - Episode 3
Wednesday, September 17
Find A Way - Episode 2
Monday, September 08
Find A Way - Episode 1
Monday, September 01
Donovan Atwell - Interview
Thursday, June 19