Texas Tech Battles Loyola In Las Vegas
December 22, 2014 | Men's Basketball
Aaron Ross and the Red Raiders face Loyola Chicago in the semifinals of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic.
December 21, 2014
LAS VEGAS, Nevada -- Texas Tech will look to continue its winning ways, as the Red Raiders face Loyola Chicago in the semifinals of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic at 7 p.m. CT (5 p.m. PT) on Monday at the Orleans Arena.
The Red Raiders are currently riding an eight-game win streak, but will be looking for their first win away from United Supermarkets Arena.
"It is always tough to win on the road, especially with a young team," said second-year head coach Tubby Smith. "Since the beginning, our goal has been to get better each time out. I think we are doing that and progressing in the right way."
Texas Tech takes a 9-1 record into Monday's matchup with the Ramblers, who might be best known for winning the 1962 NCAA Championship. Loyola became the first team to start four African-Americans in a title game. Four years later, Texas Western (now UTEP) started five African Americans en route to a title.
The Red Raiders' success this season has been the use of its deep bench and the ability to have different players step up. Texas Tech has had six different players lead the team in scoring in 10 games.
Monday's game is not televised, marking the first time since the Oklahoma State game in Stillwater, Okla., on Jan. 4, 2012. It is a span of 92 consecutive games being televised. This is the only game this season not on television. On Tuesday, Texas Tech can be seen on FOX Sports 1.
The hot hand of late is Texas Tech freshman Justin Gray, A 6-6, 210-pound forward from Tampa, Fla., Gray led Texas Tech to a 3-0 record last week, averaging 12.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 blocks, while shooting 76.5 percent from the field and 73.3 percent from the line. He recorded a career-high 18 points in Texas Tech's 101-39 win over South Carolina State, which ranks as the fourth largest margin of victory in program history (+62). This past week, he raised his season average from 6.3 points to 8.1 per game. For the season, Gray is averaging 8.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, with eight blocks, eight steals and eight assists.
Texas Tech has also seen the return of sophomore Aaron Ross, who has recovered from a knee injury. Ross sat out the first seven games of the season, but returned to the lineup a month ahead of schedule. In limited minutes through three games, Ross is averaging 3.0 points, 1.3 rebounds and 1.0 assists. Look for his playing time to increase, as he develops more confidence in his knee.
The Red Raiders are in rare company, as Texas has held its opponent under 70 points for 10 consecutive games. That has not happened since the 1951-52 season, when Texas Tech held its first 12 opponents under 70 points. Since the end of World War II, the Red Raiders have held their first 10 opponents under 70 points six times -- 1945-46, 1946-47, 1948-49, 1949-50, 1951-52 and 2013-14.
A lot of that success can be attributed to Texas Tech's ball-line defense installed by Smith. The pressure-style defense is based off of the principles of keeping the defender between the ball handler and the basket, while denying passing lanes. It seems to be working, as Texas Tech is one of the top shot-blocking and ball theft teams in the Big 12 Conference.
Monday's game also marks the second time this season the Red Raiders have faced one of the four major Loyola schools. Texas Tech opened the season against Loyola Maryland at United Supermarkets Arena. Now they face Loyola Chicago. Prior to this season, the Red Raiders had only faced Loyola New Orleans. Texas Tech has never faced Loyola Marymount.
After Monday's game, Texas Tech will face either Boise State or Houston on Tuesday at the Orleans Arena, before closing out non-conference play against North Texas on Dec. 29.
