Duke Basketball: No. 12 Texas Tech will head to NYC with stifling defense
After a win over Princeton, the Duke Basketball team will make the quick turnaround to New York City to face the No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders and its stifling defense.
The No. 2 Duke Blue Devils are heading north to Madison Square Garden to face the No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders on Thursday night.
Texas Tech is one of the nine undefeated teams in the nation and the Red Raiders are most known for its tenacious and attacking defense.
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An Elite 8 team from last year, the most points Texas Tech has given up this season is 67 to the Memphis Tigers back on December 1, while the lowest scoring output for the Blue Devils on the season is 78 points back on November 20 against the then No. 8 Auburn Tigers in the Maui Invitational.
The Red Raider defense is led by Matt Mooney who averages 2.2 steals per game and Brandone Francis who averages 1.0 steal per game.
Mooney also is a big threat for Texas Tech on the offensive end, averaging 11.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, while Francis only averages 5.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.
In the paint, Texas Tech gets a huge contribution this season from transfer Tariq Owens from St. John’s who lead the team with 2.7 blocks per game, which is good for second in the Big 12 and tied for No. 13 in the country.
Owens is capable of providing a spark on offense for the Red Raiders, but on the season is only averaging 8.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, and and 0.8 assists per game.
However, the leader of this Texas Tech team is Jarrett Culver who averages 19.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. Culver also averages 0.9 steals per game as he shoots 58.1% from the field, 45.2% from 3-point range, yet only 69.5% from the free throw line.
Eight players on Chis Beard‘s team averaged 16 minutes per game or more. To go along with Culver, Mooney, Francis, and Owens, keep an eye on Davide Moretti, Kyler Edwards, Deshawn Corprew, and Norense Odiase.
Texas Tech is going to try and frustrate Duke on the defensive end, while needing to take care of the ball and not let the Blue Devils get out in transition.
The Blue Devils and Red Raiders will take the floor at 7:00 pm ET from Madison Square Garden in New York City and the game can be seen on ESPN2.
Stay tuned to Ball Durham on Twitter, @Ball_Durham, and here at our website, balldurham.com, for complete coverage of the No. 2 Duke Blue Devils vs. the No. 12 Texas Tech Red Raiders.