****OFFICIAL KANSAS JAYHAWKS AT TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS GAME THREAD****
 

*Now with caps

#8 Kansas Jayhawks (19-6, 10-2 B12) at Texas Tech Red Raiders (13-12, 5-7 B12)

7pm Tuesday, February 18, 2014

United Spirit Arena, Lubbock, Texas

Jayhawk TV, ESPN3

In.

And go BOOCLONES!

Let's get it on.

Rock Chalk

Resurgent Raiders: Tubby Smith has Texas Tech headed up

By Gary Bedore

Lubbock, Texas — One victory in Texas Tech’s final six regular-season basketball games would give the Red Raiders six wins in Big 12 conference play for the first time in six seasons.

Though that accomplishment would certainly impress Red Raider nation — Tech has won four Big 12 games combined the past two seasons — it would not necessarily be cause for celebration for first-year coach Tubby Smith, whose squad takes a 13-12 record, 5-7 in the league, into today’s 7 p.m. home battle against Kansas University (19-6, 10-2).

“Good is not good enough when better is expected,” said Smith, 62, who is in his 23rd season overall as a college head coach.

“I expect us to be a lot better than we are,” added Smith, winner of a national title in 1998 at Kentucky.

Tech enters today’s game with three victories (TCU and Oklahoma State at home; Oklahoma in Norman) in its last four games. Iowa State stopped Tech, 70-64, Saturday in Ames.

“They’re a lot better,” KU coach Bill Self said. “Tubby’s done a fabulous job, he and his staff. They’re playing hard. They are on a roll right now. They are playing great. What they did in Norman (68-60 win), having them down 20 in the second half, was certainly impressive. We know how easily OU scores.”

Self expects a tough game tonight.

“We know how hard it is to win there,” Self said.

KU has won the last three trips to United Spirit Arena after losing the previous three.

“Early in the season, they may have been drawing 4,000 to 5,000 (fans),” Self said. “Now they’ll probably have 13,000 or whatever the sellout would be (15,098 in United Spirit Arena). I’m excited about our guys going into a good environment playing a good team. We’ll have to be better to win down there.”

Senior forward Jaye Crockett averages a team-leading 14.8 points a game and 6.7 rebounds. Junior forward Jordan Tolbert averages 10.8 ppg. Junior guard Robert Turner averages 9.7 ppg with 69 assists against 34 steals.
“We’ve got to go out and be prepared to win the game,” KU sophomore Andrew White III said. “That team is tough. They’ve had some big wins this year. We need that win desperately. We’ll practice, prepare like we have every other game, go down in a hostile environment and try to get a win.”
KU (10-2) holds a one-game lead over Texas (9-3) in the league race. Oklahoma is 8-5, while Iowa State and Kansas State are 7-5.

“The next three games obviously will probably determine the league race in a lot of ways,” Self said. “We have a chance with two of three at home (Texas on Saturday, Oklahoma on Monday) and a tough road game to maybe create some serious separation or get a chance to maybe not be where we want to be. It’s a great opportunity for us. Texas Tech counts just as much as the Texas game.”

Embiid returns: Self said he’d like center Joel Embiid to play at least 25 minutes tonight. Embiid missed Saturday’s victory over TCU because of knee and back aches.

“That would be good. It means he wouldn’t have mauled everybody the first half, which he’s capable of doing also. His mauling takes longer than the one minute Tarik’s (Black) took last Saturday,” Self said with a laugh.
Self said the only possible problem is Embiid “might be a little winded because he hasn’t done anything in a week.”

“He practiced with us. He was looking good the way he was getting up and down, moving and being able to jump,” junior guard Naadir Tharpe said. “He was trying to get his feel for the game like early in the season.”

Embiid, who has 61 blocks, is one block shy of tying Eric Chenowith for the school record for blocks in a freshman season. Embiid has at least one block in 18 consecutive games. Chenowith’s longest streak stopped at five straight his freshman season (1997-98).

Suspension over: Self said Brannen Greene would be available to play tonight. He missed the TCU game because of irresponsible behavior. Jamari Traylor missed the game before that (at Kansas State) for the same reason.

“The reason they sat out is we don’t want to have any concerns heading into late February,” Self said. “Here you do this (suspend a player) ... when I was at Illinois or Tulsa or whatever, nobody thinks a second thing about it. Here it obviously gets a little more attention. We’ve had a little slippage. Sometimes you do something to an individual so other people know the repercussions if they don’t take care of business. Those kids are in good standing with me. They took their medicine and moved forward.”

Player of week: KU sophomore forward Perry Ellis on Monday was named co-Big 12 player of the week with Baylor’s Isaiah Austin. This marks the second time this season Ellis has won the award, while Austin was recognized for the first time. Ellis averaged 25.5 points and 9.5 rebounds in games against KSU and TCU. Baylor guard Kenny Chery won the league’s newcomer of the week.

Tubby Smith on tonight’s game: “They are the best team in the Big 12 and one of the best teams in the country. It’s a very talented team from top to bottom, not only guys in the starting lineup but guys who come off the bench. It’ll be our toughest task yet. They have one of the premier players in the country in Andrew Wiggins. Perry Ellis is playing great. Naadir Tharpe is a great leader, an exceptional point guard. We tried to recruit him at Minnesota,” added Smith, who coached six seasons at Minnesota before taking the Tech job.

“If we can recover from a poor defensive effort Saturday (at Iowa State), I think we’ll give Kansas a good run.”

Recruiting: KU signee Cliff Alexander wants his buddy, unsigned JaQuan Lyle of Huntington (W.Va.) Prep, to join him at KU. Lyle, who is considering KU, Providence, Oregon, Oklahoma State, UConn and Memphis, will visit KU for the Jayhawks’ game against Oklahoma on Monday night. He’s ranked No. 22 nationally by Rivals.com.

“I talked to him a couple of days ago,” Alexander told SNY.tv and Zagsblog.com. “He’s still making up his mind. We need a 6-foot-4 point guard. We’d love to have that.”

KU is also recruiting No. 6-ranked Myles Turner, 6-11 from Trinity High in Euless, Texas. Turner is said to be only interested in KU if Embiid heads to the NBA.

“It is what it is,” Alexander said of KU recruiting Turner. “I think we’d fit in. He blocks shots and does the same things I do. I think it’d be a dominant combo.”

Of possibly emerging as No. 1 recruit in the country, No. 4-ranked Alexander said: “I’ve played up to this point and I think I earned it, to be the No. 1 player in the country.”

http://www2.kusports.com/news/2014/f...ens_basketball

Yep. My manager went to Iowa State, and I let her know I'm backing the 'clones tonight. She smiled and said "Of course you are!".

BOOOOOO!

We'd be stupid not to tonight.

Why, exactly, is everyone fretting so much about this game? At what point is playing a below .500 team not going to scare you?

Banhammer for inaccurate thread title please. Should be texas tech sand aggies.

Topeka Jayhawks -- what channel is this game on?

I've got Cox.

I think it has to be the Tubby factor. But I haven't watched TT play, so I don't know much about how good they really are lately.

Well, they're 5-7 in Big 12 play. They're assist leader averages 2.3 a game. Which suggests they aren't a great ball-movement team.

Their leading rebounder is their leading scorer, so if Embiid is in... frankly I'm just not concerned.

Of course, they do have that secret "piece of crap" weapon, so who knows...

Dang, I only have one...

Big 12 road game. Enough said.

True.

Want to borrow some? I'm tired.

They're actual 69 in kenpom and they've been playing well lately... so, it's not quite a chicken little 'oh noes, what if it's like @TCU last season!'

Would like to see Selden continue his progression, he seems to be taking, & making more mid-range jumpers. That was the skinny with him out of HS, he had a good mid range. Statistically those are the worst shots to take, but he seems to knock them down with great efficiency and his ability to do that further helps spread the floor and keep defenders honest.

Have you watched them play over the last 2 weeks?

Yes. They've won 3/4... never scoring 70 points, vs. TCU, OKST, and OU, and right after they dropped three in a row the previous two weeks.

Like BWillie said, it's a Big 12 road game, so it should be a challenge no matter what. But the way people have been talking the last week, this is the hardest game on our schedule.

You can never be shocked at a road loss, but I don't expect that. I expect a beat down. That's just me, but me is super smart.

Has Jeff Orr been on his best behavior recently?

I think it's just something about Kansas vs Tech at Lubbock. Sure, KU has won 3 straight. But Tech won 3 straight down there before that. I think some of us KU fans still have nightmares of Dora. :banghead:

Who knows? He voluntarily agreed to not attend TT games for the rest of the year.

Agreed for the most part...
But if the hawks dont get better at team defense....they will lose.
That is the biggest concern for me....

There is rumblings and some evidence to suggest he is popular poster on the Scout boards known as "Jeffster"

http://mbd.scout.com/mb.aspx?s=188&up=Jeffster

Yeah, I saw them suggesting that the other day.

The one game they lost in this stretch was a close road loss at ISU (where nobody but KU wins). They're playing like a tournament team right now.

It's not the hardest game left, but it is the 3rd hardest. If KU inexplicably remains 8 PT favorites, I'd probably be putting my money down on Tech in this one.

This is the one year I can't think of one damned Red Raiders player.

Jordan Tolbert, Dusty Hannahs come to mind. Remember Jordan Tolbert because he basically helped run Gillespie out of town.

Wow. I would not.

There are teams out there that do frighten me, but Texas Tech is not one of them.

Would you rather play West Virginia at AFH or Texas Tech on the road?

Texas Tech on the road.

I suppose we will have to agree to disagree, but they're peaking at exactly the right time to win this game. I am just about certain it will be close.

I'd rather play anybody at AFH. Biggest home advantage in the NCAA.

True, but West Virginia scares the crap out of me.

I thought Gillespie had some heart problems.

AMERICA.. **** YEAH

Not me.

He also has some asshole and drinking problems.

<img src="http://yourdaddid.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/air_quotes.jpg">

ROFL

Do they have still have that deaf kid?

When the team plays defense like its getting closer to March.

Like... they did in the most recent game?

I suppose it's not worth arguing over even the slightest - we'll see what happens tonight. But I, for one, am expecting a beatdown courtesy of Self & Co. Because I'm an arrogant KU fan who expects domination. And I'm okay with that.

So they played one half of defense against the bottom feeder of the Big 12...

Should I go ahead and print'em?

I actually looked that up because I was curious last week. The answer is yes.

I have no doubt he could destroy our walk-ons.

I agree with chicken little here... they would definitely need to show some consistency before being able to say they've bought in defensively.

Crap, we're definitely screwed tonight.

Rumor has it our walk-ONS are facing theirs in a 2/3 mini-tournament.

The real game is actually only an exhibition tonight.

I hope Christian Garrett and Evan Manning show up HUGE tonight.

We're a Top 25 defense per KenPom. Which in the grand scheme of things is pretty decent, we're just used to being Top 5-10. But I think I'm fine with Top 25 and room to grow, considering we've faced the toughest offensive tests of any team in the country. Nova is pretty similar to us in that regard.

Gonna be an great night.... TU/ISU at 7, TT/KU at 8....

Bring on the games...

****. I really don't want to root for the BooClones.

But I'm going to. It's at ISU, so I'm expecting good things from them.

Booo!

Wish the games were 6 and 8. While my eyes will be on both, I will only be able to concentrate on KU.

ISU's crowd better not let us down. We need their boos tonight more than ever.

FYI, KU and TT is on at 7.

And by chicken little you mean Rerun?


:D

Yeah its dual TVs tonight in the party shak. Might even break open a cold one. Trying to stop drinking during the week and leave it for weekends only.

Dick Holes.

The same bottom feeder that started off Texas Tech's "peaking" run of three whole victories in a row! (nevermind that it was after three losses, has already been snapped by a loss at ISU, and also included a win at home versus OKST when Marcus Smart got ejected).

I'm sorry that I'm not quaking in my boots about this game. People like to throw hyperbole around for one team and not the other.

Understood.

This should be a 7-9 point lead type of game that ends in a 15+ point win.

That would be about perfect. But you're absolutely right - I want to see this team START the game with the defensive intensity we saw on Saturday.

I firmly believe that if we played that tough on defense every game, there is no one who could stop us getting to the Final Four.

Agree..

Tech has risen from 111 to 69 in KenPom since conference season started (including 21 of those spots in the last 2 weeks). They're clearly playing like a top 40 team right now based on what they were able to do to OSU, OU, and ISU (2 games of which were on the road).

You don't need to be afraid, but you should respect the opponent.

There are two types of teams in this world Texas Tech. Those with Embiid and those who dig.


You dig.

Under 2 until we get this party started. I am stoked for tonight.

If there was ever a time for a WeatherWax, tonight is the night!!!

Unleash the fury Melvin!!!

Melvin time!!!

Hope the BooClones have their shirts on...
Breathe if you hate TEXAS......

Today is not the best day for Niang and this team to be cold.

I actually really like Ejim's game.

And Deandre Kane, as well.

Niang is a ****ing twat though.

Hoiberg s daughter. hhhhhhhhhhnnnnnnnnnnngggggggggggggggggggg

The game will be televised in Topeka on KTKA-DT2 49.2 (Cox 675)

I think I'm ****ed as I have UVerse.

LOL at jack Harry squirming when frank bowl keeps telling him Mizzou is gonna miss the tournament

Jack doesn't want to believe ROFL

Awesome. Thanks. :thumb:

I really despise that they don't put players' height when they run through the starting rosters.

Luckily I didn't get blacked out and can watch on espn3.com

Anybody got a streaming link and password?

Thanks