Texas Tech vs Houston Basketball: Red Raiders Seek Rare Sweep of Cougars
Image credits: USA Today
The Texas Tech basketball team is gearing up to face the Houston Cougars in a pivotal Big 12 matchup, with the Red Raiders seeking to pull off a rare sweep of their opponents. The last time these two teams met, Texas Tech emerged victorious with an 82-81 win in overtime, despite being without several key players due to injury and ejection. The Red Raiders will need to tap into their mental and physical strength to overcome the Cougars, who have become a national juggernaut under coach Kelvin Sampson.
Houston has only suffered 21 losses in conference play over the last eight seasons, with an average of 2.6 losses per season. The Cougars have also secured a double bye in the Big 12 Conference tournament, making them a formidable opponent for the Red Raiders. However, Texas Tech's win in the Fertitta Center earlier this season makes a sweep possible, and a win on Monday would be a significant statement for the program under Grant McCasland's watch. The Red Raiders will need to win three of their final four games to set a new program record for Big 12 conference wins, and a victory over Houston would certainly help their seeding in both March Madness and the Kansas City tournament.
The matchup between the two teams will be a closely watched event, with the game set to tip off at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, February 26, at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Viewers can watch the game on ESPN or stream it on Watch ESPN, with the pregame show also available on Fubo. The odds for the game are currently in favor of Houston, with a predicted score of 73-69. However, the Red Raiders have shown their ability to overcome adversity and pull off upset wins, making this a game to watch for college basketball fans.
Texas Tech's chances of winning may be impacted by the status of several key players, including Chance McMillian and Darrion Williams, who are both dealing with injuries. McMillian missed the Red Raiders' last game with a lower-body injury, while Williams left the game with a leg injury and did not return. The team will also be without Eemeli Yalaho, who has been out with an upper-body injury. Despite these challenges, the Red Raiders remain confident in their ability to take on the Cougars and come out on top. With their offense and defense firing on all cylinders, Texas Tech is poised to make a deep run in the tournament.
Here are the recent results for both teams:
- Houston: 62-58 win over Arizona, 68-59 win over Iowa State
- Texas Tech: 73-51 win over West Virginia, 69-66 loss to TCU
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