GAME THREAD: Georgetown at Texas Tech

The BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle continues

Game 6: Georgetown Hoyas (4-3) at Texas Tech (4-2)

When: Tonight at 8PM ET

Where: United Supermarkets Arena on the campus of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas

Streaming: ESPN+ (Ted Emrich and Bryndon Manzer)

Radio: 106.7 The Fan and Sirius XM 392 (or 982 online); (Rich Chvotkin – 49th season)

Series: The Hoyas own a 2-0 record over the Red Raiders with NCAA Tournament victories in 1986 and 1996.

Last Meeting: In the last Texas Tech-Georgetown matchup, the Hoyas won 98-90 at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta for the 1996 East – Regional Semifinal of the NCAA Tournament. Allen Iverson led the Hoyas with 32 points and five assists. (YouTube I, II, H)

KenPom Ranking: Texas Tech 29, Georgetown 150

KenPom Projection: Texas Tech 76-61 (91%)

Line: Georgetown +16.5, o/u 137.5

With this game, the Georgetown Hoyas will take part in the fourth iteration of the BIG EAST-Big 12 Battle. Patrick Ewing and the Hoyas have lost to TCU and West Virginia since beating Oklahoma State in 2019. This Georgetown squad is likely the most talented since that 2019 team and that December featured some good-quality basketball in wake of the initial round of defections. These current Hoyas could use that ball-movement-heavy playbook right about now.

Yesterday, Ewing said some interesting things about this matchup with Texas Tech. The Red Raiders’ coach, Mark Adams, also spoke to the media after the trip to the Maui Jim Maui Invitational last weekend, losing to ranked teams in Creighton and Ohio State, but dominating Louisville.

Adams revealed that the Maui games “exposed us in certain ways” and that the Raiders “just have to clean up some things.” Adams added that he’s “seen growth the last few days of practice” and there’s been the “attitude and the work ethic these last few practices to make this team step forward and get to the next plateau.” He referred to his TT athletes as “emotionally recharged.” He also noted that he’s excited about the game against Georgetown. Maybe just coming home—where they haven’t lost since February 2020—is enough for Texas Tech to get back into their top-25 ways.

Reaching the Sweet Sixteen last season in his rookie year, Adams took over the Red Raiders after Chris Beard skedaddled over to Austin to coach the University of Texas Longhorns. Beard, of course, recruited and coached Mac McClung for a year after his transfer. Like Ewing, Adams is coaching at his alma mater after years as an assistant in various programs. Prior to his time assisting Beard at Little Rock and Texas Tech, Adams was a head coach at a handful of Division II, junior, and community colleges in Texas. He also owned a West Texas minor league hockey team. Perhaps his teams’ consistent defensive prowess comes from a combination of those experiences.

Adams is known as one of the top defensive architects. Generally, Texas Tech wants to lock opponents into one side of the floor, preventing the ball from rotating, and they want to keep the opponent from having any chance to run the offense you want to run. Adams’ teams adjust well to back-up plans regarding handling screens and, as Ewing said, they will mix in some zone. Perhaps the Red Raiders turning up the physicality may ignite something on either side of the ball with the Hoyas.

If the Hoyas do keep this close, the game may come down to rebounding. Adams noted that “what [Georgetown] really do[es] best is when they get a defensive rebound or a rebound at the net — they get it and they go,” adding that Tech needs to “make sure we’re back” as Georgetown has “some really great finishers with their guards.”

Ewing also likely thinks the Hoyas need to rebound better. Maybe you’ve heard his sideline bellows.

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