Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Florida Gators Preview and Prediction
Big 12 NCAA Second-Round Preview — East Region
(6) Florida (21-12) vs. (3) Texas Tech (25-9), Thursday, 7:40 p.m Central, TNT
How they got here: Florida was an at-large bid out of the Southeastern Conference. Texas Tech earned an at-large out of the Big 12.
Tournament results: Florida — def. St. Bonaventure, 77-62 (round of 64); Texas Tech — def. Stephen F. Austin, 70-60 (round of 64).
Expected starters and head coach
Florida — F Egor Koulechov (13.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg), C Kevarrius Harris (4.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg), G Jalen Hudson (15.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg), G KeVaughn Allen (11.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg), G Chris Chiozza (11.1 ppg, 4.4. rpg, 6.2 apg). Head coach — Mike White (170-76 overall, 69-36 at Florida).
Texas Tech — G Keenan Evans (17.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.2 spg), G Justin Gray (5.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.1 apg), F Zhaire Smith (11.2 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.7 apg, 1.2 bpg), F Jarrett Culver (11.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.8 apg, 1.2 spg), C Norense Odiase (4.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg) Head coach — Chris Beard (139-53 overall, 43-23 at Tech).
About Florida: The Gators are making their 19th NCAA Tournament appearance, and their last five trips have been fruitful, as the Gators reached the Elite Eight in each of those five trips. The Gators are now 43-16 all-time in the tournament and the last time they were a No. 6 seed they reached the Sweet 16 in 1999. Chiozza is the Gators’ engine, a first-team All-SEC and first-team All-SEC defensive selection who boasts an SEC-leading assist-to-turnover ratio and assists per game. Keeping with the guard-drive theme, Hudson is the leading scorer, plus Chiozza and Allen each chip in 11 points per game. Chiozza, Hudson, Allen and Koulechov each have 1,000 or more career points for the Gators, with Koulechov being one of the team’s top 3-point shooters. He drained four of them against St. Bonaventure to lead the Gators with 20 points. The Gators are used to facing ranked opponents and they’ve beaten six this season, tying them for the national lead.
About Texas Tech: The Red Raiders held Stephen F. Austin below their season average for scoring defense by four points on Thursday night, and held the Lumberjacks to 5 points and 1 field goal in the final 5:20 of the contest. That was a brutal defensive contest on both sides, with SFA leading for a good portion of the game before senior guard Keenan Evans, bum toe and all, stepped up to lead the Red Raiders on offense. Evans’ layup with 3:59 left gave the Raiders the lead for good and he scored six of the Red Raiders’ final 11 points. Evans finished with 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. Zhaire Smith had a couple of highlight-reel dunks and finished with 10 points, the only other Red Raider in double figures (he also had a team-leading eight rebounds). But, nine different Texas Tech players scored in the contest and the Red Raiders outscored SFA by 16 in the paint.
Prediction: Tech definitely played a harder game than Florida on Thursday as SFA played the same physical, man-to-man defense Tech employed all season. The good news is because the level of completion in the Big 12 was so balanced this season the Red Raiders were used to these types of games and never really panicked. Evans was slow to get going, but down the stretch he came through big time for Tech and the substitution pattern Beard used early in the game implied that he’s seeking to keep Evans fresh for the second half. So, it’s imperative that players like Smith and Culver step up a little more early in the game offensively. Florida is guard-driven, much like SFA, and has a solid group of shooters and scorers, which means Tech’s halfcourt defense is key. But in reality, the biggest key in this game will be Florida’s defense. If the Gators learned anything from the Tech-SFA game it is that physicality is key to slowing Tech down. If Florida’s defense steps up, this should come right down to the wire. If it doesn’t, Tech advances. I think the Red Raiders should start making plans to go to Boston.
Next up: The winner moves on to the Sweet 16 in Boston.
