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Coach Golding on the sidelines of the Omaha game 2020
Kevin Bires

Men's Basketball

MBB prepares for top-tier matchup with No. 17 Texas Tech

LUBBOCK, Texas - The Wildcats men's basketball team will have the toughest test of the young season when they make the short trip to Lubbock to face No. 17 Texas Tech on Wednesday night. The two teams have a long history that dates back to the early years of each program, but have only played one another twice in the last 60-plus years. The Red Raiders come into the game with a 4-1 record and the Wildcats will put their perfect season on the line in the United Supermarkets Arena. 

FOLLOW THE GAME

SERIES HISTORY

Texas Tech hold the 22-13 advantage all-time, but that history mostly dates to the 1957-58 season and before. After a 60-year hiatus in the series, the two teams met again in 2017-18 and 2018-19. The Red Raiders dominated the Wildcats in those two meetings, winning by an average of 30.5 points. 

ACU STORYLINES

  • The Wildcats are off to a stellar start with a 5-0 record coming into the matchup. 
  • ACU continues their trademark defensive efforts and are holding teams to just over 55 points per game. They have outscored their DI opponents by an average of 16 points per game. 
  • The team has brought a balanced offensive attack to each of their first five games and have had a different leading scorer in each game so far.
  • The Wildcats depth has been a huge part of what they have been able to do so far this season. The team is regularly playing at least 10 guys and have been able to keep their defensive intensity at a high level throughout the game. 
  • ACU is plus-nine in turnover margin on the season and this has been key in their success. The team is averaging 23 points off turnovers per game.

JOE GOLDING WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE (DEC. 7, 2020)

SCOUTING TEXAS TECH

  • The No. 17 team in the country has just one loss on the season to No. 7 Houston
  • Mac McClung leads the team in scoring (17.2 ppg), but Terren Shannon Jr (11.2 ppg) and Kyler Edwards (10.2 ppg) are each averaging double figures for the Red Raiders as well. 
  • Much like the Wildcats, Tech has put up solid defense in five games, holding opponents to just 55 points per game.
  • ACU will be the third Southland opponent the Red Raiders face on the season, they won over Northwestern State (101-58) and Sam Houston (84-52) for their first two wins on the year.