Texas Tech gets back to work Friday in Lubbock against Northern Colorado after splitting a pair of games in its toughest challenges of the young season last week in New York.
The Red Raiders (5-1) lost for the first time this season to Saint Joseph’s before bouncing back to edge Syracuse 79-74 at the Legends Classic.
Playing at home offers the expected comforts for Texas Tech: The Red Raiders have won their last 34 games against nonconference foes in Lubbock, with four wins this season. They have rolled in those games against Bethune-Cookman, Northwestern State, Wyoming and Arkansas-Pine Bluff, winning by an average of 33.8 points.
Northern Colorado could put Texas Tech to a stiffer test with a veteran team that has gained some experience on the road against power-conference teams the first month of the season. The Bears (6-2) nearly upset Colorado in a 90-88 loss in double overtime, then dropped an 83-69 decision at Washington State.
“Northern Colorado is a well-coached team,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said. “They have played a good schedule with a close game against Colorado and Washington State. They have a good team, and we’ll have our hands full. We need to come out ready to play.”
So far, the Red Raiders have fared well when tested.
Transfer JT Toppin has been a force through six games, averaging 19.8 points and 10.3 rebounds per contest while shooting 62.3 percent from the floor and 75 percent from the free-throw line. Veteran Darrion Williams has also been solid with 16 ppg and a team-high 32 assists.
The Red Raiders are generating 88.3 ppg and have fed off a defense that is forcing 15.7 turnovers per game.
Northern Colorado doesn’t figure to shy away from an up-tempo game. The Bears have also scored at a high clip (88.5 ppg) and are connecting on 10.4 3-pointers per outing.
Zach Bloch has been the busiest shooter from deep, hitting 21 of 44 to bolster his 9.8 ppg. Isaiah Hawthorne, a transfer from San Francisco, has knocked down 18 of 51 and leads the Bears with 17.5 ppg (tied with teammate Langston Reynolds), buoyed by a season-high 27 against Northern New Mexico on Tuesday in a 92-50 triumph.
The Bears shot 59.6 percent against Northern New Mexico, an NAIA team, after firing for 62.9 percent against Division I foe Prairie View A&M.
“Anyone in America would die for that stat,” coach Steve Smiley told the Greeley Tribune. “It’s insane. You know, this is a Division I opponent we’re playing, so I get excited about it.”
The Bears share the ball well and have registered assists on 57.7 percent of their made field goals.
“Their team is well-drilled and has a good plan,” McCasland said. “They can bait you into playing the game a certain way. We’ll need to attack inside-out and do a good job on some actions that they run.”
