Texas Tech vs. Duke Odds
The West was the only region where Mel held out for the first two rounds. While it may sound boring, it gives us the Sweet 16 matches we all want to see.
Perhaps the most anticipated clash between the Duke Blue Devils and the Texas Tech Red Raiders has to be.
Both teams made it here despite their fair share of struggles.
The Red Raiders got everything they could from the ACC’s adversary, Notre Dame. They fell behind until the last two minutes as Notre Dame had the biggest lead of the game. However, the Fighting Irish didn’t score again and Texas Tech was able to survive and advance.
Coach K and his players were in the same position against Tom Izzo’s Spartans. The Blue Devils lost five with five minutes remaining, but then ended the game 20–6.
This run is a testament to the talent Duke possesses, but will it be enough to get through Texas Tech University?
The attack of the “red raiders” is not the main reason why the team went so far. However, Texas Tech can be very effective if it slows down the game and uses off-the-ball moves in its half-court sets.
A slower pace will minimize the talent gap. We know Duke is the best team in terms of talent, but they have shown some holes in their defense in half of the field.
The key will be to get Mark Williams out of the paint. This will allow the likes of Terrence Shannon Jr., Kevin McCallar and Adonis Arms to create laid-back looks as they make their way to the rim without fear of a blocker inside.
It may not be the Red Raiders’ style, but all they have to do is get Williams to the perimeter by getting Bryson Williams and Kevin Obanor to touch the basket.
We’ve seen Miami (FL) have a huge success with this and the Red Raiders can do it again with three guards in their roster.
Using this four-on-one offense will also allow TTU’s Williams to score many touches as he will play a role in both pick and roll and dribble passes.
This could be it. The number of games remaining as K’s coach can be counted on the fingers of one hand, but he definitely doesn’t want to go home early. So who will he turn to here? Paolo Banquero.
The incredible freshman can do anything and he will have to do it in this matchup. Banchero remains in the standings, averaging 18 points, 8.5 rebounds and four assists per game over two games.
His range of moves to get the ball into the basket is endless and he will be a tough opponent for Williams or Obanor.
However, the number 1 defense in the country can be beaten from behind the arc. Texas Institute of Technology has allowed it to rank 17th in triples in the nation. This is partly due to his style of play as he eliminates mid court and in turn can leave shooters open.
This is an area where Duke can capitalize, as AJ Griffin, Trevor Keels and Wendell Moore Jr. can throw threes effectively. However, it will start with Bunchero drawing extra attention in the middle and then redirecting it to the open man.
Texas Tech vs Duke Bet Selection
This is a highly anticipated matchup and is expected to be Sweet 16’s most competitive game yet. While it may be difficult, the Red Raiders have the edge.
If they are able to create a high percentage of offensive hits with consistency, they should be able to tie multiple runs.
On the other side of the court, the only thing that drives a tournament is defense. With extra time to prepare, we can see the Mark Adams team at its best. Unfortunately, this is where K.’s coaching career ends.
Choice: Texas Tech-1
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