TCU Men's Basketball Preview: Texas Tech

TCU travels to Lubbock to face the Red Raiders on Tuesday. Here are three keys to victory for Jamie Dixon's Frogs.

The Horned Frogs are riding a two-game win streak following a perfect slate last week against West Virginia and Kansas State. TCU is now 18-7 overall and sits at 7-5 in the country. Texas Tech is is coming off an 82-74 loss to Iowa State on Saturday, which dropped them to 18-7 and 7-5 in the Big 12. The two teams will face off in Lubbock on Tuesday at 8 p.m. 

Micah Peavy  / © Scott Sewell-USA TODAY Sports

As you can see by looking at the squads' records, TCU and Texas Tech are dead even. The two sides faced off in Fort Worth at the end of January, and the Horned Frogs emerged victorious, winning the game 85-78. Trevian Tennyson and Micah Peavy shot a combined 8-12 from three, combining for 41 points in the win. 

Texas Tech's Pop Isaacs was good in his team's loss, scoring 25 points on solid shooting, but he didn't get much help. Recently, he has received some offensive help, which has made the Red Raiders a dangerous team. Here's what TCU needs to do to get a win in one of the toughest environments in the nation. 

Can't Start Slow

One common theme for TCU this year has been its tendency to start games slow. Many times, the Horned Frogs have been able to overcome these deficits, but other times, it has hurt them. You are not going to be able to get away starting slow at Texas Tech. The Red Raiders' United Supermarkets Center ranks number one nationally in home court advantage, according to KenPom.com. Texas Tech-faithful pack that place out and it gets rowdy. If the Frogs start flat, that crowd is going to make it really difficult for them to crawl back. If TCU can come out of the gates fast and take the fans out of the game early, its chances of winning rise dramatically. 

Pressure Pop

Texas Tech sophomore guard Pop Isaacs is one of the most dangerous scorers in the Big 12. As mentioned above, he scored 25 against the Frogs in the teams' previous matchup in January. Luckily for TCU, his 25 wasn't enough. If he gets to 25 again, this time at home, I have a hard time imagining that it won't be enough to get past the Frogs. 

So how do you stop him? Pressure. In Texas Tech's loss to Iowa State on Saturday, Isaacs turned the ball over five times and scored only eight points. Now, I should clarify that Iowa State has one of the best defenses in the country, and TCU does not, but the Cyclones put out a blueprint on how to limit him. The Horned Frogs have good perimeter defenders in Peavy, Avery Anderson III, and Jameer Nelson Jr., so it is certainly possible and necessary for TCU's defense to make Isaacs uncomfortable. 

Rebound!

TCU outrebounded Texas Tech 34-27 last time, including a 12-4 advantage on the offensive boards. This section is going to be short because it is simple. If you grab more rebounds than your opponent, you have a better chance at winning the game. Horned Frog center Ernest Udeh Jr. left Saturday's game against Kansas State with an ankle injury, and his status is still unknown for Tuesday. If he misses the game, the team's size takes a hit, but there are still many capable rebounders on the team. With him or without him, TCU needs to rebound well. 

How to Watch, Listen, and Stream: TCU vs. Kansas State

• Tipoff - 8 p.m. CT, Saturday, February 20
• Television - ESPN2 with Rich Hollenberg and Fran Fraschilla
• Radio - AM 570 with Brian Estridge and Bingo Merriex 
• Live Stream - fuboTV (Start your free trial)

Big 12 Men’s Basketball Saturday Rundown: Houston, Iowa State Stay on Top

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