Texas Tech gets back to work on Monday after an eight-day break when Oral Roberts visits Lubbock in nonconference action.
The Red Raiders (7-2) are in the middle of a stretch with only three games in 23 days and are looking to reignite momentum before the Big 12 Conference season arrives on Dec. 31.
Oral Roberts (3-7) has scuffled this season, especially on the road with an 0-5 record.
In its last outing, Texas Tech dropped a 72-67 decision against Texas A&M in a neutral-site game. It was the second game in a row without JT Toppin, the Red Raiders’ leading scorer (18.6 points per game) and rebounder (11 per game), who suffered a lower leg injury in a non-contact practice drill.
Toppin’s status for Monday is up in the air with Texas Tech heading into another four-day break before playing again.
“The more he moved, the more we saw that it was better for us in the long run if he didn’t play,” Red Raider coach Grant McCasland said. “We’re definitely not going to put him in live action until we know he’s fully healed.”
With or without Toppin, Texas Tech aims for a better offensive performance against ORU. The Red Raiders’ 67 points against the Aggies were a season low despite 18 assists and 12 3-pointers. Texas Tech averages 84.7 ppg and shoots at a 51 percent clip as a team, accompanied by the Big 12’s best team free-throw percentage (79.7 percent).
In Toppin’s absence, Chance McMillian has produced games with 22 and 23 points and is a combined 7-for-15 from 3-point territory. Federiko Federiko has stepped into the starting lineup for Toppin and is averaging 7.5 points in those games.
Oral Roberts counters with Isaac McBride, who has provided 16.3 ppg and is effective from the foul stripe at 94.2 percent. Sam Alajiki gives the Golden Eagles a strong inside presence with 13.7 points and a team-best 6.7 rebounds per contest.
ORU has plenty of areas to improve. The Golden Eagles have dropped five of their last six games since a 2-2 beginning — those wins were against Ozark Christian and Haskell University, two non-NCAA programs. Rebounding has been an issue: In their most recent game, Idaho State outrebounded them 54-19.
“I don’t think they’ve played close to their best basketball,” McCasland said of ORU. “I don’t think anybody’s seen their best shot yet. We’ve really got to be great defensively and make sure we guard the ball in the middle of the floor which has not been our strength.”
–Field Level Media
