PREVIEW: Texas Tech, Tennessee set for Jimmy V Classic matchup
https://texastech.com/news/2021/12/...tennessee-set-of-jimmy-v-classic-matchup.aspxRed Raiders vs. Volunteers | 6 p.m. (CST), Tuesday | TV: ESPN | New York – Madison Square Garden
December 05, 2021LUBBOCK, Texas – A pair of 6-1 teams will play for the first time in 68 seasons with Texas Tech taking on No. 13 Tennessee at 6 p.m. (CST) on Tuesday in the 2021 Jimmy V Classic at Madison Square Garden.
The Red Raiders (6-1) are coming off their only loss of the season after falling 72-68 at Providence College on Wednesday in the Big 12-BIG EAST Battle, while the Volunteers (6-1) earned a 69-54 road win over Colorado on Saturday afternoon in Boulder. Texas Tech is playing in Madison Square Garden for the fourth time in five seasons and returns after earning a 70-57 win over No. 1 Louisville in the 2019 Jimmy V Classic.
"They are really pushing the ball and getting up quick shots this season," said Texas Tech head coach Mark Adams of Tennessee. "They are a really good 3-point shooting team. On paper, they are as good offensively as they are defensively. They are very good team that rebounds well and don't give up many baskets without fouling. They are a well-coached team that will not beat themselves. We'll have to take it to them and outscore and defend them. They won't be giving us anything."
Tech comes into the matchup leading the nation with 17.0 offensive rebounds per game, is second with a 15.6 rebounding advantage, third in scoring margin at 26.0 and 11th by forcing 19.3 turnovers per game. The Red Raiders also lead the Big 12 with 8.4 3-pointers made per game and by scoring 85.4 points per game.
SERIES HISTORY: Texas Tech is 1-0 all-time against Tennessee with an 88-71 win on Dec. 3, 1953 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Against the SEC, Tech is 132-144 against current SEC opponents after a 76-71 win over LSU last year during the regular season before a 68-66 loss to Arkansas in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Hinkle Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Red Raiders will host Mississippi State in January for the Big 12-SEC Challenge.
POLLS: Texas Tech is receiving votes in the Associated Press and USA TODAY Coaches Poll, but remains unranked this season after spending the entire 2020-21 season in the rankings for the first time in program history. A new poll will be posted on Monday. TTU was as high as No. 7 last season and finished the year at No. 21. While not in the polls, the Red Raiders are currently No. 17 in the Kenpom.com ranking and No. 20 in the site's adjusted defensive efficiency ranking. Over the past four years Tech has ranked in the KENPOM.COM: Adjusted defensive efficiency at No. 17 (2021), No. 9 (2020) and No. 1 (2019).
VS. RANKED OPPONENTS: Tech is playing its first ranked opponent of the season. As a program, Tech is 61-215 all-time against ranked opponents, including going 16-24 over the past five years. The Red Raiders were 3-8 last season against ranked teams with two wins over Texas (No. 4 and No. 14) and a home win over Oklahoma which was at No. 9.
GAME COVERAGE: The matchup between Texas Tech and Tennessee will be broadcasted on ESPN with Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas and Holly Rowe and on ESPN Radio with Sean Kelley and Bob Valvano. Locally, the Texas Tech Sports Network's flagship station Double T 97.3 in Lubbock will carry the game on radio with Geoff Haxton and Clark Lammert. Fans can also follow the game at @TexasTechMBB. The Red Raiders and Volunteers will be followed by a matchup between Syracuse and Villanova.
Read more here: https://texastech.com/news/2021/12/...tennessee-set-of-jimmy-v-classic-matchup.aspx
