Texas Tech will be opening its college basketball season at home, and they will be hosting the Lindenwood Lions, which may pull off an upset. Both teams are led by great bigs who have been known to dominate the boards and also score at will.
Sophomore center JT Toppin, a player on the Naismith Player of the Year Watch List, is the one leading the Red Raiders into battle, while senior center Milos Nenadic is expected to lead the scoring for the Lions. This means that this game will shape up to be an interesting battle between two very good big men under the boards.
The Red Raiders are looking confident ahead of their season opener, especially as it will be played at their own backyard in Lubbock. However, Nenadic could be able to control Toppin, which makes things interesting.
Lindenwood Lions vs Texas Tech Red Raiders Injury Report
Lindenwood Lions
No injuries listed
Texas Tech Red Raiders
- Jazz Henderson – Questionable (lower body)
Both teams are coming in healthy, though the availability for guard Jazz Henderson, a third string point guard, would likely be a gametime decision for the Red Raiders.
Lindenwood Lions vs Texas Tech Red Raiders Presumptive Starting 5
Lindenwood Lions Presumptive Starting 5
- PG: Mekhi Cooper
- SG: Clayton Jackson
- SF: Jeremiah Talton
- PF: Clayton Jackson
- C: Milos Nenadic
Texas Tech Red Raiders Presumptive Starting 5:
- PG: Christian Anderson
- SG: Donovan Atwell
- SF: Tyeree Bryan
- PF: LeJuan Watts
- C: JT Toppin
Lindenwood Lions vs Texas Tech Red Raiders Prediction
This should be a battle of the big men, though quality goes to Texas Tech. Linden Wood is coming off a preseason loss to Southern Illinois, and their starters are more likely to show off what they have now that the actual regular season has arrived. On the other hand, Texas Tech is deeper, with a bigger star in JT Toppin, who regularly delivers double-double games as he could score and grab the boards.
The Red Raiders are the -33.5 favorites coming into this game, and their points average last season, 80.9, is much higher than Lindenwood’s at 71.2. The Lions are also not a very good road team, as they had a 3-12 record on the road, as opposed to Texas Tech, which was 15-3 at home last year.
That being said, this one should be an easy win for Texas Tech.
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