November 17, 2005
Texas Tech vs Syracuse (Under 136) - 6:15pm Pacific - Game #509-510
Syracuse lost 2 of its top 3 scorers from last season, including top scorer Hakim Warrick. Senior guard Gerry McNamara is the leading returning scorer but he is being asked to handle the ball and distribute more this year so he has to work harder for his points. McNamara was the only Orange player to shoot better than 30% from the 3-point line last year and the team struggled in that area going 1-for-19 vs Cornell in last game. The experimental extended 3-point line does not help their cause. Big men Terrence Roberts and Darryl Watkins are athletic and strong inside but at this point appear to be better rebounders and defenders than scorers. Talented freshman Eric Devendorf will eventually provide some scoring help this season, but right now he is learning the ropes a bit and tonight will be playing his first college game away from home.
Like Syracuse, Texas Tech also lost 2 of their top 3 scorers from last season, including top scorer Ronald Ross. In last game vs Georgia Southern, the Red Raiders were much more effective when facing a man to man defense opposed to the 2-3 zone. The zone gave them some trouble, and GSU does not even play it that well. Syracuse plays one of the best zone defenses year after year and I believe it will give Texas Tech's motion offense some problems tonight. Defensively, the Red Raiders look very good. They held GSU, a team who regularly gets into the 80's, to just 61 points. In season opener they held San Jose State to just 54. Texas Tech also has some first year players that will factor in offensively later in the season but not a whole lot should be expected of them this early in their first game away from home.
Syracuse's two games this year have averaged a total of just 117. Texas Tech games have averaged 138.5 but this will be by far the best defensive team they have faced. The Syracuse matchup zone will definitely slow them down offensively. Don't expect this one to get past 130.
RAS Official Play: Under 136 1 UNIT
