Texas Tech has already handled the early part of its season with ease, rolling past Jackson State and Bethune-Cookman to open 2-0. Now the Red Raiders step into a much tougher test, and it comes with No. 3 Illinois coming to town.
It’s the kind of matchup that puts a spotlight on the parts of Texas Tech’s roster that have mattered most through the offseason shuffle. Both teams will be missing important frontcourt pieces, which shifts even more attention to the guard play and the players asked to absorb bigger roles inside.
The first place to look is the backcourt. Cruz Davis and Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn arrived as two of the program’s most important transfers, and they’ve lived up to that billing so far, each averaging 15 points per game.
Illinois brings its own perimeter punch, with freshman Quentin Coleman leading the way at 16 points and 4.0 assists per game, while Stefan Vaaks has given the Illini 15.5 points per game off the bench as the team’s sixth man. If either side can take control on the perimeter, that group should have a real edge in deciding the outcome.
Inside, Texas Tech will need Bassala Bagayoko to hold up against a major challenge. JT Toppin will not play because of an ACL injury, and UCF transfer Jamichael Stillwell has not yet suited up, leaving the 6-foot-10 freshman forward as the main interior option.
Bagayoko has started both games and is averaging 4.0 points and 5.5 rebounds, but his value has been bigger than the numbers show because of the defense he has provided. Against Zvonimir and Tomislav Ivisic, that presence becomes even more important.
Then there’s Darrion Williams, who has been cleared by court order and started both games since returning to Lubbock. He has been quiet offensively so far, averaging 3.5 points and 5.0 rebounds, but Texas Tech is going to need more from him against a high-powered Illinois attack.
He’ll also draw the assignment of guarding the Illini’s leading scorer, Andrej Stojakovic, who is putting up 22.5 points per game. That makes Williams the key two-way piece for the Red Raiders, and this matchup gives him a chance to make a strong first impression with the fan base.
In Other News...
Texas Tech Faces A Big 12 Test Its Defense Must Survive
Texas Tech heads into its trip to Boone-Pickens Stadium with plenty on the line, and the focus inside the building has been squarely on surviving a dangerous Oklahoma State offense. The Red Raiders know what is waiting for them in a late kickoff against a team led by first-year head coach Eric Morris, and their coaches have spent the week studying the Cowboys quarterback Drew Mestemaker and running back Caleb Hawkins while also sorting through what Texas Tech has done well and where it still needs to tighten up.
For a team that controls its own path in the Big 12 championship race, this is the kind of game that can sharpen the picture in a hurry. Texas Tech does not just need another solid outing, it needs its defense to hold up against a matchup that will demand discipline from start to finish, and the Red Raiders will find out under the lights at 8:30 p.m. whether their preparation matches the stakes. [Read more 🡒]
Former Illini Adds A Dangerous Twist To Illinois Biggest Test
Illinois is getting ready for one of its biggest early tests against No. 16 Texas Tech, and the matchup comes with an extra layer of familiarity. Former Illini guard Dravyn Gibbs-Lawhorn is now on the other side, giving Brad Underwood and his staff a player they know well and a scouting wrinkle that goes beyond the usual conference tape. Underwood addressed Gibbs-Lawhorns scoring ability in a pregame press conference, underscoring how much attention the Red Raiders backcourt addition has already drawn.
The question now is how that offense carries over when the competition gets bigger and the possessions get tighter. Gibbs-Lawhorn has shown he can put the ball in the basket, but Illinois is the kind of high-major opponent that can force a player to prove it again and again. For the Illini, it is not just about guarding a familiar face. It is about finding out whether his recent scoring success can hold up on a stage like this. [Read more 🡒]
Texas Tech Gets A Huge Frontcourt Boost Before Illinois
Texas Tech is about to get a major frontcourt addition just in time for one of its biggest early tests. Jamichael Stillwell, the UCF transfer who was granted immediate eligibility by a court injunction, is set to make his season debut against No. 3 Illinois, giving Grant McCasland another body to throw into a matchup where size and physicality figure to matter from the opening tip.
Stillwell had been a concern after being seen in a walking boot, but McCasland confirmed he will play, and that matters for a Red Raiders team that will need help on the glass and around the rim. Against an Illinois lineup with plenty of length, Texas Tech is looking for Stillwell to strengthen its interior defense and rebounding right away, even if his first appearance comes in a high-pressure setting. [Read more 🡒]