Jan 18, 2025; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (1) shoots towards Texas Tech Purple Raiders ahead Federiko Federiko (33) within the second half at United Supermarkets Enviornment. Obligatory Credit score: Michael C. Johnson-Imagn Photos No. 13 Texas Tech and No. 20 Arizona meet Saturday night time in a showdown of Massive 12 Convention contenders in Tucson, Ariz.
The Purple Raiders (18-4, 9-2) are having fun with their finest Massive 12 begin in program historical past and the Wildcats (16-6, 10-1) are tied on the prime of the convention with Houston of their first season within the league.
Texas Tech, which is 5-0 on the street, will try to comb the regular-season sequence after beating Arizona 70-54 on Jan. 18 in Lubbock, Texas.
“I simply love the grit of this group,” Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland mentioned after the Purple Raiders defeated Baylor 73-59 at dwelling Tuesday. “We hold discovering a method to separate when it issues. We obtained nice group defensive possessions. We will nonetheless enhance loads, however I like seeing our group play collectively and for one another.”
The Purple Raiders are limiting foes to 65.1 factors per sport, which ranked fourth within the Massive 12 coming into Thursday.
The 54 factors Texas Tech allowed Arizona within the first assembly tied a season low for the Wildcats, who lead the Massive 12 with 82.9 factors a sport.
Within the earlier assembly, Arizona trailed 57-54 with 5:16 remaining however failed to attain the remainder of the way in which as Texas Tech completed on a 13-0 run. The Wildcats missed their final 10 photographs, 9 of them 3-pointers.
“Hey, we have been proper there,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd mentioned. “I imply with 5 minutes to go it is a five-point sport. Taking part in in a troublesome convention, you play on the street, you are going to have some days like that.”
Arizona has compiled a five-game successful streak since that loss.
After going 0-for-5 from past the arc in that sport, Wildcats star Caleb Love has made 19 of 45 photographs (42.2 %) from lengthy distance within the final 5 video games.
Love’s performances of late because the reigning Massive 12 Participant of the Week have helped to gasoline Arizona’s surge.
“I am actually pleased with these guys for the way they’ve responded (after the loss to Texas Tech),” Lloyd mentioned. “However … we obtained an enormous sport on Saturday, so there is not any let-up.”
Texas Tech has the Massive 12’s longest lively successful streak at seven video games.
Probability McMillian leads the Massive 12 in 3-point taking pictures share (45.5) and Elijah Hawkins leads the convention with 6.1 assists per sport.
JT Toppin led Texas Tech with 20 factors and 16 rebounds within the earlier sport with Arizona. He’s second within the convention taking pictures 55.3 % from the sector and ranks fourth with 8.4 rebounds per sport.
“We won’t get complacent,” mentioned Darrion Williams, who had 17 factors in Tuesday’s win over Baylor. “We have received just a few video games however might simply lose three in a row and be again to sq. one. We have now to maintain constructing.”
Arizona’s Jaden Bradley, who scored all 17 of his factors within the second half of Tuesday’s 85-74 victory at BYU, is averaging 11.7 factors, 3.8 assists and a couple of.0 steals per sport. Love averages a team-high 16.3 factors and Tobe Awaka leads the Wildcats with 7.9 rebounds per sport.
–Subject Stage Media
