BYU looks for its fourth win in a row tonight when it faces Texas Tech at the Marriott Center in a game that tips off at 10 p.m. for the benefit of ESPN.
Like most of the other teams the Cougars (4-2) have faced this season, the Red Raiders are better than their no-name status would indicate. They posted an 18-12 record last season, won the postseason Southwest Conference tournament and lost to St. John's in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.With three regulars back from that team, the Raiders have been picked to finish second to Texas in the conference. This season they are 2-3, including a three-point loss to No. 19 Wisconsin and a six-point loss to New Mexico.
"BYU will present a tremendous challenge to us because they are a tremendously talented basketball team," said Tech coach James Dickey.
Texas Tech isn't a deep team. Dickey has played just eight players; seven average double-figure minutes. They are led by Lance Hughes, a sophomore guard who averages 18.4 points and drives to the hoop well, which could cause BYU problems. Jason Sasser, a 6-7 forward, is averaging 18.2 points and 12.4 rebounds a game.
The Raiders don't start a true point guard; their starting lineup includes three shooting guards and two forwards. The tallest player who has played so far is 6-8, but Bernard "Breeze" Lloyd, a 6-9 center, will be eligible to play tonight for the first time this season.
"Let's just hope he's out of shape," BYU coach Roger Reid joked.
Even if Lloyd isn't in shape, any lack of height the Raiders might suffer from up front is offset somewhat by the fact that their three starting "guards" range from 6-4 to 6-7.
Both teams held limited practices this week due to final exams, so they may look a little rusty at the start.
So far, the Cougars have not drawn well - by their standards. At an in-state clash with Utah State on Tuesday, there were just slightly more than 11,000 fans (18,000-plus tickets had been sold).