DALLAS — Texas Tech will face Stephen F. Austin in an all-Texas showdown at American Airlines Arena tonight.
The NCAA Tournament first round game will tipoff at 6:27 p.m. and will be broadcast nationally on TruTV (Suddenlink Channel 32).
Texas Tech (24-9), which is making its second NCAA Tournament appearance in the past three years, is the No. 3 seed in the East region. Stephen F. Austin (28-6) is making its fourth NCAA Tournament appearance in the last five seasons. The Red Raiders hold an 8-5 series advantage over the Lumberjacks.
Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard has respect for the Southland Conference champions and head coach Kyle Seller.
“Kyle does a great job. He’s been the head coach at Tyler Junior College early in his career,” Beard said. “It starts with him and understanding that we are going to play against a well-coached team.”
Beard also talked about Stephen F. Austin’s history in the NCAA Tournament.
“The history of their program in recent years speaks for itself with four NCAA Tournaments in the last five years,” he said. “Those of us in the Big 12 know they beat West Virginia and coach (Bob) Huggins’ team a couple of years ago in the first round. Stephen F. Austin has our full attention and our full respect.”
The Red Raiders will take the Big 12’s top defensive unit into the tournament. The Red Raiders led the conference in scoring defense (64.7 points per game) and opponent field goal percentage (40.3 percent).
Texas Tech also ranked in the NCAA’s Top 50 in six additional categories, including turnovers forced (15.2) and turnover margin (plus 2.6).
Keenan Evans is the team’s top scorer, averaging 17.5 points, 3.2 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Evans has scored double figures in 27-of-32 games this season.\
Jarrett Culver and Zhaire Smith are averaging 11.7 and 11.2 points per game, respectively.
The duo is ranked third among Big 12 freshmen scoring duos behind only Oklahoma’s Trae Young and Brady Manek and Iowa State’s Lindell Wigginton and Cameron Lard.
The Lumberjacks have three players averaging double figures — Shannon Bogues (15.4 points per game), Kevon Harris (14.6 points per game) and T.J. Holyfield (13.0 points per game).
Beard said the rankings and seedings can be thrown out at this time of the year and the team that plays the best will advance to the second round.
“It’s a tournament game. I really think the seeds, the rankings and all of that stuff that goes on around the March Madness is great for the game, but it means absolutely nothing when the ball goes up.” he said. “This is going to be two good teams that have earned the right to be in the national tournament, and the team that plays the best on Thursday will be the team that advances.”
The winner will play either Florida or St. Bonaventure in the second round on Saturday.