Texas Basketball: 3 reasons the Longhorns will upset Texas Tech

Chris Beard, Texas Basketball (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images)
Chris Beard, Texas Basketball (Photo by Porter Binks/Getty Images) /
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Andrew Jones, Texas Basketball Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports
Andrew Jones, Texas Basketball Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-USA TODAY Sports /

Texas is the better outside shooting team

There aren’t all that many weaknesses to identify for the Red Raiders. Texas Tech is definitely one of the best two-way teams in the Big 12 so far this season, hence why they’re ranked in the top 15 right now.

But Texas Tech showed some weaknesses in the last few weeks that the Longhorns can still exploit in this game. First and foremost, Texas Tech is not shooting the three-ball very well at all this season. They rank outside of the top 200 in Division I, shooting just 32.2 percent from beyond the arc. And their outside shooting got even worse in Big 12 play.

In fact, Texas Tech ranks dead last in the Big 12 in three-point shooting percentage in conference play this season, at a clip just north of 26. Meanwhile, Texas ranks in the middle of the pack in Big 12 play this season in three-point shooting percentage, at a clip around 34.

That’s not to say that the Longhorns are the best three-point shooting team in the country. Texas definitely still has a fair share of struggles to look back on this season. Yet, they do still hold a sizable edge over the Red Raiders in this regard.

If Texas’ top guard trio of senior Courtney Ramey, senior Marcus Carr, and redshirt senior guard/wing Andrew Jones are in rhythm shooting from deep in this game, an upset is very realistic. It would also help the Longhorns case if big men like junior center Tre Mitchell and junior power forward Dylan Disu were in rhythm shooting from deep.

Texas was able to hang on and beat the No. 18 ranked Tennessee Volunteers at home in the Big 12/SEC Challenge last weekend largely thanks to their shooting efforts, despite a lot of second-half turnovers. Outside shooting can be a key to victory against the Red Raiders too.