Preview and Game Day Thread :: Lamar Cardinals vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Game Day Stat:

Lamar: It's early, and the Cardinals have only played Huston Tillotson (W), Texas Pan-Am (W) and Middle Tennessee (L), but they are abysmal early this season, sitting at 260th in the nation in adjusted defensive efficiency.

Texas Tech: I'd really like to see the Red Raiders crash the board a bit more, especially on the offensive end. Texas Tech had a 32.7% offensive rebound percentage, which is pretty close to the national average (33.4%), but considering the oppoenent, I'd love for Texas Tech go after shots on the offensive side of the ball.

Players Focus:

Lamar: The Cardinals have 3 players averaging in double-figures thus far, G Kendrick Harris, G Anthony Miles and F Justin Nabors, but I'll focus on Miles, who is scoring 15 points a game, 8 rebounds, 5 assists and 2.33 steals a game. That's not a bad days work for a 6'1" guard.

Texas Tech: Is it possible to have too much G David Tairu love? It's still amazing to me to see a guy, who played at the JUCO ranks, albeit at a high level, last year and is performing thus far at a similarly high level. Although I've only seen Tairu play a bit, the thing I'm most impressed is his shot selection and ability to put the ball in the basket. Tairu is hitting 55.9% of his shots and 55.6% of his 3-point shots. That won't continue, but it's damned impressive.

Needs Repair

Lamar: The Cardinals are turning the ball over at a rate of 19.3 per game. That's astounding and alarming if you're a Cardinal fan.

Texas Tech: Despite Tairu's hot start from beyond the arc, the rest of the team is shooting an abysmal 28.0% from the 3-point line. The major offenders are SF Brad Reese (I'd love to see him not settle for the 3-point shot, but rather use his length inside to get going); PG John Roberson (only 4 of 16 for the year, he's either got to get on track or stop shooting threes); and G Nick Okorie (only 2 of 7 for the year, and has struggled to get on track).

GO RAIDERS . . .