Texas Longhorns Hoops vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders: Preview & Open Thread

The Texas Longhorns (8-10, 0-5) are still searching for that elusive first Big 12 win, and it may come this weekend when they host the Texas Tech Red Raiders (9-8, 2-4). The game is on a Saturday night and broadcast on LHN. If Texas does get the W and no one is there to see it, did it really happen?

The Red Raiders are atrociously terrible but still have two more conference wins than the Longhorns. So there's that.

Texas Tech unceremoniously fired head coach Billy Gillispie before the season after the guy went off the deep end. Before Gillispie's departure, he managed to run off some players, including their star incoming freshman, the aptly named Wannah Bail.

The best returning player is forward Jaye Crockett, who leads the team with 13.1 PPG and 8.0 RPG. Like Sheldon McClellan, Crockett comes off the bench for Texas Tech. Sophomore Jordan Tolbert and junior Dejan Kravic combine for a decent frontcourt. Freshman Josh Gray serves as the team's nominal point guard, though the Houston Wheatley product has more of a scorer's mentality.

The team is missing projected starter Trency Jackson, who was suspended by the team and ruled academically ineligible. Suffice to say he plans on transferring. Some other guys round out the roster.

A couple fun Texas-related facts: The Red Raiders have a freshman named Aaron Ross, who is sitting out the season due to a torn ACL. Also, Connor Lammert's older brother, Clark Lammert, is a Red Raider, though he plays only mop-up minutes.

LINEUP

PROJECTED STARTERS

Texas: G - Javan Felix (#3 - Fr.) | G - Julien Lewis (#14 - So.) | F - Ioannis Papapetrou (#33 - Fr.) | F - Jaylen Bond (#5 - So.) | C - Cameron Ridley (#55 - Fr.)

Texas Tech: G - Josh Gray (#5 - Fr.) | G - Dusty Hannahs (#2 - Fr.) | G - Jamal Williams, Jr. (#23 - Jr.) | F - Jordan Tolbert (#32 - So.) | F - Dejan Kravic (#11 - Jr.)

BENCH

Texas: G - DeMarcus Holland (#2 - Fr.) | G - Sheldon McClellan (#1 - So.) | F - Connor Lammert (#21 - Fr.) | C - Prince Ibeh (#44 - Fr.)

Texas Tech: G - Daylen Robinson (#10 - Jr.) | G - Toddrick Gotcher (#20 - Fr.) | G - Ty Nurse (#4 - Sr.) | F - Jaye Crockett (#30 - Jr.) | F -Kaylor Tapsoba (#10 - Jr.) | F - Clark Lammert (#35 - So.)

INJURIES/ISSUES

Texas: G - Myck Kabongo (#1 - So. - Out Until Feb - NCAA Ineligibility) | F - Jonathan Holmes (#10 - So. - Out Indefinitely - Broken Hand)

Texas Tech: G - Trency Jackson (#1 - So. - Out for Season - NCAA Eligibility) | G - Aaron Ross (#15 - Fr. - Out for Season - Torn ACL)

TEXASSPORTS.COM MEDIA/NOTES

TEXAS (8-10, 0-5)
vs. Texas Tech (9-8, 2-4)
Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013 • 7 p.m. CT
Austin, Texas • Erwin Center (16,540)

TV: Longhorn Network
Kevin Dunn (play-by-play), Bruce Bowen (analyst), Kaylee Hartung (reporter)
Radio: Longhorn IMG Radio Network
Craig Way (play-by-play), Eddie Oran (analyst)
Satellite Radio: XM 202 / Sirius 216
Streaming Audio: TexasSports.com
Live Stats: GameTracker