March Madness Showdown: Akron Zips vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders Preview
The Akron Zips (29-5, 20-1 MAC) will face off against the Texas Tech Red Raiders (22-10, 12-7 Big 12) in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Tampa, Florida. The Red Raiders are favored by 7.5 points with an over/under of 156.5.
Texas Tech has a 12-7 record against Big 12 teams and a 10-3 record in non-conference play. They score an average of 80.4 points per game and shoot 46.7% from the field. On the other hand, the Zips have dominated the MAC with a 20-1 record and lead the conference with 18.4 assists per game, with Tavari Johnson leading the team with 5.0 assists.
The Red Raiders make an average of 11.5 3-pointers per game, while Akron allows only 9.4 made shots from beyond the arc. Akron, on the other hand, averages 10.9 made 3-pointers per game, which is significantly higher than the 6.6 per game that Texas Tech gives up.
Key players for Texas Tech include Donovan Atwell, who averages 3.9 made 3-pointers per game, and JT Toppin, who has been averaging 21.8 points and 10.8 rebounds over the past 10 games. For the Zips, Johnson averages 20.1 points and five assists, while Amani Lyles is averaging 14.7 points in the last 10 games.
In their last 10 games, the Red Raiders have a 6-4 record, averaging 74.9 points per game, while the Zips are on a 10-0 streak, averaging 85.6 points per game. Texas Tech's opponents have averaged 69.7 points, while Akron's opponents have averaged 71.8 points.
In conclusion, the matchup between the Akron Zips and the Texas Tech Red Raiders promises to be an exciting game with both teams showcasing their strengths on the court.