Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Michigan State Spartans: Predictions, Odds and Roster Notes

Where: US Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, MN, USA.

When: Sunday, April 7th at 1:49pm EST.

How (TV/Radio): CBS

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Head Coach: Chris Beard {Overall: 30-6, .833 W-L% | Conference: 14-4, T-1st in Big 12}

After knocking out the top seed in the West Region, the Texas Tech Red Raiders have reached unfamiliar territory. With many teams favoring a high powered offense to propel their seasons, coach Chris Beard opted to counter the movement by assembling arguably the best defensive squad in the country. His approach has worked wonders, as TTU has limited their opponents to 59 points per game, and 36.9% shooting from the field.

Texas Tech’s Final Four clinching win came over top-seeded Gonzaga on March 30th in Anaheim. The Red Raiders took down the Zags 75-69 behind the efforts of leading scorer, Jarrett Culver, who scored 19 points. Senior point guard Matt Mooney added 17 points in the victory.

Having already knocked out another Big Ten power in Michigan two rounds earlier, the Red Raiders should be confident in their ability to stay in Minneapolis for one more game.

Michigan State Spartans

Head Coach: Tom Izzo {Overall: 32-6, .842 W-L% | Conference: 16-4, T-1st in Big Ten}

Although the Spartans are always a threat to contend in March Madness, many did not see them knocking off a Duke team that spent the whole season as the title favorite. Coach Tom Izzo and his squad silenced those doubters en route to the program’s 10th Final Four appearance.

Michigan State emerged victorious in Washington, D.C. over the Blue Devils, winning 68-67 in a tightly contested game. Junior point guard Cassius Winston was a maestro on the court, with 20 points and 10 assists, while sophomore big man Xavier Tillman added 19 points and 9 rebounds. The hero of the game was arguably redshirt senior, Kenny Goins, who scored only 10 points, but hit a big three-pointer with less than a minute to go to give them the lead for good.

Standing in Sparty’s way is a team they have never faced before in Texas Tech, a team who plays a very similar brand of basketball with a focus on defense.

Texas Tech Roster Notes

Freshman forward Khavon Moore is out for the season with a knee injury that he suffered last year in high school.

Michigan State Roster Notes

Junior guard Joshua Langford is out for the season after suffering an ankle injury against Illinois on December 29th.

Junior guard Kyle Ahrens is out indefinitely with an ankle injury, which he suffered against Michigan in the Big Ten Tournament final on March 17th.

Head-to-Head: Tariq Owens vs Kenny Goins

Tariq Owens

Power Forward | 6-10, 205lb (208cm, 92kg) | Mount Zion Academy | Odenton, MD | Redshirt Senior

8.9 PPG | 0.8 APG | 5.8 RPG | 0.5 SPG | 2.4 BPG | 1.0 TOV | .613 FG% | .241 3P%

Kenny Goins

Forward | 6-7, 230lb (201cm, 104kg) | Warren Mott HS | Troy, MI | Redshirt Senior

8.1 PPG | 2.3 APG | 9.0 RPG | 0.7 SPG | 1.3 BPG | 1.5 TOV | .411 FG% | .352 3P%

With this game expected to be a defensive battle, it seems appropriate to make the key matchup between two fifth-year players who have served as anchors for their respective squads on that end.

One of the top shot blockers in the country, Texas Tech’s Tariq Owens has been a big reason why the Red Raiders have shut down opposing offenses. The former Tennesee and St. John’s big man has had some key performances that don’t always show up on the box score, most notably the win over Michigan. Ignas Brazdeikis shot 0 for 5 from beyond the arc, while 7-1 center, Jon Teske was limited to four points, largely due to Owens’ presence.

A non-playing member of the 2015 Michigan State team that made the Final Four, Kenny Goins has blossomed into a defensive stopper for the Spartans. The in-state product was tasked with guarding Duke’s freshman phenom, Zion Williamson, and did a solid job, forcing the young star to commit five turnovers and settle for long jump shots.

Texas Tech vs Michigan State Predictions and Odds

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