Texas Tech @ Kansas preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 11, 2017 ) Kansas 80, Texas Tech 79

Texas Tech is a perfect 3-0 against top-25 opponents this year including a 77-53 smack-down of No. 17 Baylor on Friday night in its Big 12 opener. The Red Raiders will try to make it four in a row over ranked foes this season on Tuesday night when they travel to 11th-ranked Kansas.

The Jayhawks, who opened conference play with a 92-86 win at Texas, have won 13 Big 12 titles in a row so a road win would be huge for Texas Tech. Second-year Red raiders head coach Chris Beard will be trying to make history Tuesday night because the Red Raiders, who lost by just one point to then-No. 3 Kansas (80-79) at home last season, are 0-17 all-time at Allen Fieldhouse. Toss in the fact that Kansas has 11 straight home conference openers dating back to a 59-55 loss to Kansas State on Jan. 14, 2006 and the Red Raiders definitely are trying to buck some pretty big trends. "The word around our camp today and yesterday and, eventually, tomorrow is opportunity," Beard said. "You get into this to play against the best and coach against the best. This is a great early conference game for us to see where we stack up against one of the best teams in the country."

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN

ABOUT TEXAS TECH (12-1, 1-0 Big 12): The Red Raiders jumped out to a 40-19 halftime lead against Baylor en route to their largest margin of victory in the Big 12 since 2010-11. Senior guard Keenan Evans leads the team in scoring with 16.6 points per game, which is tied for sixth in the Big 12 and also leads the team with 22 3-pointers, 47 assists and 20 steals. Freshmen guards Zhaire Smith (10.7 points) and Jarrett Culver (10.4) also are averaging in double figures on a team that has 10 players averaging 13 or more minutes per game.

ABOUT KANSAS (11-2, 1-0): The Jayhawks, who are averaging 87.8 points per game and shooting 51.7 percent from the floor, are one of six teams inDivision I that have five players averaging 10.6 points or better. Junior guard Lagerald Vick leads the team in scoring (17.4) and is second in rebounding (6.4) and had 21 points in the win at Texas, his sixth 20-point game of the season. Senior guards Devonte' Graham (17.2 points) and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk (16.6) also are off to hot starts while 7-foot sophomore center Udoka Azubuike (15.3) and sophomore guard Malik Newman (10.6), a highly touted transfer from Mississippi State, also are averaging in double figures.

TIP-INS

1. Kansas, which finished 17-of-35 from 3-point range in the win over Texas, ranks ninth in the nation in both 3-point shooting percentage (42.2) and 3-pointers made per game (11.2).

2. Azubuike ranks second in the nation in field goal percentage (75.8) and is also fourth in the Big 12 in rebounding (8.4).

3. Texas Tech ranks second in the nation in both scoring defense (58.2 points) and field goal percentage defense (36.0).

PREDICTION: Kansas 70, Texas Tech 66