Red Raiders look to compete against defensive-minded Oklahoma State

Mark Adams is aware of his team’s current status, when it comes to the overall and conference records.

The second-year Texas Tech head coach has attempted to manage a situation in which several players have been in and out of the lineup — including one in Fardaws Aimaq who’s played in only three contests after breaking a bone in a his foot during an offseason workout.

And after advancing to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last year, to say the season has been a disappointment would be an understatement.

And Adams is more than aware when asked Tuesday to assess his program with eight games left in the regular season.

“And there’s some truth to that,” Adams said when asked if the Red Raiders are what their record is, which equates to a 12-11 overall mark and 1-9 Big 12 Conference record. ”All of our guys, it’s tough to absorb. But our guys are still working hard and still improving.

“With this youth, inexperience and with our injuries — there’s been a lot of tough things to overcome. But, we’re staying in there and learning from all of this adversity. … I admire and respect the way they’re playing and their attitude moving forward.”

The Red Raiders are scheduled to take on a resurgent Oklahoma State squad, which has won its last three games, at 7 p.m. Wednesday inside Gallagher-Iba Arena. TTU is looking to snap a three-game losing streak in Stillwater, Oklahoma, dating back to a 78-50 triumph back on February 13, 2019.

“I just watched that team, down 23, with two starters — one that I recruited really hard and one that was the No. 1 transfer recruit in the country — out. Down 23 and win a game in this league against a team that blew-out Kansas (on Saturday in Ames, Iowa),” Oklahoma State coach Mike Boynton said Saturday about the Red Raiders downing Iowa State in overtime back on Jan. 30. ”You never get comfortable. You always understand the next game is more difficult to win.”

The Cowboys (14-9, 5-5) are coming off a 79-73 home win over No. 17 TCU last Saturday. In the contest, OSU built its lead to as many as 19 points in the second half before the Horned Frogs battled back to make things interesting the final two minutes.

Reigning Big 12 Player of the Week Kalib Boone recorded a career-high 25 points in the home win over No. 15 TCU and chipped in 18 points earlier in the week at Oklahoma. The senior forward leads the team at 12.2 points with 5.2 rebounds, while he’s aided by Bryce Thompson (10.8 points) to round out the double-digit scorers.

But, defense is the call for the Cowboys who tout Moussa Cisse — the Big 12 leader in blocks at 2.3 per contest to go with 8.3 rebounds a game, while former Texas Tech forward Tyreek Smith (4.9 points, 3.6 rebounds) helps provide length and athleticism.

“That’s one of their strengths, is they’re a great shot-blocking team with (Kalib) Boone and (Moussa) Cisse — they’re both 6-10 and just very, very long and athletic,” Adams said of the Cowboys, who will be without guard Avery Anderson as he is set to undergo wrist surgery Wednesday and will be out indefinitely. ”And Tyreek (Smith), that was with us a few years ago. … Three shot blockers and great rim protector (in Smith).

“So we’re going to have to make sure that when we get in the paint, that we shot fake and try to draw a foul or kick it back out.”

The Red Raiders will be without Pop Isaacs and Fardaws Aimaq, whom were praised by Boynton last weekend. Isaacs is still rehabbing following a sprained ankle while Aimaq has been dealing with a bruise in his foot — the same which suffered a broken bone following an offseason workout and required the former Utah Valley post to miss 16 games before making his debut in a Jan. 16 road game against then No. 10 Texas.

“Pop is doing his rehab everyday, Daws is still doing the same, and is showing some improvement,” Adams said when asked of Isaacs and Aimaq’s playing status. ”He’s (Fardaws Aimaq) he’s day-to-day right now.”

That puts an emphasis on Kevin Obanor (15.3 points, 6.3 rebounds), Daniel Batcho (8.4 points, 6.2 rebounds), Jaylon Tyson (.9 points, 6.1 rebounds) and De’Vion Harmon (12.8 points, 2.8 rebounds) to increase not only their scoring load — but, requires an emphasis on rebounding the basketball to end a defensive possession.

Taking care of the basketball, while producing turnovers will also be key against the Cowboys who cough the ball up 14.4 times per contest — above the Red Raiders mark of 13.9.

“We’ve got to rebound, they’re a very good rebounding team,” Adams said of keys to victory against Oklahoma State. ”And they’re great at the rim, so we’ve gotta try to stop those lobs. And they’re a team that’s good in transition.

“The thing we’ve really gotta work on is really gotta work on is try to take care of the ball and get better at that and score in the half-court because they’ve got one of best half-court defense in the nation.”

TEXAS TECH AT OKLAHOMA STATE

When: 7 p.m. Wednesday

Where: Gallagher-Iba Arena, Stillwater, Okla.

Records: Texas Tech 12-11, 1-9. Oklahoma State 14-9, 5-5

Online stream: ESPN+

Radio: FM 97.3

Fast fact(s): The Red Raiders are 0-5 in conference road games. TTU takes on Oklahoma State, which owns a 10-2 record at home.

BIG 12 CONFERENCE STANDINGS

Team, Big 12 record, Overall record

Texas 8-3, 19-5

Iowa State 7-3, 16-6

Kansas 7-4, 19-5

Kansas State 6-4, 18-5

Baylor 6-4, 17-6

TCU 6-4, 17-6

Oklahoma State 5-5, 14-9

West Virginia 3-7, 14-9

Oklahoma 2-8, 12-11

Texas Tech 1-9, 12-11

TUESDAY

TCU at Kansas State, (n)

WEDNESDAY

Iowa State at West Virginia, 6 p.m.

Texas Tech at Oklahoma State, 7 p.m.

Oklahoma at Baylor, 8 p.m.

This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Red Raiders look to compete against defensive-minded Oklahoma State