Texas Tech shocks Duke: Purple Raiders hand Blue Devils first lack of season

Texas Tech entered this season believing it had the items to win a nationwide championship, however thus far, its protection had not been as much as par and accidents have ravaged the Purple Raiders’ means to coalesce. Texas Tech entered Saturday’s showdown in opposition to No. 3 Duke short-handed, bruised and off-kilter.

It’s going to go away Madison Sq. Backyard with one among faculty basketball’s largest wins of the season. Texas Tech erased a 17-point, second-half deficit to stun Duke 82-81 and notch a resume-boosting win that sends a message to the remainder of the Large 12 that this group is as harmful as ever. 

JT Toppin performed the ultimate eleven-plus minutes of the sport with 4 fouls and managed to remain within the struggle. The Purple Raiders’ All-American completed with 19 factors, but it surely was Christian Anderson who sored 23 of his 27 factors within the second half factors to spark the comeback. LeJuan Watts additionally chipped in 20 huge factors to assist Texas Tech (9-3) keep above water with out injured middle Luke Bamgboye.

Duke (11-1) acquired 23 factors from Cameron Boozer and 13 extra from twin brother Cayden, however the Blue Devils’ offense scored simply three factors in a five-minute span down the stretch to breathe life into Texas Tech’s rally.

With the loss, Duke fell from the unbeaten ranks. Solely Michigan, Iowa State, Arizona, Vanderbilt, Nebraska and Miami (Ohio) stay unblemished.   

Let’s dive into some takeaways of Texas Tech’s upset of Duke.

Texas Tech’s Large Three emerges

We knew Toppin and Anderson had been anticipated to be good, and thus far, that duo has been as much as the duty. Saturday was no totally different. One of many nation’s finest inside-out duos mixed for 46 factors in opposition to a Duke protection that had been vicious all 12 months. 

However Watts has turn out to be a revelation offensively in current weeks after focusing solely on … his protection? The basketball Gods have blessed Texas Tech’s bootyball machine, who racked up 20 factors, six rebounds and three dimes in 27 minutes in opposition to the Blue Devils.

When Toppin, Anderson and Watts are cooking, Texas Tech’s offense is an extremely robust cowl.

Duke realized that the arduous method.

Duke’s protection disintegrates on the improper time

Duke’s protection picked a brutal time to play its worst defensive half of the season. The Blue Devils allowed 1.48 factors per possession within the second half. 

Total, it was the worst exhibiting for Duke’s protection this 12 months … by a rustic mile.

Large 12 race is shaping as much as be a banger

Texas Tech has definitely confirmed its finest 40 minutes can knock off anyone, and it is setting the stage for an all-time Large 12 race. Iowa State and Arizona are unbelievable. Houston, recent off dismantling Arkansas, is beginning to play very nicely. BYU and Kansas have two elite abilities. 

A massacre awaits.