The Arizona Wildcats and the Texas Tech Red Raiders continue Big 12 Conference men’s basketball action on Saturday, Jan. 18, 2025, in Lubbock, Texas.
Tip-off is set for 1 p.m. central on ESPN2. The Wildcats (11-5, 5-0 in Big 12) and the Red Raiders (12-4, 3-2) are unranked.
Arizona is on a heater. The Wildcats have won seven straight games and are one of three teams that remain undefeated in the Big 12, along with Iowa State and Houston. Arizona won’t face ISU until late January and Houston until mid-February.
Texas Tech is coming off a victory at Kansas State. The Red Raiders’ two losses are to UCF in the opener and Iowa State last weekend, which was an overtime showdown that Tech had every chance to win.
Here is a preview of Saturday’s game.
How to Watch Arizona vs. Texas Tech
Date: Saturday, January 18, 2025
Time: 1 p.m. CT
TV Channel: ESPN2
Site: United Supermarkets Arena, Lubbock, Texas.
Arizona vs. Texas Tech Betting Odds, Lines
Opening Line: Arizona -4
Current Line: Arizona -3.5
Over/Under: 151
Arizona vs. Texas Tech Predictions
Lubbock is gonna be lit, as the kids like to say. The students are back on campus and the undefeated Wildcats hit campus with their eye on getting back into the AP Top 25. A win on Saturday and Arizona should be able to slip back into the poll.
Guards Caleb Love, Jaden Bradley and KJ Lewis are averaging nearly 38 points per game combined. But forward Henri Veesaar’s contributions continue to impress. Yes, he’s averaging 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. But he’s hit double figures in each of the last two games and he’s growing into an invaluable piece of Arizona’s success.
Tech has grown into an impressive team, with guard Elijah Hawkins turning in a driving force. He’s averaging 9.1 points and 6.1 assists per game. He’s scored double figures in four of his five Big 12 games and registered at least 10 assists in two of them. With him running the point this offense really hums.
Seven different Red Raiders averaged at least seven points per game. They’re a balanced team offensively that can still defend at a high level, which is part of the reason they were able to push Iowa State to overtime.
Texas Tech takes this one by a point. Home court advantage will mean something here.
Texas Tech 78, Arizona 77
ESPN Matchup Predictor: Texas Tech (50.6% Chance of Winning)
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
