Mar 15, 2007, 16:15 GMT
Winston-Salem, NC - The seventh-seeded Boston College Eagles and the 10th-seeded Texas Tech Red Raiders will meet this afternoon in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Awaiting the winner of this game is a second-round matchup with either second-seeded Georgetown or 15th-seeded Belmont.
Texas Tech has won 21 games this season, particularly impressive considering the club finished with a 15-17 record a year ago. This is the fourth time in six seasons that coach Bob Knight has led the Red Raiders to the NCAA Tournament. Knight guided the squad to the 'Sweet 16' just two years ago, his most successful run with Tech, and the all-time winningest coach in men's college basketball history proved that he is capable of leading a team to a championship during his time with Indiana. The Red Raiders won four straight games before losing to Kansas State in the quarterfinal round of the Big 12 Tournament.
Boston College is eager to get back to action after dropping a 71-56 decision to North Carolina in the semifinal round of the ACC Tournament. The Eagles are making their fourth consecutive appearance in the NCAA Tournament, their sixth appearance in the last seven years and the 17th in program history. They are 21-17 all-time at this event, but they own just a 4-7 record this season against teams in the field of 65.
Texas Tech and Boston College have split their only two previous series meetings. It has been 22 years since the programs last met.
While Kevin Durant of Texas and Acie Law of Texas A&M stole most of the headlines in the Big 12 this season with their tremendous individual play, Texas Tech's Jarrius Jackson has been tremendously productive for coach Knight. Jackson, an explosive guard, is averaging 20.2 ppg on the strength of his 43.5 percent shooting from three-point range. While Jackson is obviously the go-to guy at the offensive end, the Red Raiders do have a tremendous second scoring option in Martin Zeno. A 49 percent shooter from the field, the versatile Zeno is posting 16.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg, and 3.3 apg. Texas Tech is scoring 71.6 ppg this season on 41.2 percent shooting from behind the arc, and the club is limiting opponents to 68.6 ppg. On a down note, the Red Raiders are being outrebounded by 4.5 rpg.
Much like Texas Tech, Boston College has some tremendous scorers in the fold. Start with outstanding forward Jared Dudley, the ACC Player of the Year, who is averaging 19.0 ppg this season on 56.2 percent shooting from the floor, including 45.8 percent from three-point range. Dudley is also pulling down 8.3 rpg to go along with 85 assists. He gets plenty of help from Tyrese Rice, as who is posting 17.2 ppg in addition to 171 assists. Sean Marshall tallies 14.8 ppg, rounding out one of the top trios in the ACC. Boston College is scoring 74.6 ppg this season while allowing 69.9 ppg to the opposition. Dudley plays almost 39 minutes per game, while Rice checks in with well over 36 minutes of action per contest. Clearly, the Eagles' success rests on their ability to be productive.
© 2007 The Sports Network
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