North Texas visits Texas Tech to face The Red Raiders under first year Head Coach Billy Gillispie. Gillispie coached University of Kentucky, Texas A&M and University of Texas-El Paso. He has been out of coaching for two years.

This will be the second Sun Belt Conference member TTU has faced to open their season. TTU has a 22-13 all-time record against SBC schools. Last Friday they got by Troy 90-85 and did not secure the win until the 20 seconds of the game.

North Texas and TTU have faced each other 14 times with TTU holding a slight 8-6 advantage. Last year in Denton, North Texas won a thrilling overtime 92-83 win in Denton.

Like North Texas, TTU is a young squad with a lot less experience. They have three returning players from last season and only one senior, Robert Lewandowski. Last year he averaged 8.5 points and 4.8 rebounds a game.

Along with Lewandowski, Sophomores Jaye Crockett, 4.8 point and three rebounds last season and Javarez Willis, 3.6 and 1.5 assists.  Against Troy, Willis had 15 points, six rebounds and four assists. Crockett was on the bench with injuries.

North Texas will see 12 newcomers in TTU’s lineup. There will eight freshmen, one sophomore and three juniors.

One of the transfers that made noise against Troy was Ty Nurse. The 6-1, 180lbs., from Vancouver B.C. via St. Mary’s Cathlolic/Midland College poured in 29 points. Gillispie is high on the point guard.

North Texas has two areas they might be able to take advantage of to secure a win. First is turnovers, TTU is averaging about 25 turnovers a game in the first three games. Two exhibition and the season opener against Troy.

The second is rebounding, while TTU won the battle of the boards against Troy, 33-31, they did it against a much smaller team. Troy grabbed 14 rebounds to TTU’s seven.

The Red Raiders are not afraid to put the ball up from downtown.

North Texas Chris Jones will get to play against Toddrick Gotcher a former teammate from Garland Lakeview Centennial. Both were two-time All-State honoree and winning back-to-back state championships.

It is expected that around 10,000 Black and Red fans will be in the stands.

The game will be on the TT Sports Network, ESPN Full Court, Fox Sports Southwest and ESPN3.