No. 3 Duke, No. 19 Texas Tech has areas to address before hitting NYC

No. 3 Duke has played a number of tough opponents throughout the first half of the schedule. Next up for Jon Scheyer’s team is a neutral battle with No. 19 Texas Tech.

Scheyer doesn’t want the Blue Devils to sleep on the Red Raiders when they meet Saturday night in New York.

“It’s going to be just as good for a team that we play,” Scheyer said.

Duke (11-0) will finish its non-conference schedule with its second game since the final exam break. Texas Tech (8-3) has won four of its last five games.

“They have a great roster, great coach and you know this is going to be one of our toughest games all season,” Duke freshman Cameron Boozer said. “It’s an NCAA Tournament game for us, getting ready for neutral-site games against really good teams. I’m just looking forward to having a great game as a team.”

Texas Tech is aiming to beat a nationally ranked opponent for the first time this season. The Red Raiders have lost to Illinois, Purdue and Arkansas.

“How we win these games is you fight, you quit, you compete,” Texas coach Grant McCasland said.

The Red Raiders will be the fifth nationally ranked opponent to face Duke. One of the Blue Devils’ wins came against Arkansas.

Scheyer reached the 100-win mark this week when the Blue Devils defeated visiting Lipscomb 97-73. With a 100-22 record, he is the fastest to 100 wins among any ACC men’s basketball coach in history.

There were glitches for the Blue Devils in the Lipscomb game. They trailed by 10 points in the first half and committed a season-high 22 turnovers.

“It’s something we have to look at, to be better,” said Boozer, who had 26 points and 13 rebounds for his sixth double-double. “And (in) New York is a great chance to turn it around and come back.”

Scheyer said it was a lesson for the Blue Devils.

“This is an example, again, of how we need everyone ready to go,” he said.

Duke sophomore center Patrick Ngongba II had his first career double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Texas Tech beat visiting Northern Colorado 101-90 on Tuesday, posting its best game of the season. LeJuan Watts scored 36 points, marking the first time he has led the Red Raiders in scoring.

Big star JT Toppin has reached the 30-point mark three times this season for Texas Tech while averaging 21.9 points per game. Christian Anderson has three double-doubles, each with points and assists.

“They have two of the best players in the country,” Scheyer said.

But there are frustrations for the Red Raiders about their defense. They have allowed 73.9 points per game.

“Our fight is not what it should be in this regard,” McCasland said. “It’s not a matter of scheme — it’s a matter of effort. We’re going to go deeper on the bench. If it costs us offensively, it costs us.”

Texas Tech also has concerns about the status of Luke Bamgboye, who left the game at Northern Colorado with a non-contact injury in the second half. McCasland said this week that he doesn’t anticipate Bamgboye playing against Duke. He is averaging about 16 minutes per game in seven outings.