Introduction
Texas Tech has been one of the sleeper teams in the battle royale known as the Big 12 conference. They have captured wins through their free throw shooting, limiting mistakes, and lack of fear of facing tough opponents. These are big reasons why Texas Tech is holding their own in the toughest conference in all of college basketball.
Strengths
Quality Wins
Texas Tech is no stranger to facing and beating the toughest teams in the Big 12 Conference. They have beaten teams like in-state rival Texas on the road, BYU, Oklahoma on the road, and even blew out Kansas. The Red Raiders may not have the toughest schedule in the Big 12, but then again, the Big 12 is the best conference in college basketball. Having that experience facing the best teams in the nation and beating them will be a boast come March.
Free Throws
The Red Raiders are one of the best teams in the nation at draining free throws. They lead the Big 12 in Free Throw percentage with over seventy-seven and a half percent, this also puts them within the top twenty in all of Division I. No other team in the Big 12 has eclipsed seventy-five percent of free throws made, which gives them a unique advantage in conference play.
Limiting mistakes
The Red Raiders will not give their opponents extra chances to score. They committed just under eleven turnovers a game and got stripped under six times a night, second fewest in both stats only to Houston in the Big 12 and commit just over fourteen fouls a night, fewest in the Big 12.
Weaknesses
Forcing Turnovers
Texas Tech is not a team who forces many turnovers. They average under six steals a game, second fewest in the Big 12 and ranking them in the bottom third of all of Division I. They are also not the greatest at forcing turnovers, averaging under a dozen a night, fourth fewest in the Big 12.
Rebounding
Texas Tech is not a good rebounding team. They average just over thirty-five boards a game, fourth fewest in the Big 12. They are also bottom half of the conference both offensively and defensively, averaging ten on the offensive end and twenty-five on the defensive end.
Considering North Carolina, Purdue, and Arizona are all elite rebounding schools and will be in the tournament in March; Texas Tech will have their work cut out from them if they face those schools.
Blocking
Another aspect of their game they need to improve is blocking. While they are below average in field goal and three point percentage against, that is not the red flag. The red flag is their inability to block shots. Texas Tech averages under three blocks a game, third fewest in the Big 12.
This inability to block shots has been a factor in them having a mediocre defense by Big 12 standards.
Texas Tech’s Ceiling
Texas Tech does not have best team based on stats alone. However, they are in the Big 12 and they have held their own in the conference. I would say Elite Eight is the Red Raider’s ceiling, they can hold their own against the best teams but I do believe they do not the talent to push them across the finish line.
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