Texas Tech basketball: 5 questions for the Red Raiders against West Virginia

After losing the team’s first league game of the season, Texas Tech has a chance to bounce back with a win over West Virginia. Here are five questions concerning this game.

1. Do the Mountaineers really have the best defense in the conference?

Ask any neutral basketball fan the question of whose defense is best in the Big 12, and the first name is usually West Virginia – or “Press Virginia”. It’s the nickname given for the team’s full-court style pressure for all 40 minutes, causing many turnovers.

But particularly this season, the numbers and the eyes say that Texas Tech, in fact, has the best defensive team. The Red Raiders are in the top five nationally in both defensive scoring and defensive rating, and in four Big 12 games have given up an average of 64.8 ppg. Of course, we can just ask Oklahoma star Trae Young which team was tougher to score on, having to fight for every point against both teams.

2. Which senior guard has the better game?

Both teams are led by their senior point guards, with Jevon Carter having been one of the best defenders in the country in the past couple of years. But Keenan Evans of Texas Tech has been a breakout star in this league, and if it wasn’t for the gluttony of guards in the Big 12, would probably be getting more exposure.

Both guys are the best offensive players on their respective teams, each leading them in scoring. If one clearly has the better game than the other, odds are that team will win the game.

3. Which freshman is the x-factor in this game?

While both teams are led in essence by their upperclassmen, there are a few first-year players who have made a big impact with their squads. For Texas Tech, the duo pair of Jarrett Culver and Zhaire Smith each average double figures largely from the bench. These two are tied for second on the team in scoring at 10.3 ppg.

West Virginia only has one freshman, but he’s made a big impact in conference play. In the first three Big 12 games, Teddy Allen averaged 19 ppg, all off the bench. He did go scoreless in the Baylor game, but the Red Raiders needs to be aware of him at all times, as the energy boost he provides can be a game changer.

4. How many turnovers will Texas Tech have in this game?

This stat could very well determine the outcome of the game, as both teams create their offenses from the fast-break. For Texas Tech it’s a bit tricky to predict how they’ll perform against the press of the Mountaineers.

That’s because as a team, they tend to turn it over. Except for the point guard Evans, who only has five giveaways himself. The more that he has the ball in his hands, the better off the team will be.

5. Could Tommy Hamilton be the most important player?

The transfer from DePaul has been solid with the Red Raiders, averaging around six points and four boards a game. I’m not necessarily saying that he’ll bust out for 20 points against the Mountaineers, but his almost 40% shooting from three is something to note.

Next: Where Texas Tech ranks in latest Big 12 rankings

That’s because of his counterpart is Sagaba Konate, who when active is one of the better defensive big men in the country. In the last game alone, he blocked seven shots. If Hamilton can spread the floor and take Konate away from the paint, it could prove pivotal for Texas Tech‘s chances at a win.

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