Texas Tech Basketball: Red Raiders starting to become a destination for players
Texas Tech Basketball gets another key piece for their 2018-19 team. The Red Raiders are starting to get talented players on a regular basis.
Looks like Kansas is going to have to deal with another program on a yearly level.
After coming off the program’s greatest postseason result (Elite Eight), Texas Tech appears to be building up for another run.
The Red Raiders are losing six seniors, including leading scorer Keenan Evans. Freshman Zhaire Smith also could leave early to the NBA Draft, as he’s a projected first-round pick.
Assuming he returns, he joins fellow rising sophomore Jarrett Culver in what should be another top-25 team. Florida transfer Brandone Francis looked productive in limited minutes, while Norense Odiase held his own in the paint.
But he wasn’t a true shot blocker nor a great defender on pick and rolls, so Chris Beard and staff went looking for one. And they were able to find it.
St. John's grad transfer Tariq Owens has committed to Texas Tech, source told ESPN.
— Jeff Borzello (@jeffborzello) April 9, 2018
Should be a nice addition for the Red Raiders, will bring shot-blocking and frontcourt help.
After spending his first two seasons as a reserve, St. John’s forward Tariq Owens had a big junior year, averaging 8.4 ppg and 5.9 rpg. Keep in mind that the Red Storm had a pair of ball-dominant guards, so offensive touches were hard to come by.
But the part of his game that should excite Texas Tech fans the most is his shot-blocking ability. He rejected 2.8 shots a game, good for first in the Big East and 8th nationally. Owens will be needed against the talented offensive frontcourts the Big 12 possesses. There’s a very good chance he’ll start on day one.
This is a change for the Red Raiders, who are now getting good players rather than losing them. Owens himself noted that Texas Tech’s success was a factor in his decision.
Tariq Owens said role in offense was a factor, but biggest thing for him was wanting to win. Feels better chance for that at Texas Tech. #sjubb
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) April 9, 2018
Before this past season, Texas Tech was in the bottom half of the Big 12 and wasn’t ranked for nearly a decade. But things have changed, as well as the national perception of the program. And with the new era of transfers playing a big role in college basketball, how teams are viewed is more important now than ever.
Next: 2018 NBA Draft Board 1.0
Texas Tech filled one hole at the center position and now can focus on having a quality ball handler to replace Evans. That shouldn’t be too big a problem, with many players now having a positive view of Texas Tech Basketball.