Busting Brackets
Fansided

Texas Tech Basketball: 3 reasons why the Red Raiders will be better than Texas in 2018-19

By Tristan Freeman

LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 13: The Texas Tech Red Raiders fans rush the court after the Texas Tech Red Raiders defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 72-71 on January 13, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 13: The Texas Tech Red Raiders fans rush the court after the Texas Tech Red Raiders defeated the West Virginia Mountaineers 72-71 on January 13, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 23: Jarrett Culver #23, Keenan Evans #12 and Zach Smith #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrate their lead over the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA – MARCH 23: Jarrett Culver #23, Keenan Evans #12 and Zach Smith #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrate their lead over the Purdue Boilermakers during the second half in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament East Regional at TD Garden on March 23, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) /

1. Better defense hails from Lubbock

Back at his days at VCU, Texas Head Coach Shaka Smart was known as an elite defensive tactician, using his “havoc” defense to force opponents to turn the ball over. Since arriving at Texas, the defense has been good – but not great.

Last season, the Longhorns ranked 80th in scoring defense (68.8 ppg) and were in the middle of the road in many of the other categories. There were games where Texas gave up less than 60 points, while other occasions involved them giving up 80+.

Texas Tech, on the other hand, was elite last season. They were 16th in scoring defense (64.8 ppg) and 10th in efficiency. The Red Raiders allowed under 66 points in all four tournament appearances and were able to use their versatile guards/wings to defend different kinds of opponents.

For this upcoming season, look for Texas Tech to have the advantage on the defensive end of the court. They did lose their best individual defender in Keenan Evans but do bring in grad transfer Tariq Owens from St. John’s. The 6’10 forward was one of the best shot blockers in the country last season, averaging around three a night. With the Longhorns losing the anchor of their defense in Mo Bamba, look for Texas to be the team that gives up more points again this season.

Home/Texas Tech Red Raiders