Texas Tech Basketball: 2018-19 season preview for the Red Raiders

Starting lineup

Davide Moretti
Moretti will be tasked with replacing Evans as the starting point guard, and while he isn’t as dynamic of a player, he’s certainly solid in his own right. In the U20 European Championships over the summer, he averaged 15 points per game to lead the Italian national team. He’s a true point guard who is more of a facilitator and is smart with the ball, providing a steadying hand for the rest of the team. A number of players will likely see time as the primary ball-handler, but Moretti will be the No. 1 guy.

Matt Mooney
Of all the newcomers on the roster, Mooney is the guy people are the most excited about. The 6-3, 200-pounder starting his career at Air Force before transferring and playing two years at South Dakota, where he averaged 18.7 points per game a year ago. His shooting will be his biggest asset for this team as the Red Raiders largely struggled to make shots from deep last year. Mooney can both spot up and create his own shot off the bounce, both skills that will be heavily utilized by the offense.

Jarrett Culver
It looks like Culver is set to take over as Texas Tech’s best and more important player. Smith got most of the praise from last year’s freshman class (and rightfully so), but Culver averaged 11.2 points per game and was one of their best defenders. He should be even better defensively with some offseason strength added to his 6-5 frame, allowing him to guard positions one-through-four. Culver should have more freedom on offense as well as the focal point of the offense.

Deshawn Corprew
Texas Tech is expected to play small this year, and the physical 6-6 wing is a perfect small ball four because of his toughness and ability to rebound against bigger players. Corprew, who was one of the best JUCO players on the market, has a rare combination of quickness and strength that makes him a great defender and a quality slasher.

Tariq Owens
Owens was solid last year at St. John’s (8.4 ppg, 5.9) but made an imprint nationally as one of the best shot-blockers in the nation, averaging 2.8 per game (eighth nationally). As good as Texas Tech was defensively a year ago, they weren’t good at protecting the rim – no player averaged more than 1.1 blocks per game. Owens suddenly gives their defense a true anchor, allowing them to play even tighter on the perimeter. Don’t expect him to contribute much on the offensive end, but that’s not why he’ll be on the court.