Big 12 Basketball power rankings: Texas Tech emerges as big threat to Kansas

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 07: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts after dunking the basket during the game against the Iowa State Cyclones on February 7, 2018 at United Supermarket Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Iowa State 76-58. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

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AUSTIN, TX – NOVEMBER 16: Dylan Osetkowski #21 of the Texas Longhorns shoots the ball against Zane Najdawi #35, Connor Kern #12, Kaelon Harris #23 and Matt Frierson #3 of the Citadel Bulldogs at the Frank Erwin Center on November 16, 2018 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

5. Texas Longhorns (5-2)

Previous ranking: 4

Coming into the Las Vegas Invitational, Texas was the lone unranked team out of the four participants (UCLA, Michigan State, and North Carolina). But at the end of the event, the team came out with a No. 17 national ranking, thanks to a 92-89 victory. Kerwin Roach had a career-high 32 points in the game, with the team making 11 three-pointers.

The Longhorns should’ve won the finals matchup against Michigan State, having an early 19-point lead. The Spartans came back and pulled away in the end, depriving Shaka’s Smart team of another quality win.

Related Story. Takeaways from Las Vegas Invitational. light

There must’ve been a lingering effect on the team because a few nights later they fell at home to Radford. As good as Roach was against UNC, he was that bad versus the Highlanders, going 2-12 from the field. Senior Dylan Osetkowski grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds but shot 4/15 himself.

In the end, Texas’ fatal flaw of shooting re-emerged in the upset loss. The team shot 35% overall for the game, including an awful 5/27 from three-point range. Going 10/20 from the free throw line doesn’t help either.

Radford has looked great so far so even as a mid-major, the loss may not look as bad down the road for the Longhorns. And the early wins against both UNC and Arkansas gives them plenty of breathing room. But the offensive issues are still a problem for a program trying to improve on. Unless that happens, Texas will suffer as many setbacks as they will make progressions.

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