Texas Tech Basketball: Keys to crucial Big 12 matchup against Kansas

LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 28: Jarrett Culver #23 and Davide Moretti #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrate during the second half of the game against the TCU Horned Frogs on January 28, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated TCU 84-65. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

3 of 4

LUBBOCK, TX – JANUARY 28: Kouat Noi #12 of the TCU Horned Frogs passes the ball around Davide Moretti #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the first half of the game on January 28, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

No. 2: Big games from Matt Mooney and Davide Moretti

I touched on it a bit in the last slide about how crucial the Red Raiders’ lack of a complementary scorer is.

However, if they can somehow manage to get big games from one or two of their other players. it will go a long way in deciding the final outcome of the game.

Two of those scorers in particular are Matt Mooney and Davide Moretti. Mooney, a graduate transfer from North Dakota, is averaging 10 points per game on the season.

Mooney has shown the potential to take control of the game himself if need be, but assuming that Culver will play to his normal standard, Texas Tech won’t quite need Mooney to go off.

They will, however, need Mooney to play a sizable role. Ten points certainly won’t do it if Texas Tech wants to win this one in a safe manner. A productive performance from their point guard would be extremely beneficial against Kansas.

Meanwhile, Moretti, a wing guard, will need to play a solid role in his own right. Moretti is also averaging ten points per game, but as someone who is not a primary ball-handler like Mooney or Culver, Moretti’s role will be more of a dark horse or x-factor in deciding the game.

If Moretti can emerge with a big game, Texas Tech probably won’t need much else to defeat Kansas. A good game out of Culver is practically a sure thing, while Mooney should do a good enough job of facilitating the offense.

Home/Texas Tech Red Raiders