Texas Tech Basketball: 3 Keys to beat Virginia in national title game

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

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ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 28: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts after a foul is called on the Michigan Wolverines during the 2019 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 28, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

A career-closing performance from Jarrett Culver

Texas Tech has been carried all season by their superstar sophomore Jarrett Culver, and he will be playing in his final game, in all likelihood, in Monday’s National Championship game.

Although he is just a sophomore, Culver is expected to declare for the NBA Draft, as he is a perennial top-five prospect.

Culver did not have a good showing on Saturday, scoring just one point in the first half, and finishing with a total of just ten points.

Against Virginia, five points will not cut it. Culver certainly will not want to end his season with a poor showing, nor will he want to end his college career on a poor note.

Therefore, Culver has to step up. While Michigan State did make it somewhat hard for Culver to find open shots, the shots were there. They just were not falling. Maybe it was nerves, but nonetheless, no excuse matters. Jarrett Culver has to show up ready to win a National Championship on Monday.

Twenty points might not be enough. Everyone knows how impossible it is to score against Virginia’s defense. That does not matter. Big time players make big plays in big games. If Jarrett Culver wants to prove that he is deserving of a second-team All-American honor, and the Big 12 Player of the Year award, then he will have to carry his team to a Championship.

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