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

By Jason Kinander

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)
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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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Tariq Owens #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders high fives teammates after returning to the court after suffering an injury 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 Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Tariq Owens #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders high fives teammates after returning to the court after suffering an injury 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 Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

3. Defense Wins Championships

What has gotten the Texas Tech Red Raiders to the National Championship game? Defense.

What will win the Texas Tech Red Raiders their first-ever National Championship? Defense.

Defense wins championships. Everybody has been told this at least once in their life.

For Texas Tech, that cliche statement has never been truer. The defense has been their calling card all season and tournament, and the defense has to be rock solid on Monday.

Virginia is known for its defense. Texas Tech has to out-defend them.

It doesn’t have to be pretty. Nobody cares how you do it. A National Championship is a National Championship, whether the final score is 31-28, or 80-79.

One defensive element that stood out in particular on Saturday was Jarrett Culver guarding Michigan State star point guard Cassius Winston. Winston was virtually invisible for most of the game, due mostly in part to Culver’s defense.

Texas Tech should repeat that scheme by placing Culver on Virginia’s star guard Ty Jerome. Other defensive centerpieces Norense Odiase and Tariq Owens can handle Virginia’s forwards. By making Jerome ineffective, Texas Tech’s path to a win becomes much clearer.

Next. Texas Tech's path to the Final Four. dark

The Texas Tech Red Raiders will play in their biggest game ever on Monday, facing off against the Virginia Cavaliers in the 2019 National Championship game. Whether it be starpower or defense, Texas Tech will need to follow the aforementioned keys in order to take home their first National Championship win in school history.

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