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Texas Tech vs Virginia: Key storylines for National Championship game

By Adam Childs

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Kihei Clark #0 and Mamadi Diakite #25 of the Virginia Cavaliers react in the game against the Auburn Tigers during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Kihei Clark #0 and Mamadi Diakite #25 of the Virginia Cavaliers react in the game against the Auburn Tigers during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 06: Cassius Winston #5 of the Michigan State Spartans handles the ball in the second half against the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

1. Defense rules

Offense wins games, defense wins championships. It’s the old saying of how teams win the whole thing. In the age of sports know it has seemed like this has not been true, but Virginia and Texas Tech are proving it to be right. Both teams have used their defense all year long and it has been no exception in the tournament. Virginia has looked great during its run, but the Red Raiders have looked unbelievable.

Texas Tech has held four of their five tournament opponents to under 60 points, including holding Michigan to their lowest total of the year of 44. The only team that scored more than 60 points was Gonzaga who was one of the best offensive teams in the country. And while the Bulldogs managed 69 points in that game, the Red Raiders made it tough the whole game. In their Final Four game against Michigan State, they held them to just 51 points, 11 less than their previous low output this year. They held Big Ten player of the year Cassius Winston to just 4-16 shooting and effectively shut down the whole Spartans offense in route to victory.

Virginia has been almost as effective allowing only two of their opponents to score over 60 points and one of those was Auburn who scored just 62. The Tigers were rolling in the tournament, hitting threes and scoring lots of points, including 97 against North Carolina. The Cavaliers contested every shot and made life miserable for the Tigers. And while they need a late foul called and three free-throws from Kyle Guy to escape, the defense is what won the game for the Cavs.

According to KenPom, Texas Tech has the number one adjusted defense and Virginia is number five. The Cavaliers are giving up just 55.4 points per game (best in the country) and Texas Tech is at just 59 points per game (number three in the country). The only team in between them in points given up in Michigan and Texas Tech already beat them earlier in the tournament.

Everyone knew these two teams had great defenses, but they have taken it to another level in this tournament. If you don’t like defensive games then this championship game might not be for you. But it is going to be a great display of two of the best defenses in the country and while there might not be many points, it should be a great game.

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