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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: Kyle Guy #5 of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts in the first half 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: Kyle Guy #5 of the Virginia Cavaliers reacts in the first half 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) /

4. Culver vs Guy

Like we talked about earlier these two teams have rode their defenses to the national title game, but they wouldn’t have been here if it weren’t for their offenses also. Leading the way for Texas Tech is probable lottery pick Jarrett Culver. On the other side it is Kyle Guy for Virginia.

Both of these guys have been the go-to-guy on offense. Guy is best known for now as the guy who hit the three free-throws to win the game against Auburn to put them in the championship game. Even though that might be his biggest moment in the tournament he has been solid in each game. That included him scoring 25 points against Purdue including five threes as he and Carsen Edwards went back and forth. Without Guy in that game, they would have never even made it to the Final Four.

Culver was the Big 12 player of the year, but still many basketball fans had never heard of him. All he has done in the tournament is lead the Red Raiders in scoring in four of their five games. Even though he had an off night against Michigan State, he is still the best scorer on the team. He will be the best scorer on the court on Monday night also. He averaged just under 20 points for the season and is doing the same in the tournament.

While these guys might not guard each other in the title game, it will come down to these two guys. Whichever guy has the better game will probably lead his team to a championship. Each team knows that is the guy they need to shut down. It will be one of the biggest keys of the game. We know the defenses are going to rule the day, but the teams still need to score and Culver and Guy are going to be the ones needing to have good games.

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