Texas Tech Basketball: Key offseason storylines heading into 2019-20

2. Texas Tech content with their frontcourt?

As good as Culver was along with Matt Mooney and Moretti in the backcourt, Tariq Owens was the unsung hero down low for the Red Raiders. The shot blocking grad transfer from St. John’s added another dimension to their already stifling defense and his play in particular against Gonzaga was crucial for the team to advance.

But he’s gone, along with Norense Odiase. With these two big men gone, there’s no one on the roster returning listed over 6’8. Good news is that the Red Raiders have tried to fix that with their recruiting class. 6’9 power forward Khalid Thomas is one of the top Junior College prospects in the 2019 class and Russell Tchewa is a seven-footer who adds plenty of size. Andrel Savrasov could follow Moretti’s footsteps and become the next European sensation as well.

There’s a good chance that Texas Tech will still be out there in the grad transfer market to get at least one big man with proven D-1 experience. There are a couple of forwards they’re looking at hard, including Alihan Demir (14.8 ppg and 6.4 rpg at Drexel last season) and TJ Holyfield (12.9 ppg and 6.4 rpg at Stephen F. Austin in 2018). Holyfield missed this past season with an injury for the Lumberjacks.

Who knows if the Red Raiders will land either or if an even more appealing option comes into the portal down the road. But based on the massive success the program had with both Mooney and Owens, look for the team to try it again this offseason in an area of need.