Texas Tech Basketball: 2019-20 keys to Red Raiders win at West Virginia

2. Protect Chris Clarke/play more bigs

To add more to Texas Tech’s issue of size, how Chris Clarke is handled could ultimately decide the game. Besides leading the team in rebounds at 8.6 rpg, the 6’6 forward also is the lead facilitator for the team at 5.9 apg. The offense isn’t the same when he’s on the bench, with a bunch of shooting guards (Ramsey and Davide Moretti) operating on the outside.

West Virginia certainly knows that, which is why they’ll be targeting him when he’s on defense. He’ll have to guard either Culver or Tshiebwe for a good portion of the game and could easily get into foul trouble. Or even worse, have to be the Red Raiders center if Holyfield succumbs to the foul issues. Considering that Coach Beard prefers to have a six-man rotation in big games, something will have to change.

And that change will have to be in the way of two reserve big men playing in this matchup. Russel Tchewa is a 7’0 center who can match up physically with the Mountaineer big men. At the very least, he can provide 5-10 minutes to help out Clarke and Holyfield and give them a break from the constant banging down low. Same for fellow freshman Andrei Savrasov, who has five fouls to also offer. It’s not the offense that is needed from these two but rather some depth. Making sure Clarke is around for the final five minutes or so is highly important and this will help ensure that.