Trust in Toddrick: Gotcher leads Texas Tech to rare road win at Ok. State

Playing in front of a crowd no larger than one at a 6-A Texas high school basketball game and against a team standing second-to-last in the Big 12, Texas Tech senior Toddrick Gotcher made sure his team did not have a letdown after three emotional victories. The guard from Garland, Texas scored a career-high 24 points to lead Texas Tech over Oklahoma State 71-61.

The victory, Texas Tech’s fourth in a row, pulled head coach Tubby Smith’s team to 7-7 in conference play and 17-9 overall. But more importantly, Texas Tech’s first win in Gallagher Iba Arena in 12 years moved the team one step closer to earning an NCAA tournament bid.

In front of a lifeless and unenergetic Stillwater crowd, Texas Tech played a sluggish first half that saw the Red Raiders and Cowboys tied at 29 at the break. But after the break, Gotcher took over the game.

The streaky shooter got hot from deep hitting 5-7 three-point attempts including three three-pointers in a row to give his team a 40-33 lead. Though the Cowboys would cut the Texas Tech lead to 42-41, the Red Raiders never trailed after Gotcher’s 80-second bombing raid.

More from Wreck'Em Red

Aaron Ross added 12 points and forward Matthew Temple (whom you may have heard was discovered playing in intramural games at the Texas Tech recreation center, being as that fact is mentioned virtually every time Temple does anything positive) contributed an unexpected 11 points to tie his career high.

The Cowboys offense was one-dimensional all evening. Coach Travis Ford’s team hoisted 30 attempts from long range, hitting a season high 14. However, Texas Tech was able to control the game in the second half with strong defense and a huge advantage at the foul line.

While the Cowboys were playing a glorified game of around the world, Texas Tech was attacking the rim, frequently drawing fouls. The Red Raiders would end the game with a 21-5 advantage at the free throw line and every time the Cowboys seemed to be in a position to make a run ,Texas Tech’s aggressive offense would bring them another trip to the charity stripe.

As for Gotcher, he must love playing against Oklahoma State. In the Red Raiders’ home overtime win over the Pokes on February 4^th, he scored 18 points to help Texas Tech rally to force the extra five minutes.

On Saturday, Gotcher made sure Texas Tech would not need overtime to beat the 12-15 Cowboys. With starting Red Raider point guard Keenan Evans on the bench due to foul trouble and Oklahoma State within a point, Gotcher took over the main ball-handling role for Texas Tech.

With the senior running the show, the Red Raiders once again found an offensive rhythm and steadily pulled away from the home team. Playing 38 of 40 minutes in the game, Gotcher made smart decisions like not rushing contested shots in order to let the game clock continue to roll thus providing the type of senior experience this young Texas Tech team needed on a night when its three starting sophomores combined for only 21 points.

"“He’s known for hitting shots at critical times,” Oklahoma State guard Jeff Newberry said about Gotcher. “He’s a senior. He’s a leader.” Link"

With four games left to play (two at home), Texas Tech has a shot at winning 20 games on the season. That feat would almost certainly secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament for a program that has not been to the big dance in nine years.

For perhaps the first time in conference play, Texas Tech was the team in the game with everything to lose. It is a situation that has rarely been experienced by Tubby Smith’s Red Raiders in his three seasons in Lubbock and he was pleased with what his team was able to do as the favorites.

"“It’s a good win, a momentum builder for us,” Tubby Smith said. “We’re coming off a few good wins in the Big 12. We need to continue validating those wins by getting the win tonight. It’s an outstanding accomplishment by these young men.” Link"

Though it was not an overwhelming exhibition of aesthetically pleasing basketball (as was last Saturday’s 18-point road win over Baylor), Texas Tech’s effort against the Cowboys was good enough to keep the team surging as March nears. On Wednesday, Texas Tech will again be the hunted as the last place TCU Horned Frogs visit the United Supermarkets Area.

Next: WR Derrick Willies ranked No. 3 JUCO transfer in America

Texas Tech will need to approach that game with the same workman-like attitude that it had in the second half last night. With Toddrick Gotcher leading the way, it is hard to fathom Texas Tech being unprepared for any opponent, no matter how quality or poor that opponent may be.

Home/Texas Tech Basketball