Aaron Ross Leads Texas Tech Basketball Past OU 77-69

Forward Aaron Ross scored 18 points off the bench to lead Texas Tech past Oklahoma 77-69 on Saturday. To reach the NCAA Tournament, the Red Raiders will need more performances like that from the fifth-year-senior.

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Last February, Texas Tech rattled off an unexpected five-game Big 12 winning streak to move from 3-7 to 8-7 in conference play. Thanks to the heroics of senior forward Aaron Ross in Saturday’s eight-point win over Oklahoma, the Red Raiders have an opportunity for another February run.

Ross was Texas Tech’s go-to scorer down the stretch as the Red Raiders held off a feisty young Oklahoma squad. He hit six clutch free throws in the final 2:30 of the second half to help Texas Tech pull to 4-6 in Big 12 play. The win halted a three-game conference losing streak that has seen Tech’s postseason chances diminish drastically.

After a breakout 2015-16 season, Aaron Ross entered this season with lofty expectations. However, his play has been inconsistent thus far.

Saturday’s game was only the fourth conference game in which Ross has scored in double figures. Without a true superstar, Texas Tech is a team that must have every player fulfill his role and Ross’ role is to be a primary scorer. When he has failed to score over nine points, Texas Tech has struggled to a 2-4 league record.

Part of Ross’ inconsistencies can be attributed to the fact that he is not a perfect fit in head coach Chris Beard’s motion offense.

In Beard’s system, few set plays are run. Players are expected to find their shots within the flow of the offense. The players that are most adept at using ball screens and heady movement are the ones that excel in that style of play.

Ross is far from being considered quick and constant movement is not his strength. Rather, he is better as a spot-up shooter. He is more effective in an offense like Texas Tech ran last season.

Under 2015-16 head coach Tubby Smith, Texas Tech ran a much different offensive system. To minimize the possessions of the opposition, Smith had his team hold the ball until late in the shot clock. The Red Raiders would then run set plays in the final 10-15 seconds of the possession trying to hit open shooters like Ross.

While Ross’ adjustment to the motion offense has taken time, it appears that he may be finding his niche. In three of the last four games, Ross has scored at least 14 points.

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Texas Tech has suffered from extended offensive droughts at times this year. More consistent scoring from Aaron Ross is desperately needed as the Red Raiders attempt to reach postseason play for the second consecutive year.

The Arkansas native has scored in double figures ten times this season. In those games, Texas Tech has gone 7-3 (with two of the losses coming by four points or fewer).

As Texas Tech made its February run last year, Ross averaged 16.1 points per game. He had games of 25, 20, 17 and 14 points during the season defining winning streak that propelled Texas Tech back into the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2007.

This February, Texas Tech needs a similar strong run if it hopes to reach the big dance again. Another big month from Ross could be the key. Here’s hoping Saturday’s performance was a sign of what is to come.

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