Keenan Evans Must Continue His Hot Offensive Streak

Junior guard Keenan Evans is developing into the go-to scorer the Texas Tech basketball team has been missing. Can his hot streak carry the Red Raiders past West Virginia today?

Every successful basketball team needs a hero that can be counted on to take over when the game is in the balance. Over the last three contests, Keenan Evans has been stating his case to fill that role for Texas Tech.

The Richardson, Texas native has stepped forward to lead the Texas Tech offense as Big 12 play nears its end. He has averaged 22.6 points per game since the Red Raiders’ February 4^th win over Oklahoma. Evans had recorded just three other 20-point games all season.

However, a midseason position change has helped Evans find a new offensive prowess. Head coach Chris Beard moved Evans from point guard to shooting guard around the start of conference play giving Evans more opportunities to score.

And that is exactly what he has done. During the Big 12 schedule, Evans has scored in double figures every game.

Now, as the Texas Tech season comes down to the wire Keenan Evans seems to be finding another level on the offensive end. In back-to-back games against top-5 teams Kansas and Baylor, Evans poured in 25 and 23 points respectively.

Impressively, he has shown a diversity to his game. Versus the Jayhawks and Bears, Evans was a combined 6-8 from three-point range and 16-19 from the foul line.

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Those numbers suggest that he is playing within the flow of the offense. He is being judicious with his jump shots and not forcing up bad looks. Furthermore, he is playing aggressively and driving to the basket to draw contact.

Texas Tech has desperately needed someone to spearhead its scoring all season. The Red Raiders’ high number of close losses this year suggests that they have not had someone step up when the game was on the line.

Five of Texas Tech’s nine losses this season have come by five points or less. In those games, it seemed that Texas Tech’s opponents always had a lead dog step forward in crunch time. Meanwhile, the Red Raiders seemed unable to decide on who to turn to for critical buckets.

But now it is clear that Evans is the alpha-male on the offensive end. His confidence has never been higher and Chris Beard wants him to continue to be aggressive with his game.

Today, the Red Raiders face a daunting task on the road at No. 9 West Virginia. The Mountaineers are averaging 86 points per game due in large part to their relentless full-court press.

Evans will have to come up big again if Texas Tech is to notch its first road win of the Big 12 season. Not only must he be the go-to offensive star when his team needs a bucket but he will also be counted on to take care of the basketball. That is an area in which Evans has been inconsistent.

In a four-point loss at Texas on February 1^st, Evans turned the ball over five times. But since then, he has no more than two turnovers in a game. If he can make smart decisions with the ball he should be able to get to the free-throw line against the aggressive Mountaineers.

Keenan Evans can be a star for Texas Tech. His play over the last week-and-a-half is proof of that.

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Of course, West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins will have his team focused on the Red Raiders’ leading scorer. If Texas Tech is to pull off another upset today and make any realistic run at the NCAA Tournament, Keenan Evans must continue to lead the way.

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