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Five Reasons Texas Tech Will Make The 2018 NCAA Tournament

By Matthew Conner

Feb 4, 2017; Lubbock, TX, USA; Fire illuminates the United Supermarkets Arena before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sooners. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 77-69. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 4, 2017; Lubbock, TX, USA; Fire illuminates the United Supermarkets Arena before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sooners. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 77-69. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 20, 2017; Lubbock, TX, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot walks on the court before the game with the Iowa State Cyclones at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 20, 2017; Lubbock, TX, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot walks on the court before the game with the Iowa State Cyclones at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

No. 2 New Transfers

When Chris Beard took over the reins of the Texas Tech basketball program, he added eight players to the roster.  Two of those players, Brandone Francis and Tommy Hamilton IV had to sit out this season due to NCAA Transfer rules.  The Red Raiders expect both to be significant contributors next year.

Francis is a 6-foot-5 sophomore from the Dominican Republic.  He spent his freshman season at Florida where he put up a modest 2 points and 1 rebound per game.

However, he was a 4-star recruit out of high school and could be the answer for Texas Tech at the point guard position.  ESPN.com ranked Francis the No. 35 recruit in the nation for 2014.

"His scouting report from ESPN reads , “Francis is a strong and athletic guard with excellent size. He finishes above the rim on the break with power. Francis is an excellent handler and passer as well. He has very good court vision and makes teammates better with his penetration and ability to drive, draw and kick…”"

Though Evans opened the season at point guard, he blossomed when moved to off guard and Beard will likely want to keep him on the wing to maximize his scoring ability.

The rest of the Tech point guards struggled to score and protect the ball last year so there is a need for someone to claim the point guard role.  Francis is the most obvious candidate and if he lives up to his billing he could make the Texas Tech offense more efficient and balanced. By taking the ball-handling pressure off Evans, Gray and Stevenson he may allow all three to become even more effective scorers.

Meanwhile, Hamilton will help fill the void at forward left by the graduation of Anthony Livingston.  The 6-foot-11 senior transfer spent three seasons at DePaul where he started 58 games in his career.

As a junior, Hamilton scored 8.6 points and grabbed 5.6 rebounds per game.  Like Livingston, Hamilton’s main offensive skill is hitting the three-point shot.  He shot 44% from deep in 2015-16.

In the rugged Big 12, size is at a premium.  Texas Tech desperately needed to add length to its front court and Hamilton will do just that.

Fans should be excited about these two additions but the return of a familiar face may be even more exciting to the Red Raiders.

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