Texas Tech Basketball Notes: Smith To Return; Tech To Face South Carolina

Though the Texas Tech basketball team is in the midst of the offseason, this week there have been some interesting developments that will have major impacts on Chris Beard’s team next season.

Zach Smith Will Return For Senior Season

Last month, Texas Tech junior forward Zach Smith declared for the NBA Draft. However, he did not hire an agent meaning that he would be able to return to Texas Tech should he find that his draft stock is not where he hoped.

This week he made official his decision to withdraw from the draft and return to school. This news comes as no surprise.

Though Smith is one of the best athletes in the Big 12 and arguably the best player on the Texas Tech roster, his game is not ready for the NBA. The 6-foot-8 native of Plano, TX is as explosive as any player in college basketball. His raw athletic ability is his greatest attribute and makes him the best NBA prospect to play in Lubbock in recent memory.

However, to be an NBA player, Smith must improve his shooting touch. Most of Smith’s points last season came in the paint or from the free throw line.

He has an unorthodox shooting motion that results in a very flat jumper. He has proven capable of hitting open jumpers but at the next level, he will have to make more contested shots. Last season, he shot just under 40% from 3-point-range but that number is a bit deceiving because he took only 1.4 threes per game.

Smith projects as a small forward in the NBA. At that position, teams will expect him to be able to be a consistent threat from deep. Furthermore, he will have to prove that he has the ability to create his own shot off the dribble.

But as far as Texas Tech is concerned, Smith’s presence on the team is critical if the Red Raiders are to reach the NCAA Tournament in 2018. He was second on the team in scoring at 12.1 points-per-game and tops in rebounds (7.2) and blocks (1.4).

He has started all but two of the 94 games he has played at Tech and his presence in the paint will be a huge component of next year’s team. While it was always assumed Smith would return, this news is just what Chris Beard and Texas Tech fans were hoping for.

Texas Tech Will Face South Carolina In Big 12/SEC Challenge

The Red Raiders will take part in the fifth Big 12/SEC Challenge in January and this year’s opponent poses a huge test. Tech will travel to Columbia, South Carolina to face 2017 Final Four participant South Carolina.

The Gamecocks advanced to the Final Four as a No. 7 seed in the NCAA East Region last year. Their run included impressive victories over perennial powers Marquette, Duke, Baylor and Florida.

South Carolina and Texas Tech have met only three times with the last meeting coming in 1976. However, one face on the South Carolina bench will be familiar to Red Raider fans.

Former Kansas State head coach Frank Martin will be in his sixth season coaching the Gamecocks next year. Prior to his time in Columbia, Martin spent five seasons coaching the Wildcats.

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In Manhattan, Martin led the Wildcats to the postseason every year (with four trips to the NCAA Tournament). He had an overall record of 117-54. He was 5-1 against Texas Tech with his only loss coming in 2008.

The Gamecocks are one of the toughest defensive teams in the nation but will be without last year’s top scorer and rebounder. Sindarius Thornwell, who graduated after last season, was responsible for 21.4 points and 7.1 rebounds per contest. Though his absence will be felt, facing Martin’s Gamecocks on the road will be a huge test for the Red Raiders.

Texas Tech To Face Boston College To Begin “Tipoff Tournament”

Another bit of scheduling news for the upcoming season has been made public. Texas Tech will face Boston College to open the “Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame Tipoff Tournament”. The event, to be held in Connecticut will begin on November 18 and will feature six teams.

Boston College is coming off one of the worst seasons in program history. The Eagles went a meager 9-23 last year and won only two of eighteen games in the ACC Conference.

Texas Tech could also face the Northwestern Wildcats in this event. Unlike Boston College, Northwestern is riding high after reaching the NCAA Tournament last time for the first time in program history.

Other participants in the tournament include LaSalle, The University of Maine, Sacred Heart University, Saint Peter’s and The University of South Alabama.

During the long hot Texas summer, it may seem like college basketball is a distant star on the horizon. However, the team will begin practices in late September to prepare to open the season in early November.

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Beard’s team will look to rebound from last season when it missed out on postseason play. Tech will feature five seniors including 2016-17 starters Smith, Keenan Evans and Justin Gray. Of course, Wreck ‘Em Red will have complete coverage of Texas Tech basketball throughout the summer and into the upcoming season.

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