Texas Tech basketball looking for new leaders as season approaches

The Texas Tech basketball season will tip off two weeks from today and we begin to prepare for the season by considering who will step up as leaders for this year’s team.

Coming off of the most successful season in Texas Tech basketball history, there are higher expectations for the Red Raiders than ever before. But with the loss of five seniors and an NBA lottery pick, there are also plenty of questions to answer.

One of the biggest is the question of who will emerge as leaders for a team featuring six new players. What’s more, only two players expected to be in the regular rotation, Norense Odiase and Brandone Francis, were in the program just three years ago. And it is from those two seniors that one would expect some leadership to come.

Francis has had quite the journey during his collegiate career. The former 4-star recruit signed with Florida out of high school where he would spent two seasons, (redshirting as a true freshman). But a coaching change would prompt Francis to seek a new school bringing him to Lubbock.

However, as he sat out the 2016-17 season per NCAA transfer rules, he struggled to mature both on and off the court and at times it seemed like Chris Beard’s high expectations and no nonsense approach would be too much for Francis to endure.

But to his credit, he stuck it out and became a key contributor off the bench last season averaging 5.1 points and 1.9 rebounds. But this season, the Red Raiders need more from the native of the Dominican Republic both on and off the court.

He will certainly be needed to increase his scoring as Tech looks to replace six of its top eight scorers from last year’s Elite 8 team. But it could be in the locker room that Francis proves to be even more valuable.

"“I gotta be more consistent on and off the court,” Francis told the “Daily Toreador”. “As a senior now, I got younger guys looking up to me.”"

And with a roster featuring seven freshmen or sophomores in key roles, veteran voices will certainly be needed. Perhaps no voice will carry as much weight as that of senior forward Norense Odiase.

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The Ft. Worth native has been in the program since the 2014-15 season and during that time has become one of the most respected players on campus, regardless of sport. Always willing to sacrifice his body to make hustle plays and sacrifice stats for the sake of the team, Odiase returns to anchor the roster as a key post presence as well as a grizzled veteran leader.

The strong, silent type on the court, Odiase might lead more by example than verbally but setting the tone for the team, especially early as the new players come together, is going to be an essential component of what he brings to the table.

Francis and Odiase have more experience in Beard’s program than any other members of the team. As such, it will fall to that duo to help spread Beard’s 4:1 philosophy.

"“We kind of know what it’s like to be here, this our third year under Coach Beard and his staff, so we kind of know what to expect and what not,” Francis said. “So it’s our job to teach the young guys what to expect, and we are in the best league in college basketball. Everyone is good at this level and we just gotta be ready to work and win games.”"

On the court, a pair of graduate transfers will be expected to shoulder a significant portion of the load. Guard Matt Mooney and center Tariq Owens were two of the most highly-coveted transfer players available this offseason and both will likely begin the season in the starting line-up.

Of course, sophomore forward Jarrett Culver will be the focal point of the offense after a stellar freshman season. The Lubbock native is expected to be one of the top players in the Big 12 and in crunch time, Culver will likely be asked to make the type of plays Keened Evans did last year.

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But when it comes to showing the way and leading through example, Francis and Odiase could be invaluable. Having learned the Red Raider way from players like Evans, Zach Smith and Justin Gray, it is now time for this year’s seniors to take ownership of the program and ensure that this year’s team continues to exhibit the type of character that proved to be so successful a season ago.

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