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Texas Tech basketball: These six newcomers will be critical in 2018-19

By Matthew Conner

RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 17: Raider Red is seen before the Texas Tech Red Raiders take on the Butler Bulldogs in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PNC Arena on March 17, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA - MARCH 17: Raider Red is seen before the Texas Tech Red Raiders take on the Butler Bulldogs in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PNC Arena on March 17, 2016 in Raleigh, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 7: Justin Simon
PHILADELPHIA, PA – FEBRUARY 7: Justin Simon /

Tariq Owens: Forward 6-foot-10, 205-pounds

While Mooney is jumping from a mid-major program to the big time, Texas Tech’s second graduate transfer, Tariq Owens is no stranger to the top levels of college hoops.  The high-energy forward transferred to Texas Tech after a two seasons at St. John’s where he played in the Big East against the likes of Villanova, Xavier, Butler and Georgetown.

And like Mooney, Owens was brought on board to fill a hole in the roster.  With the loss of Zaire Smith, Zach Smith, Justin Gray and Tommy Hamilton, Chris Beard knew that he had to find a way to fortify his team’s defense.

What better way than to add the leading shot blocker in the Big East?  Owens’ 2.8 blocks per game were 11th nationally last year and more than double Zhaire Smith’s team leading 1.3 blocks per game for the Red Raiders.

What’s more, he ranks fifth in St. Johns’ program history with 163 blocks despite playing for the Red Storm for just two years.  (He was at Tennessee for his freshman season.)

But Owens will be counted on to carry his weight on the other end of the floor as well.  With the graduation of forwards Tommy Hamilton and Zach Smith, Tech lost 11.6 points per game from its forwards.

Thanks to his incredible leaping ability, which will remind Texas Tech basketball fans of Zach Smith, Owens put up a career-best 8.4 points per game last season.  Most of his offensive game comes on alley-oops or off of offensive rebounds which makes him a nice fit in Chris Beard’s motion offense where his energy and athleticism will be put to better use than simply parking his slender fame in the paint.

All of those high-percentage shots helped him shoot 50% from the field in each of his two seasons at St. John’s.  He also averaged 1.7 offensive rebounds per game in the past two years, something Tech lost with the departures of both Smiths.

And Owens seems to be a player that prefers the big stage.  Seven of his eleven double-digit scoring games last year came in conference play.  What’s more, he poured in 17 points against both No. 16 Arizona State and No. 4 Duke in an upset victory.

The Texas Tech basketball program has built a reputation for being one of the best defensive teams in the nation under Chris Beard.  For that to continue this year, Tariq Owens will need to be a major force in the post this season.

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