Texas Tech basketball: Staying healthy may be key to Big 12 title run

This year’s Big 12 race is being shaped by injuries like few seasons we have ever seen. That’s why staying healthy will be a key for the Texas Tech basketball team.

There’s quite a bit that goes into winning a conference title and unfortunately, for many teams in the Big 12 this year, the one factor that is beyond their control is taking a toll on their championship hopes. Injuries are wreaking havoc on the league this year and depleting the roster of a number of contenders but if the Texas Tech basketball team is going to bring home its first conference title, it must stay healthy.

While any team will suffer if a key injury hits, the Red Raiders may be the Big 12 contender most likely to be unable to overcome an injury. During Conference play, Chris Beard has reduced his rotation to just eight players and as we saw Saturday afternoon in Austin, an injury can make Texas Tech’s rotation extremely short.

When sophomore forward DeShawn Corprew left the game in the first half with a calf strain, the Red Raiders lost a key member of their bench. It was telling that Beard chose to go with just seven players for the remainder of the game rather than utilize sophomore big man Malik Ondigo, who has yet to play in a conference game after being a regular rotation piece in the non-conference portion of the schedule.

While at first glance, Corprew’s absence does not seem particularly impactful (he’s averaging just 2.2 points per game in conference play) consider where Tech will be if he is forced to miss a substantial amount of time. Tech would be down to just two bench players in Brandone Francis and freshman Kyler Edwards.

And considering that both of those players have struggled in Big 12 play, bench scoring would be a tremendous concern. Corprew has proven to be a capable scorer on occasion. He has averaged 6.1 points per game this year and has five double-digit outings.

When it comes to bench scoring, Tech is banking on one of its three reserves to give them something each time out. So without Corprew in the rotation, the likelihood of one of Chris Beards’ backups helping out offensively is cut by 33%.

What’s more, Corprew is a tough-nosed defender who is capable of guarding multiple positions on the court. He is not afraid to mix it up physically as is evidenced by his 4.1 rebounds per game. Needless to say, Tech does not want to be without his services for and extended period of time.

But Corprew’s injury is nowhere near as devastating as other injuries around the Big 12. Take a moment to consider how injuries are shaping this year’s conference title race.

Preseason favorite Kansas has lost their dominant center Udoka Azubuike for the year with a wrist injury. Given that they were already without forward Silvio De Sousa because of a potential NCAA violation, the Jayhawks are having to reinvent themselves on the fly.

Their in-state rivals have no sympathy though. Preseason Big 12 player of the year Dean Wade recently missed six games for Kansas State because of a foot injury. He returned to the floor Saturday but the Wildcats struggled in his absence going just 2-2 in Big 12 play making their conference title quest far more difficult.

What’s more, the Wildcats have also seen point guard Kamau Stokes miss a game with his own foot issue. Being as the foot is one of the most complicated parts of the body and it takes a repeated pounding in the course of a basketball season, certainly, the team picked to finish second in the league will be holding its breath for the remainder of the season as it tries to nurse two of its most important players through the schedule in one piece.

More from Wreck'Em Red

Meanwhile, Texas Tech’s next opponent comes to Lubbock at less than 100%. Iowa State’s star big man Cam Lard, will be a game-time decision on Wednesday as he deals with a sprained ankle. But while it looks like he might give it a go against the Red Raiders, the Cyclones will certainly be without forward Solomon Young who will miss the remainder of the season with a groin injury. After averaging 7.2 points and 5.9 rebounds last year, Young has played in only four games this year leaving the ISU front line without a key piece.

Down in Waco, the news is no better as Baylor has lost its leading scorer Tristan Clark for the rest of the year with a knee injury. Averaging 14.6 points and 6.3 redounds per game, Clark was the key to the Bears’ offense as well as anchoring their zone defense in the middle of the paint.

Another critical injury to crop up has folks in Ft. Worth cursing their luck again. TCU point guard Jalen Fisher will be out for the “foreseeable future” thanks to swelling in his knee. The injury is a residual effect from a torn meniscus that caused the Horned Frogs’ best player to miss the final 16 games of last season.

Then there is Texas sophomore forward Jericho Sims who has been slowed by an ankle sprain of his own. Prior to playing just two minutes against the Red Raiders on Saturday, the big man missed the previous two games.

But you will have to excuse Texas Tech fans for our lack of sympathy when it comes to Big 12 injuries. Last year, the Red Raiders likely would have won the Big 12 title had Keenan Evans not broken his toe in early February. What’s more, senior forward Zach Smith missed the vast majority of Big 12 play with a foot injury taking Tech’s most versatile defender out of the equation for almost two months.

Next. 3 reasons Texas Tech was able to beat Texas. dark

So this year, the key for the Texas Tech basketball team may be to simply remain healthy. It appears that doing so will give the Red Raiders a tremendous advantage over some of their key rivals and the inside track towards winning a conference title for the first time in over two decades.

Home/Texas Tech Basketball