Texas Tech basketball: Kyler Edwards growing more comfortable

Freshman Kyler Edwards appears to be growing more comfortable in all facets of his game which is key for the Texas Tech basketball team as Big 12 play heats up.

Life in the Big 12 is never easy for any player. That’s because what is arguably the deepest and most physical conference in the nation, every game feels like a street fight. So it was no surprise to see true freshman Kyler Edwards struggle to adjust when conference play began. But in the last few games, the talented guard has shown signs of starting to figure out what he needs to do to help the Texas Tech basketball team win.

During the non-conference portion of the schedule, the Arlington native averaged a respectable 7.4 points per game. He had four double-digit games including a season-high 19 against Northern Colorado. But when conference play started, he went scoreless in three of the Red Raiders’ first four games scoring only nine points in that span.

In those four games, the 42.2% shooter was just 2-15 (13.3%) from the field. He looked hurried, unconfident and confused as he struggled to find his game against the rugged Big 12 defenses. Fortunately, in the second half of January he has found his footing and is back to being a solid contributor for the Red Raiders.

Beginning with Tech’s January 16th loss to Iowa State, Edwards has averaged 6 p.p.g in the last five contests and has not been shut out and his shooting has risen to 38.4%. He had a solid nine points against the Cyclones before taking a step back in scoring just four points against Baylor and two against Kansas State.

But in the last two games, Edwards has come back to life in a big way. He scored seven points points against Arkansas, which included an encouraging 3-4 from the line from the 61% free throw shooter who has looked inept from the stripe at times this year. In fact, it was only the third time this season that he has shot over 70% from the line in a game in which he had three or more attempts.

And Monday night, like the rest of his teammates, he was on fire against TCU. He hit three of six shots from the field, including two 3-pointers, and was a key part of Tech’s first-half run that buried the Horned Frogs.

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His first bucket of the game was a nice 3-pointer shot with a hand in his face. Not only did the basket give Tech a 22-10 lead pushing the advantage to double-digits for the first time in the game, it punished TCU for going to a zone defense.

At that point, the Frogs were searching for answers to the Texas Tech offense and Jamie Dixon hoped that putting his team in a zone would slow down the Red Raiders. But when Edwards canned a 3-pointer on the first possession against the zone, Dixon abandoned that strategy and went back to man-to-man defense, against which Tech is far more comfortable.

Edwards next make was another 3-pointer to put Tech up 27-12. This was a key momentum play because it capped a possession that was extended by an Norense Odiase offensive rebound. Edwards confidently stepped into the shot and drained it over the outstretched arms of 6-foot-8 J.D. Miller who was attempting to close out and had a hand in Edward’s face. At other times this year, he has passed up similar looks often leading to disheveled possessions that would have been better suited had he trusted his shot as he did Monday night.

Perhaps his most impressive shot was his final bucket. Going one-on-one against Miller, Edwards hit a step-back jumper straight out of the James Harden playbook to put Tech up 66-52. It was nice to see the youngster create his own offense for himself, which is something he needs to continue to do off the bench for the Red Raiders.

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In addition to his eight points, Edwards also did not commit a turnover for the second time in three games while blocking a shot and coming up with a steal in what was his best all-around game since the start of Big 12 play. It was the fourth time in nine January games that he led the Red Raiders in bench scoring and an example of the type of performance the Red Raiders need more of in February if they are to finish atop the Big 12.

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