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Texas Tech basketball: 5 teams that hopefully won’t end up in Red Raiders’ region

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Norense Odiase #32 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders dunks the basketball during the second half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on February 23, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Kansas 91-62. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 23: Norense Odiase #32 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders dunks the basketball during the second half of the game against the Kansas Jayhawks on February 23, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Kansas 91-62. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Tennessee’s inside-outside game makes them a really tough out

After being fired by Texas, Rick Barnes has found a home with the S.E.C.’s version of U.T. and in the process has built a national title contender on Rocky Top.  The Tennessee Volunteers are one of the best offensive teams in the nation and their balance makes them a nightmare to matchup with.

Averaging 82.2 points per game (8th-most in the nation), the Vols have five players averaging over 10 p.p.g.  And they are led by a potential national player of the year.

6-foot-7 junior forward Grant Williams is one of the most physically dominating post players in the nation.  A throwback player cut from the mold of Charles Barkley who uses his 236-pound frame to bully defenders out of his way in the paint, he is averaging 19.2 p.p.g. and shooting 56.4% from the field.

He also makes a living at the free throw line shooting 83.3% while averaging 7.3 attempts per game.  Earlier this year, he made all 23 of his free throws on his way to scoring 43 points in an overtime win at rival Vanderbilt.

Williams would be a terrible matchup for Tariq Owens, who has struggled this year when having to take on heavier players like West Virginia freshman Derek Culver.  Owens does have a four-inch height advantage on Williams but he would struggle to overcome the 30-pound weight discrepancy which would potentially take him off the floor and make Beard rely far more heavily on Norense Odiase than he normally does.

And if Williams is the focus, senior guard Admiral Schofield is not to be overlooked.  Averaging 16.4 p.p.g., he is a 41% 3-point shooter.

On the other end of the floor, the 29-4 Volunteers are a slightly above average defensive team.  They rank 96th in the nation by allowing 68.7 p.p.g. and given their offensive firepower, that is almost always good enough.  If they wind up in Texas Tech’s draw, the Red Raiders will have to shut down one of the top offensive teams in the nation in order to get to the Final Four.

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