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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 Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
(Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Duke’s Zion Williamson is playing like a man possessed

If there is one team in the nation that everyone wants a shot at every year, it is Duke.  And Tech got their shot earlier this year in a 69-58 loss in December at Madison Square Garden in New York.  But while Tech led that game for over 20 minutes before fading towards the end, I’d rather not see the Blue Devils again in March.

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That’s because freshman forward Zion Williamson appears to be playing at a different level than everyone else since his return from a knee injury that cost him the final six regular season games.  Making his return for the ACC Tournament, Williamson averaged 27 points and 13.3 rebounds per game in leading Duke to the ACC title.  And in those games, he missed only ten of his 43 combined shots.

Back when Tech saw the future No. 1 pick in this year’s NBA Draft, he scored 17 points and pulled down 13 boards in what was a rather pedestrian performance by his standards.  And he fouled-out after playing just 25 minutes with four of his five fouls coming on charges.  But if you think the refs will call him for four charges in an NCAA Tournament game, you have more faith in the officials than I do.

I know Tech had Duke down with under ten minutes to go back in December and there’s no reason for the Red Raiders to fear a potential second meeting.  But in that game, remember that Duke shot just 3-20 from deep (15%) which is 15% worse than their season average (however that still makes them a really poor 3-point shooting team).

What’s more, in that game, Cam Reddish and R.J. Barrett combined to score just 24 points on 8-29 shooting.  For the season, that duo averages 36.9 p.p.g. so there’s reason to believe they would have better showings in a potential rematch.

Next. WVU loss exposed some flaws in the Red Raiders. dark

Ultimately, this is a team that features three players that will likely be top-10 picks this summer and another in Tre Jones that could also be a first round pick.  With their full lineup healthy, as it is now, Duke lost just twice this season.  All things considered, it would be advantageous to avoid a team featuring that much talent until Minneapolis.

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