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Texas Tech basketball: 4 reasons for confidence as Red Raiders face Michigan

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 16: Jarrett Culver #23 and Tariq Owens #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders react to made basket during the second half of the game against the Iowa State Cyclones on January 16, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Iowa State defeated Texas Tech 68-64. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 16: Jarrett Culver #23 and Tariq Owens #11 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders react to made basket during the second half of the game against the Iowa State Cyclones on January 16, 2019 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Iowa State defeated Texas Tech 68-64. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
(Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Jarrett Culver is the best player on either team

So often in games such as this between two evenly-matched teams, the team with the best player is the one that comes out on top.  And if NBA scouts and national observers are correct, Jarrett Culver is the most talented player on either of these rosters.

Rated by most as a top-10 NBA draft prospect, the Big 12 Player of the Year is likely to be the only player on the court in this game that will be drafted this summer.  ESPN.com has Michigan’s two best draft prospects as Jordan Poole (No. 63 overall) and Charles Matthews (No. 66 overall) and being as the NBA draft is only 60-picks long, they are merely borderline prospects at this point.

This is a game where Culver can take over and become a true Texas Tech legend.  And if he does, he may also improve his draft status to the point that he is a sure-fire top-5 pick.  After all, we saw first-hand last year how Zharie Smith’s excellent showing in the NCAA Tournament turned him into the No. 16 pick in the draft.

But as for this game, Culver is the only go-to player on either team.  And as we saw when he single-handedly carried the Red Raiders to the Big 12 regular season title by scoring a career-high 31 points against Iowa State, he knows how to come up big in the clutch.

That isn’t to suggest that Michigan does not have players that can be heroes in their own right.  Matthews has carried U of M at times this year and Zavier Simpson has the confidence to take the big shots.

But ultimately, these two teams are about as evenly-matched as any two teams in the NCAA Tournament.  That’s why having the only NBA lottery pick in the game on our side should make Red Raider fans feel better about our chances of advancing.

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