Texas Tech basketball: Top 5 plays of NCAA Tournament thus far

Mooney goes behind-the-back on an assist to Moretti

It has been a pleasure to watch Matt Mooney over the last two months.  Finally settling into his role on this team after transferring from South Dakota where he was his team’s primary scorer, every aspect of the senior’s game has been on display.

And in recent weeks, his defensive work has garnered quite a bit of praise.  But what is often taken for granted is his ability to distribute the ball.

Against Michigan, he delivered one of the sweetest assists of the year to Moretti for a big 3-pointer.  In fact, that play was a beautiful execution of two-man basketball by both players.

Moretti drove the lane but was cut off on his way to the basket.  But he was able to find Mooney who then drove towards the paint, occupying two defenders.

More from Wreck'Em Red

• Texas Tech football: Red Raider fans need to know about these Mountaineers
• Texas Tech football: Red Raiders land first commit for class of 2025
• Texas Tech football: Why have the Red Raiders struggled on the road under McGuire?
• Texas Tech football: Why the Red Raiders can compete for a Big 12 title
• Texas Tech football: Plenty of questions remain as conference play arrives

Intelligently, Moretti did not stay still as he floated out to the 3-point line where Mooney hit him with a beautiful behind-the-back pass.  And Tech’s best 3-point shooter took care of the rest.

What was so impressive about this play is that Mooney was not trying to showboat.  Rather, he knew that the only way to get the ball to Moretti was with a no-look, behind-the-back pass and he executed that play to perfection.

As you watch Mooney in the Final Four, appreciate the way he handles the ball and distributes the rock to his teammates.  After struggling a bit with turnovers earlier in the year, Mooney is playing the point guard position at an amazingly high level.