Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech basketball: Norense Odiase’s five best games as a Red Raider

By Matthew Conner

TULSA, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 24: Norense Odiase #32 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders sits on the bench after being injured during the first half of the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Buffalo Bulls at BOK Center on March 24, 2019 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
TULSA, OKLAHOMA - MARCH 24: Norense Odiase #32 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders sits on the bench after being injured during the first half of the second round game of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament against the Buffalo Bulls at BOK Center on March 24, 2019 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
(Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

No. 1: 14 points and 15 rebounds against Buffalo

Norense Odiase went 122 games between his first career double-double and his second, which came in this year’s NCAA Tournament second-round win over Buffalo.  In that game, Odiase scored 14 points and pulled down 15 boards as Tech dominated the Bulls to advance to the Sweet 16.

More from Wreck'Em Red

Buffalo entered the game wanting to push the tempo and use the quickness of their smaller lineup to force Tech to play a style it is unfamiliar with.  Had they been able to dictate the pace, they would have forced Odiase off the court but instead, Tech’s physical leader proved to be the one to impose his will.

In the process, Odiase set a program record in rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game, an impressive feat given some of the great rebounders to have played for the Red Raiders.  And seven of those rebounds came on the offensive end where Tech pulled down 15 boards as part of a 45-32  advantage on the glass.

And the senior got his team going early as he scored four points in the first four minutes to help stake the Red Raiders to a 10-2 lead.  Overall, Odiase was 4-4 from the field and 6-7 from the free throw line (interestingly, he was also fantastic at the line in his only other career double-double in his collegiate debut).  But it was his work on the glass that was critical as he helped keep the pace in Tech’s favor by preventing the Bulls from getting out in transition.

Next. How Joel Ntambwe's addition shapes the Tech basketball program. dark

Odiase had a huge impact for the Red Raiders throughout the NCAA Tournament and had the National Title Game unfolded differently, his last-minute heroics would have gone down in program history.  But against Buffalo, he had a fantastic showing as he helped the Red Raiders assert their dominance over a team that many thought was going to give them plenty of trouble.

Home/Texas Tech Basketball