Texas Tech basketball: What to watch for from Red Raiders in the Bahamas

How will the team look with Davide Morretti and Kyler Edwards in leadership roles?

Being as Tech lost six members of its eight-man rotation from last season, the only two returners, Davide Morretti and Kyler Edwards will have to assume greater roles both on and off the court.  How well they set the tone for the team in both regards will be worth watching this year.

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As a sophomore, Moretti was one of the most improved players in the Big 12.  He increased his scoring from 3.5 to 11.5 points per game while also upping his assists from 1.1 to 2.4.

What’s more, Tech’s leading returning scorer shot 92.4% from the free-throw line and 46% from 3-point range.  But will he be able to perform as well now that a larger target and a greater burden will be placed on his back?

As for Edwards, will he be able to transition from solid reserve to starter?  Last season, he averaged 5.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 17.8 minutes per game.  But he could see his playing time jump by six minutes per game or more and should that be the case, he must not only be a greater force offensively, but he must also take care of the ball (he averaged one turnover per game in 2018-19) and he has to become a more reliable defender.

In the National Title Game, he had 12 big points while knocking down a pair of 3-pointers.  Let’s see if that momentum carries into this year and helps him take the next step towards being a leader on the team.

Replacing players like Mooney, Owens, Odiase, Jarrett Culver, and Brandone Francis will take as much of a toll on the program’s culture as it does on the stat book.  That’s why Moretti and Edwards have to lead the way in terms of intangibles as well.

This week, we need to see them set the tone by bringing constant intensity, diving on the floor, and showing the new players where to be and what is expected of players in Beard’s demanding system.  This trip to the Bahamas provides the only two returning contributors from last year’s unforgettable season the opportunity to begin putting their stamp on this year’s squad.