Texas Tech basketball: 5 questions as Red Raiders begin camp
![MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 04: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders speaks to the media during a press conference prior to the 2019 NCAA Tournament Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 4, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images) MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 04: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders speaks to the media during a press conference prior to the 2019 NCAA Tournament Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 4, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/56692a4c73d18d57f5f5a90a0b7cebdb5e6c9f39bfb7f1c6d7a5ea2f1be924c6.jpg)
Will Kyler Edwards take a huge step forward as a sophomore?
Most believe that the biggest gains a college athlete makes come between his freshman and sophomore seasons. That’s why so many are excited about what may be in store for Kyler Edwards.
After averaging 5.5 points per game as a freshman, most assume that he will be a solid starter in his second season. Whether or not his game reaches a new level could be one of the most important factors that define how this year plays out.
We saw both Culver and Moretti take their games to new heights as sophomores a year ago and it’s Moretti’s jump that has fans thinking that Edwards could be the next super sophomore for the program.
As a freshman, Moretti scored 3.5 points and had 1.1 assists per game while playing 12.3 minutes per night. He jumped up to 11.3 points and 2.4 assists last season as he saw his minutes rise to over 30 per game.
Edwards’ freshman numbers were better than Moretti’s but we can’t just assume he’ll have the same type of jump. After all, unlike Moretti last year, he will be the team’s second-most experienced player in terms of his time at Tech so he may have an even greater burden placed on him in year two.
Edwards has to take his all-around game to a new level. As a freshman, he was primarily a catch-and-shoot guard. He also struggled at times with his defensive rotations and his decision-making with the ball in his hands.
In the Bahamas, he was one of Tech’s better players and he drove to the basket and make plays than we ever saw him do as a freshman. If he is able to take a significant jump as a player in his second season, he could make this team extremely tough to handle.