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Texas Tech basketball: 5 questions as Red Raiders begin camp

By Matthew Conner

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) /
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(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /

Can a roster counting so heavily on freshmen come up big?

Beard has said on numerous occasions that he values age.   That’s why he has been such a player in the grad transfer market.

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But this year, his team’s success will depend heavily on a group of freshmen that is by far the most hyped and talented that we’ve ever seen in Lubbock.  How those young players develop will be the most critical aspect of this season.

Tech brought in a top-15 recruiting class, headlined by Jahmi’us Ramsey, a 5-star recruit from Duncanville and the highest-rated player to ever sign with the Red Raiders.  In all, three of the five true freshmen Beard signed this year were 4 or 5-star talents (Terrence Shannon Jr. and Smith were the other two).

We shouldn’t forget that last year saw two freshmen, Kevin McCullar Jr. of San Antonio and Andrei Savrasov from Russia, join the program at semester and redshirt.  They spent the entire spring working out and practicing with the team but that’s no substitute for game experience.

Let’s assume Beard plays a nine-man rotation.  Outside of Moretti, Edwards, Holyfield, and Clarke, the rest of that rotation will be freshmen.

It’s become commonplace for teams like Duke or Kentucky to rely on freshmen to fill most of the starting lineup.  But in those programs, the freshmen starting are usually all 5-star, top-50 recruits.

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Tech’s freshmen are talented, there’s no doubt, but they are not all blue-chip prospects.  Still, they will be asked to alleviate the burden left by the departures of four seniors and the Big 12 Player of the Year.  Whether or not they prove to have the talent and maturity to do so will be what ultimately makes this season a success or a disappointment.

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