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Texas Tech basketball: What we learned in the two losses in Vegas

By Matthew Conner

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders talks to his players during a stop in play in the 2019 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 28, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Hawkeyes defeated the Red Raiders 72-61. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - NOVEMBER 28: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders talks to his players during a stop in play in the 2019 Continental Tire Las Vegas Invitational basketball tournament at the Orleans Arena on November 28, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Hawkeyes defeated the Red Raiders 72-61. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Davide Moretti #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA – APRIL 08: Davide Moretti #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /

Moretti is going to get tons of attention from opponents

So you want to be a star do you, Davide Moretti?  That’s great.  But get ready to be the focus of opposing game plans as you were in Vegas.

After two years of being a complimentary piece to players like Keenan Evans and Jarrett Culver, Moretti is no longer going to see the opposition’s worst defensive guards.  Rather, he’s been finding that teams are going to do everything possible to keep him from even touching the ball, much less getting open looks.

It seemed like that took him a bit by surprise against Iowa.  He was hardly noticeable in the first half and even after the break, as Tech mounted its comeback, he was not much of a factor.  Iowa held him to 2-8 shooting with seven of those shots being from outside the arc.

Fortunately, he was much better against Creighton.  His 23 points were a career-high and came with only three made 3-pointers on 10 attempts.

It seemed like the switch finally clicked for Moretti on Friday night.  He realized that he is going to have to ignore all the talk about him being the nation’s best shooter and stick his nose in the middle of the floor and drive the ball.

Shooters love to shoot.  In fact, everyone that has ever played basketball loves to hoist shots from outside.  Go watch any team from junior high to the NBA warm-up and you’ll see the players launching shots from close to half court.  That’s what’s fun about basketball.  It’s intoxicating to hear the ball go through the net from downtown.

But Moretti isn’t going to be able to just be a shooter this year.  Sure, he’ll get his share and it will be up to the coaching staff to design ways to get him open looks.

Regardless, he has to be an all-around player on offense.  He has to be as feisty when driving to the paint as he is when diving for loose balls on defense.  If we learned anything this week, it would be that the nation knows about Moretti the shooter.  Now, we need them to learn about Moretti the complete basketball player.

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