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Texas Tech basketball: What we have learned in first two months of 2019-20

By Matthew Conner

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 10: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts during the second half of their game against the Louisville Cardinals at Madison Square Garden on December 10, 2019 in New York City. The Red Raiders won 70-57. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 10: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts during the second half of their game against the Louisville Cardinals at Madison Square Garden on December 10, 2019 in New York City. The Red Raiders won 70-57. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 10: Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drives past Ryan McMahon #30 of the Louisville Cardinals (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – DECEMBER 10: Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drives past Ryan McMahon #30 of the Louisville Cardinals (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /

This is a team that can beat anyone in the nation on any given day

What might be most reassuring to Red Raider fans after two months of play is that we have already seen that this team can beat any team in the nation.  After all, if Beard can take his boys to New York and beat No. 1 Louisville without Jahmi’us Ramsey, we have to think that the sky is the limit with Ramsey back.

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Now, this is not saying that another Final Four or even Big 12 title is in store this spring because we have also seen three unranked teams score wins over Tech.  (Of course, they all came during Ramsey’s absence.)

But look at the rest of Tech’s schedule and pick out the team that Tech should fear.  There isn’t one.

Kansas?  They have already lost twice and though both were by one possession and against ranked teams, those of us who watched the Jayhawks against Villanova know that Bill Self’s team didn’t look impressive in facing an athletic team that plays rugged perimeter defense and swarms the post.  Interesting.

As for the rest of the Big 12, Baylor looks like the only other potentially elite team.  They have already scored nice wins over Villanova, Arizona, and Butler, all ranked teams.  But the individual pieces on their roster aren’t going to pose any problems that Tech can’t matchup with as opposed to KU, which has the massive Udoka Azubuike in the middle.

Kentucky?  They have been one of the nation’s biggest disappointments with three losses already including back to back setbacks.  Now, keep in mind that one of their losses was to No. 6 Ohio State but they have also lost to unranked Utah and Evanston.

The all-decade power forwards. dark. Next

There doesn’t appear to be a dominant team in the nation this year as the No. 1 team has lost four times already this season.  Thus, this is a wide-open Big 12 and national race.  That’s where Chris Beard could give Tech an edge as he’s already proven his team is tough to handle in tournament-style situations.  And we know that there is no team in the nation that the Red Raiders can’t take down if they play as well as they did against Louisville.

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