Texas Tech basketball: Players that need to lead the way against TCU
T.J. Holyfield
Everyone’s favorite lightning rod this year is T.J. Holyfield. Inconsistent offensively all season, his passivity at times has frustrated Red Raider fans.
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But now that he’s playing with a brace on his surgically-repaired right shoulder, he’s even more limited as a scorer. He’s had just ten total points in his last three games, the last two of which are when he started wearing the brace.
Still, he needs to be a defensive and rebounding force against a TCU team that is third in the Big 12 in offensive rebounds at over 11 per game. 6-foot-11 Kevin Samuel could be a problem tonight if Holyfield can’t give his team some quality work on the glass.
Averaging just over three total rebounds per game in his last three outings, Holyfield hasn’t been as much of a contributor in that regard as well. That must change tonight.
This year, he’s averaging 4.8 boards per game and for his career, he’s pulled down 5.7. That more of what we need to see against TCU.
Of course, he must also stay out of foul trouble. Fouling out against Kansas State in just 25 minutes of action, he was a non-factor and forced his team to play small-ball down the stretch.
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The problem tonight is that TCU has more size and athleticism inside than the Wildcats do. So keep an eye on Holyfield’s work on the glass. His shoulder likely will prevent him from being a huge offensive force but he needs to be a Hoover vacuum on the glass.