Texas Tech basketball: 3 Red Raiders that must step up against Kentucky

Chris Clarke has to be more of a factor

Games like this are why Beard brought grad transfer, Chris Clarke, to Lubbock.  It’s time that he has more of an all-around impact than we’ve seen him have in recent games.

Against TCU, he was held without a point and he attempted only one shot.  While he did pull down seven boards and hand out three assists, he has to be more of a factor, today.

Remember that Kentucky has elite size.  Thus, Clarke’s rebounding and defense will be as important as it’s been all year, especially if Beard decides to go small.

But more importantly, he has to rely on his experience in huge games to help lead his team.  He’s played against North Carolina, Duke, Syracuse, and Virginia and that should help him be a calming force for the Red Raiders.

In Big 12 play, he’s yet to score over 8 points in a game despite starting the last four and seeing his minutes increase as Terrence Shannon Jr. missed two games and has not started the last two while working his way back from back soreness.  But as conference teams start to get a book on Clarke and prepare to take away from him what he does best, he’s become flustered and somewhat tentative.

In his last six games, he’s taken more than four shots only once when he had 10 against West Virginia.  Today, Clarke needs to be a player that can help his team in all aspects of the game but especially on offense where he’s got to put the ball in the basket more than he has in recent weeks.