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Texas Tech basketball: How the Red Raiders can beat Kentucky

By Matthew Conner

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Texas Tech Red Raiders fans cheer prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game against the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Texas Tech Red Raiders fans cheer prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game against the Virginia Cavaliers at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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Guard Jahmi’us Ramsey (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Guard Jahmi’us Ramsey (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Hold a significant edge from 3-point range but don’t become too obsessed with the deep ball

Today, the Red Raiders need to walk a somewhat fine line when it comes to the 3-point shot.  Given that UK makes fewer than five 3-pointers per game, this is an area where Tech needs to have an advantage on the scoreboard.

However, the Red Raiders can’t just become content to pass the ball around the perimeter and chuck up a three as the shot clock expires.  That’s always a worry against teams with the overall length that the Wildcats have, which can deter some teams from trying to drive the ball.

Wouldn’t it be nice if more than one Red Raider actually shot well from deep today?  That’s not something that’s happened all that often this year.

The one time it did was against Iowa State when Kyler Edwards and Davide Moretti were a combined 8-12 from long-range in Tech’s 72-52 victory. But days like that have been rare for this year’s Red Raiders.

Here’s the rub though.  On the season, Kentucky is allowing teams to shoot just 29.2% from 3-point range.  That’s good for 29th-best in the NCAA and it’s a reason why Tech likely won’t win by shooting 25 long-range bombs.

On the other hand, in this season’s most significant win to date, the 70-57 victory over then No. 1 Louisville, Tech shot only 7-27 from deep but won in large part because the Cardinals were just 3-17.  In that game, Tech had a 12-point edge from beyond the arc which was essentially the difference in the game.  If Tech can hold a similar advantage today, it could beat the Blue Grass State’s other marquee program the way it did the Cards.

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