Texas Tech basketball: Three Kansas Jayhawks to know

Devon Dotson is the fastest player Tech will see all year

Speed is the name of the game for 6-foot-2 Devon Dotson.  The sophomore point guard leads the Big 12 in scoring at 18 points per game and much of that is due to his ability to push the ball up the floor as fast as any player in the nation.

He’s only a 29.1% shooter from 3-point range and has made a mere 23 shots from behind the arc this year.  But trying to stay in front of him is a nightmare and once he gets going downhill, he is either able to finish at the rim or throw a lob to one of his big men.

At 185-pounds, he’s also stronger than the typical point guard.  He’s got a stocky build that allows him to absorb contact and still make plays.

Defensively, he plays very hard and though he’s not nearly a shut-down one-one-one defender, he can cause problems because of his intelligence and all-out effort.  He ranks second in the Big 12 in steals at 2.16 per game trailing only Haliburton of Iowa State.

The only time this year he’s been held under 10 points was when he left the game against Baylor early with a hip injury.  He recently put up 22 against Tennessee in the Big 12/SEC Challenge.  He also hung 31 on a very good Dayton team early in the season.

Fast point guards that are able to break down the defense off the dribble have often been the kryptonite of the Red Raider defense.   In fairness, they are able to take apart just about any defense because dribble penetration will destroy any scheme.

Tech has to make certain to get back after made or missed shots because Dotson will be attacking at lightning speed.  That’s why I wonder if the plan will be to give up some extra rebounds by sending one or two guards back to provide some resistance should Dotson cross mid-court with a head of steam.

If Tech is going to have any hope of winning this contest, the Red Raiders are going to have to make Dotson into a jump-shooter.  But given how fast he plays, that’s easier said than done.