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Texas Tech basketball: How the Red Raiders manufactured their comeback in Austin

By Matthew Conner

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 06: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders reacts in the second half against the Michigan State Spartans during the 2019 NCAA Final Four semifinal at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 6, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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The Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot  (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
The Texas Tech Red Raiders mascot  (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /

The Red Raiders blocked six shots in the second half

Another aspect of the game that we discussed on Saturday was the fact that UT was second in the Big 12 in blocks per game during conference play.  But in this game, Tech had a 9-7 edge including a 6-2 edge after halftime.

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Of course, the heroics of Holyfield were the defining plays of the game.  Three times in the final 30 seconds the senior forward blocked a Matt Coleman layup attempt to preserve Tech’s one-score lead.

On all three plays, his experience and basketball IQ was evident.  Knowing that Coleman was going to try to take matters into his own hands and also aware that no Texas forward in the game at that time was capable of finishing at the rim, Holyfield hung back until Coleman made his move and then he came off of his man once he knew the Texas point guard was going to try to convert off the dribble.

Though he’s no Tariq Owens, Holyfield has started to become the type of rim protector that this team has been needing all year.  With his five blocks on Saturday, he has16 total in his last four games.  Prior to that, he had just 13 all year.

Tech also got a block from Jahmi’us Ramsey, who is not known as a defensive stopper by any means.  It was an important play as he denied Courtney Ramey at the rim in transition when the game was tied at 43.

Meanwhile, Kevin McCullar used his unusually long reach to come up with a pair of blocks. Most notably was his block of a Kamaka Hepa 3-point attempt when Texas led 48-47 at the 6:15 mark.  Hepa has only one real offensive skill and that’s the long ball so preventing him from getting that shot away was important as he had already hit one crucial shot from deep in the second half.

Meanwhile, Texas lost both of its primary rim protectors when Sims fouled out and Kai Jones left the game.  Between them, they had only one on the day, not even half of their combined per game averages.

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This game shifted when the Red Raiders began to play with more intensity and aggression on both ends of the floor but especially on defense.  That change was evident in the number of blocks that Tech had as the visitors tripled up on the Horns after the break despite the fact that UT shot a ton of outside jumpers.  And in the end, it was a trio of rejections from Holyfield that sealed the game.

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