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Texas Tech basketball: The one area where Chris Beard has struggled since taking over

By Matthew Conner

MANHATTAN, KS - JANUARY 14: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (C) talks with his players during the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats on January 14, 2020 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images)
MANHATTAN, KS - JANUARY 14: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (C) talks with his players during the second half against the Kansas State Wildcats on January 14, 2020 at Bramlage Coliseum in Manhattan, Kansas. (Photo by Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TX – JANUARY 31: Keenan Evans
LUBBOCK, TX – JANUARY 31: Keenan Evans /

In Beard’s second year, Tech was 3-3 in OT and one-score regulation games

We all remember the 2017-18 season as the year that Beard and his program truly emerged on the national stage as Tech got to the Elite Eight for the first time in program history.  That year, Tech was better in one-score or OT games going 3-3.

After starting out 2-0 in such contests, Tech dropped three straight down the stretch of the regular season as well as in the conference tournament.  Of course, all came with Keenan Evans trying to play through a broken toe.

In the game during which he sustained his injury, a 59-57 loss at Baylor, Tech was 0-4 from the field in the final minute of the game.  The key play in that game was Jarrett Culver’s decision to settle for a contested 3-pointer with ten seconds to play despite needing just two points to tie the game.  Keep that play in mind as we move along.

When No. 8 KU came to Lubbock to face the No. 6 Red Raiders two games later, Evans tried to play but was a shell of his normal self in a 74-72 loss.  After Zhaire Smith tied the game at 68 with 2:29 to play, KU’s Devonte’ Graham hit two contested shots while the Red Raiders turned the ball over on back-to-back possessions in between as once again, Tech couldn’t manage to even get any kind of shot off when the game was in the balance.

But somewhat surprisingly Tech was able to get to the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament even with Evans hobbled.  However, in a 66-63 loss to West Virginia, the final minute was again frustrating.

First of all, Evans missed the front-end of a one-and-one at the line with Tech down 65-63 with 0:57 to play.  He then missed a three-pointer that could have given his team the lead with thirteen seconds to play.  After that shot missed the mark, Tech got the offensive rebound but Zach Smith turned the ball over as again, this program missed an opportunity to get off a shot to win the game in the closing seconds.

That’s why it was more comforting for Tech fans to see that year’s Red Raiders protecting a three-point lead against Florida in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.  After all the struggles we’ve seen Tech have when trying to tie or win games by hitting shots, it was nice to be in a position to let the defense save the day as it did that night in Dallas.

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