Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech basketball: Numbers to know ahead of showdown with No. 1 KU

By Matthew Conner

LAWRENCE, KANSAS - FEBUARY 1: Udoka Azubuike #35 of the Kansas Jayhawks battles for a rebound against TJ Holyfield #22 and Avery Benson #21 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Allen Fieldhouse on February 1, 2020 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS - FEBUARY 1: Udoka Azubuike #35 of the Kansas Jayhawks battles for a rebound against TJ Holyfield #22 and Avery Benson #21 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Allen Fieldhouse on February 1, 2020 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
LAWRENCE, KANSAS – FEBUARY 1: Devon Dotson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks in action against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Allen Fieldhouse on February 1, 2020 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KANSAS – FEBUARY 1: Devon Dotson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks in action against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Allen Fieldhouse on February 1, 2020 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

Devon Dotson had 21 against Tech in the first meeting

Devon Dotson doesn’t get the attention that Azubuike does despite being the Big 12’s best player.  That’s because 6-foot-2 point guards aren’t as unusual as centers that look like they are Dr. Frankenstein’s monster after a software update.

But he is the player that put KU over the top when they last saw the Red Raiders.  On his way to 21 points, he repeatedly hit big shots down the stretch to keep Tech at bay.

More from Wreck'Em Red

One key to remember is that Kevin McCullar Jr. missed that game after sustaining a concussion against West Virginia just days prior.  That’s key because the lanky 6-foot-5 freshman has become Tech’s best on-ball defender and there’s no doubt he’ll get his shot at slowing down the nation’s fastest guard today.

McCullar has an incredible wingspan and when that’s combined with his lateral quickness and love of locking down an opposing ball-handler, he is Tech’s best one-on-one stopper.  While no one expects his presence to shut Dotson down today (after all, Dotson leads the Big 12 in scoring at 18.2 p.p.g), perhaps it will be enough to keep the knifing guard out of the lane and force him to be more of a perimeter shooter.

Of his 21 points last month, only three came from behind the arc and just two came at the line (where he shoots 82%).  Almost all of the rest were on drives to the bucket where Dotson was able to turn the corner and score at the rim.  Perhaps having to go around the longer McCullar will be enough of a speed bump to cause Dotson to have to pump the brakes today.

Tech must force KU’s point guard to be a spot-up shooter.  He’s only 31.4% from three-point range this season and in the first game between these teams, he was just 1-5.

The matchup with he and McCullar is one that we must all keep an eye on this afternoon and as we do, consider it a victory every time Dotson has to shoot from outside the paint.  Even if he makes a few of those looks, it’s better than allowing him to do what he wants, which is score or create off the dribble.

Beard's greatest struggle at Tech. dark. Next

That’s the key to the entire KU offense because it opens up lobs for the big men and kick-outs for the shooters.  If Tech can make Dotson’s path to the basket look more like a winding mountain road than a straight line, there’s hope that the most dynamic Jayhawk will not be able to take over as he did last month.

Home/Texas Tech Basketball