Texas Tech basketball: The best moments of Davide Moretti’s Red Raider career

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Davide Moretti #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders cuts the net after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 30, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Davide Moretti #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders cuts the net after defeating the Gonzaga Bulldogs during the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional at Honda Center on March 30, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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Davide Moretti #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
Davide Moretti #25 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Two clutch 3s against Gonzaga

Texas Tech doesn’t reach the 2019 National Title game without Davide Moretti.  In fact, were it not for two huge 3-pointers against Gonzaga int he Elite 8, the Red Raiders may not have even reached the Final Four.

It is fitting that Moretti’s biggest moment as a Red Raider was a pair of cold-blooded 3-pointers.  While he proved to be more than just a one-trick pony, the 3-ball was his best trick.

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The first came at the 3:49 mark of the second half with Tech up 60-58.  After nearly dribbling the ball out of bounds off his foot earlier in the possession, Moretti recovered and sank a 3 from about three feet behind the arc as if he were shooting around in his driveway at home.  It was one of the most nonchalant clutch buckets you’ll ever see and it came with just two seconds on the shot clock to put Tech up 63-58.

A few possessions later, Moretti stepped into a 3 from the wing against a zone defense that Gonzaga had shifted to.  Taking a pass from Culver, Moro never hesitated when he pulled the trigger and his shot was pure to give Tech a 66-60 lead with just 1:47 to play.  (To see these plays, click here and begin at the 1:12:31 mark.)

Those were the only 3-pointers Moro hit that night as he was 2-4 from deep on his way to 12 points.  The length of the Zags wings gave him some fits as he turned the ball over four times but when he had a chance to come up big, that’s what he did.

We are all sad to see Davide Moretti forego his senior season.  However, we are also so thankful that he gave us so many cherished memories.  One of the few aspects of college sports that we hate is that just as soon as we grow attached to a player, he leaves and we have to start finding new favorites to cheer for.

Next year’s team will feel strange without Davide Moretti but there will be no shortage of candidates to become the next fan favorite.  Still, whomever that title goes to will have quite a long way to go to fill Davide Moretti’s shoes.