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Texas Tech basketball: Underrated players from the dark ages of the program

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 08: Jaye Crockett #30 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders is interviewed after the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on February 08, 2014 at United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 60-54 (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 08: Jaye Crockett #30 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders is interviewed after the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys on February 08, 2014 at United Spirit Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 60-54 (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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Devaugntah Williams #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders  (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
Devaugntah Williams #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders  (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /

Devaugntah Williams

Devaugntah Williams was also only a Red Raider for two years.  Fortunately for him, the second of those seasons (2015-16) was one that saw the Texas Tech basketball program return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine years.

The 6-foot-3 guard was a streaky shooter who could carry the Red Raiders when he got hot.  He was a double-digit scorer each of his two years in Lubbock and he averaged 10.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 2.1 assists after transferring in from the JUCO ranks.

Nine times as a senior, Williams led his team in scoring.  That included five 20-point games.  And many of his best games were critical in helping Tech earn an NCAA bid.

Against Kansas State in the regular-season finale, he led the way with 20 points.  That game gave the Red Raiders a 9-9 mark in Big 12 play.  That was significant because being at least a .500 team in your own conference is always huge when the selection committee evaluates your tournament resume.

He also had 23 points that season in an 82-74 victory over Texas in Lubbock.  That game moved Tech to 11-1 on the season and got Big 12 play off to a positive start, something that had been rare for the Red Raiders in the previous handful of seasons.

He also had 19 points off the bench when Tech stunned No. 14 Iowa State in Lubbock.  In the 85-82 OT win, Aaron Ross led the team with 20 points as five Red Raiders accounted for all but two of the team’s points.

A year earlier, he burned the Cyclones, who at the time were No. 9 in the nation, with 22 points despite shooting just 5-11 from the field.  He made up for that by hitting 9-11 free throws.

Williams was an assassin when shooting off the catch.  He made 89 3-pointers in his two years in the Hub City and many of those seemed to come in key moments.  He played an essential role as a player that could provide instant offense off the bench for a team that finally got Tech back into March Madness and for that, we should always appreciate his contributions to the program.

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