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Texas Tech basketball: Potential starting lineups without Davide Moretti

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 4: General view of United Supermarkets Arena during player introductions before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sooners on February 4, 2017 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 77-69. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) *** Local Caption ***
LUBBOCK, TX - FEBRUARY 4: General view of United Supermarkets Arena during player introductions before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Oklahoma Sooners on February 4, 2017 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech defeated Oklahoma 77-69. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** /
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Forward Xavier Sneed #20 of the Kansas State Wildcats handles the ball against guard Kevin McCullar #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Forward Xavier Sneed #20 of the Kansas State Wildcats handles the ball against guard Kevin McCullar #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Nimari, McClung, McCullar, Ntambwe, Santos-Silva

When looking at the previous starting lineup, the one deficit that stands out is height in the backcourt.  So to remedy that, Beard could take Edwards out of the mix and insert sophomore Kevin McCullar Jr.

That would take the 6-foot-3 Edwards and replace him with the 6-foot-6 McCullar, who proved last year to be the program’s best on-ball defender.  His long arms and high understanding of the game make him a lock-down perimeter defender and as his comfort level on the offensive end of the floor grew, he saw his role increase as the season wound down, including starting the last six games.

He could pair with Burnett to give Tech a defensively dominant set of wings.  Though we are quick to focus on the incoming freshman’s offensive game, his defensive game is even more intriguing given that he has a 7-foot wingspan despite being just 6-foot-4.

It might be necessary to flank McClung with two elite defenders because he is not known as a defensive player.  In fact, he’s got the reputation of being a player who doesn’t seem to put in as much effort on that end of the court as he does on the other.  Of course, he had better learn to change that if he wants to play for Chris Beard.

Hopefully, the culture of Texas Tech basketball will rub off on McClung the way it did Matt Mooney when he arrived with a similar reputation.  But even if McClung sells out on defense, he’s only 6-foot-2 and even if he gives his all in that aspect of the game, he isn’t likely to become a defensive stopper.

It wouldn’t be a shock to see Beard opt to sacrifice the 3-point shooting of Edwards for the defense of McCullar (who shot just 28.6% from 3-point range this season).  The question is whether or not Edwards would take to going back to the bench after starting all 31 games as a sophomore.  But regardless of how he would react, this is a lineup that would make a ton of sense in the way the guards complement each other on the most important end of the court.

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