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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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Guard Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Guard Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

McClung, Kyler, McCullar, Ntambwe, Santos-Silva

Perhaps we underestimate how highly Beard values McCullar.  He spoke of him in glowing terms down the stretch and even said that “Mac” was his best player over the final month of the year.  Thus, could he beat out Burnett for a starting job?  It wouldn’t be all that shocking.

Perhaps the best way for the freshman Burnett to integrate into the world of big-time college basketball would be to come off the bench.  And by all accounts, Burnett is not your typical blue-chip prospect in that he has almost no ego and is concerned with the overall good of the team.  Again, that might be a product of playing on such a stacked high school team.

If Beard were to start McClung, Edwards, and McCullar with the two forwards, it would be a lineup that would make plenty of sense.  That’s because each player on the court would bring something to the table that the others do not.

McClung would be your ball-dominant point guard who would have to create off the bounce.  Edwards would need to space the floor and be a 3-point sniper as well as a leader.

McCullar’s job would be to play solid defense, rebound, and do all the little things that make him so invaluable in February of this season.  Ntambwe would be a slasher who would have to score by getting to the bucket but who would also need to hit enough mid-range and outside jumpers to pull his man away from the goal.  Meanwhile, the 6-foot-7 Santos-Silva would be a low-post offensive presence who would also be asked to use his 250-pound frame to be a defensive presence similar in style to Norense Odiase.

This is a lineup in which the pieces just seem to fit naturally.  It’s also worth looking at how experienced this group would be with a senior, two juniors, and two sophomores in the mix.

It would be a hard pill to swallow for Burnett to be put in a reserve role but that’s what most freshmen have to accept right off the bat.  Not even Jarrett Culver or Zharie Smith started their first game at Tech and while neither were of the caliber of recruit that Burnette is, they showed that Beard isn’t afraid to make his youngest players earn what comes their way.

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