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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 Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders  (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
Guard Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders  (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

McClung, Kyler, Shannon, Ntambwe, Santos-Silva

If I were to buy stock in one Texas Tech basketball player right now, it would be Terrence Shannon Jr.  After starting for most of the year as a true freshman, the Chicago native lost that job over the final three weeks of the year and his value seemed to take a hit.

But there seems to be no player more ready to explode than the uber-athletic forward who could return to school close to 6-foot-8 (if not taller) if talk of a growth spurt proves to be true.  With his leaping ability and grown man frame, his game could skyrocket this year if he can make strides between the ears.

Thus, it wouldn’t be out of the question to see Shannon earn a spot in the first five.  If he did, it would almost certainly be at the expense of Burnett and McCullar.

Edwards would be needed to be the outside shooting option in this lineup just as he would be in any group of five he was to be part of.  But given that McClung and Shannon are below-average shooters for guards, he would be absolutely essential in this lineup.

But what you have to like about this potential group would be the size Tech could throw at opposing teams, and not necessarily from a height standpoint.  Rather, this collection of players would bring tons of bulk to the floor.

Santos-Silva is already built like a military-grade safe and Shannon arrived on campus having the build of a player who had been in a college strength program for multiple years.  That muscle could be needed in the rugged Big 12 where basketball games often devolve into rock fights.

It will be fascinating to see what Shannon becomes this year.  He truly could be the x-factor that puts this roster over the top, especially if he develops into an NBA pick by next summer as many are predicting.

So keep this potential starting five in mind.  Though it seems a bit unlikely, it would be a true Big 12 type of grouping in how rugged it would be from a physical strength standpoint.

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