Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech basketball: Preseason accolades for the Red Raider roster

By Matthew Conner

AMES, IA - FEBRUARY 22: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drives the ball in the first half of the play at Hilton Coliseum on February 22, 2020 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Tech Red Raiders won 87-57 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA - FEBRUARY 22: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders drives the ball in the first half of the play at Hilton Coliseum on February 22, 2020 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Tech Red Raiders won 87-57 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
AUSTIN, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 08: Kevin McCullar #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders plays defense against the Texas Longhorns at The Frank Erwin Center on February 08, 2020 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 08: Kevin McCullar #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders plays defense against the Texas Longhorns at The Frank Erwin Center on February 08, 2020 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Chris Covatta/Getty Images) /

Defensive Player of the Year: Kevin McCullar Jr.

Another player who will be much improved this year after a nice freshman season is Kevin McCullar Jr., who has to shoot better from outside than the 28.6% he shot in 2019-20.  But what he is already known for is his defensive acumen and this year, he will be Tech’s best defensive player.

A season ago, McCullar emerged as a lock-down defender and the stats bear that out.  He led the team in steals per 40 minutes (2.6), defensive rating (89.7), and steal percentage (3.8%).

His long arms and active hands have made him a lockdown perimeter defender.  He’s also seemingly always in the right place as his knowledge of the game has made him a terrific help defender, which is key in Tech’s switch-everything half-court defense.

"“It starts with him having the experience of playing in this program before,” Beard said of McCullar last month.  “Executing, knowing the way we win, knowing the way we defend the culture everyday, so that’s obvious.  We need our returners to be leaders and I think [Kevin] has that personality…it’s just the way he approaches every day.  It’s the way he plays the games, the way he lives his life, it’s the way he works, you know, that’s the inspiration to those that want to be lead.”"

Remember that the San Antonio native claims to be in the best shape of his life after his first healthy offseason since prior to his senior year of high school.  In fact, he’s up to 205 pounds, ten pounds heavier than last season’s playing weight.

That will allow him to be more physical with some of the bigger guards and forwards in the Big 12.  It will also mean that he can be more physical when it comes to rebounding, something he did well last year as he was sixth on the team with 93 total rebounds.

Under Chris Beard’s guidance, Tech has had some tremendous defensive wings such as Zhaire Smith, Jarrett Culver, and Matt Mooney.  By the time his Red Raider career is over, we may include Kevin McCullar Jr. in that grouping and that’s why it isn’t a stretch to expect him to be the team’s best defender this season.

Home/Texas Tech Basketball