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Texas Tech basketball: What we want to see in the season opener

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 02: General view of a rack of Under Armour basketballs taken before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns on January 02, 2016 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 82-74. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TX - JANUARY 02: General view of a rack of Under Armour basketballs taken before the game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Texas Longhorns on January 02, 2016 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech won the game 82-74. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images) /
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Feb 22, 2020; Ames, Iowa, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Kyler Edwards (0) shoots the ball over Iowa State Cyclones forward Michael Jacobson (12) during the first half at Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 22, 2020; Ames, Iowa, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Kyler Edwards (0) shoots the ball over Iowa State Cyclones forward Michael Jacobson (12) during the first half at Hilton Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports /

Who will step up as 3-point weapons?

My greatest concern about this year’s roster is the 3-point shooting.  Therefore, I’ll be watching that aspect of the game closely on Wednesday night.

Tech lost tons of 3-point shooting from last year when Jahmi’us Ramsey and Davide Moretti both left to pursue professional opportunities.  In fact, those two players were responsible for 127 of the 224 3-pointers that last year’s team hit.

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So who will step up to fill that void?  It has to start with Kyler Edwards.

Now a junior, Edwards struggled in that regard last year.  After hitting at a 44.9% rate from deep as a true freshman, he hit only 32.2% of his 3s a season ago.  If this team is going to contend for titles, Edwards must be a better weapon from deep than we saw in 2019-20.

Ntambwe will also need to shoulder some of the 3-point burden.  Two seasons ago, he was a 38.6% shooter from behind the arc who made 44 3-pointers.  Hopefully, that type of marksmanship will be part of his game this year as well.

But the key to Tech’s 3-point success this year is likely to be incremental improvements from a number of players.  Shannon, Kevin McCullar Jr., and Mac McClung all shot below 33% from deep last season with the first two of that group shooting below 30%. If those three players can each improve their percentage by 3-5% this year, it will elevate Tech’s offensive game tremendously.

So keep an eye on this team’s shooting from deep in the opener.  That’s an aspect of the game that could make or break the Red Raiders in 2020-21 and it will be worth watching closely, especially early in the season.  Last year, the Red Raiders shot 35% as a team, which was good for 66th in the NCAA.  Equalling or besting that in the opener would be a great sign for this year’s team.

Related Story. Davide Moretti's best moments as a Red Raider. light

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