Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech basketball: Five bold predictions for the 2020-21 season

By Matthew Conner

March 30, 2019; Anaheim, CA, USA; Texas Tech Red head coach Chris Beard celebrates the victory over Gonzaga Bulldogs following the championship game of the west regional of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
March 30, 2019; Anaheim, CA, USA; Texas Tech Red head coach Chris Beard celebrates the victory over Gonzaga Bulldogs following the championship game of the west regional of the 2019 NCAA Tournament at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – MARCH 07: Guard Devon Dotson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks leaps to shoot the ball over forward TJ Holyfield #22 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half of the college basketball game on March 07, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – MARCH 07: Guard Devon Dotson #1 of the Kansas Jayhawks leaps to shoot the ball over forward TJ Holyfield #22 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders during the second half of the college basketball game on March 07, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

The Red Raiders will sweep Kansas

One of the toughest accomplishments in the history of the Big 12 has been to sweep the regular-season series with the Kansas Jayhawks.  In fact, that’s only happened once when Oklahoma State managed to do so in 2018.

But this year, the Red Raiders will pull that off and that will set them up for a tremendous finish in the Big 12 (as we will discuss momentarily).

First of all, Kansas will be without its greatest advantage, the crowd at Allen Field house.  Almost every year, KU can count on no fewer than eight league wins at home and that’s due in large part to what could be argued is the best home-court advantage in the sport.  But playing in an empty Allen Fieldhouse will be no big deal for Tech, which will have the more talented roster than the Jayhawks from top to bottom this year.

Remember that KU has lost all-conference point guard Devon Dotson and all-conference center Udoka Azubuike, the two main pillars of last year’s team.  Replacing them will be impossible this year.

What’s more, the returners KU features are not that impressive.  Outside of Marcus Garrett, does any Jayhawk really make you take a second glance?  Ochai Agbaji is a streaky scorer but not a generational talent.  Meanwhile, neither David McCormack nor Christian Braun is going to threaten to be All-Big 12 performers.  Sure, KU brings in 5-star freshman Bryce Thompson but he won’t be enough to elevate them to their normal status as a title contender.

Also helping Tech earn this sweep will be the fact that the Red Raiders’ first meeting with KU comes early in the season as both teams are still working out the kinks.  I believe that Bill Self‘s team has more tinkering to do early in the year than Beard’s team does that that will benefit Tech.  So look for the Red Raiders to make history this year and sweep the Jayhawks.  And that will help up our next bold prediction to come true.

Home/Texas Tech Basketball