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Texas Tech basketball: What we want to see vs. Sam Houston

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 25: Guard Micah Peavy #5 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots a layup during the first half of the college basketball game against the Northwestern State Demons at United Supermarkets Arena on November 25, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 25: Guard Micah Peavy #5 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots a layup during the first half of the college basketball game against the Northwestern State Demons at United Supermarkets Arena on November 25, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Nov 25, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Nimari Burnett 25) drives the ball against Northwestern Demons guard Carvell Teasett (12) in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 25, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Nimari Burnett 25) drives the ball against Northwestern Demons guard Carvell Teasett (12) in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

A better showing from Nimari Burnett

While Peavy was more than impressive in his Red Raider debut, the same can’t be said for former McDonald’s All-American Nimari Burnett.  In fact, the 6-foot-4 guard looked overwhelmed and out of sorts on Wednesday.

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He finished his night just 1-7 from the floor for two points.  He missed both of his 3-point attempts and he committed a pair of turnovers as well.

The good news is that Tech doesn’t need Burnett to be a dominant force right away.  That’s because this roster is swimming in guards.  With Kyler Edwards, Mac McClung, Jamarius Burton, and Kevin McCullar Jr. all figuring to play prominent roles in the backcourt, Burnett has time to ease into the college game.

Still, he needs to be better than he was against the Demons.  Let’s look to see if the game appears to slow down a bit for him today.  If that happens, he could start to show some of the tremendous potential that he has.

Where Burnett might be best able to help this team in his freshman year is on the defensive end of the floor.  Today, notice how long his arms are.  He has a wingspan that is nearly seven feet meaning that he can almost tie his shoes without bending over and that he can potentially be a lockdown on-ball defender.  So let’s watch closely how he plays on that end of the floor as well as how he plays offensively.

Burnett’s debut was a reminder that not all blue-chip signees are going to take the NCAA by storm the moment they hit campus.  He may remain a work in progress for a while and that’s ok because this team is constructed in such a way that he won’t have to be a savior right way.  Still, let’s hope to see him appear more confident and comfortable in game two of the season because if he does, it may be a sign that he is going to be a contributor as a true freshman.

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