Wreck'Em Red
Fansided

Texas Tech basketball: 3 players that may benefit from Ntambwe’s departure

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - NOVEMBER 25: Forward Tyreek Smith #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders points to a teammate the second 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: Forward Tyreek Smith #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders points to a teammate the second 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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
3 of 4
Next
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 25: Guard Chibuzo Agbo #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots a three-pointer during the second 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 Chibuzo Agbo #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots a three-pointer during the second 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) /

Agbo could fill Ntambwe’s 3-point shooting

So far, the best skill Ntambwe had brought to the Texas Tech basketball team was 3-point shooting.  In three games, he had gone 3-5 from deep with all three makes coming against Northwestern State in the opener.

That’s an aspect of the game that he excels at and one reason why Tech was counting on him to be a key cog this year.

For his career, Ntambwe has shot 39.5% from downtown.  While at UNLV in 2018-19, he shot 38.6% and made 1.4 shots from deep per outing.

Six times in his freshman year, he had at least three 3-pointers in a game.  That included a career-high 5 against San Jose State.

Now, Tech is going to need another 3-point shooter to come off the bench and knock down shots.  Look for true freshman Chibuzo Agbo to get his opportunity to fill that role.

The San Diego native has one of the most textbook jump shots one could ever possess and he’s already used it to hit 3 of 6 long-range attempts this year.  But the question with Agbo isn’t whether or not he can shoot well enough to contribute at the Big 12 level.  It’s whether or not he’s ready to do everything else that he will have to do in order to be a trusted member of the rotation.

At 6-foot-7, 215-pounds, he’s got the size to guard multiple spots on the floor.  But still, he’s a freshman who is learning the Texas Tech system as opposed to Ntambwe, who spent all of last year with the Red Raiders practicing under Beard and assistant coach Mark Adams (Tech’s defensive mastermind).

Also, Agbo has yet to prove to be an all-around offensive player who can create off the dribble and who can score in a number of ways.  In fact, he’s made only one 2-point field goal through three games.

Ntambwe was a cagy scorer with a myriad of offensive moves.  Though we didn’t get to see that side of his game at Tech, he displayed a crafty offensive game at UNLV and that would have been useful off of the Red Raider bench.

Fortunately for Tech, players like Jamarius Burton and Micah Peavy (who will likely return to the bench once Kevin McCullar returns from his sprained ankle) will be able to provide some of Ntambwe’s offensive craftiness as reserves.  But the best option to replace Ntambwe’s 3-point effectiveness is Agbo.  Still, the freshman has to quickly prove to be ready to handle more of an all-around role for this year’s team because his 3-point ability now becomes even more essential.

Home/Texas Tech Basketball