Texas Tech basketball: The top 25 Red Raiders in the Big 12 era

No. 15: Matt Mooney

Proving just how much of a legend one can become because of his team’s success, we come to Matt Mooney, who had a career that was about as opposite from Singletary’s as is possible.  Playing in just one season in scarlet and black, the grad transfer from South Dakota came to Lubbock with the reputation as a pure scorer but poor defender.  He left being regarded as one of the better all-around shooting guards in the modern era of the program.

Averaging 11.3 points per game, he was Tech’s third-leading scorer on the 2018-19 Final Four team.  What’s more, because he averaged 1.8 steals per game, the Chicago native was named to the Big 12’s all-defensive team.

Mooney became Tech’s top on-ball defender that season.  That made him a huge cog in a defense that was tops in the nation in defensive efficiency rating.

What’s more, he saved his career-defining moment for the grandest of stages.  Facing Michigan State in the Final Four, Mooney scored a team-high 22 points (matching his career-high as a Red Raider) as he drained four 3 pointers.

On a night when Tech would score just 61 points as a team, Mooney was responsible for a third of the offensive output.  Much like Singletary, Mooney’s best moment came in the postseason.  But because his came in the Final Four, Mooney earns a higher spot on our list than Singletary because what happens in April trumps anything that happens in March.