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

No. 12: Norense Odiase

Our next Red Raider on the countdown is one whose meaning to the program can’t be quantified by stats.  That’s because Norense Odiase was more than just numbers, he was the heart and soul of the greatest team in Texas Tech basketball history.

Statistically speaking, the 6-foot-8 forward from Fort Worth was just a run of the mill player.  He put up 5.4 points and 4.6 rebounds per game from 2014-15 through 2018-19.

You also won’t find him on many of the all-time Red Raider lists as far as rankings in Big 12 play goes.  He is 17th all-time in career rebounds in Big 12 contests with 189 and he’s 6th in program history with 45 career blocks in Big 12 play.

So why does he rank so high on this list?  It’s simple.  He was the glue that held together the 2019 Final Four team.

On the court, he gave that team a rugged toughness.  At 245 pounds, the 6-foot-8 forward (who weighed around 300 pounds when he stepped on campus as a freshman) was strong enough to guard taller players by keeping them from getting position in the paint.  He also provided a demeanor that fueled that team’s “street-dog” mentality.

Off the court, he also became an inspirational leader, especially during his senior year.  That season, he had to endure the loss of a cousin who was like a brother to him and his willingness to play just days after that tragedy only served to endear him even more to his team and the Red Raider fan base.

Every great team needs a leader and Norense Odiase was that for the 2018-19 team.  So throw the stats away when talking about his career.  Instead, appreciate how critical he was when it came to the intangibles that made the National Title Game team so remarkable.