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

By Matthew Conner

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates the play against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 08: Jarrett Culver #23 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates the play against the Virginia Cavaliers in the second half during the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four National Championship game at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 08, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images) /
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LAWRENCE, KS – MARCH 03: Martin Zeno #3 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders loses the ball as Chase Buford #22 and Brennan Bechard #11 of the Kansas Jayhawks defend during the game on March 3, 2008 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS – MARCH 03: Martin Zeno #3 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders loses the ball as Chase Buford #22 and Brennan Bechard #11 of the Kansas Jayhawks defend during the game on March 3, 2008 at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

No. 7: Martin Zeno

A lefty from Louisiana, Martin Zeno, is next on our countdown.  Averaging 14.7 points and 4.8 rebounds per game for his career, the four-year starter was one of the best players of the Bob Knight era of Texas Tech basketball.

Zeno was another incredibly steady player for the Red Raiders as he was a double-digit scorer every year of his college career.  And he broke onto the scene in a big way with what was then a school-record 413 points by a freshman. Four years later, he would end up as the no. 5 scorer in program history with 1,913 points.

But there was more to his game than scoring points. For instance, he ranks 6th in Tech history in rebounds in Big 12 play with 329.  Crashing the boards was a huge part of his skill set and he has six double-doubles to his name as a result.

Zeno was part of two NCAA Tournament teams during his time at Tech including the 2004-05 Sweet Sixteen team, on which he was a true freshman.  He also led Tech to the first round in the 2007 tournament, Bob Knight’s final NCAA Tournament game of his legendary career.

What made the 6-foot-5 wing interesting was that he got almost no production from beyond 3-point range.  For his career, he averaged less than one attempt per game while making just 0.3 per contest.

But he made his living near the basket.  Able to absorb contact and finish plays with his sneaky strength, he was a true slasher who always wanted to get the ball inside.  And that’s one reason why he is Tech’s career leader in free throws made at 576.

Named a freshman All-American and a second-team All-Big 12 honoree as a senior, Zeno was one of the best small forwards to ever play for the Red Raiders.  And he seems like another player on this list who would have been a perfect fit for Chris Beard’s system were he to be able to don the Double T these days.

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