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Texas Tech basketball: 3 key matchups to watch as Tech hosts Kansas

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - DECEMBER 06: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1, Mac McClung #0, Marcus Santos-Silva #14, Kyler Edwards #11, and Jamarius Burton #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders walk onto the court after a timeout during the first half of the college basketball game against the Grambling State Tigers at United Supermarkets Arena on December 06, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - DECEMBER 06: Terrence Shannon Jr. #1, Mac McClung #0, Marcus Santos-Silva #14, Kyler Edwards #11, and Jamarius Burton #2 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders walk onto the court after a timeout during the first half of the college basketball game against the Grambling State Tigers at United Supermarkets Arena on December 06, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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AMES, IA – FEBRUARY 22: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders coaches Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders from the bench in the first half of the play at Hilton Coliseum on February 22, 2020 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Tech Red Raiders won 87-57 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images)
AMES, IA – FEBRUARY 22: Head coach Chris Beard of the Texas Tech Red Raiders coaches Kyler Edwards #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders from the bench in the first half of the play at Hilton Coliseum on February 22, 2020 in Ames, Iowa. The Texas Tech Red Raiders won 87-57 over the Iowa State Cyclones. (Photo by David K Purdy/Getty Images) /

Edwards vs. Agbaji

Each of these teams features a shooting guard who is capable of going off for a huge night at any moment and if either Kyler Edwards or Ochai Agbaji has a huge game, it could tip the scales in his team’s favor.

Edwards has been playing well lately and he’s been steady all season long.  Averaging 11.3 points per game, he’s put up 13.7 points per game in his last four outings helping to offset McClung’s recent struggles.

But what may be a concern for Red Raider fans is the fact that Edwards has never scored in double digits against KU.  In four games against the Jayhawks in his career, he’s averaged just 5.5 points.

Meanwhile, Agbaji is one of the most dangerous scorers in the Big 12.  Never afraid to let it fly, the 6-foot-5 junior is averaging 14.1 points per game while shooting 45.9% from 3-point range.

It will be imperative that Tech keep Agbaji in check and perhaps the return of Kevin McCullar Jr. could help.  Yet to play this year because of an ankle sprain, it is looking like the sophomore, who is Tech’s best on-ball defender, could return tonight (according to his head coach, that’s a distinct possibility) and if he does, he might spend quite a bit of time trying to keep Agbaji in check.

These two shooting guards are both streaky shooters who can take over a game.  If one of them is able to get loose for a big night, it will be a huge development in what is expected to be a closely-contested game.

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