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Texas Tech basketball: Hidden moments in Tech’s loss to Kansas

By Matthew Conner

Dec 17, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Marcus Garrett (0) works the ball against Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Micah Peavy (5) in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 17, 2020; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Marcus Garrett (0) works the ball against Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Micah Peavy (5) in the second half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – DECEMBER 17: Guard Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks shoots a layup during the second half of the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena on December 17, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – DECEMBER 17: Guard Marcus Garrett #0 of the Kansas Jayhawks shoots a layup during the second half of the college basketball game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena on December 17, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Marcus Garrett gets away with a push-off in the final minute

KU’s defensive ace, Marcus Garrett, is a pretty poor offenisve player.  But when KU needs a bucket, they often put the ball in his hands and he has a penchant for making big plays.

That happened again on Thursday night.  With the game tied 54-54 with under a minute to play, KU got the ball to Garrett as he was guarded by McClung and the result was that he the Jayhawk senior hit a runner in the lane to take the lead.

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However, on his way to the basket, Garrett used his right forearm to push off on McClung and create space.  Yet no call was made. (You can see the player by clicking here.)

It drives basketball fans absolutely crazy that the game is often called differently in the final minute than it is for the first 39 minutes of the game.  That’s what happened on this play.

Had Garrett pushed off that way on any other possession in the game, he likely would have been assessed an offensive foul.  It was clear that Garrett’s arm helped him create room to drive the ball, and in today’s game, nothing draws a whistle faster than when an offensive player chicken-wings his way to creating space.  Except in the final minute.

To be absolutely clear, the officials did not cost Texas Tech this game.  The free-throw line did.  But the fact that Garrett was able to create space on this critical play can’t be overlooked.  It was an important basket in this game and it was a time when the officials swallowed their whistles.  If it is a foul in the first minute of the game, it is a foul in the final minute but that wasn’t the case on this play and that played a huge part in the KU win.

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