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Texas Tech basketball: Why the Red Raiders were able to beat the Wildcats

By Matthew Conner

Jan 5, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders after the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; The Texas Tech Red Raiders after the game against the Kansas State Wildcats at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – Forward Tyreek Smith #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots a free throw. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – Forward Tyreek Smith #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots a free throw. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Tech held a 22-point edge at the free-throw line

Admit it.  If we had been wearing purple instead of red tonight, we as fans would be howling about the free-throw disparity in this game.  After all, the Red Raiders shot 36 and made 31 while KSU was awarded only nine (making all of them).

Certainly, the story from the KSU side of this contest is going to be the one-sidedness of that portion of the game.  We’ve experienced similar games where Tech was on the other side of that type of imbalance (usually when the Red Raiders play at West Virginia) and it is maddening.

I don’t think the Big 12 officials were giving Tech a make-good after the two horrendous calls at the end of regulation in Saturday’s loss to Oklahoma State but it certainly felt like it.  After all, not only did KSU see 14 more fouls called on their squad than on the home team, they were also assessed two technical fouls.

But you never look a gift horse in the mouth and Tech certainly didn’t.  What’s more, they capitalized on their opportunities at the line.

Tech’s 31 free-throw makes were a season-high.  What’s more, that number ranks 8th all-time by a Red Raider team in a Big 12 game.

In Tech’s two Big 12 losses this year, they were just 25-35 at the line against Oklahoma State and 11-18 against Kansas.  But in their two Big 12 wins, Tech has shot 9-10 against OU and 31-36 against KSU.  That’s an easy trend to identify and one to keep an eye on as conference play continues.

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