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

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
Jan 5, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Kevin McCullar (15) and Kansas State Wildcats guard Mike McGuirl (00) go after a rebound in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 5, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Kevin McCullar (15) and Kansas State Wildcats guard Mike McGuirl (00) go after a rebound in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

Tech won the rebounding battle

Red Raider fans are rejoicing over the fact that our team finally wasn’t dominated on the glass by a Big 12 opponent.  In fact, it was Tech who did work in the rebounding department on Tuesday night.

More from Wreck'Em Red

The home team pulled down 33 boards while KSU managed to collect just 27.  What’s more, Tech was active on the offensive glass pulling down 12 on the way to a 15-6 edge in second-chance points.

In the three previous Big 12 games, the Red Raiders were beaten on the boards, often badly.  And Tech still has a negative rebounding margin in league play of 2.25 per game.  But we saw steps in the right direction on Tuesday.

Kevin McCullar led the team with seven rebounds.  That’s no surprise given his nose for the ball and willingness to stick that nose in some dangerous spots on the floor.

Terrence Shannon was right behind him with six boards.  What’s more, three of his were on the offensive end of the floor.  That’s an aspect of his game that has been missing at times during his Red Raider career but on Tuesday, he was a force.

Just like free-throws, rebounds are likely going to tell the story of this year’s Texas Tech basketball team and that’s why we will be talking about them all year long.  On Tuesday, that aspect of the game was a net positive for Tech and it helped Beard’s team bring home an important victory, even though, at times in the second half, it looked as if the head coach was presiding over another loss given his perturbation during timeouts.

Related Story. The top 25 Red Raiders of the Big 12 era. light