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Texas Tech basketball: Takeaways from Tech’s loss to Baylor

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 16: Forward Marcus Santos-Silva #14 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots the ball during the first half of the college basketball game against the Baylor Bears at United Supermarkets Arena on January 16, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 16: Forward Marcus Santos-Silva #14 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots the ball during the first half of the college basketball game against the Baylor Bears at United Supermarkets Arena on January 16, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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Jan 16, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Kevin McCullar (15) tries to block Baylor Bears guard MaCio Teague (31) in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2021; Lubbock, Texas, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Kevin McCullar (15) tries to block Baylor Bears guard MaCio Teague (31) in the first half at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

McCullar is the grittiest player in the Big 12

It’s tough to quantify or measure grit statistically.  That’s why Kevin McCullar is the most underrated player in the Big 12.

But on Saturday, the sophomore stuffed the stat sheet to put some numbers to his grit.  He recorded his second career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.  What’s more, he had three assists, two steals, and a whopping four blocks (not bad for a player who’s only 6-foot-6).

What also made McCullar’s day so impressive was the fact that he played lock-down defense on one of the Big 12’s leading scorers.  The primary defender on Baylor’s Jared Butler, McCullar helped hold the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year to just seven points on 2-11 shooting.  That’s almost nine points below Butler’s season average.

There’s no question that this team is a different animal with McCullar in the lineup.  And this year, he’s taken his game to a new level.

His scoring average is up over five points per game from last year, he’s grabbing four more rebounds per game, and he’s averaging a block more per outing.  What’s more, his defensive rating (an estimate of the number of points a player allows per 100 possessions) is down over seven points to 82.1.

McCullar deserves to be discussed in the same breath as Mitchell when it comes to defensive acumen.  What’s more, on Saturday, he was by far the better defender as he shut down Butler while Mitchell couldn’t keep McClung in check.

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