Texas Tech basketball: What has to change in rematch with Oklahoma

LUBBOCK, TEXAS – NOVEMBER 25: Guard Terrence Shannon #1 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots a free throw during the first half of the college basketball game against the Northwestern State Demons at United Supermarkets Arena on November 25, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

Tech has to get to the line more

It’s hard to imagine how Tech beat OU in this year’s first meeting given that the Sooners had a 27-10 edge in free-throw attempts. But the problem for the Sooners was that they missed 10 of their shots from the line while Tech missed only one of its.

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Still, Tech has to do a far better job of getting to the line tonight. That’s because, in December, only two Red Raiders (Mac McClung and Shannon) attempted a free throw against OU.

Remember, Tech shoots an average of 24.2 free throws per game. That’s the 10th-most in the NCAA.

But the problem is that OU simply does not foul much. In fact, they allow just 13.3 foul shots to their opponent per game. That’s 10th in the nation as well.

Regardless, Tech needs to put the Sooners in a position to choose between giving up a layup or committing a foul. In other words, Beard’s team has to attack the rim and earn trips to the line rather than settling for the jumpers that OU wants to entice its opponents into taking.

In Tech’s five losses this year, the average number of free-throw attempts has been just 20.6, an indication that the Red Raiders aren’t being as aggressive. Tonight, against a team that would rather give up a good shot than commit a foul, Tech may not get to the line 24 times but they should get there more than 10 times. If they do, it will likely be a successful night for the home team.