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Texas Tech basketball: Why the Red Raiders beat LSU

By Matthew Conner

Jan 30, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Chris Beard reacts to a play against LSU Tigers during the first half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Chris Beard reacts to a play against LSU Tigers during the first half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 30, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers forward Trendon Watford (2) charges through Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2021; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers forward Trendon Watford (2) charges through Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Terrence Shannon Jr. (1) during the second half at Pete Maravich Assembly Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-USA TODAY Sports /

Let’s dive into the box score to see why the Texas Tech basketball team was able to beat LSU in dramatic fashion on Saturday.

Yes, the Texas Tech basketball team has already turned its attention to tonight’s game against Oklahoma in Lubbock.  But you’ll have to forgive those of us who still can’t stop thinking about the Red Raiders’ improbable win over LSU on Saturday.

It was so improbable that, when LSU scored to go up 71-64 with just 1:14 to play, the Tigers had a 92% chance of sealing the win according to the ESPN win probability metric.  But an 8% chance was all that Mac McClung and the Red Raiders would need in this game.

So let’s go inside the box score to see just why this game went Tech’s way.  And we will begin with the fact that one of LSU’s stars had an awful game.

Trendon Watford had only 4 points

Texas Tech basketball fans may not believe it after watching him play on Saturday, but LSU’s 6-foot-9 forward Trendon Watford is a dynamic player.  In fact, he’s one of the best in the SEC.

But against the Red Raiders, the versatile sophomore had just four points despite playing 30 minutes.  That was 13 points below his season average and a huge reason Tech was able to come out on top.

This was tied for the second-lowest scoring game in 46 career appearances for the Alabama native.  And shooting just 2-11 from the floor, it was the second-worst shooting effort of his college career.

Already this year, Watford has had some monster games.  For instance, he put up 26 points against Kentucky, 23 points against both Arkansas and South Carolina, 21 against Florida, and 17 against Georgia.

But Watford wasn’t just a no-show on the scoreboard against Tech.  He was also far from being a factor on the glass, where he is also known to be a force.

Against Tech, he pulled down just four boards, his second-fewest in a game this year.  That total was 3.1 below his season average.

Watford and Tech’s Terrence Shannon Jr. are considered by most to be sure-fire future NBA players and their head-to-head matchup was going to be pivotal in this game.  While Shannon was a stud with a game-high 23 points to go along with 10 boards, Watford had arguably his worst game of the season and it was a huge reason for the Red Raiders’ triumph.

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