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

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - DECEMBER 17: Guard Micah Peavy #5 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders dunks the ball during the first half of the college basketball game against the Kansas Jayhawks at United Supermarkets Arena on December 17, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - DECEMBER 17: Guard Micah Peavy #5 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders dunks the ball during the first half of the college basketball game against the Kansas Jayhawks at United Supermarkets Arena on December 17, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – DECEMBER 29: Forward Tyreek Smith #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots a free throw during the first half of the college basketball game against the Incarnate Word Cardinals at United Supermarkets Arena on December 29, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – DECEMBER 29: Forward Tyreek Smith #10 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots a free throw during the first half of the college basketball game against the Incarnate Word Cardinals at United Supermarkets Arena on December 29, 2020 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

Tech has to shoot better than 61% at the free-throw line

When you drop a one-point game at home, you have to kick yourself when you shoot 11-18 (61.1%) from the free-throw line as Tech did in this season’s first game against the Jayhawks.  Today, the line has to be a more positive aspect of the game for Chris Beard’s team.

Of course, we are coming off of a game (though it was 11 days ago) that saw the line cause quite a bit of controversy for the Red Raiders.  In their loss to West Virginia on February 9th, Tech was awarded just 20 free throws and made just 14 while the Mountaineers were sent to the line 39 times, making 29.  That disparity led to Chris Beard being ejected in the most dramatic of fashions late in the contest.

If Tech can’t get a fair shake at the line against WVU in its own arena, can it expect to get one today at Allan Fieldhouse?  During the Chris Beard era, the Red Raiders have averaged just 19.5 trips to the line when playing in Lawrence so perhaps not.

But this year’s Red Raider team is one of the nation’s leaders in getting to the line.  Tech sits at No. 9 nationally by making 17.4 foul shots per game and today, they have to get to the line often (the average over 24 trips per game)…and then, they have to convert.  If they do, then this game, which will likely be decided in the final minutes, could go the way of the road team.

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