Texas Tech basketball: 4 teams to hope aren’t in Red Raiders’ region

Gonzaga

I’m usually one of the people who doesn’t give Gonzaga the type of credit that most are so quick to.  After all, playing in the West Coast Conference means that the Zags face almost no tests for the final two months of the regular season and my theory is that it is tough to turn it back on when the competition stiffens come March Madness.

In the past, the Zags have been out-toughed by less talented teams in the tournament (as was perhaps the case in 2019’s loss to Texas Tech in the Elite 8) and I believe much of that is to do with their weak conference.  But with all that said, this year’s Gonzaga team just looks and feels different and I want Tech to have no part of tangling with them until as deep into the tournament as possible.

Unlike in years past, when Gonzaga featured only one star, this season they feature legitimate NBA talent at more than just one spot.  Big man Drew Timme averages 18.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game and has the shooting and passing skill set that sets him apart from most players of his size.

Guard Corey Kispert, the Zags leading scorer at 19.2 points per game, shoots 44.4% from deep and has the look of an eventual 3-and-D NBA player given his 6-foot-7, 220-pound frame.  He’s averaging 2.8 makes from outside per game and he can stretch the floor like few players of his size can.

Freshman point guard Jalen Suggs was a five-star signee and many people believe that he will too find his way to the NBA.  Some even think he’s a future lottery pick.  Averaging 14.3 points per game, he’s also handing out 4.5 assists each time out.

With those players on the court together, it’s easy to see why the Zags lead the nation in scoring and why they are 26-0.  They’ve beaten the likes of Kansas, West Virginia, Iowa, and Virginia and they are a team that I don’t want Tech to see before a potential Final Four matchup.