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Texas Tech basketball: What the Red Raiders must do to beat Utah State

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - MARCH 04: The Texas Tech Red Raiders huddle during a timeout during the first half of the college basketball game against the Iowa State Cyclones at United Supermarkets Arena on March 04, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - MARCH 04: The Texas Tech Red Raiders huddle during a timeout during the first half of the college basketball game against the Iowa State Cyclones at United Supermarkets Arena on March 04, 2021 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – FEBRUARY 29: Justin Bean #34 of the Utah State Aggies shoots against the New Mexico Lobos during their game at Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit on February 29, 2020 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – FEBRUARY 29: Justin Bean #34 of the Utah State Aggies shoots against the New Mexico Lobos during their game at Dreamstyle Arena – The Pit on February 29, 2020 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. (Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images) /

Control Bean

Queta is the head of the snake for the Aggies but the unquestioned heart and soul of their team is Justin Bean, a 6-foot-7 junior who averages 11.3 points and 7.7 rebounds per game.

Bean is quite the opposite of Queta in the sense that he’s more comfortable playing away from the goal.  He’s got a nice face-up game and he makes plenty of plays from the elbow, whether it is scoring or creating for others.

But he lacks elite athleticism.  In fact, I’d say he’s one of the most underwhelming athletes you will find among players who are stars for their team.

Instead, he uses elite hustle and an off-the-charts understanding of the game (as well as his team’s system) to be effective.  Thus, one has to wonder if he will be able to get his usual points against a defense as stout as Tech’s, one that is schematically different from most that Bean has seen in the Mountain West.

Bean will likely be matched up quite a bit with Terrance Shannon Jr. and that’s a matchup I love to go Tech’s way as I’ll take a future NBA player over a former walk-on any day of the week.  But if he causes too many problems, expect the Red Raiders to deploy Kevin McCullar Jr. to bother him as well.

Bean is a nice player who gets the absolute most out of his talent.  But Tech has the athletes in Shannon, McCullar, and Micah Peavy to make his life hell and if that happens, the Red Raiders will be in great shape.

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