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Texas Tech basketball: Will Tech target 5-star big man Moussa Cisse in transfer portal?

By Matthew Conner

Memphis Tigers center Moussa Cisse (32) rebound the ball in the first half of a men's NCAA basketball game against the Cincinnati Bearcats, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati.Memphis Tigers At Cincinnati Bearcats Feb 28
Memphis Tigers center Moussa Cisse (32) rebound the ball in the first half of a men's NCAA basketball game against the Cincinnati Bearcats, Sunday, Feb. 28, 2021, at Fifth Third Arena in Cincinnati.Memphis Tigers At Cincinnati Bearcats Feb 28 /
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While most of the work Mark Adams and his newly cemented Texas Tech basketball coaching staff have done on the recruiting trail since Adams was elevated to head coach has concerned upgrading the program’s talent at the guard positions, there’s no denying that the Red Raiders must also address the program’s lack of size in the post as well.  That’s where a new entrant into the transfer portal could be an intriguing option.

6-foot-10 center Moussa Cisse, who played as a freshman last year at Memphis, put his name in the portal this week and he is a player that the Red Raiders should certainly kick the tires on at the very least.  Last season, the former 5-star high school prospect averaged 6.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game.

While those numbers don’t jump off the page, his ability to rebound and block shots would make him a natural fit at Texas Tech.  Remember, the Red Raiders currently have only one post player on the roster and that’s 6-foot-7 senior Marcus Santos-Silva.  Tyreek Smith is in the transfer portal but has not found a new home yet leaving some Tech fans to hope that the redshirt freshman will decide to return.

As for Cisse, he has a connection with the new Texas Tech coaching staff.  That’s because his strength coach this past season at Memphis, Darby Rich, is now the strength coach for the Red Raiders.

Thus, if Adams needs any insight into what type of person and player Cisse is, he won’t have to travel very far to find someone with first-hand knowledge of this player. Certainly, Rich is certainly going to be a valuable asset should Adams and Co. decide to do their due diligence on this intriguing big man.

Originally from the West African nation of Guinea, Cisse came to the United States to play his high school basketball in the city of Memphis.  There, he became the No. 10 player overall and the No. 2 center in the class of 2020.   He had offers from Florida State, Alabama, UCONN, Georgetown, Georgia, Kansas, Kentucky, LSU, Ole Miss, UCLA, USC, Virginia, and others.

Cisse is also going through the NBA Draft process to find out how he rates in the minds of scouts and organizations.  He may also decide to head back overseas to play professionally as well.

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But regardless, Texas Tech should check in on this prospect and at least pick Rich’s brain about him (which has likely already happened).  That’s because the transfer portal is already fairly picked over at the center spot with several top players having already committed to new schools.

Still, Tech needs to find a player of Cisse’s size and athleticism to help anchor Adams’ defense.  That’s because the Red Raiders have not been the same since losing 6-foot-10 Tariq Owens to graduation after 2019’s run to the National Title Game.

In the two years since then, Tech has failed to have one player over 6-foot-8 in its regular rotation and at times, that has hurt the program’s trademark defense.  Of course, that lack of size makes it tougher to rebound but more importantly, not having a true rim protector on the floor makes Tech’s defense far less effective as it forces the other players on the court have to be leery of being beaten by dribble penetration thus causing them to play a tick less aggressive when guarding the ball one-on-one.

Also, having less size inside has forced Tech to defend the post by crashing the guards down on the opposition’s big men.  Of course, that leaves more room for 3-point shooters to get open and this past season, the Red Raiders were the third-worst team in the Big 12 when it came to defending the 3-point shot by allowing opponents to shoot 34.2%.

We all assume that Adams will add some legitimate size to the roster this year, size that won’t just collect dust on the bench like 7-footers Russell Tchewa and Vlad Goldin did over the past two seasons.  Cisse might be an intriguing possibility to fill that need and given that he now has a tie to the Red Raider program, he is a name worth watching over the next few days and weeks.

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