Texas Tech basketball: Scouting the Duke Blue Devils

Duke does not send teams to the free-throw line very often

One way that Texas Tech has managed to overcome its offensive shortcomings is by getting to the free-throw line.  But that might not be a great strategy to rely on against the Blue Devils.

Overall, Tech averages 19.8 free-throw attempts per game (68th-most in the NCAA).  But Duke only gives up on average 11.8 attempts (second-fewest in the entire country).

Now, the question that must be asked is whether that is because Duke plays solid positional defense or whether it is because they can be passive on that end of the floor at times.

Tech often needs the free-throw line to help stave off lengthy scoring droughts.  For instance, in the final three-plus minutes of Sunday’s second-round game with Notre Dame, Tech went 10-10 from the line while making only one field goal (the Kevin McCullar breakaway dunk that sealed the win in the closing seconds).

In fact, in some of this season’s best wins, Tech has relied heavily on free throws to tilt the scales.  Against Texas in Lubbock, Tech was 21-30 from the line.  In the win over Sweet 16 team Iowa State in Lubbock, Tech was 29-38 at the stripe.  And in beating Baylor in Lubbock, Tech was 24-30.

Don’t count on those types of numbers at the line tonight.  The Blue Devils simply don’t send teams to the line very often.  That means that when Tech does get opportunities to score one point at a time, they had better take advantage.