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Texas Tech basketball: Three things Red Raiders must add this offseason

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 16: Flames shoot up during player introductions before the college basketball game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders the Baylor Bears at United Supermarkets Arena on February 16, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 16: Flames shoot up during player introductions before the college basketball game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders the Baylor Bears at United Supermarkets Arena on February 16, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 20: Kevin McCullar #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders dribbles against Trey Wertz #2 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half in the second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 20: Kevin McCullar #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders dribbles against Trey Wertz #2 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the second half in the second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

The Texas Tech basketball team is in full offseason mode as the focus for Mark Adams turns from winning games to building a roster.  And this offseason should be far different for the second-year head coach.

Heading into this summer, Adams actually has a roster to build around with as many as eight players who could return for next year.  What’s more, he’s got three incoming true freshmen and transfer Jaylon Tyson set to join the program.  That’s quite the difference from this time last year when Adams was left with just five players on his roster and no high school recruiting class at the time that he was handed the reins.

Thus, the optimism surrounding Texas Tech basketball is exponentially higher right now than it was last April.  Of course, a Sweet 16 run will do that for a program.

However, this program is far from set and this summer will yet again bring new faces into the mix as Adams looks to build another Big 12 contender.  So let’s look at what he needs to add before the fall rolls around.

A playmaking point guard

It’s been since Keenan Evans was a senior in 2018 that Tech has had a true point guard running the show.  Of course, in the years since, this program has had unprecedented success even without a playmaker to be the primary ball-handler.

Still, it would make life far easier for the Red Raiders if they could find a playmaking point guard to run the show next season.

It will be interesting to see if that becomes a priority for Adams and Co. in the transfer portal.  Right now, there are at least 25 point guards in the portal with Illinois’ Andre Curbelo the biggest fish in the pond to this point.

This season, a concussion took its toll on the former 4-star recruit forcing him to miss almost half of the season.  Naturally, his statistics dropped in his sophomore year but in 2020-21 he was more than solid scoring 9.1 points, grabbing 4.0 rebounds, and handing out 4.2 assists per game.

Whether or not Tech adds Curbelo remains to be seen but what isn’t really up for debate is that Tech needs a creator at the guard position next season.  That would help the Red Raiders avoid the crippling scoring droughts that plagued the 2021-22 team.  It would also give the program a greater margin for error by having a player who can make something out of nothing when plays break down.

Of course, some hope that incoming freshman Pop Isaacs can be that type of player.  A 4-star recruit from Nevada, he is the No. 10 point guard in the class of 2022 and he will get his shot to play early.  But putting all of your eggs in a true freshman’s basket is a risky proposition and one that Tech likely doesn’t want to have to rely on next season.

We’ve seen programs such as Kansas with Remy Martin and Duke with Jeremy Roach take down the Red Raiders in recent weeks due in large part to the play of those two point guards who were able to break down the Red Raider defense off the dribble.  Hopefully, next season the Red Raiders will have a player that can do that for them.

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