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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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LUBBOCK, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 01: Forward Kevin Obanor #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots the ball during the second half of the college basketball game against the Texas Longhorns at United Supermarkets Arena on February 01, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS – FEBRUARY 01: Forward Kevin Obanor #0 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders shoots the ball during the second half of the college basketball game against the Texas Longhorns at United Supermarkets Arena on February 01, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /

3-point shooting

There’s nothing more coveted in the game of college basketball than 3-point shooting.  It’s the one factor that can turn a game quicker than any other and having several quality long-range snipers on your roster is certain to make you a nightmare to deal with, even if it’s just by being able to threaten an opponent’s defense with the possibility of a 3-point barrage.

But Tech was mostly devoid of that threat this season.  In fact, the Red Raiders were one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the nation.

Making just 6.1 shots from beyond the arc per game, Tech finished just 299th in the nation.  What’s more, their 32.1% shooting as a team was good for only 261st nationally.

Taking it a step further, in Big 12 play, the Red Raiders were absolutely atrocious from deep.  Shooting just 28% from 3-point range in conference games, Tech was one of the worst 3-point shooting teams in the history of the Big 12 as their shooting percentage was one of the lowest in the league’s existence.

What exasperates that problem is that the Red Raiders are losing their top 3-point shooter from this past season, Bryson Williams, the only player on the team to shoot over 40% from deep.  What’s more, they could lose Kevin Obanor who led the team with 48 made 3’s.

Even if players like Obanor, Kevin McCullar, and Terrence Shannon all decide to come back after mulling over their professional and transfer portal options, the Red Raiders will have to add some outside shooting.  One player many Red Raider fans are watching closely is West Virginia’s Sean McNeil.

This past season, the 6-foot-3 guard was a 36.8% shooter from deep on his way to averaging over 12 points per game.  Now in the portal, he was once recruited heavily by the Red Raiders but choose to sign with the Mountaineers after his JUCO career.  Now, could he be a Red Raider target again this offseason?  It would make sense.

But whomever Tech decides to target in the portal, the fact is that the Red Raiders must be in the market for a 3-point shooter (or two).  Adding that to next year’s roster would make Tech a much more complete team on offense.

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