Texas Tech basketball: Trying to make sense of the Red Raiders’ woes

What can be done to fix these issues?

Now, the question that must be addressed is, what can be done to fix Texas Tech’s issues?  Unfortunately, there simply isn’t much that can happen in the next two months that will make a change.  But in the long term, there might be a huge payoff coming.

Of course, a return to health by the currently injured Red Raiders would make the greatest difference in the immediate.  With Isaacs and Batcho at 100%, this team is capable of beating any team in the league on any given day as we saw against Kansas on Tuesday.

However, Batcho has not been at full strength since early December due to a sprained ankle, an illness, and now, a dislocated finger.  When will he return to the form that he showed early in the season at the Maui Invitational when he averaged 15.7 points and 7.7 rebounds over that three-game stretch?  In fact, it is fair to wonder if we will see that version of the sophomore again this season.

Also, Isaacs’ return will be a huge boost as he is already proven to be this team’s best outside shooter at 42.2% from beyond the arc.  After seeing the Red Raiders go just 2-18 (11.1%) from 3-point range on Saturday night against OU, everyone in scarlet and black is desperate for the freshman to be back in action.

However, even with a fully healthy squad, Tech was likely going to be just a borderline tournament team.  What’s more, it would be naive to think that Fardaws Aimaq’s return will make this team into a force to be dealt with.  Expecting him to be anything more than a bit player after missing the last four months with a broken foot is foolish.  Might he be able to help?  Perhaps.  But he won’t be a savior.

Simply put, this year is likely going to be a slog.  That’s just the reality that we are facing.  The only hope is that soon, these freshmen will start to figure things out and take their games to a higher level and that the growing pains that have plagued this team so far will start to decrease significantly.  If that happens, Tech could be a team that is a pain to deal with down the stretch.

More important though is the long-term future of this program.  When Adams decided to go heavy with the youth movement this year instead of bringing in even more transfers, he made a long-term play.

There’s a chance that this roster could return everyone but Kevin Obanor next year.  While that isn’t going to happen given that transfers are inevitable in today’s NCAA landscape, if the Red Raiders can keep the core of Batcho, Isaacs, Harmon, Washington, Aimaq, and Jennings together, while adding the recently signed Georgia transfer KyeRon Lindsay to the mix, this will be a team that is able to enter next season expecting to be a factor in the conference race.

Also, Adams must rid this team of passengers and replace them with difference-makers.  That means that the transfer portal will once again be critical for the Red Raiders.

Will Adams return to his previous philosophy of finding defensive-oriented players who can return this program to the identity that made it so successful over the past six seasons?  With players such as Batcho, Harmon, and Isaacs already in place, there might be enough offense on the roster to allow Adams to feel comfortable bringing in players who can play the type of elite defense that he prefers.

It isn’t easy to think about already turning your hopes to next season and for sure, no one should give up on this year’s team just yet.  However, this is not a roster built to excel at the top levels of the conference this year.  Instead, it is one that could grow together over time, something that has become unusual in the transfer portal era.

If that happens, all of this year’s struggles will have been worth enduring.  Until then though, it might be a rough ride for Red Raider fans over the next two months.