Texas Tech basketball: Red Raiders set for toughest test yet in 2023-24

Texas Tech needs to have an edge at the free-throw line

Because Villanova shoots a ton of 3s, they don’t get to the line very much.  In fact, their 18.3 free-throw attempts per game are good for just 243rd nationally.  Now, they do a great job of converting at the line by making 83.6% of their opportunities (3rd-best in the entire country).

Meanwhile, Tech gets to the line quite a bit.  The Red Raiders’ 22.3 attempts per game rank 107th nationally.  They also shoot well as their 76.1% at the line is good for 61st overall.

Keep in mind, though, that Tech will be playing away from United Supermarkets Arena for the first time this season.  That’s important to the free-throw game because the home teams in college hoops almost always have an edge at the line.

In fact, Tech leads the nation in opponent free throws per game.  The three teams Tech has played thus far have averaged a stunningly meager 5.3 attempts per game.

Thus, it is fair to suggest that if it were it not for the free-throw line, Tech could have very well lost to both San Jose State and Texas A&M-Corpus Christi.  Today, it will be unlikely that the Red Raiders will have such a decided edge in that aspect of the game given that it will be a neutral-site contest.

That is unless the Red Raiders repeatedly push the issue and drive to the basket to draw contact.  While ‘Nova will be content to sit outside and launch 3s, Tech needs to attack with players like Joe Toussaint, Pop Isaacs, Lamar Washington, and Devan Cambridge using the dribble to get close to the rim.

Tech has to put the onus on the officials to blow the whistle today.  If Tech can avoid the trap of trying to get into a shooting contest with ‘Nova and instead try to win this game at the line, it will do wonders for the chances of coming out on top.