Where the Texas Tech basketball team needs to improve dramatically in order to win the Big 12

Texas Tech must stop having first half lulls

Finally, this team has got to find a way to play better in the first half. That trend is continually putting the Red Raiders into second-half deficits and trying to mount massive comebacks on a regular basis is not wise in the Big 12.

This first became a problem against Kansas State in Lubbock. That day, the Wildcats ended the first half on a 20-0 run to take an 11-point halftime lead.

Then, against Houston, Tech had the game tied at 12 but then allowed the Cougars to go on a 10-2 run to get some separation. After that, Tech would not come within five points of drawing equal in the game.

In the BYU game, the entire first half was a disaster. Tech allowed the Cougars to hit 10 shots from beyond the arc on the way to a 48-32 halftime lead.

Against Oklahoma, Tech surrendered a 19-4 run after taking a 17-11 lead. The result was another halftime deficit, though it was only one point, fortunately.

Finally, against TCU, after going up 27-16, the wheels came off for the Red Raiders. Over the next five minutes, McCasland's team would allow the Frogs to rattle off a 20-3 run to take a lead that they would never relinquish.

It is great that this team has proven capable of fighting back from significant second-half deficits. However, the Red Raiders aren't going to be able to live that way long-term. That's why these first-half lulls must become a thing of the past if this team is going to stay in contention for a Big 12 championship.