Texas Tech freshman guard Christian Anderson continues to step up vs. top teams

One of the brightest spots in what is shaping up to be another excellent Texas Tech basketball season has been the development of freshman guard Christian Anderson. In fact, the youngster has already developed a knack for taking his game to a new level when he faces the best teams in the Big 12.

In his last outing, Anderson scored 17 points, grabbed three rebounds, handed out a pair of assists, and came up with a steal in his team's 82-73 road loss to then-No. 20 Arizona. What's more, in 33 minutes of play, he committed only one turnover against a Wildcat team that plays rugged defense.

That came on a night when the Red Raiders needed someone to step up given that the team's leading scorer, Chance McMillian, was just 3-6 overall and 1-6 from 3-point range on his way to a quiet eight points. In fact, with Kerwin Walton and Kevin Overton each being held without a point, Tech got only 18 total points from the four guards other than Anderson who played in the game in Tucson.

That big performance raised Anderson's season averages to 9.5 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Those numbers put him in rare company among freshmen. According to Jordan Stocks on X, Anderson is one of only two freshmen from a power conference team averaging eight points per game while shooting 45% from the floor, 40% from 3-point range, and 75% from the free-throw line.

Christian Anderson saves his best for Texas Tech's top opponents

This season, Tech has played six games against teams that are likely to make the NCAA Tournament. In those games, Anderson is averaging 9.6 points per game. However, in one of those contests, the December 8 72-67 loss to Texas A&M in Fort Worth, he was held scoreless in 21 minutes of action.

In five Big 12 games against likely NCAA Tournament teams, Anderson has averaged 11.6 points per game. What's more, in those contests, he's played an average of 31.8 minutes and he's turned the ball over just 1.4 times per outing.

Against then-No. 3 Iowa State in Lubbock, Anderson scored 18 points, grabbed three boards, handed out two assists, and had two steals. That day, he was tied with JT Toppin as Tech's leading scorer in what was his breakout game.

When Arizona came to Lubbock last month, Anderson posted 10 points, three rebounds, and a steal. In the 70-54 win, he was one of only three Red Raiders to score in double figures joining Toppin and McMillian.

Anderson also had 10 points when the Red Raiders won at then-No. 6 Houston just over a week ago. That night, he played 34 minutes and committed no turnovers against one of the best perimeter defensive teams in America.

The only game against a likely NCAA Tournament team from the Big 12 that has seen Anderson have a quiet showing was when Baylor came to Lubbock last week. In that game, he posted just three points, three rebounds, and a pair of assists while playing only 20 minutes.

There have been other impressive games from the Atlanta native in Big 12 play as well. He posted 18 points as Tech won at Cincinnati and 13 when the Red Raiders won at Utah. Though those teams aren't likely to make the tournament, both were key early-season road wins in which Anderson looked like he felt right at home in another team's arena.

There is simply an "it" factor that some players have. Though it is hard to define, it is easy to recognize.

We don't often see that "it" factor from true freshmen, especially those who didn't enter the college game as high school All-Americans. However, there is no denying that Anderson has whatever "it" is.

He plays with a fearlessness and poise beyond his years, and he seems to bring his best to the table whenever the level of competition picks up. That could be great news for the Red Raiders, who intend on playing massive games deep into the postseason this year. So perhaps we haven't even seen the best of Anderson yet this season.