Thursday night in Lubbock, the Texas Tech basketball team moved to 2-0 on the season with a 76-58 victory over Bethune-Cookman. However, there is a ton that the Red Raiders must improve upon before Tuesday night when No. 3 Illinois pays a visit to United Supermarkets Arena.
UNLV transfer Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn led all scorers with 25 points. He was 7 of 14 from the floor and 3 of 7 from beyond the arc. What's more, he had three rebounds, two assists, and a blocked shot.
Meanwhile, another new Red Raider guard, Cruz Davis, added 15 points, seven rebounds, and three assists. The Hofstra transfer was the only other Texas Tech starter in double figures.
That meant that star returners Darrion Williams and Donovan Atwell were held in check for the second game in a row. Williams scored only six points while Atwell added nine. That came three days after that duo combined for only five points in Tech's season-opening win over Jackson State.
In a sloppy, foul-filled game, Tech led by 13 points at halftime only to see Bethune-Cookman cut the deficit to just six points in the middle of the second half. However, three timely 3-pointers from Atwell and steady scoring from Gibbs-Lawhorn helped Tech fend off the Wildcats' comeback attempt.
Texas Tech must improve quickly before Illinois comes to Lubbock
There is little time for the Red Raiders to improve before No. 3 Illinois arrives in the Hub City Tuesday night for the season's first huge non-conference test. Unfortunately, what we saw from Tech on Thursday won't be good enough to defeat the Illini.
For instance, Tech was only 19-31 (61%) from the free-throw line. In fact, it was the second time in as many games this season that the Red Raiders have gone 19-31 at the line. To beat Illinois, those opportunities must be converted at a much higher rate.
On top of the poor shooting from the line, Tech was only 9-30 from 3-point range. That comes after the team went 7-30 from deep in the season opener.
It is shocking to see this team shoot so poorly from deep. That's especially true for Atwell.
Last season, he set the Texas Tech single-season record with 130 made 3-pointers. However, this season, he missed his first 14 shots from downtown before finally connecting in the second half on Thursday night. Though he ended up making three 3-pointers, he's shooting just 16.6% from beyond the arc.
Again, it is hard to imagine the Red Raiders being able to beat Illinois without shooting the ball more efficiently from 3-point range. Through two games, the team is hitting at just a 23.3% clip. That won't be good enough come Tuesday night.
Illinois will have a decided size advantage, with Tech certain to play without JT Toppin and likely to be without UCF transfer forward JaMichael Stillwell. Thus, the 3-ball must be an equalizer for the Red Raiders.
Texas Tech has been uneven in its first two games and has yet to put together a performance anywhere close to dominant in all phases, even against lesser competition to begin the year. Now, the level of play from the opposition will increase dramatically the next time the Red Raiders hit the court. Hopefully, Tech will be able to rise to the occasion.
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