In the modern era of college basketball when programs use the portal to revamp their rosters every offseason, it can take longer for teams to gel. Certainly, having to mesh together four, five, six, or even more new individuals each season is a difficult task and often, the first-year transfers take time to figure out how to play in the system of their new head coaches.
Perhaps that was the case with Texas Tech point guard Elijah Hawkins. A senior transfer from the Minnesota Golden Gophers, much was expected of him to begin the season however, he had to iron out some kinks early in his Red Raider tenure. Now, however, it appears he has figured out how to play in Grant McCasland's system and his lightbulb has come on at just the right time.
So far, the Red Raiders have played three Big 12 games going 2-1 by dropping their opener at home to UCF before beating Utah and BYU on the road. And one of the reason's for Texas Tech's strong start to league play has been Hawkins' improved play.
In that time, the 5-foot-11 guard has averaged 15.0 points, 6.0 assists, and even 2.7 rebounds per game. He's also had just two total turnovers in Big 12 play. What's more, his play was especially impactful in the just-completed two-game road swing through the state of Utah.
Against the University of Utah, Hawkins put up 12 points and ten assists for his second double-double of the season as Tech blew out the Utes. Then, in the slugfest win over BYU on Tuesday night, he managed to score a season-high 22 points to go along with five assists and a steal. That night, he played 37 minutes and didn't commit one turnover.
The reality is that Tech needs Hawkins to continue to be an all-around contributor. Though he is known as one of the top assist men in the nation, he must also prove to be a threat to score as well.
One reason why Hawkins' offense is going to be critical in Big 12 play is that teams are starting to put their best perimeter defenders on guard Chance McMillian as they try to limit his opportunities from 3-point range. In fact, in three Big 12 games, he's made just five 3s while taking only 14 shots from beyond the arc. In non-conference play, he had seven games with three or more makes from behind the arc. However, in Big 12 play, he has made two or fewer 3s in every game.
Hawkins has helped pick up the 3-point slack though, In the last three games, he's gone 10-17 from 3-point range and that has lifted his season 3-point percentage to 40%. And in the BYU game, when points were tough to come by for most of the night, Hawkins drilled a career-high six 3s.
Another reason that Hawkins' scoring touch has been a welcomed addition has been the disappearing act by Kerwin Walton. Though the senior is still in the starting lineup, he's been a complete non-factor.
In the last three games, Walton has played a total of just 27 minutes. That includes playing only eight minutes against both UCF and BYU.
Walton has also been unable to get many open 3-point shots off when he has been on the floor, He's just 2-5 from deep in the last three games.
As a result, Tech needed another 3-point threat to step up and compliment McMillian so that defenses would pay for focusing too much attention on the Red Raiders' best outside shooter. Few people expected Hawkins to be that guy, though.
For his career, he's been just a decent 3-point marksman making just 1.5 shots from downtown per game. His opportunities have increased, though, as Big 12 teams have been content to let him try to beat them from the outside instead of allowing McMillian have open looks.
Hawkins has shown in Big 12 play that he is the caliber of point guard that this team expected him to be when he was recruited to Texas Tech. Not only is his scoring up, but his turnovers are down to just 0.7 per game (he averaged 2.4 per game in non-conference play).
The Big 12 grind requires teams to have excellent point guard play and that's what Tech has received from Hawkins thus far. It took a while for him to settle into the new system at Texas Tech but he appears to have figured things out right in the nick of time. If he can continue to play at this level for the remainder of the season, the Red Raiders will be tough to handle.