Turd Polishing: Volume 2 - Texas Tech Red Raiders

[thebigabd]

Tubby Smith had one of the youngest teams in the nation last year... Filled with freshman, newcomers, etc. They appear to have a solid group coming back, and return all the freshman and first year players from last year.

At one point last year they started 4 true freshman and a first year juco. This year they will likely start 4 sophomores and a second year juco.

Can they turn it around?

PG: Keenan Evans (6'3'' 175-Sophomore)
-Averaged 6.2 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game in Big 12 games last year. Very good athlete and was a solid recruit for Tubby.

SG: Devaugntah Williams (6'4'' 205-Senior)
-Averaged 10 points, 3 rebounds, and shot 40% from the 3pt line in his first year at Tech out of juco in Big 12 play. Was their leading scorer on the year in both conference and non-conference. Had 21 points against WVU, 22 points against ISU, 22 vs KSU, 15 vs BU, 28 vs BU.

SF: Justin Gray (6'6'' 210-Sophomore)
-Was arguably Tech's best player, or at least most promising, as a true freshman before getting hurt for the year. Was a 4-star recruit out of high school. Averaged 7 points and 3 rebounds per game before missing the 2nd half of the year with injury.

PF: Zach Smith (6'8'' 210-Sophomore)
-Averaging 7 points, 5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.4 blocks per game as a true freshman. Another big time athlete. Can step out and hit 3's (31%), can put the ball on the floor, led Tech in blocks, etc.

C: Norense Odiase (6'9'' 270-Sophomore)
-Averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds per game as a true freshman.

 

[sperry]

Will keep some games close, pull off an upset or two, and still finish dead last in the league. Definitely better than last year though.

 

[DenverSooner]

They appear to desperately need a rebounder.

 

[WTSooner]

Terrible.

 

[BCSooners]

If they get 7 solid players we might need to take notice.

 

[DenverSooner]

Their starters average 18.4 rebounds per game. OU's starters averaged 28.2 last season. That is 10 possessions a game with the starters alone and the team rebounding was even worse. That is a lot to overcome.

If you look at field goal percentage it gets worse. OU shot 43.5% on the season last year (5th in the conference but there was little difference between 4th through 8th). Tech was at 40% and last in the conference. Tech was second to last in Free Throw percentage.

If you look at Tech's stats, they were horrible at almost everything last year. http://www.big12sports.com/ViewContent.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=10410&CONTENT_ID=1029662

Turnover margin 8th, Assist to Turnover Ratio 10th, Steals 9th, Assists 10th, etc. etc.
That is a lot to overcome. I think they will suck