By Chris Williams
March is here, and Coach Beard has his guys poised to be in the big dance, yet again. After a 67-66 loss to Texas in the Big 12 quarterfinals, the Red Raiders are sitting at a respectable 17-9 record on the season, with a 9-8 record in conference play. This placed Tech at #6 in the Big 12 regular season standings. While this team lacks the size and raw talent of the historic 2018-19 Final Four team, I believe they have an opportunity to become a dark horse in the tournament and break some brackets this postseason.
Battle Tested
Being #6 in any other conference would be on the outside looking in when it comes to an NCAA Tournament bid. But this isn’t just any other conference. The Big 12 has been historically good this year, with SEVEN teams in the AP Top 25. The next closest conference is the Big 10 with five. Although Tech has gone just 4-8 against these teams in the regular season, their losses include two overtime losses to Oklahoma State, one and six-point losses to Kansas, and a one-point heartbreaker to West Virginia in Morgantown. They also gave Baylor, a presumptive #1 seed in the NCAA Tournament, their closest game up to that point in the season back in January. Out of conference, they lost just once: an eleven-point neutral-site loss to the then #7 ranked Houston Cougars. The Red Raiders have shown that they can hang with some of the nation’s elite programs and will look to benefit from this experience throughout March.
Defense, defense, defense
Teams throughout Chris Beard’s tenure in Lubbock have undoubtedly hung their hat on the defensive end. This year is no different. Texas Tech ranks within the top ten among Power Five programs in both opponent field goal percentage and turnovers forced per game. They rank sixth in all of college basketball in turnover margin. In a college basketball season riddled with inconsistent offenses, it is crucial to have a consistent defense, and there aren’t much better on that side of the ball than the Red Raiders.
Mac McClung
Steph Curry in 2008. Kemba Walker and Jimmer Fredette in 2011. Mac McClung in 2021? It cannot be understated how far one player getting hot at the right time can take a team in March. Coach Beard potentially has that type of player in McClung, who has quickly become the team’s leading scorer since arriving in Lubbock as a transfer from Georgetown back in May 2020. Despite scoring just seven in the loss to Texas, the junior averages 15.7 points per game. In addition to scoring, McClung provides Tech with the off-the-dribble playmaking ability that can bail them out of their at-times stagnant offense. More importantly, he thrives in big moments, particularly on the road. He dropped a season-high 30 points in a one-point loss at WVU. In arguably his signature moment as a Red Raider thus far, he scored 22 points including the game-winner with seconds remaining in Austin against the then #4 Texas Longhorns. A player that can legitimately take over games on the offensive end, McClung will look to add to his Texas Tech legacy with a stellar run in the tournament.
Yes, it’s a long shot. No, seeding will most likely not be on Tech’s side. But it’s March Madness, and crazier things have happened. And with Chris Beard on the sideline, you can never really count out the Red Raiders.
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