Texas Tech Red Raiders – March Madness Team Predictions, Odds and Preview 2016

Midwest No. 8 – Texas Tech Red Raiders (Overall: 19-12, Conf: 9-9)

Team Strengths

Texas Tech’s undoubtedly one of the biggest surprises this season. The Red Raiders began Big 12 play by winning just three of their first 10 games. But after that, things started to click for them as they won six of their final eight regular-season games, including three-consecutive wins versus Iowa State, Baylor and Oklahoma.

With those victories, the Red Raiders are advancing to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since their 2006-07 campaign. Their level of confidence and cohesiveness has helped them progress throughout the season.  Head coach Tubby Smith, the Big 12 Coach of the Year, has played his cards efficiently and has made good use of the talents in his roster.

Seniors Toddrick Gotcher and Devaugntah Williams, in particular, have done a relatively splendid job on leading the team on the attack, averaging 11.1 and 10.6 points respectively. Those two are undeniably going to provide the offense and mostly the experience that Texas Tech will desperately need in the tournament.

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Team Weaknesses

Speaking of experience, that’s definitely what the Red Raiders are lacking. The team’s mostly composed of freshmen and sophomores who have yet to find out how it feels to play under the atmosphere of the NCAA Tournament. That being said, the onus is definitely on head coach Tubby Smith to not just get his boys ready physically, but mentally as well.

Team Stats

Category | Stat | NCAA Rank
Points Per Game | 72.4 | 172
Rebounds Per Game | 34.1 | 262
Blocks Per Game | 4.2 | 76
3-Point Percentage | 34.5% | 178
Free Throw Percentage | 74.6% | 31

Starting Lineup

Position | Name | PPG
F | Justin Gray | 8.7
F | Zach Smith | 10.1
F | Matthew Temple | 3.6
G | Keenan Evans | 8.8
G | Toddrick Gotcher | 11.1

Writer’s Prediction

Texas Tech crashes out of the second round.