The Sports Bank’s 99 in 99 ranks the 72 power conference college basketball teams and top 27 mid-majors for the 2010-2011 season. It will provide with all you need to know about each team and lead right up to the opening tip of the season. Texas Tech comes in at #64. Click here if you missed teams #65-#99.
By: David Kay
Texas Tech Red Raiders (T-9th, 4-12, 19-16)
Projected Depth Chart
C: Robert Lewandowski (Jr)/Paul Cooper (Jr)
F: D’walyn Roberts (Sr)/Theron Jenkins (Sr)
F: Mike Singletary (Sr)/ Brad Reese (Sr)/Jaye Crockett (Fr)
SG: David Tairu (Sr)/Jamel Outler (Fr)
PG: John Roberson (Sr)/Mike Davis (So)/Javarez Willis (Fr)
Gone: SG-Nick Okorie, PF-Darko Cohadarevic
2010-2011 Outlook:
The positive is that the Red Raiders return a fair amount of players from last season. The negative is those players just are not talented enough to compete with the upper echelon of the Big 12.
Leading scorer Mike Singletary and point guard John Roberson are the best of that group and should put up numbers similar to their successful juniors years. D’walyn Roberts and David Tairu each made significant contributions a season ago and will need to elevate their games to make up for the loss of Nick Okorie. After that, the line-up is a bit thin.
Size will be a concern as Robert Lewandowski saw limited playing time as a sophomore while transfer Paul Cooper was not much of an impact player at the community college he played at so it is uncertain how much he can contribute right away. Brad Reese is the only bench player who saw more than minutes per game in 2009-2010 while the in-coming freshmen won’t likely have a serious influence.
Pat Knight and his staff have some work to do. Texas Tech figures to be nothing more than an NIT team and their top five players are all seniors meaning the future might be a bit of a question mark since there is not a ton of exciting young talent on the team.
Player to Watch: John Roberson, PG
Roberson logged a ton of playing time last season, averaging almost 36 minutes per game. With backcourt depth an uncertainty, Roberson will need to once again be on the floor a ton this year. He was an improved shooter, upping his three-point percentage from 35.5% to 41.3% while also cutting down on his turnovers. The Red Raiders cannot afford to lose Roberson this season or things could go downhill quickly.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/26 vs. St. Mary’s (South Padre Invitational)
11/27 vs. BYU/South Florida (South Padre Invitational)
12/4 at Washington
12/18 at UTEP
12/29 vs. New Mexico
Other 99 in 99’s:
#65 Miami, FL
#66 Charlotte
#67 UTEP
#68 Ole Miss
#69 George Mason
#70 Colorado
#71 Weber State
#72 Alabama
#73 Bradley
#74 Central Florida
#75 Wake Forest
#76 Georgia Tech
#77 USC
#78 Oklahoma State
#79 Cal
#80 Oklahoma
#81 Virginia
#82 South Carolina
#83 Indiana
#84 Stanford
#85 Oregon
#86 Penn State
#87 South Florida
#88 Arkansas
#89 Boston College
#90 LSU
#91 Providence
#92 Michigan
#93 Oregon State
#94. Nebraska
#95. Auburn
#96. DePaul
#97. Iowa State
#98. Rutgers
#99. Iowa