2005 Texas Tech Red Raiders Basketball Preview

2005 Texas Tech Red Raiders Team Preview

Bob Knight’s Texas Tech was picked to finish no better than seventh in the Big 12 last season. Surprise—they ended up finishing fourth and shot into the NCAA Sweet Sixteen. Now they’re being chosen to finish third or fourth in their conference and that sounds just about right.

In four years at Tech Knight is 90-44 (854-333 overall in his stormy 39 year NCAA career). At home under Knight in four years the Red Raiders are 56-9! Although the Red Raiders have lost key forward Devonne Giles (11.3 PPG, 6.5 RPG and 56 blocked shots) and guard Ronald Ross (17.5 PPG and 5.5 RPG), they have a lot of incoming talent.

The impressive freshman class includes Dior Lowhorn one of the top 20 small forwards in the U.S. and Terry Martin, Jr. one of the top 20 shooting guards in the nation. The 6’ 7” Lowhorn will start along with 6’ 9” junior forward Darryl Dora and 6’ 8” sophomore forward Damir Suljagic. Dora, who last year averaged 4.2 RPG, is designated as Giles’ banger replacement while Suljagic will need to overcome a knee injury and step up his game and point totals. This uncertainty up front constitutes the biggest concern for the Red Raiders.

Junior guard Jarrius Jackson and sophomore guard Martin Zeno are scoring machines. Last year Zeno was the Big 12 top freshman and this year Jackson is the highest scoring returning player with an average of 15.3 points per game.

Last season Knight developed a team that featured speed and a tenacious defense—two hallmarks of Knight teams. To succeed in the conference again this season he needs more of the same. If that can happen Coach Knight and the Texas Tech Red raiders will be in the NCAA mix again. This year no one is counting them out.

We have also listed the link to the official Texas Tech Red Raiders athletic site, for those that would like more info on the 2005 Texas Tech mens basketball team. If not continue on below to more of the individual big 12 schools.