In the Texas Tech basketball program, the Red Raiders find themselves a slight bit conflicted about the whole “winning ugly” thing.
On one hand, it’s the ultimate compliment about the punishing defense they play with a thick-shouldered lineup that elbows rhythm in the larynx and eye-gouges flow. On the other hand, it can aptly describe an offense that many times chips paint off the rims — inside and outside.
The definition fits, no matter which end of the court.
“The ball is going to go in some nights and some nights, it’s not,” said junior guard Kevin McCullar, after Tech held off plucky Notre Dame 59-53 Sunday in an NCAA Tournament game at Viejas Arena that propelled the physical and relentless bunch into the Sweet 16.
“We know one thing that will be consistent is our defense and effort. We want to be the hardest playing team out there, always.”
Need an illustration? Fast-forward to the final minutes.
Until 15 seconds remained, the Red Raiders had hit just 1 of their previous 11 shots. They went on a 10-0 run in spite of the marksmanship miscues, with all but two of those points coming on free throws.
Even as Tech flailed at finding the middle of the ring, it suffocated the Irish and held them without a basket for the closing 3:09.
The game posted a box score only an NFL defensive coordinator could appreciate. The Red Raiders shot just 36 percent from the field and 27 percent from the 3. And they advanced.
Notre Dame limped to 33 percent shooting, which was an improvement over the 20 percent mark it recorded in the first half on a meager seven baskets.
Winning ugly. Tech ugly.
“They’re men,” Irish coach Mike Brey said. “I mean, when you watch the center jump, our bodies compared to their bodies, whew. … It exhausts you.”
There’s no need to measure Texas Tech by height. You measure them by the width of their shoulders. You measure them by musculature, stoutness and raw that whew-factor.
Feet and inches tell you one thing. They don’t tell you the most important thing about the Red Raiders, though. Even mascot Raider Red’s shoulders seem swole, in today’s lingo.
That’s the reason Tech has turned into one of the tournament’s toughest modern-day outs. They reached the Elite Eight in 2018. They muscled into the title game in 2019.
The team ranked No. 1 in defensive efficiency by Kenpom.com is now choking opposing offenses to the tune of 60.2 points per game and a 38.2 field goal percentage.
Now, in the program’s last four NCAA runs, Red Raiders stand a sterling 10-3. The streak now includes first-year coach Mark Adams, who mined the transfer portal and added his own unique brushstrokes.
“Dream big dreams and don’t ever give up on your dreams, because there’s a certain time in my life when I was winning at certain levels and I thought I was the next John Wooden,” Adams said. “And I was the only one in the room that thought that.”
The Red Raiders’ defense Adams fine-tuned makes things messy. They cause you to look over your shoulder, wondering where the next attack is coming. Watching Kevin Obanor and Bryson Williams rebound makes you feel sorry for the basketball.
Obanor finished with 15 rebounds, seven offensive.
Tech plays with the kind of physicality that would make Bob Huggins proud.
“They’re a good defensive team,” Irish guard Prentiss Hubb said. “Simple as that.”
Duke and swan-songing coach Mike Krzyzewski might want to bring helmets and shoulder pads to face Tech, just in case.
“I like Coach K,” Adams said. “I’m not that excited (however). I don’t know if anybody is excited about playing Duke.”
The Red Raiders, however, are not into the whole backing down thing. If someone is labeled a blue blood, they’re willing to spill a little, just to double-check. They’re more pushback than polish.
They simply do what needs to be done.
Consider this stunner: Marcus Santos-Silva, a 46.3 percent free-throw shooter, hurt his left hand during the Big 12 tournament. With Tech up 53-52 with 54 seconds to play, he buried a pair with his right hand.
“How about that?” Adams said. “Here’s a guy who changes his shot. I’d like to take credit for that. But I think he did that on his own about a month ago. … Quite honestly, (free throws) still hadn’t been going in in practice.
“We were crossing our fingers.”
No Picasso necessary. Just production, in the clutch.
Ugly? To Texas Tech, it’s a basketball beauty.
