Texas Tech Basketball: 2021-22 Roster Analysis
Leading up to the opening of the 2021-22 Big 12 Men’s basketball season Heartland College Sports will analyze each of the Big 12 men’s basketball rosters. Today it’s the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
2020-21 Season-Ending Roster (bold denotes returning for 2021-22): G Mac McClung (6-foot-4), G Terrence Shannon Jr. (6-6), G Jamarius Burton (6-4), G Clarence Nadolny (6-3), G Micah Peavy (6-7), F Tyreek Smith (6-7), G Kyler Edwards (6-4), F Marcus Santos-Silva (6-7), G Kevin McCullar (6-6), G Avery Benson (6-4), G Chibuzo Agbo (6-7), F Vladislav Goldin (7-1).
Left for pro basketball: McClung.
Left due to eligibility: None.
Left program to transfer: Benson (Texas), G Nimari Burnett (Alabama), Burton (Pittsburgh), Edwards (Houston), Goldin (Florida Atlantic), F Joel Ntambwe (undecided), Peavy (TCU), Smith (Oklahoma State),
Joined program via transfer: F Kevin Obanor (Oral Roberts), G Davion Warren (Hampton), F Daniel Batcho (Arizona), G Sardaar Calhoun (Florida State), F Bryson Williams (UTEP), G Mylik Wilson (Louisiana), F Kaelen (KJ) Allen (East Los Angeles CC), G Adonis Arms (Winthrop)
Class of 2021 Recruits: G Ethan Duncan (6-0), Trinity Christian HS, Lubbock, Texas.
Others: None.
Potential starting lineup: Shannon, McCullar, Santos-Silva, Obanor, Warren.
Why?: This is a VERY tall roster. Shannon is an exceptional ball handler and the offense could flow through him initially. Obanor had a big run for Oral Roberts in the NCAA Tournament and he should transition quickly to high-major basketball. Warren had a huge senior year at Hampton (21.2 points per game) and he’ll probably start. But is he a point, an off-guard, or both in this system? The holdovers, Shannon, McCullar and Santos-Silva, should fit head coach Mark Adams’ system like a glove and help bring along the new kids.
The bench: Wilson, Batcho, Calhoun, Williams, Nadolny.
Why? Williams could push for starting time right away, but I think, at least to start the season, Adams will like bringing his offense off the bench (Williams had 15.1 points and 7.4 rebounds last year). Batcho is an unknown quantity right now, but his height (6-foot-11), makes him the center of the future. He might be challenging for a starting role if Santos-Silva had transferred. Calhoun is a near 40-percent 3-point shooter. Nadolny is the one homegrown player that could fall into the rotation early. Wilson seems like the only player on the roster that could be considered a ‘true’ point guard, so he could find his way into the starting lineup at some point. But, to start with, I think Adams will want Warren’s offense on the floor.
The wild card: Allen. The 6-foot-6 junior college product averaged 18.5 points, 9.3 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 1.8 steals per game in one year at East LA. He was Adams’ first signing, but juco players typically need at least a half-season to adjust to Division I ball.
By Big 12 Play?: Adams will tinker with the chemistry, and there are some players on the bench that should push for starting time by December. Right now, Shannon and McCullar are the two locks to start in Big 12 play. After that, everything is on the table. By January, I could see Williams pushing Santos-Silva to the bench due to his scoring ability. But the good news is that Adams has put together a roster that should be competitive in the Big 12, despite the massive number of defections after Chris Beard’s departure to Texas.
Previous Roster Analysis: Baylor | Iowa State | Kansas | Kansas State
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
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