With good reason, people are excited about this Texas Tech basketball team. They have started the season 6-1, with each win by double digits. Those wins include two over Power 5 opponents, one of which was then-ranked Northwestern. The average margin of victory is 28 points and the average point differential overall is +22.6 points per game. During this opening stretch of the season, Coach Chris Beard has gone with the same starting five—a quintet of seniors. The formula is working and will likely continue moving forward.
Another essential component to that formula, and what has really made this team go, has been the freshmen tandem of Jarrett Culver and Zhaire Smith coming off the bench.