LATEST NEWS: Why Warren Washington is the key player for Texas Tech basketball

Because a team in basketball can only have five players on the floor at once, individual talent is more important in this sport than in any other. This is the reason why discussions among basketball enthusiasts about the best player of all time and the significance of honors like the NBA MVP are so common. Texas Tech basketball fans were starkly reminded on Tuesday night—during their team’s defeat to TCU—who the most valuable player on their squad actually isn’t who most people would assume.

Yes, Pop Isaacs, a guard, leads the team in scoring with 17.4 points per contest. Warren Washington, who leads the team in rebounding but no other significant statistical category, is the most significant Red Raider, nevertheless.

The Texas Tech squad is a different one without Warren Washington on the floor.

Not because most people don’t know what Washington can accomplish. Given that he averages 10.5 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks per game, it’s understandable. But those are hardly the stats of an MVP.

But metrics aren’t enough to quantify what he contributes to the table. Being the only player on the squad who is taller than six feet eight, his presence alone alters the Texas Tech formula.

When Terrence Shannon Jr. is not on the floor, Texas Tech faces significant challenges due to a lack of viable alternatives. The absence of Devan Cambridge, a versatile 6-foot-6 forward who could play at the center position when needed, further complicates the situation. The team is left relying on 6-foot-7 sophomore Robert Jennings, who struggles on both ends of the floor.

A telling example of Texas Tech’s difficulties without Shannon occurred in a game against TCU in Fort Worth. Washington encountered foul trouble, picking up his second foul in the first half. As a result, he had to sit on the bench, and Jennings entered the game with 7:12 remaining until halftime. The team’s dynamics shifted dramatically, with TCU erasing Tech’s lead by the 4:33 mark. Forced to take the risk of bringing Washington back into the game after the under-four-minute media timeout, Coach McCasland faced the challenge of managing the team’s performance without their key player on the court.

In the absence of Terrence Shannon Jr., Texas Tech struggled significantly during the roughly three minutes he sat out of the game. Without an effective inside presence, the offense heavily relied on the guards and Robert Jennings to generate scoring opportunities. However, Jennings faced challenges, including a blocked layup, turnovers, and missed free throws. Meanwhile, TCU capitalized by scoring in the paint and securing rebounds that Washington might have impacted.

By the time Washington returned to the court, he had to play cautiously to avoid picking up his third foul. Despite his return, TCU managed to hold a 40-36 lead by halftime. The limited options available to Coach McCasland, especially with Jennings as the primary alternative, underscored the team’s vulnerability and lack of depth in certain situations. Washington’s offensive rating, which estimates the number of points a player scores or helps produce per 100 possessions, further highlighted his significance to the team compared to other players like Jennings.

The defensive impact of Terrence Shannon Jr. for Texas Tech is evident in the team’s defensive rating, where he leads with a rating of 96.9. In comparison, Robert Jennings has a defensive rating of 103.1, highlighting a significant difference between the two players. It’s important to note that this isn’t a criticism of Jennings, who is still developing as a player. However, his limitations in terms of prototypical post size and average athleticism make him a target for opposing teams to exploit.

The departure of big men Fardaws Aimaq and Daniel Batcho during the offseason left Texas Tech without a significant inside presence. Terrence Shannon Jr. emerged as a crucial asset for the team, contributing defensively and attempting to fill the void left by the departures.

Tech was unable to add much more size, though, so Washington is left looking like a one-man army in the paint. He is the team’s most valuable player this season and leads Tech in minutes played in Big 12 contests. Everyone who witnessed the Red Raiders’ disastrous first half in Fort Worth can see it, if it wasn’t evident before the game at TCU.