In a highly anticipated Big 12 battle, prospects Terrence Shannon Jr. of Texas Tech and Ochai Agbaji of Kansas look to lead their team to victory on the national stage. In a game that means so much to both teams already, these prospects should be motivated to get the win and increase NBA interest.
Texas Tech Red Raiders: Year after year, Chris Beard has found a way to bring the Red Raiders to the forefront of college basketball. In a conference that has already been declared Baylor’s this year, the Red Raiders continue to make their mark in the AP poll ranked between 7-15 the entire season. The team has a mixture of experience, NBA potential and depth that makes them a frustrating matchup for anyone who lines up on the other side of the court. As they move through the season and into March, picking up a win against #23 Kansas would not just be a resume builder but also a reminder that the Jayhawks dominance over the Big 12 has come and passed. The Red Raiders will also look to split the season series after losing the first matchup in the final seconds of the game on an Ochai Agbaji layup.
Terrence Shannon Jr.: Coming into his sophomore season, expectations were high for Shannon. To this point he has only marginally improved since his freshman year, leaving scouts scratching their head. Shannon Jr. is built like a solid NBA wing and will have a chance to prove himself at the next level as soon as next year, but his progress or lack there of should be a bit of a caution flag for teams come draft day. Stepping into a bigger role this season, he has had the ability to improve his statistical categories and increase his shot attempts per game. Yet, while this is yielding an increase is his attempts from the field, it has not made an impact on his ability to convert from the floor. One of the concerns regarding Shannon last season was his lack of an efficient three point shot. Currently, he is taking more threes this year season but still can’t seem to find a consistent shot from deep. He does have the potential to become a better shooter based on his free throw percentage but if he isn’t able to gain development minutes at the next level he may not have a chance to become the player every expects. As a 6-6 guard, sometimes listed as a small forward, he has an ideal body type to become an NBA wing and he does a lot right to warrant a team using a first round pick. His ability to make a positive impact on both ends of the floor, even when he isn’t the focal point, is extremely valuable. This value alone warrants a team to take a chance on Sophomore guard but it will be his potential that truly determines his draft status. Shannon has shown he has all the tools to be a good player at the next level but if he can continually improve his game he has the chance to be a star. MIP Projection: Mid/Late 1st Round (19-27)
Kansas Jayhawks: The Jayhawks season can only be described as a rollercoaster ride. Being ranked as high as three in the polls to being unranked not two weeks ago, Kansas is looking to bounce back. The team is built to win it just feels like they haven’t been able to figure it out in recent weeks. They have a chance to get back on track with a win against Texas Tech but will need to play their best basketball if they look to stand a chance. If they team can get hot and stay hot, they have a chance to live up to the expectations that were set for them in the beginning of the season. With the regular season title all but gone, Kansas will look to unseat Baylor in their conference tournament to remind everyone that they still run the league.
Ochai Agbaji: Agbaji, in my opinion, deserves to be selected in the NBA draft this year. The junior guard is a bit older than Shannon Jr. and has a lower ceiling but still has all the intangibles to be a nice rotation piece at the next level. During his three years as a Jayhawk, Agbaji has regressed in his overall field goal percentage but has made improvements from behind the arc and at the free throw line. This should be both concerning and intriguing for NBA teams. On one hand an inefficient player from the floor doesn’t deserve minutes in an NBA rotation however, if Agbaji can become a reliable three point threat he will open up the floor for himself and his teammates. At 6-5 he, like Shannon, has good size for a two guard and should have no problem adjusting to the next level physically. The concern hurting his draft stock, other than a regression in FG%, is that he doesn’t necessarily do anything well. An average rebounder, passer and dribbler he has a tendency to over commit on defense leading to fouls. Even with his frame, he is only drawing two free throws a game. Agbaji has an above average step off the dribble and should be using this to his advantage to draw contact in the paint when a defender bites on a fake from behind the arc. Yet, this is not the case. Expect Agbaji to be drafted, his athleticism and three point shooting should put him in the second round conversation. If he is able to find a more efficient play style down the stretch he could creep up into the first round as optimism on his NBA viability rises. MIP Projection: Early 2nd Round (32-44)
Prediction: Texas Tech 74 – Kansas 67