Texas Tech Hoops | VTM Staff Weekly Roundtable (Week #9)

PG Robert Turner came out on fire to start the season, but began to fade after the first few games. Randy Onwuasor has started to receive more minutes off the bench at PG, but against WVU Toddrick Gotcher got some playing time at PG while shifting there from SG. Do you still have faith that Turner is the best one on the team to be the floor general and lead our squad? How can he get back on track like his hot start to the season?

Seth - My faith in Turner is certainly starting to wane. He doesn't look comfortable in his jumpshots or taking the ball to the basket. He is still a good facilitator, but this team just cannot afford to have a guy in the starting five not be able to put the ball in the basket. I'm fine with Onwuasor getting more time, but if he does, then he's going to have to expand his offensive game too. He's taking a backseat and deferring, but at some point, you have to be confident in your abilities. Onwuasor had 3 turnovers in 6 minutes the other night and it was clear that at the very least, Tubby Smith wants a point guard that isn't going to turn the ball over. If Onwuasor wants to earn minutes, he has to take care of the ball.

LSRR - Our perimeter game has suffered quite a bit lately. I still have faith in Turner as a PG, but the shots aren't falling. Coach Smith talked about getting our bigs more active in the paint and how he was disappointed with how infrequently they have gotten the ball in recent games. That appears to be key at this point. At the start of the season, I felt like we could get some consistent help from our perimeter shooting; that no longer seems to be the case. Keep Turner at PG, but also increase Gotcher's playing time. Let those guys try to slash the defense and hope to dish to an open man in the paint.

MikeTTU - I still think that Turner should run the point for the Red Raiders. Onwuasor at times has a lack of confidence in himself and Gotcher is more vauable guarding scoring guards then point guards, plus his ball handling isn't the best. While Turner has lost a little of what he had going at the beginning, he is still a good perminator defender and can pass well. Turner needs to work on his shot a little bit and not lose confidence. If that happens, he'll be find.

SARR - Often times if a PG can make a few plays early in a game it will boost his confidence and can carry him throughout. These can be in the form of a few quick baskets but also creating offense via assists or well run plays. If I was Tubby and I had a PG that was struggling I'd create some plays early for him to get to the rim. If he makes it great, if he draws a foul, even better because often times if you can get a shooter early free throws they'll find a rhythm and light it up ala Tony Parker oh yeah I snuck that in.

DanSwany - Lately I haven’t seen the leadership or stability at the PG position from Turner that makes me feel comfortable with him running things on offense. When I think of what I want at the PG position I think stability. I like it when the PG can be consistent every game and be the one guy that teammates can rely on to lead them. Turner is incredibly athletic and quick, I have fewer worries when he is defending on the other end of the court. Randy Onwuasor looks lost sometimes when trying to set up our offense, but he has potential to develop into a good PG. Toddrick Gotcher knows how to handle himself at the PG position, but he is not a good match-up on defense against some of the smaller and quicker point guards in the Big 12. I do have faith that Turner is the best one currently on our roster to be the floor general, but he needs to get better at having a more consistent shot that we can rely on when we need him to make a basket. I think the PG position is a need that this team should be recruiting like crazy to bring in a true leader that can play consistent on a night to night basis.