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There is one Red Raider that has taken his game to the next level and proven he can be an overwhelming presence on the floor. That guy is none other than junior guard Davide Moretti, or the Italian Stallion as I like to call him.
He had a standout year last season helping Texas Tech advance all the way to the National Championship. Moretti represents true grit, hard work and raw talent. He gave opponents a run for their money beyond the arc and inside the lane the lane last season.
With that being said, it’s no surprise that I can officially put him up there with former Tech greats Jarrett Culver and Zhaire Smith. Let’s dig into who Moretti truly is, from his heart to what he brings on the floor.
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Moretti is a big time shooter. Pretty much from anywhere on the floor, he can get the job done. He displayed just how easy it is to get buckets in some standout performances against Kansas State, Oklahoma State, and Iowa State. He even posted a career high against Arkansas last season with 21 points.
With Moretti only being a sophomore last season, he still was able to take control on the court and help his team to an amazing tournament run.
With the bright lights on him, Moretti shined on the big stage with shoot outs against both Michigan and Virginia where he had 15 points in each game. Without his help, it’s very unlikely that Tech would have made it to the National Championship.
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It’s unfortunate how that game played out, especially for Moretti. That one call, a bogus one, robbed Tech of overtime, which could have swung the momentum.
We all saw him race down the court between two Virginia defenders where he clearly had possession. To me, it seemed as if he was fouled from behind then the ball was swiped away. However, officials called it out of bounds off Moretti and pretty much handed the game over to Virginia.
Now I'm not still upset about this, maybe I am, but without that call he could have easily pushed his motor to help the Red Raiders grab the win. He already had 15 points, 3 assists, 1 steal and was shooting 50% from beyond the arc.
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There’s the play displayed above.
I hate that it happened to him. One of the guys with the most heart on the team. Showing how great of an asset he is time and time again and then tasting defeat. I really wanted him to get the shinning moment he deserved, but the basketball God’s had a different plan.
However, that kind of defeating feeling and adversity is something that will make Moretti a stronger player and man in the long run. These are the kind of calls you rise up from and learn from, and I know we will see an even more mature Moretti on the court.
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I don't know if anyone really imagined Moretti being the type of player he is today. I’ll be honest, I was one of those people. However, no one can challenge this guys heart and talent.
What he has proven to be is not only a great offensive asset, but everything a Red Raider should embody. With a lot of the 2018-2019 guys departing due to graduation or even the NBA, Moretti is one of the only guys left from both back to back trips to the NCAA Tournament.
He has all the tools to be the next leader for this flourishing program. After everything he has been through, from the bad call to losing a lot of his teammates and even being away from his family, Moretti has proven he can come back from all of that and lead Tech to future success.