Texas Tech Red Raiders at Michigan Wolverines

D up: Texas Tech clamps down in 63-44 win over Michigan

Yes, Texas Tech makes it tough on people. One more clamp-down job like this and the Red Raiders will be D-ing up in the Final Four.

"We guarded at a high level," coach Chris Beard said.

Sure did.

Only five players scored for Michigan, which was led by its brash playmaker, freshman Iggy Brazdeikis, who finished with 17, most of which came well after the game was out of hand.

There simply wasn't anywhere to go against a lanky, athletic Texas Tech defense that succeeds by clogging the middle, then forcing teams to either move the ball toward the baseline and settle for jumpers with people in their face, or try to attack the rim, but pay a price while doing it.

Michigan has the nation's second-best defense, and nearly 9 minutes into the game, the score was tied: 6-6.

"At the media timeout, (Assistant coach Mark Adams) was, like, `We need to make an adjustment,' and I was like, `Coach, they've scored six points. We need to get a basket," Beard said.

Texas Tech got its share. Michigan did not.

Watching the score get out of hand, Wolverines coach John Beilein, one of the best tacticians in the game, called a timeout early in the second half to try to get a shot, a possession, anything, that might generate something for his team to build on.

The Wolverines worked the ball to Zavier Simpson, who dribbled, and dribbled, and tried to take it to the rim against Red Raiders guard Matt Mooney. Simpson lobbed it up toward the rim. It barely grazed glass.

"There were a lot of things we worked on in two days of practice, but we couldn't get far enough to make a difference, because that team practiced that defense for six months," Beilein said.

Davide Moretti had three 3-pointers and 15 points for Texas Tech, which started slowly on offense, but got rolling as the second half wore on. The Red Raiders missed nine of their first 10 shots but still shot 43 percent from the floor.

Michigan's other double-figures scorer was Charles Matthews with 12. He's a senior, though this roster is full of underclassmen, who offer plenty of hope for 2019-20.

But on the night the 2018-19 season ended, hope for Michigan was as fleeting as an open look at the basket.

DREAM ON

Culver, a sophomore, is projected by many as an NBA lottery pick. Beard joked with him during the victory press conference.

"Culver, you having fun?" the coach said. "We should do this next year again."

MORE UGLINESS

The only Michigan player outside of Baird who made at least half his shots was Poole, who went 4 for 8 for eight points.

OVERRATED

With the game winding down, some in the Texas Tech crowd chanted "Overrated." Beard wanted none of that, and signaled to them to cut it out.

NEXT

Texas Tech makes its second straight Elite Eight appearance, this time against top-seeded Gonzaga on Saturday.

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• TV Channel: Texas Tech at Michigan 2021 College Basketball, week 1, is broadcasted on CBS.
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