The Field of 68 Tech-nical difficulties resolved? Even without Fardaws Aimaq, Red Raiders may have a solution in the middle

StepbackKing03 · Oct 5, 2022

1. The looming question in Lubbock

Texas Tech is no stranger to the transfer portal. The Red Raiders built a Sweet 16 squad last season with four newcomers among their top eight players. Same story this season: Four transfers — De’Vion Harmon (Oregon), Fardaws Aimaq (Utah State), Kerwin Walton (North Carolina) and Jaylon Tyson (Texas) — figure to either start or play significant roles.

Except one.

Aimaq’s recently diagnosed broken foot will potentially sideline him for up to three months. They’ll certainly miss his production (18.9 ppg, 13.6 rpg), and his defensive coverage; the 6-11 senior could end up as the Big 12 Defensive POY. That is … unless sophomore Daniel Batcho (also 6-11), can handle it.

From the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal:

“I’m trying to do whatever the team needs from me,” Batcho said. ”It’s going to be hard to put up stats like Fardaws, but I’m going to do my best.”
And his biggest fan? Fardaws Aimaq.
“The time I had practicing with him, he’s got abilities that you really can’t learn or teach,” said Aimaq, who’s on a month-to-month timetable with the injury to his left foot — which was in a cast Monday. “He just plays hard and his ability to play 110% every-single second that he’s on the floor just puts him in the right position. The sky’s the limit for him.”

Still, there are questions. Let’s say Batcho ensures there isn’t a huge drop-off defensively. Texas Tech still needs to ensure the offense doesn’t stagnate, hope there aren’t any further injuries (or delays in Aimaq’s recovery), and figure out essential chemistry questions. It worked last year. Can it work again?

That’s the essential question posed in The Almanac.

MJRaider · Oct 5, 2022