Entering this season, Tubby Smith hoped to move 6-foot-8 sophomore Zach Smith to the perimeter to play small forward.
With Smith on the outside, the Texas Tech coach thought he would have a front line with a little more size.
But eligibility issues with a pair of forwards, 6-foot-11 sophomore Rokas Ulvydas and 6-foot-10 junior Matthew Temple, kept the Red Raiders’ front line rotation smaller to start the season.
Then, 6-foot-10 sophomore center Isaiah Manderson decided to depart, leaving Smith, 6-foot-8 junior forward Aaron Ross and 6-foot-9 sophomore center Norense Odiase as Texas Tech’s available front court.