Texas Tech basketball: Lamar Washington 'playing for my brothers'
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Playing time has been hard to come by for Lamar Washington as of late.
Starting the year as one of the key reserves for the Texas Tech basketball team, Washington's minutes have been tightened as the rotation has gotten smaller. He didn't see the floor at all in road contests at UCF and West Virginia and last had double-digit minutes in a game on New Year's Day when Tech hosted North Alabama in the final non-conference game of the season.
Knowing, or not knowing, when your number's going to be called can be challenging, even frustrating. Washington said he's taken a different approach. It's bigger than him.
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"It's my mindset," Washington said, "knowing that I'm not playing for me. I'm playing for my brothers, trying to play for the people out there."
During Thursday's quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament in the T-Mobile Center against BYU, Washington had to be ready. When Darrion Williams went down with what turned out to be a mild ankle sprain, Washington was called into action.
Never much of a scoring threat, Washington did what Texas Tech needed him to do, which was play defense, make the right decisions and not force anything.
Washington did each of them, coming up with three key rebounds, converting a tip at the rim and dishing out to Kerwin Walton for a 3-pointer as the Red Raiders built a 23-point led in the first half.
When Williams returned, and Joe Toussaint was no longer saddled with foul trouble, Washington's time in the second half was cut, but he had done his job. He totaled nine minutes, 35 seconds of action and was a plus-12 in the box score during his time on the floor.
Playing time has come and gone, though Washington wants to contribute however he can.
"I know when I'm out there," Washington said, "... I'm trying to give my all for my brothers. If it means diving on the floor, playing defense, getting rebounds, I'm just trying to do whatever I can to help my guys win."
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This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Texas Tech basketball's Lamar Washington not letting minutes impact mentality
