Raiders need wins, especially on road
Five weeks ago, Texas Tech was ranked in the top 25 nationally.
Now the Red Raiders are trying to prove they belong in the NCAA tournament.
Oklahoma State's Marshall Moses, bottom, loses the ball after contact from Texas Tech's Theron Jenkins during their game Saturday at United Spirit Arena, an 81-74 Tech win. (Merissa Ferguson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
That makes each chance for a win, particularly on the road, important as Tech looks to push into the top of the Big 12 Conference pack. The Red Raiders will have one such opportunity today, facing Oklahoma at 7 p.m. in Norman, Okla.
But coach Pat Knight said Tech’s defense will need to show up the way it did in Saturday’s 81-74 win against Oklahoma State if it wants any hope for a win.
“To be able to hold Oklahoma State to 26 points in the first half and keep (James) Anderson at 10 points I thought was big for us,” Knight said. “It’s just like we did two weeks ago at home, but we’ve got to be able to do it on the road. We’re having a hard time defending on the road.”
Big 12 teams have lost only 17 of their 158 home games this season. Tech’s only home loss this year was an overtime game against Missouri.
Oklahoma, though, has yet to lose at home.
“Through the history of this program, OU teams have been very good here,” OU coach Jeff Capel said. “I think it’s like anywhere else; most teams feel more comfortable at home. You feed off the energy of your crowd, and we’ve had very good energy from our crowds this year.”
The Sooners might be playing without two key contributors. The Oklahoman reported Monday that freshmen Steven Pledger and Andrew Fitzgerald were cited for petty larceny in connection with a shoplifting incident after Saturday’s win against Texas. Pledger played 24 minutes and scored nine points in the game, while Fitzgerald started, played 19 minutes and scored three points.
As of Monday afternoon, no information had been released about either player’s eligibility for the game against Tech.
Tech’s players said last week they still think the NCAA tournament is within reach. At 3-5 in the Big 12, Knight said the team has just one more loss than he anticipated at this point in the season.
The race, at this point, seems to be to an 8-8 conference record. That’s a record that got Duke into the NCAA tournament when Capel played there, and he and Knight both said they hope it’s enough in the Big 12 this season.
“We’re just beating up on each other, with the exception of Kansas,” Capel said. “You’d like to think if you can get there maybe it could happen, but I don’t know. We’ll see at the end what happens and what the selection committee does.”
Knight regularly repeats his belief that the Big 12 is the toughest conference in the country this season, and he’s got the facts to back it up. Seven Big 12 teams have spent time in The Associated Press Top 25 this season, including Tech. For nine of the 13 weeks rankings have been released, the Big 12 has had at least four teams in the Top 25.
Of the six teams in the history of the Big 12 to finish the regular season with 8-8 conference records, only the 2008 Texas A&M team made it into the tournament. Since the NCAA expanded its field to 64 and now 65 teams, 53 with .500 conference records have made the cut, and another 33 had losing records in league play.
Knight knows that’s happened in the ACC when that league was at its peak. Now he thinks it’s possible in the Big 12.
“Our league’s so tough this year I wouldn’t be surprised — if guys keep beating each other up like they are — if somebody at 7-9 could be on the bubble,” he said.
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Were to the point were we really can’t afford too many more losses. 8-8 should get a team in which means 3 more losses at most. Its gonna be tough.
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How does it feel to be 2nd rate? Texas Tech will never be a university to be CONSISTENTLY at the top in ANY sport. Is it easy to support a school, knowing that if it EVER wins it all, it will just be a stroke of luck. Wouldn’t it be nice to live in a city that is home to a school that has a rich tradition of winning? In just ANY sport really.
Another question…..How do you become a fan of any sport at a university that has no tradition? Seriously, how do you? I mean nobody likes not ever winning first place! So, SERIOUSLY, how do you become a fan of any sport in a university that just can NOT consistently compete with the Big Money schools?
I’m not trying to be a smartass, i sincerely don’t understand how one brings himself to become a fan at a school when you KNOW you are RARELY, if EVER, going to be a first place winner?
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If Texas Tech doesn’t rethink things and start acting like they belong in the Big 12 maybe they need to join the Mountain West.
It is tough for us to compete with the current attitude of the adminsitration. One also has to wonder how capable our AD is.
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How ’bout them Longhorns?
Refs tried to help them out, but they still couldn’t beat the Jayhawks in Austin.
Seems like Texas Tech has beaten Kansas two times in a row in Lubbock.
HeeHee Fire Rick Barnes.
Once again referees came to Austin and did their best to get the game close in the final moments.
What happens to a referees’ brain when he comes to Austin? I think it is all that puke orange in the stands that make them go nuts. Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite …
Give KU’s big man a technical fouling him out when James fouls him twice on one play and is jumping on his back? and then goes off and cries about it.
Geez, Teasippers, get over it. You are not No. 1. Maybe 10-15.
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and how ’bout them red raiders
Excellent post grandpa…excellent question…
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I knew Tech would get to the next level — I just didn’t know it was the next LOWER level.
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This team only has 2 seniors. They are a good team and have definitely become better this season. There is no doubt that we are getting better athletes in basketball. They look to be well coached and are playing well at home. If they can make the tournament this year, it will be a far cry from the expectations going into this season. Tech won the Pac-10 this year (3-0) and did very well in their non-conference schedule. With the exception of the Missouri game, the Conference schedule is going according to plan.
That said, Tech must step up and take 1 or 2 on the road to finish out the Big 12 and win at least 1 game in the conference tournament. I think they can do it.
WRECK EM TECH
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Grandpa, I was always told if you cannot say something nice, keep your pie hole shut!!!!!!!!
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Grandpa just stay home. Tech does not need your type fan anyway.
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guys, i didn’t know how to ask that question without apperaing to be a smartass, but i was completely sincere. Neither of you answered, you just gave a smartass reply as if the reality of the question hurt, did you not have an answer?
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Grandpa- Quit smoking that stuff- it is making you look stupid.
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Grandpa;
“Rarely, if ever” is the very thing that makes it so nice when it happens., and also what makes it nice to upset people and thrilling if there’s a chance for a championship..
Going into every game as the favorite, and winning and just barely meeting high expectations would get very old and boring. Especially when you get all the good players anyway. Every loss would be extremely humiliating.
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I live in Houston and have DirecTV. I couldn’t find the TT game on Saturday…anyone know if it will be on tonight?
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Grandpa,
First of all, I cannot tell you how it feels to be “2nd Rate” because Tech is not a 2nd rate school. Both academically and athletically we are able to compete with any other public school in the Big 12. It’s not always about winning and losing. We will all agree that nobody likes to lose, but what makes college sports great is that there is more than just one schools team against another schools team. Its about the fans, students, and alumni that support the school. Its about pride and knowing that the players out on that field represent you and your school.
Your talk about consistantly winning is obviously an unresearched claim?? Tech is the ONLY football program since the Big 12 began to produce a winning season EVERY YEAR! Tech’s Law School produces more Bar Passing students than any other school in the state. Tech is also the only school in the state to possess a fully accredited Law School and Medical School on campus. Granted we haven’t had a Big 12 Championship, but if you consider not winning the Big 12 Championship to be “2nd Rate” than there are 11 2nd Rate teams in the Big 12 every year! I guess unless you are an Alabama fan, I guess we all come from 2nd rate schools.
If you want to talk about “big money” schools, consider this, UT’s football budget is somewhere in the neighborhood of 110M$. Tech’s sits around 55M$. Looking at this from a numbers perspective on a dollar by dollar basis, Tech does more with less than just about any of the “big money” programs in the country. We can’t all have large athletic budgets to blow and its not the amount of money you have that makes you a good program…
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Defense, rebounds and freethrows.
Let’s beat OU.
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grandpa:
Ask a legit question next time…..b/c the entire rest of the nation isn’t lucky enough either to be consistently the best at a sport. Do you have any idea how many other freakin universities are out there that have fans just like us supporting their team no matter what. There are 120 teams in CFB and you have maybe 5 teams that are consistently great every single year….thats like 4%. It is rare in any sport that you have the consistency that some of the big name teams do…and even they arent perfect (USC). Thats why they call it 1st place…cuz no one is better than you. Your logic confuses me because there are literally hundreds of teams out there that support their team even though they rarely win a title….but thats what makes it special…the dream! It seems your philosophy on this subject doesnt hold any bearing and you need to just stay out of our business. We have spirit and tradition and yes it is hard when on a losing streak or having a tough season, but you obviously cant COMPREHEND what it means to be a real fan because all you care about is winning. Pride and tradition stem from more than just winning….its the people, the students, faculty, and a sense a family around the school. Tradition comes from being a part of something bigger than yourself, no matter how big or small, successful or unsuccessful. And most of the tradition is romanticized with some schools. I believe you just have it out for us Techies because the rest of the world is doin just fine without winning all the time and still being a true fan. Hope that answers your question and please holler back.
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almost forgot….Wreck em’ tonight boys!!!!
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grandpa, the fact that you took the time to come to our board and post hateful comments just confirms the fact that Tech is not only is a legitimate contender but also very capable of contending for championships. The progress we have made in football as well as other sports scares the heck out of our opponents. Whatever it was that we defeated your school in, you’re obviously still bitter. Admit it, you are nothing more than a Raider hater.
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Tech has won 37 conference championships
11 in the Big 12
17 in the SWC
9 in the Border Conference
Baseball
Regular Season: 1995, 1997
Tournament: 1996, 1998
Men’s Basketball
Regular Season: 1933, 1934, 1935, 1954, 1955, 1956, 1961, 1962, 1973, 1985, 1995, 1996
Tournament: 1956, 1985, 1986, 1993, 1996
Football
1937, 1942, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1951, 1953, 1954, 1955, 1976, 1994
Men’s Golf
1959, 1971, 1996
Men’s Outdoor Track and Field
2005
Women’s Basketball
Regular Season: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2000
Tournament: 1998, 1999
Women’s Cross Country
2008, 2009
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TTU 06 – The game should be on most of the Fox Sports Network channels. I have Direct TV with the Sports package and Tech is listed on the majority of the FSN networks across the country. Hopefully you can get one of those.
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Grandpa,
I guess if you had a college education you’d understand that most people do not choose a college based on how successful the athletic program is. I chose to attend Texas Tech over UT, A&M, Rice, Baylor and UCLA because I felt that the education I would receive would benefit me more in life for the path that I wished to follow. Now, 2 TTU degrees later, (Bachelor’s and Masters) and several years removed from being a student, I choose to support my alma mater in all of it’s ventures good or bad and that includes the athletic program. I am a fan of the University that provided me with the necessary tool and skills to be successful in life.
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Mike,
Thanks! It’s interesting in the first 10 years of this century 4 titles, including 1 in a major sport if you consider Women’s Basketball a Major Sport and that was 10 years ago. 2 football titles since the 50s
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Grandpa, since you started all of this, just where do you live, or are you afraid to tell?
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I generally think that anyone who talks like grandpa isn’t really a fan of the school he is
trashing.He or she usually is a fan of another school in the same conference he/she is trashing or just
someone who doesn’t know how to get behind their school!!
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grandpa answered his own questions…. “big money schools” and the fact that most of are are fans of the school to which we are alums of….. Grandpa likely can’t relate!!! He most likely views college sports as most of us view Professional sports…. “we live in the same cities so we are fans”!!!!… its just uneducated ignorance…… The more passionate fans a school has the more money the school eventually gets….. Tech is the youngest school in the big 12 by more than 25 years….. We will be fine!!! Championships will come…. Grandpa will pass with a feeling of emptiness and a life unfullfilled…. Nuff said!
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Grandpa,
What size is your t-shirt? I bet it is double x with a brown stain on it.
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TTU 06 I have Dish and pay extra for the ESPN Full Court package. I get every Tech conference game and most of the non conference ones. Seems like is is about $80 for the year or there abouts. It is worth it to me. I live in the Hill Country in TU’s back yard.
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I don’t think Grandpa is as sincere as he believes he is AND seriously doubt he has any vested interest in Texas Tech University. I don’t think of my degree or learning experience created anything second rate at all and will have words with anyone who says otherwise.
Perhaps G’pa just is having a bad day or has low self esteem… G’pa, for your grandkids’ sake, seek some professional help!!!
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Good job tonight raiders.
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Stupid and uninformative comments by folks like grandpa hardly deserve a response. But, being a third generation alumni, I can’t sit by idly and let anyone take shots at our great university and athletic programs.
I’ve come to the realization that a few, like grandpa, are just a bunch of idiots, or aggie agitators, hanging around as long as there are folks to argue with. When they realize no one cares about their negative comments they will soon fade away. Words are cheap…..and they are just squawking because they have a small audience on a blog site.
The preponderance of the Raider alumni, including me and mine, are supporters and in-step with the athletic programs. Today is a great day to be a Red Raider!
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Great ROAD win tonight, Raiders!
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The article’s title says we need wins. Well…WE DONE GOT ONE–AND ON THE ROAD!!! (Even if it almost gave me a heart attack!) Good job fellas, we might win 20 games this year, eh?
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