Texas Tech Basketball

Texas Tech freshman guard Nimari Burnett is opting out of the 2020-21 season, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania. 

Burnett, who averaged 5.3 points and 0.9 assists through 12 games with the Red Raiders, "will continue his basketball training" and is planning to either return to the NCAA next season or enter the 2021 NBA draft, per Charania. 

The Chicago native was the No. 34 player overall in 247Sports' composite rankings for 2020.

Charania only cited "personal reasons," so it's unclear what precipitated Burnett's decision. However, The Athletic's Brian Hamilton noted in the report that Burnett may have expected to play a bigger role for the team—he didn't start a single game and only played more than 20 minutes three times.

The Red Raiders lose some backcourt depth with Burnett's departure. His 212 total minutes were sixth-highest on the team, but his 17.7 minutes per game were eighth-most.

Head coach Chris Beard isn't lacking in guard options, though. Only three of the 13 players listed on the team's official roster are forwards.

While his production fell short of expectations, Burnett's profile coming out of high school should help him land on his feet with another school should he go the transfer route.

Getting at least one more year under his belt would also help stabilize his draft stock. The 6'4" guard was absent on the most recent big board for B/R's Jonathan Wasserman.

The NCAA granted Mac McClung's transfer waiver, allowing him to play for Texas Tech in 2020-21 after leaving Georgetown for the Red Raiders. 

McClung shared a video Friday announcing the news:

The 6'2" guard averaged 14.2 points and 2.2 assists in two seasons with the Hoyas.

McClung entered the NCAA's transfer portal on May 13, with the Washington Post's Kareem Copeland noting he was the fifth Georgetown player to transfer out since the start of December. Two weeks later, the Gate City Virginia, native announced he was heading to Lubbock, Texas.

Getting McClung's transfer waiver affirmed is more good news for head coach Chris Beard after the NCAA ruled in September that Jamarius Burton can play right away after leaving Wichita State. Burton was a two-year starter for the Shockers, averaging 7.9 points and 3.4 assists.

Texas Tech was the national runner-up in 2019 but only managed to get 18 wins prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting the season down. Not surprisingly, Jarrett Culver, Matt Mooney, Tariq Owens and Brandone Francis proved difficult to replace.

Jahmi'us Ramsey, the leading scorer from this past year, chose to test the NBA waters, and Davide Moretti opted to start his professional career overseas. That made it even more important for Beard to land an experienced guard or two who could guide a turnaround.

Suddenly, a roster that already had Kyler Edwards and Terrence Shannon Jr. looks pretty strong with the additions of McClung, Burton and fellow transfer Marcus Santos-Silva.

A report by USA Today's Jori Epstein and Daniel Libit published Wednesday revealed what Texas Tech players called "a culture of abuse" within the Red Raiders women's basketball program.

Marlene Stollings took over as head coach in April 2018 after leaving her post at Minnesota. Since her arrival, 12 players have transferred out, and Stollings had personally recruited seven of the players, per Epstein and Libit:

"In the correspondence of five players to the NCAA regarding transfer waivers for [Emma] Merriweather and [Marcella] LaMark, they described the Texas Tech program as an 'extremely unhealthy' and 'toxic environment' in which players were 'mistreated” and 'degraded,' according to copies obtained by USA TODAY Sports. And in the exit interviews, which were anonymous, players addressed the exodus bluntly.

"'That's not a lack of talent or a lack of playing,' one player wrote. 'That's having respect for themselves that they recognize a toxic environment when they see one.'"

Epstein and Libit shared a statement from athletics director Kirby Hocutt, who said one staff member had resigned because of allegations brought forth by players and that the school conducted an investigation:

"Additionally, based on information received we conducted an in-depth program review of our women’s basketball program.  ... I have thoroughly discussed this review with coach Stollings and am confident that we are taking appropriate steps to improve the relationship and communication between coaches and student-athletes so that we can continue to grow the success of our program both on and off the court."

Stollings was quoted in the piece as well:

"Our administration and my staff believe in the way we are building and turning this program around here. Our student athletes are developing a disciplined approach both on and off the court. 

"I want our students, fans and alumni to know we are committed to winning championships at Texas Tech and doing it the right way through hard work, accountability and fierce determination."

The portrayal by the players differed significantly, with Merriweather calling Stollings "evil and manipulative and vindictive in a quiet watered-down manner."

The former Texas Tech center was diagnosed with depression and experienced panic attacks due to her anxiety. She expressed the lack of support she felt from the Texas Tech coaching staff, telling Epstein and Libit she was "scolded for displaying symptoms of depression."

Merriweather also alleged that Stollings took away her dog, calling him a "distraction" and asking boosters if they wanted to take the dog. "She just tore him away from me," Merriweather said.

The allegations weren't limited to Stollings.

Some players said that former strength and conditioning coach Ralph Petrella spoke negatively about their weight and "applied pressure near their chest and groin" while demonstrating reflexive performance reset techniques. One player alleged he made inappropriate comments to the point she wondered whether he was "grooming" her.

The school's Title IX administrator, Stollings and then Hocutt were contacted by one player in March after a one-on-one meeting with Petrella. She said he "applied pressure to her pubic bone, went under her sports bra to reach a chest pressure point and went under her spandex shorts to reach an area near her groin." 

After being informed of the allegations, Hocutt said Petrella had resigned from his role a day earlier. Through legal representation, Petrella denied "any inappropriate conduct while employed by the Texas Tech University women's basketball program" and said he resigned voluntarily after the 2020 season.

Red Raiders assistant coach Nikita Lowry Dawkins previously coached at New Mexico State, where she was the subject of an investigation into physical and mental abuse within that program. Merriweather alleged that Lowry Dawkins instructed her to snap her wrist with a rubber band "each time she had a negative thought."

Texas Tech head men's basketball coach Chris Beard delivered on a promise he made to a fan on Twitter just under one year ago.

On Aug. 1, Twitter user Rylee Albracht asked Beard how many retweets it would take for him to officiate their wedding. Beard said he would do so and also bring Whataburger for everyone at the wedding if the Texas Tech student section was filled for the team's Nov. 5 season opener.

It came to fruition, and Beard provided proof Friday he was at the wedding:

Beard has spent four seasons as the head coach at Texas Tech, and it hasn't taken him long to endear himself to Red Raiders fans.

The 47-year-old Marietta, Georgia, native led the Red Raiders to a 31-7 record during the 2018-19 season and took them all the way to the national championship game, though they lost to the Virginia Cavaliers.

That marked the first time in program history Texas Tech made it as far as the Final Four.

Beard and the Red Raiders didn't get a chance to replicate that run, however, as most conference tournaments and the NCAA tournament were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic didn't stop Beard from coming through in the clutch for a pair of Texas Tech fans, however, which will likely only serve to make him even more popular in Lubbock if and when college basketball returns for the 2020-21 season.

Texas Tech confirmed Monday there have been recent positive COVID-19 tests within the men's basketball team, but the athletic department could not specify how many positive tests or who tested positive:

"It's up to individual athletic [departments] to choose whether or not to self-report cases," Jeff Rosen of the Kansas City Star noted. "Of course, no one should expect student-athletes names to be released—there are laws against that—but it would seem to be in the public interest to know whether there's spread at a school."

The Big 12 announced June 1 that voluntary on-campus activity would be permitted for basketball programs beginning July 6. However, head coach Chris Beard and other Red Raiders participated in a local protest last week:

The 2019-20 college basketball season was canceled March 12, prior to conference tournaments and the NCAA tournament, amid public health and safety concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Texas Tech finished last season 18-13 after going a program-best 31-7 in 2018-19 before losing the national title game 85-77 in overtime to Virginia.

Former Georgetown guard Mac McClung will continue his college career at Texas Tech after announcing his decision to transfer Wednesday.

McClung had initially declared for the 2020 NBA draft following his sophomore season but withdrew from the draft and entered the transfer portal May 13.

"It was a number of different events that made me feel I had no choice but to transfer from Georgetown," he told Jonathan Givony of ESPN. "I really wanted to stay, but things throughout my career made me realize that I couldn't.

"I'm looking for a place I can call home. A place I can be a part of a family and help them succeed."

After he announced his decision to transfer, more than a dozen schools contacted the player within the next 24 hours, per Evan Daniels of 247Sports.

The list was eventually narrowed down to Texas Tech, Auburn, Memphis, USC, BYU, Arkansas and Wake Forest:

He eventually landed with Texas Tech, for whom he will have two more seasons' worth of eligibility.

McClung turned heads with his athleticism early in his basketball career, becoming a viral sensation with his dunking ability, which continued at the college level:

It's gained him online fame, and he boasts more than 700,000 followers on Instagram.

The 6'2" guard has also proved to be an impact player, averaging 15.7 points per game in 2019-20 until a foot injury limited his season to just 21 games. He finished with 13.1 points per game as a freshman.

There is still room for McClung to improve, especially with his outside shooting after hitting just 29.5 percent of his three-point shots in his first two seasons. He could also add to his playmaking ability after averaging 2.4 assists per game last year.

Still, he remains a high-upside player who should be able to help his new team as soon as he steps on the floor.

The Red Raiders are only one year removed from a trip to the national championship game and head coach Chris Beard has his team consistently contending with the best in the Big 12.

Adding McClung could help Texas Tech once again make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

Texas Tech made a notable addition to its future backcourt Tuesday when it landed guard Nimari Burnett as part of its 2020 recruiting class.

Burnett, who is 6'3" and 185 pounds, is a 5-star prospect and the No. 22 overall player, No. 5 combo guard and No. 7 player from the state of Illinois in his class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

He is talented enough to be a primary contributor for his new team from the moment he steps on campus and can either handle the ball as a creator or play off it and take advantage of openings as a perimeter shooter.

Burnett is physical enough to play through traffic and either score himself or facilitate when additional defenders collapse.

The Chicago native moved to California to continue his high school career in 2017, and Orion Sang of the Detroit Free Press noted he thrived at multiple AAU events. One of those events was the Nike EYBL in Atlanta, where he averaged a head-turning 23.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game against impressive competition.

The same athleticism that allows him to get into the lane on offense helps him stay in front of ball-handlers as a perimeter defender, and he has enough size to challenge shooters.

Burnett's ability to impact the game in a number of ways as a versatile playmaker will help him find a role in various lineup combinations as soon as his freshman season.

He also continues what has been an excellent run of recruiting in recent years for the program:

If he lives up to his potential as a scorer, passer and defender, he can propel the Red Raiders on a deep NCAA men's tournament run and set the table for other top-notch recruits to follow in his footsteps.

Texas Tech has suspended basketball player Deshawn Corprew after allegations of assault, according to Scott Phillips of NBC Sports. 

"Once Coach Beard was made aware of Title IX allegations against Deshawn Corprew, the men’s basketball student-athlete was immediately suspended from all team activities, pending a full investigation. Further comment will be withheld until the appropriate time," the school said in a statement Monday.

As a redshirt sophomore, Corprew appeared in 37 of the team's 38 games last season while helping the Red Raiders reach the NCAA tournament title game.

The forward averaged 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, ranking eighth on the team in minutes per game.

Texas Tech's NCAA tournament run led to its first Final Four in school history, during which Corprew averaged 8.3 minutes per game.

Little information is currently known about Corprew's allegations and his future standing with the team is in doubt.

Texas Tech and men's basketball coach Chris Beard agreed Monday on a six-year, $27.45 million contract that will keep him in Lubbock through 2024-25.

"Thank you to President Schovanec, Kirby Hocutt, Tony Hernandez, Chancellor Mitchell and the Board of Regents for making this strong commitment to both me and our men's basketball program," Beard said in a statement. "Thank you to our players and staff, both former and current, for your commitment to winning. Special thanks to our fans and our students for your incredible support and passion. Together we have accomplished some great things in the past three years but we are not satisfied and will continue working tirelessly to build one of the best college basketball programs in the nation."

Beard, 46, has posted a 76-31 record in three seasons at Texas Tech. He led the Red Raiders to an Elite Eight berth in 2018 and to the 2019 national championship game before losing to Virginia. Texas Tech had never reached the Elite Eight before Beard took over the program.

"In only three years, Chris Beard has elevated Texas Tech to the upper echelon of college basketball," director of athletics Kirby Hocutt said. "The 2018 Elite Eight, and this year's appearance in the National Championship game has raised the entire profile of Texas Tech Athletics and is a source of great pride for all Red Raiders. I am appreciative of the continued loyalty and personal commitment that Chris has made to continue to lead our program into the future.

"He is widely respected as one of the best coaches in the nation and I could not be more excited that through various resources, we have been able to invest into our basketball program at one of the highest levels in the nation."

The new contract makes him the third-highest paid coach in the nation, according to USA Today. Only John Calipari and Mike Krzyzewski earn a higher annual salary.

Beard built up the Raiders program quickly on the back of transfers and smart recruiting. Jarrett Culver was just a 3-star recruit before arriving at Texas Tech and is leaving a lottery pick. Davide Moretti is an Italian import who did not receive much attention from top-flight programs. Matt Mooney (South Dakota), Tariq Owens (St. John's) and Brandone Francis (Florida) were all transfers.

Beard took the unconventional mix of talent and turned them into a menace on the defensive end that came within a couple breaks of winning a national title. He'll have to make it work with a largely different group of talent in 2019-20, but his track record of instant success speaks for itself. 

Texas Tech sophomore shooting guard Jarrett Culver said following Monday's 85-77 overtime loss to Virginia in the national championship game that he is undecided about whether he will enter the 2019 NBA draft. 

According to Chuck Carlton of the Dallas Morning News, Culver was noncommittal when asked about his basketball future: "The decision is yet to be made. All season I just focused on my team and trying to win the national championship, so I haven't thought about that any. Now the season is over, I'll take time with my family and coach and consider my future."

Culver, who was named the 2018-19 Big 12 Player of the Year, finished with 15 points on 5-of-22 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and five assists in Monday's loss to the Cavaliers.

The 20-year-old Lubbock, Texas, largely struggled in what could be his final collegiate game, as he allowed Virginia's De'Andre Hunter to hit a game-tying three with 12 seconds left in regulation before trying and missing an ill-advised three of his own a few seconds later:

As Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman pointed out, the Final Four as a whole showcased some of the weaknesses in Culver's game:

In addition to Monday's performance, Culver shot just 25.0 percent and finished with 10 points against Michigan State in the Final Four. He also shot a disappointing 26.3 percent for 19 points in the Elite Eight versus Gonzaga.

Even so, Culver had a great season overall, as he shot 46.1 percent from the field and averaged 18.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.5 steals per game.

Culver is an elite athlete who excels at both ends of the floor, but he falls just short of being a truly complete player because of his shooting struggles. After shooting a solid 38.2 percent from three as a freshman, that number dropped to 30.4 percent during his sophomore campaign.

In his first 2019 NBA mock draft following Virginia's win over Texas Tech in the national championship game, Wasserman predicted that Culver will go No. 7 overall to the Memphis Grizzlies.

If Culver does declare for the 2019 draft, it is difficult to envision Chris Beard's Red Raiders making another deep NCAA tournament run next season since the team's third-, fourth- and fifth-leading scorers (Matt Mooney, Tariq Owens and Brandone Francis) are all graduating seniors.