Texas Tech Basketball: School Fires Head Basketball Coach Pat Knight
Mar 7, 2011
Texas Tech University has fired their men's head basketball coach, Pat Knight.
Knight, the son of former head coach Bobby Knight, will coach the Red Raiders in the Big 12 Tournament this week and then be replaced.
In three seasons at Texas Tech, Knight coached the team to two losing seasons, and failed to reach the NCAA Tournament.
Pat succeeded his father in 2008. Bobby had gone 138-82 in over six seasons. He took the Red Raiders to four NCAA tournaments, the last taking place in 2007.
The firing of Knight comes only a few days after Kirby Hocutt was hired as Texas Tech's new athletic director.
There is no word as to who may succeed Knight at Texas Tech, although the school will be looking to make an impact by bringing in a big name.
Texas Tech will play Missouri in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament on Wednesday.
Ironically enough, it was Bobby Knight who cursed on the air during an ESPN program, yet it is his son who loses his job.
The two clearly had nothing to do with each other, but it is still interesting and worth making a note of in what will undoubtedly be a difficult week for the Knight family.
Replacing the Good Ol' Boys at Texas Tech
Jan 3, 2010
The hot topics that currently arise in my house are puppy training, ghosts, and the Leach controversy.
While throwing his rugby ball around the house, my boyfriend pointed out an interesting fact about the Leach controversy.
Gerald Myers is of a bygone era — "The Good Ol' Boy."
While that's not a fact to most students at Texas Tech, they do believe that if and when Gerald Myers is no more, Marsha Sharp could take his place.
This would be a HUGE step forward for the Tech University if this were to happen.
First off, Sharp is a female.
Why is that such a big issue? Gender shouldn't matter, right?
Not in Lubbock, a small town that pretends to be a city stuck in 1965.
Let me paint you this picture: If a woman were to own a business, she would not be owning the business but rather running the business from behind the scenes, and her husband or male partner would be the owner. That is just how the cookie crumbles here.
Second, Sharp has won a National Title. She has extensive experience with recruiting, winning, and understands the politics of the Tech administration.
Thirdly, Sharp would be a groundbreaking figure in the Tech administration, sports world, and in a social sense.
Tech needs to take this step.
It would not only provide a step towards mending the University's reputation, it would also be a popular move with the students, alumni, and possibly the townies.
Sharp's addition would be a wonderful movemnet forward from 1965 to at least 2000 for both Texas Tech and Lubbock.
Game Preview: Texas Tech Red Raiders Vs. New Mexico Lobos
The No. 23 Texas Tech Red Raiders are set to clash with rival the No. 13 New Mexico Lobos on Tuesday in Albuquerque, NM.
The Red Raiders and the Lobos will be meeting for the 84th time since the series began on Feb. 24, 1931. Texas Tech holds a 43-40 edge in the series. The Red Raiders took the last meeting on Dec. 20, 2008, winning 86-78.
Texas Tech beat Stanford 100-87 last Tuesday, keeping their unbeaten home streak alive. Mike Singletary led all scorers with 28 points in the win. Tech’s lone defeat was an 85-83 loss at Wichita State on Dec. 19. WSU is currently 11-1 with its only loss being dealt by Pittsburgh.
The Red Raiders are averaging 80.7 points per game for season and have three players posting double figures, with Singletary leading the squad with 15.5 points per game. John Roberson is averaging 14.5 points per game with David Tairu adding 11.6 points per game.
The Lobos' undefeated streak came to an end as they fell to the Oral Roberts Golden Eagles 75-66 on Dec. 23. New Mexico is averaging 80.8 points per game and will return six players from last year's meeting against Tech for Tuesday’s matchup, with four of those players among their top five leading scorers.
Newcomer junior forward Darington Hobson leads the Lobos, averaging 16.5 points per game, with Roman Martinez (15.8), Phillip McDonald (11.7), Dairese Gary (10.0), and A.J. Hardeman (7.4) playing last season in Lubbock.
The odds makers have the Lobos as 8.5-point favorites.
Look for the Lobos to rebound from their surprising loss to Oral Roberts in a contest that saw them give up 13 turnovers—three more than they had been averaging. The Red Raiders will need to step up their shooting percentage to keep up with NMU, primarily from behind the arc, as they are ranked last in the conference in made three-pointers, averaging just 4.6 per game.
Lobos win this one in dramatic fashion with a late second half run, 80-78.
Texas Tech Red Raiders Basketball Betting Trends
Texas Tech is 10-1 SU in its last 11 games.
Texas Tech is 5-0 ATS in its last five games.
Texas Tech is 3-16 SU in its last 19 games on the road.
Texas Tech is 4-2 SU in its last six games when playing New Mexico.
New Mexico Lobos Basketball Betting Trends
New Mexico is 12-1 SU in its last 13 games.
New Mexico is 5-0 SU in its last five games at home.
New Mexico is 7-2 ATS in its last nine games at home.
New Mexico is 2-4 SU in its last six games when playing Texas Tech.
NCAA Basketball Game Preview: Texas Tech Red Raiders vs Wichita State Shockers
These teams have only meet once on Dec 3, 2008. The Red Raiders won that one 72-69. Wichita State hasn’t played host to a nationally ranked non-conference team since No. 21 Mississippi came to town in 1997.
The Shockers are rolling past teams by an average margin of 19 points and come into Saturday’s match up against Texas Tech on a seven-game win streak—all by 12 points or more. Junior center J.T. Durley tied his career high with 19 points on Saturday night to lead the Shockers to an 80-68 victory over Texas Christian.
Toure Murry had 17 points while Clevin Hannah tallied up 16 in the win. The Shockers have tied last season’s total for road victories with two, winning at Cleveland State and at Missouri-Kansas City. WSU's only loss of the year, came against Pitt. A game in which the Shockers were out-shot at the free throw line 30-18.
The Red Raiders moved into the rankings on Dec. 7 and climbed to a No. 16 spot on Dec. 14 to be ranked for the first time in five seasons. Off to the teams’ best start in eight decades, the Red Raiders preserved their unbeaten streak as they rallied to an 80-70 victory at TCU on Dec. 8.
Junior guard John Roberson led the team with 21 points and dished out 10 assists, followed by Mike Singletary with 17 points and David Tairu with 14. This is the best start for Texas Tech since winning 12 in a row to start the 1929-30 season. The Red Raiders have had a 10-day gap between games, which could affect their play, either way.
The odds makers currently have Wichita State at –4 -point favorites.
These two teams are very close statistically. However, the Shockers fans will present one of the most hostile environments the Red Raiders have seen this season. Shockers win this one with home court advantage.
Red Raiders Upset Huskies In OT: Oh So Nice, Stormed It Twice
Dec 4, 2009
Five point nine seconds left in overtime, Texas Tech leads #10 Washington 99-92. The Texas Tech fans have already stormed the court once and they are pressed against the arena security prepared to do it again...
I was one of 9,912 in attendance for this game. Our attendance, while the highest of the season for Tech basketball, was rather low compared to many of the nations' powerhouse teams. However, we made up for it with a palatable energy Tech fans always seem to exhibit.
Prior to the game, I can recall hearing many students discussing whether we would storm the court in the event of an upset. The general consensus was no. One student said, "But Wisconsin did it yesterday." Another replied, "Yea but that was Duke." And that was the end of it - I can assure you Tech fans were not planning on storming the court, at least not initially.
Texas Tech got off to a good first half going into the locker room up 50-41 and the United Spirit Arena was rocking. I was especially impressed by our defense's scrappy play forcing numerous turnovers and coming up with big blocks in the paint. After attending every home football for Tech this year and many last year, I can honestly say I have never been to a louder Tech sporting event.
It would only get louder in the second half.
As all good teams do, Washington came out in the second half hot. They went on a 19-10 run in the first eight minutes of the second half tying the game at 60 all. The game bounced back and forth over the next ten minutes with very few decisive leads.
One of the few opportunities Tech had to put Washington away came with eight minutes left in regulation. Texas Tech was on the verge of gaining considerable momentum as D'Wayln Roberts of Tech blocked an Isaiah Thomas layup, followed by Mike Singletary rebounding and a quick David Tauri layup. Thomas had the ball stolen by Singletary and Roberts went up and made a big layup.
The score was 72-69 Tech and the crowd was absolutely beside themselves chanting, "Raaaiiddeeerr... Pooooowwweeerr... Raaaaiiddeeerr... Pooooowwweeerr", and yelling the student's version of the fight song, "We will hit 'em, we will wreck, we will F$%#ing kick your A@@, and the victory bells will ring out!"
Washington's Quincy Pondexter who had 31 points on the night shut the crowd up with a quick layup. Tech then turned the ball over and Pondexter shot a near wet three pointer. Pat Knight would take a timeout, Tech leading 72-71.
As a fan in the heart of the student section I can point out one of the main catalysts for Tech's storming of the court. It came with 1:36 left in regulation... Isaiah Thomas known simply as "number two" by the crowd, swished a three pointer giving the Huskies a two point lead. He back peddled away from the basket looking up at the student section with a smug smile and threw his guns up mocking the entire crowd. He might as well have punched each of our mothers' in the face because pandemonium ensued.
Singletary answered the Huskies with a two point jumper against an out of position Washington defense. The game would be tied 80 all with 47 seconds left. It would now be up to the defense to prove they are better than teams' of years past who couldn't finish in the clutch.
The clock would run down to 20 ticks before Washington attempted a shot. A mad dash was made for the rebound going in and out of several players' hands before ending in the possession of Elston Turner of the Huskies, who would be fouled hard by Brad Reese.
Five seconds on the clock, tie game and Turner, a 40% free throw shooter is on the line. Tech fans smelt blood and you would've thought we going for a Guinness World Record... I have never heard a sporting event as loud, and I attended such games as the famous Michael Crabtree upset of the Texas Longhorns as well as the UT-Tech game this year in Austin with a record 101,000 in attendance. It was that loud!
Turner misses the first shot bouncing off the front of the rim... I am bleeding from the ears at this point and couldn't be happier. Turner misses the second shot putting a little too much on it. I quite possibly saw Jesuses eyes illuminating from the game clock which was winding down from 4.8 at an unusually slow rate.
The Red Raiders get the rebound and race down the court.
Mike Singletary sets up at about 4 o'clock just outside the three point arc with two defenders in his face.
The ball leaves his hand as the buzzer sounds.
I am focusing on the lights surrounding the backboard which were most definitely not red in color.
His shot was about a quarter of the way to the basket as the lights turned red.
Complete silence. The crowd was comfortably numb hoping for the best but expecting overtime.
Swish the net went as the ball made a perfect connection with the basket.
The celebration was instant. Everyone had clearly seen the red illuminate after the ball had left Singletary's hand. There was no reason to even question the legitimacy of the shot, and yes Coach Romeo, there was Hooplah involved.
We stormed the court contrary to the general consensus made earlier that we would not. Such a dramatic ending against a top 10 team to obtain our best record since 1930, coupled with the general cocky attitude displayed by Washington was just too much. We had to express the sheer ecstasy we were in, and we did so in the purest, most genuine form possible - Storming the court, yelling and jumping around like lunatics without a care in the world. For just a minute, nothing else mattered.
Juxtaposing images abound, Washington players stunned with blank faces staring off into space, exuberant Tech fans running by them in a state of ecstasy. It was almost as if time had slowed for the Huskies as the world spun madly around them.
"OVVVERRRR RAAATTEDDD......DUHH DUHH...DUH DUH DUH", echoed throughout the arena. Pat Knight, Tech's Head Coach, made the classy move telling the fans to knock it off and surprisingly we listened to the ball coach; the cheer subsiding nearly as quickly as it had begun.
Then the review came and the shot was overturned sending the game into overtime. Me, along with thousands of others sheepishly made our way back to our seats. The replay was never shown on the Jumbo-tron, and while it was a good call in hindsight, everyone had seen the red lights (which was found to "lack Swiss precision") illuminate after the shot was off.
Five minutes of overtime began with a Singletary turnover and an Overton layup. Tech answered with their own and this pattern continued until 49 seconds remained in overtime. Washington would take a timeout following a layup by Okorie to give the Red Raiders a two point lead.
This was the turning point in the game, and it all started with a player standing up to his coach. Pat Knight told his defense to run a 2-3 zone, but John Robertson stepped up and said, "We need to run man". Knight had faith in his player who had had played an excellent game and elected to go man-to-man. The very next play on the inbound pass Robertson looked a lot like Champ Bailey baiting the throw to his man. As soon as the ball was in the air, Robertson broke on it, caught it at its highest point and went for the go-ahead layup.
93-89 with 43 seconds remaining.
Thomas misses a three pointer, Tech makes a clutch rebound and Washington fouls to send Robertson to the line. He makes both and ends the night 13 for 13 in that department. 95-89 with 28 seconds remaining and the crowd senses the game is won. The remaining time is full of fouls and desperation shots by Washington.
Five point nine seconds left in overtime, Texas Tech leads #10 Washington 99-92. The Texas Tech fans have already stormed the court once and they are pressed against the arena security prepared to do it again. This time no official review could chase them back into the stands. To get a sense of what happens next you are welcome to watch this video shot on my iPhone:
Washington played a great game in an extremely hostile environment, and nearly pulled out the win, but a lot credit should be given to Pat Knight and his team for hanging in there and overcoming adversity against a very good team. Hopefully Tech can keep the unbeaten streak alive and perhaps become a force in a very stacked Big 12 this year.
Pat Knight thanked the crowed after the game acknowledging the fact that they probably wouldn't have pulled off the upset without them. Knight said he hopes they can get this kind of crowd every game because, "These guys deserve it". The junior, Mike Singletary was quoted as saying, "We had to beat them twice... So it's all good."
Final Score: 99-92 Texas Tech in OT
Wreck 'Em Tech!
Missouri-Texas Tech: Big 12 Tournament Second Round, March 12
Thanks to a first-round bye, Missouri is in the second round of the Big 12 tournament for the first time in four years. Until late last night, the Tigers probably did not expect their opponent to be Texas Tech, who shocked sixth-seeded Texas A&M with an 88-83 comeback win in the first round.
To say the Red Raiders have been a disappointment this season is an understatement. Texas Tech only managed to win three games in conference play, while going 2-10 versus the RPI top 50. Senior guard Alan Voskuil (14.1 PPG) and sophomore John Roberson (14.4 PPG) are the leading scorers of coach Pat Knight's inconsistent Texas Tech team.
Frontcourt Advantage: Missouri
Coming off the biggest comeback in Big 12 tournament history, Texas Tech is hoping forward Mike Singletary (12.1 PPG) stays red-hot. Singletary came off the bench and scored 29 consecutive points in the second half for the Red Raiders to seal the victory in a game in which they trailed by as many as 21 points early in the second half.
Missouri senior forwards DeMarre Carroll (17.1 PPG) and Leo Lyons (14.4 PPG) will be ready and waiting for Singletary and the Red Raiders. The Tigers are averaging 81.8 points per game this season, good for sixth in the nation and second in the Big 12. While scoring at such a high rate, they lead the nation with 18.8 assists per game.
As good as Missouri's offense is, its defense has been solid all year as well. The Tigers rank second in the nation with 10.8 steals per game. They will try to overwhelm the Red Raiders with their high-intensity, high-pressure defense.
Momentum: Even
Texas Tech is riding high after last night's comeback upset win, while Missouri is seeking its first Big 12 tournament win since 2005. The Tigers beat the Red Raiders 97-86 at home on Jan. 24. In that game, Texas Tech had no answer for DeMarre Carroll, who scored 27 points, while grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists.
While Texas Tech winning would be a nice Cinderella story, the Tigers are on a mission and they will be determined to get the early-exit monkey off their back. A win over Texas Tech won't come easy, but they have the fire power to get it done.
Shaun's Pick: Missouri -10.5
Mike Singletary's 43 Points Rallies Texas Tech Past Texas A&M Aggies, 88-83
Mar 12, 2009
With 18:42 left in the second half it looked like the Texas Tech Red Raiders (14-18, 3-13) season was getting closer to coming to an end, trailing 50-29 to the Texas A&M Aggies (23-9, 9-7).
Tech head coach Pat Knight has said that his players have fought hard all season. Led by Mike Singletary the Red Raiders rallied to an 88-83 victory in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament in Oklahoma City.
Singletary, who averages 11.1 points per game, scored a Big 12 tournament record and a career high of 43 points. 35 of those points came in the last 13 minutes of the game.
In the first half, Texas A&M dominated starting the game with a 15-2 run in the opening six minutes. Tech started the game shooting 0-for-10 from the field and turned the ball over four times. Singletary made Tech’s first basket with 13:16 left in the first half.
The closest the Red Raiders would get to A&M in the first half was nine points. Tech had 12 first half turnovers. A&M led 48-29 at halftime.
After the Aggies scored the first two points of the second half on a pair of Bryan Davis free throws, Darko Cohadarevic scored six points in a 17-second time span to cut A&M’s lead to 52-35. Cohadarevic scored 10 points.
A&M would increase their lead to 18 with 15 minutes left in the half. Donald Sloan and Chinemelu Elonu both made layups giving the Aggies a 56-38 lead.
In the last 15 minutes, the Red Raiders started their rally. Nick Okorie and Alan Voskuil both made layups to cut the lead to 56-42. Michael Prince got a steal that led to an easy dunk by Singletary, which cut A&M’s lead to 56-44 with 13:03 left in the game.
With Tech down 60-50 with 10 minutes left in the game, Singletary would score Tech’s next 29 points, scoring the game-winning basket with 44 seconds left. Singletary’s 29 consecutive points without a teammate scoring is the second longest in the NCAA. Bill Mlkvy of Temple scored 54 in a row in a game against Wilkes in 1951.
Voskuil’s two free throws with 26 seconds left ended Singletary’s consecutive point run and gave Tech an 81-78 lead. John Roberson extended the lead to five with 16 seconds left, making two free throws.
The Aggies were not going to let the Red Raiders clinch the comeback too easily. Josh Carter hit a three-pointer with nine seconds left to cut Tech’s lead to 83-81.
After Roberson was fouled a second later, he missed his second free throw. Roberson fouled Sloan with four seconds left, and Sloan made both free throws cutting Tech’s lead to one. Voskuil was fouled with three seconds left and extended Tech’s lead to three.
Derrick Roland turned the ball over and Singletary clinched the game for Tech hitting both free throws.
The Red Raiders have won two of their last three games and avoided being swept by Texas A&M.
Along with Singletary’s 43, Voskuil scored 14 points and Cohadarevic scored his second best season total (10). Cohadarevic scored 12 points against Stephen F. Austin last December.
Voskuil led the team in rebounds with seven and Roberson led the team in assists with four.
The Aggies’ loss ended a six-game winning streak in the Big 12 and a three-game winning streak against Tech.
Sloan led A&M in scoring with 22, Carter scored 15, Davis scored 11, and Elonu scored 10. Carter led the team in rebounds with eight, and Sloan led the team in assists with three.
The Red Raiders will face the third seeded Missouri Tigers (25-6, 12-4) Thursday, while the Aggies will have to wait until Selection Sunday to learn their fate.
Texas A&M-Texas Tech: Big 12 Tournament First Round (Mar. 11)
Senior guard Josh Carter (14.0 PPG) leads the Aggies into the Big 12 tournament. By winning its last six games, Texas A&M has all but punched its ticket to the NCAA tournament, but the Aggies aren't satisfied yet. Carter and junior Donald Sloan (11.4 PPG) are poised to make another run in the Big 12 tournament. Last year they made it to the semi-finals before losing to the eventual national champions Kansas Jayhawks.
Standing in their way is a disappointing Texas Tech team who has had its worst season since before 2001 when Bob Knight arrived. Senior guard Alan Voskuil (14.1 PPG) and sophomore John Roberson (14.4 PPG) have been very streaky this season. While they have the potential to keep the Red Raiders in this game, it's more likely that their team will self-destruct around them.
Frontcourt Advantage: Texas A&M
The Aggies outrebounded the Red Raiders 40-29 and 45-28 in their two meetings this season. Juniors Bryan Davis (10.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.2 BPG) and Chinemelu Elonu (10.1 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.6 BPG) have been dominant inside for the Aggies this season. They should have their way again inside against a young Texas Tech frontcourt, led by sophomore D'Walyn Roberts and freshman Robert Lewandowski.
Momentum: Texas A&M
The Aggies, winners of six straight overall, won both regular season meetings against the Red Raiders this season. They won 79-70 in College Station on Jan. 28 and then 79-73 in Lubbock on Feb. 21. Texas A&M's size advantage against Texas Tech played a large role in both wins, as the Red Raiders were unable to match up inside against the bigger, more athletic Aggies.
The third time won't be the charm for Texas Tech against A&M.
Shaun's Pick: Texas A&M -6.5
Texas Tech-Kansas: Red Raiders Tri-Fect No. 9 Jayhawks
Mar 5, 2009
In 2005, the Texas Tech Red Raiders beat the Kansas Jayhawks 80-79 in double overtime. In 2007, Tech won 69-64. In 2009, the Red Raiders (13-17, 3-12) won their third consecutive home game against the No. 9 Jayhawks (24-6, 13-2) 84-65.
Unlike Tech’s previous two wins, this game did not go down to the end. The Red Raiders never trailed in the game. The closest Kansas got to Tech was one point when they trailed 39-38 at the beginning of the second half.
Senior Alan Voskuil led the way for the Red Raiders on senior night. In his final game at United Spirit Arena, Voskuil scored a career-high 35 points and a career-high of nine three-pointers. Additionally, Voskuil is the 31st Tech player to score more than 1,000 points.
Mike Singletary scored 18 points, Nick Okorie scored 17 points, as Voskuil, Singletary, and Okorie combined to score 70 of Tech’s 84 points.
The Red Raiders made eight three-pointers in the first half finishing the game with 15. Tech shot 55 percent from the three-point line and 88.5 percent from the free throw line. The win snapped a six-game losing streak.
John Roberson led the team in assists with eight; Singletary led the team in rebounds with 10.
The Jayhawks’ loss ended their six-game winning streak and temporarily denied them the chance of clinching the Big XII regular season title. Kansas shot 33 percent from the field; they shot 16 percent from the three-point line and 67.9 percent from the free throw line.
Sherron Collins and Marcus Morris led the Jayhawks in scoring with 11 points each. Collins and Morris were the only Jayhawks to score in double figures. Morris led the team in rebounds with eight and Collins led the team in assist with nine.
The Red Raiders jumped out early in the first half, taking a 7-1 lead. Okorie scored the first four points of the game and Voskuil added a three-pointer. Tech did not allow Kansas a field goal until the 16:43 mark of the first half.
The Jayhawks cut the lead to two with Tyshawn Taylor hitting a jumper and Morris making a tip shot. Nevertheless, the Red Raiders went on an 8-0 run to increase their lead to 15-5. Roberson and Voskuil both hit three pointers during the run.
The Red Raiders would lead by as much as 18 in the first half, leading 39-21 with 4:33 left in the half. Kansas would score the last eight points of the half, with Travis Releford hitting two layups and Tyrel Reed making a three.
Tech led 39-28 at halftime.
In the second half, the Jayhawks started quickly. Morris hit two dunks to bring the game within seven, prompting Tech head coach Pat Knight to call a 30-second timeout. Kansas would make it a two-point game with 16:24 left. Taylor and Cole Aldrich made layups and Brady Morningstar hit a three.
The game went back and forth for over a minute until Voskuil hit a three to give Tech a 48-41 lead with 14:07 left in the game. Voskuil made another three, thirty seconds later to give Tech an eight-point advantage.
The Jayhawks got a technical with 12:16 left, Voskuil made both free throws to give Tech an 11-point lead. However, the Jayhawks would make a last rally. Over the next four minutes, Kansas went on an 11-3 run to cut Tech’s lead to 57-54 with less than eight and a half minutes.
On the Red Raiders next possession, Okorie hit a three-pointer to put Tech’s lead back to six. Morris fouled with 7:43 left in the game and received a technical for arguing. Voskuil and Okorie each hit two free throws to give the Red Raiders a 64-54 lead.
Tech would not allow the Jayhawks to get closer than six points the rest of the game. In the last minute of the game, Voskuil hit his last two three-pointers, which gave Tech their largest lead of 21 points.
Just like the two previous victories over Kansas, the students swarmed the court and were chanting Voskuil’s name when he was being interviewed by ESPN.
The Jayhawks close out the regular season at home against the Texas Longhorns (20-9, 9-6). The Red Raiders will travel to Iowa State to play the Cyclones (14-16, 3-12).
Kansas-Texas Tech: Jayhawks Out for Blood against Red Raiders
Mar 3, 2009
No. 9 Kansas Jayhawks (24-5, 13-1) at Texas Tech Red Raiders (12-17, 2-12)
Wednesday, March 4, 2000—9:30 PM EST
The Kansas Jayhawks, in search of a share of the Big 12 regular season championship, venture to Lubbock, Tex. on Wednesday night for a game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
Given that his team was decimated by the NBA draft after last year’s national championship, Kansas coach Bill Self has to be satisfied to find the Jayhawks right where they’re accustomed to being: atop the Big 12 standings.
The only blemish on the record for the Jayhawks is a two-point road loss to Missouri, which they made up for with a 25-point beatdown when the Tigers visited Lawrence.
Though they didn’t return a lot of experience, Kansas has it where they need it most, with an experienced point guard in Sherron Collins and a dominating big man in Cole Aldrich.
Collins is everything a coach wants in a floor general. He’s the team's leading scorer at 18.5 ppg, drains threes at a clip of 40.2 percent, and when the game hangs in the balance, he knocks down free throws at a rate of 81.4 percent.
And Collins knows how to involve his teammates in the offense as the junior averages five assists per contest.
Anchoring the front-line for Kansas is the walking double-double known as Aldrich. The sophomore scores 15.1 ppg, and hauls down 10.8 rebounds per outing—tops on the team.
In addition to Collins, Brady Morningstar (45.8 percent), Tyrel Reed (39.6), and Travis Releford (37.5) are all deadly from behind the arc.
For the Red Raiders, the finish line to the season can’t arrive soon enough.
Texas Tech has only three wins in its last 17 games. Not exactly what Pat Knight had in mind.
If the Red Raiders are going to snap their six-game losing streak, they’ll need big games out of John Roberson (14.3 ppg) and Alan Voskuil (13.8 ppg).
Roberson is a decent three-point shooter (36.1 percent) while Voskuil excels at making triples, as he connects on 43.8 percent of his shots from behind the arc.
Nick Okorie (11.2 ppg) and Mike Singletary (10.7 ppg) will also need to contribute offensively if the Raiders are to pull the upset.
One area of concern for Texas Tech is rebounding. Singletary leads the team with 5.4 per game, but after that the next highest is Voskuil at 4.1 rpg. The Red Raiders will be forced to crash the offensive glass which will leave them susceptible to the Jayhawks' vaunted running game.
Current Line: Kansas -11.0
Kansas is 16-8 against the spread on the season, with a record of 14-6 as the favorite.
Texas Tech is 8-15 against the spread, with a mark of 6-10 as an underdog.
Kansas has been on a roll as of late, that is, if you want to call almost the entire season “as of late.” Knowing that one more victory assures the ‘Hawks of the overall top seed in the Big 12 tournament, Kansas will be out for blood against Texas Tech.
Texas Tech University has fired their men's head basketball coach, Pat Knight.