Game Preview | Texas Longhorns vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders
by Seth C on Jan 11, 2011 6:01 AM CST
in Texas Tech Basketball
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Print (12-3, 0-0) |
Date | January 11, 2011 |
 (8-8, 0-1) |
PROBABLE STARTERS
| Position | Player | Ht/Wt | Class | Pts | Rbs | Ast |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | John Roberson | 5-11/168 | SR | 11.9 | 1.9 | 4.2 |
| G | David Tairu | 6-3/177 | SR | 10.5 | 2.4 | 0.9 |
| G | Brad Reese | 6-6/195 | SR | 12.4 | 5.1 | 1.6 |
| F | Mike Singletary | 6-5/235 | SR | 13.7 | 5.8 | 3.0 |
| F | Robert Lewandowski | 6-10/256 | JR | 9.7 | 5.4 | 1.2 |
| Position | Player | Ht/Wt | Class | Pts | Rbs | Ast |
| G | Dogus Balbay | 6-1/175 | SR | 4.0 | 2.9 | 2.4 |
| G | Cory Joseph | 6-3/185 | FR | 11.1 | 3.8 | 3.2 |
| F | Jordan Hamilton | 6-7/220 | SO | 19.6 | 7.1 | 2.3 |
| F | Gary Johnson | 6-6/238 | SR | 12.1 | 7.3 | 1.3 |
| F | Tristan Thompson | 6-8/225 | FR | 12.2 | 7.9 | 1.1 |
PREVIEW
PRE-GAME LINKS KAMC has some video from yesterday's Pat Knight press conference where he has a bit of a moment. Watch the video, but the long and short of it is that PK vehemently denies the thought that the coaching staff isn't putting all of their effort into this team and called out his four scoring seniors, Singletary, Roberson, Tairu and Reese, for not having a game where they all contributed. LAJ's Courtney Linehan writes that these four seniors will get the start tonight and PK had a meeting with them:
Knight called his seniors together on Sunday to talk about the troubles. He said they agreed that this season hasn’t gone as well as anyone hoped; conference coaches picked Tech to finish seventh in the Big 12 this season, but the team currently sits in last place.
The ever-rotating starting lineup will feature Reese, Roberson, Singletary and Tairu tonight, a sign of Knight’s confidence in his most experienced players.
RP.com's Andy Ellis, yes, former player and current real estate broker, says that it does mean a lot to the team for the fans to continue to support the team:
Let’s make sure to keep supporting the team, even in the tough times. As a former player, I can’t emphasize enough how much the crowd means to the team.
I don't doubt that this is true, and coming from a former player, I believe every word, but I also think that this team needs to play like they care for the fans to care. And don't forget that DMN's Mike Graham has five things to know before tonight's game.
WHAT TO EXPECT | I'm going to copy and paste this bit every time that I think that an opposing team has better overall talent, like Texas, and is a better team than Texas Tech. What I think will happen is the same thing that happened with Baylor. Texas Tech is playing at home, will play the Longhorns tough for a while, will make a valiant comeback, and will eventually lose because of lack of talent. Texas is okay offensively, but is terrific defensively, ranking #7 in the ever-popular KenPom rankings. And Texas has lost 3 games, to Pitt, USC and UConn with the only blowout loss being to USC. The best wins could be against Illinois, North Carolina and Michigan St. That's not a bad resume. The interesting thing is that UT is doing all of this while starting 2 freshmen and 1 sophomore.
KEY MATCHUPS | The thing that's really tough to look at is that the three forwards for UT are all averaging 7 rebounds a game. Meanwhile, Texas Tech can't find a player that can average 7 boards a game. Although I haven't watched much UT basketball, I think the Longhorns are doing this by making sure opponents get zero second-chance points. Naturally, I worry about Texas Tech matching up against UT's frontcourt. Athletically, I don't know if Lewandowski can keep pace with UT's frontcourt, so does that mean we'll see more of Paul Cooper? Crockett can keep pace athletically, but is he mature enough to make an impact in such an important conference game. The one thing that is different is that Baylor was long and athletic, while UT isn't as long, but they're still athletic.
FOUR FACTORS | Have to watch for the rebounding disadvantage and Baylor shooting more free throws.
Fancy basketball glossary found here.
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Comments
PK has been digging his own grave all season relying on the seniors to carry the game as leaders. Tonight I don’t care who emerges as the leader but hopefully someone will and pump the crowd up the entire game. Texas might be more athletic, but we can be meaner and more physical to intimate them. Lew and Cooper better be ready to throw their big bodies around down low. If we don’t win tonight let’s make them travel back to Austin saying damn those guys played us tough. But if we do get the win, that is what makes us Texas Tech, and we will rush the court and the current students will have the time of their lives the day before classes begin. I think we all NEED this win. Wreck ’em Tech!
by DanSwany on Jan 11, 2011 7:22 AM CST via mobile reply actions
Hmm, if the coach is going to single out players and throw them under the bus
I wonder why they aren’t playing as a cohesive team? That is a real head scratcher…
It is time for Pat Knight to see Lubbock, Texas in his rearview mirror. And as far as I’m concerned he can take his not so nice dad with him.
That is countrier than a biscuit. - Garth Brooks
Well I'm guessing he's never yelled at you on an airplane
But I didn’t like him even before that incident. What’s to like about a man who behaves like a child throwing a temper tantrum? Throwing chairs, putting his hands on his players, chasing an administrator down the street. I’m not impressed. Was not happy with Tech when they hired him. Or when they hired Alberto “I do not recall” Gonzales. Way to go Kent.
That is countrier than a biscuit. - Garth Brooks
He yelled at you on an airplane?
"This time it's different."
by LondonRaider on Jan 11, 2011 1:36 PM CST up reply actions
Yes he did
I did bring up a conversation topic with him that probably wasn’t his favorite, but most adults can handle that without being rude.
We were on the same flight from Dallas to Lubbock early last year. Embarrassingly for me now (though not at the time) I was going to Lubbock for the pro-Leach rally. Hey, I have lots of frequent flyer miles & I work from home…why not?
I was seated behind him and when we landed in Lubbock he had trouble opening the over-head bin so I helped him (how chivalrous of me…). So we had a moment of small talk and then here is how the rest of the conversation went:
Me (with a smile and tongue in cheek): so, are you hear for the Leach rally too?
Him: For that guy, no way
Me: I was hoping you coaches stuck together
Him: Not for that guy
Me: Well it’s too bad the way it turned out, it sure would have been nice if he could have at least been thanked for his contributions during his tenure
Him (starting to get heated, previously he was just had a clipped tone): There is a lot you don’t know
Me: Well, he was the winngest coach in Tech history
Him: if you look at Spykes record its pretty close
Me: Well, he (Leach) did have the best record
Him (yelling): winning isn’t everything
I was friendly, polite and conversational in tone the whole time. I’m not going to snipe at Bobby Knight, who knows what he’ll do. The only reason I didn’t end the conversation sooner is because he was being dismissive and arrogant. I didn’t appreciate it. When he yelled “winning isn’t everything” I just smiled at him and he glared at me and turned his back on me
I went to visit Dr. Dean at the Alumni Center when I got to campus and he told me that Bobby Knight and Mike Leach did not like each other at all, which I didn’t know. But that Pat Knight and Leach were good friends.
Anyway, that is my Bobby Knight story.
That is countrier than a biscuit. - Garth Brooks
That is an awesome story!
I still think RMK is an amazing coach (sorry).
"This time it's different."
by LondonRaider on Jan 11, 2011 3:06 PM CST up reply actions
At this rate......
I demand a paternity test on PK….
"It's fun to do bad things"- Latarian
by oldschoolraider on Jan 11, 2011 3:10 PM CST up reply actions
Man, you saw right thru me...
except that Pat and I are roughly the same age…
That is countrier than a biscuit. - Garth Brooks
I've got some kind of strange ju ju with Bobby
Was at a conference in New Orleans a couple of years ago. Got in the elevator to go check out the spa&randomly chatted with the man on the elevator, I’m very friendly that way. Had no idea who he was.
We get to the spa&he said he was buying me a spa treatment, I said no, no, no, I can’t accept that. Unbeknownst to me he did it anyway. When I found out later I asked the spa attendent his name so I could leave a thank you note.
It was Isiah Thomas. I had to ask, “isn’t that the guy with the sexual harrassment lawsuit?” Really don’t follow basketball.
Saw him later in the bar and we chatted for a moment. Mentioned I went to Tech and we talked Bobby Knight – I asked him what he thought of him. He game me a long drawn out, “welllllllllll”.
He was in town for a Knicks game, it was right before he got fired. Travels under the alias, “Billy Ray Valentine”. Extra points for those of you who know who that is.
Wasn’t impressed by him either.
That is countrier than a biscuit. - Garth Brooks
Looking good Billy ray..
feeling good Lewis
"It's fun to do bad things"- Latarian
by oldschoolraider on Jan 11, 2011 5:22 PM CST up reply actions
Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!
Good movie too.
That is countrier than a biscuit. - Garth Brooks
I don’t follow Tech basketball that well, but I have yet to hear him take any responsibility for any mistakes. It’s like a cycle of blame between fans/players/refs.
and the State of Texas
Don’t forget he’s also blamed Texas because it’s a football state and it’s so hard to have a winning basketball program in a football state.
You can't kill the rooster.
by San Antonio Red Raider on Jan 11, 2011 9:59 AM CST up reply actions
Personally, I don’t like what Baylor is doing as I think it’s odd that all-Americans are attending Baylor. Just seems odd.
TAMU would be the other example, Turgeon is a hell of a coach as is Barnes.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
I see nothing that implicates Baylor in anything dubious....
I am jealous, and their product on the court is exciting and athletic
"It's fun to do bad things"- Latarian
by oldschoolraider on Jan 11, 2011 11:56 AM CST up reply actions
Well
My friends brother got cut because of title nine at baylor a girl left or something like that but he still practices with the team but anyway he told me that a booster walked in with a big box of dr dre beats head phones (they cost 300 a piece) and was giving them out to players and them gave them checks saying that it was scholarship money from the school and it is odd how does a school like that go from terrible to getting all americans…. most coaches say Scott drew is a piece of trash including bob knight and that man tells it how it is. So yes i think something fishy is going on at baylor
by DTownRaider on Jan 11, 2011 11:49 PM CST up reply actions
Bob knight says his son
can coach….no cred with me. I require the slightest bit of proof before calling someone dirty….the fact that other big 12 coaches hate him makes me giggle. That team looks exactly like the tech 1995/6 team that brought me much joy.
"It's fun to do bad things"- Latarian
by oldschoolraider on Jan 12, 2011 10:56 PM CST up reply actions
Baylor
Well you can feel comfortable that if you get caught alseep in a Taco Bell drive through at 2am in the morning with marijuana in your car that you will only get suspended for part of a game, at least in football. That’s a perk.
That is countrier than a biscuit. - Garth Brooks
We may be waking up
in the baseball program..hopefully. But, yes, I do have a blood oath to go to Omaha if Tech makes it. I have been anyway, and its a blast.
"It's fun to do bad things"- Latarian
by oldschoolraider on Jan 11, 2011 2:51 PM CST up reply actions
From Brandon Rawe....on PK rant yesterday
PK’s rant was at general media availability today. Question was: Do you feel like you need to challenge staff the way you challenged srs?
about 14 hours ago via Echofon
Reply Retweet . Pat Knight: " I take this dead serious. This is my life. Anyone that EVER questions our work ethic, we’re going to have a problem"
about 14 hours ago via Echofon
Reply Retweet . Pat Knight: “No one’s more sick after a game, especially after losing that game (BU) than I was or pissed off than I was”
about 14 hours ago via Echofon
Reply Retweet . Pat Knight: “There’s no one that gets more upset than I do. I don’t care if you’re a fan, an administrator, a media guy…”
about 14 hours ago via Echofon
Reply Retweet . Pat Knight: “It really pisses me off when it comes to questioning the coaches b/c no one puts more into it than we do”
about 14 hours ago via Echofon
Reply Retweet . Pat Knight on 4 seniors: “They have not had a game where they played together”
about 14 hours ago via Echofon
Reply Retweet . Pat Knight on problems: “It’s on our seniors…Especially the 4 seniors that score” (Tairu, Roberson, Singletary, Reese)
about 14 hours ago via Echofon
Reply Retweet . Pat Knight: “It’s not from the effort of the coaches…Players should get fired instead of coaches eventually”
about 14 hours ago via Echofon
Reply Retweet . Pat Knight: “I’ve given everything I can, and if that’s not good enough, so be it”
about 14 hours ago via Echofon
Reply Retweet . Pat Knight going off on his/his staff’s critics today: “If you don’t think we’re (staff) doing a good job, that’s your problem”
about 14 hours ago via Echofon
Reply Retweet .slmandel
"It's fun to do bad things"- Latarian
by oldschoolraider on Jan 11, 2011 10:23 AM CST reply actions
bubba should
take over….just sayin
"It's fun to do bad things"- Latarian
by oldschoolraider on Jan 11, 2011 10:57 AM CST up reply actions
I don’t know if the two of you are joking, and I personally like Jennings, but this is really a total failure on all of the coaches. Jennings would be nothing more than an interim head coach and I really don’t see the point in that. I’d rather just let PK coach out the season, unless PK just wants to leave. If I had to pick an interim coach, I’d give the interim tag to Chris Beard, he’s the most experienced.
Go Raiders . . .
Double-T Nation
Kidding about Bubba...
I just think PK’s statements are insane and his entitled attitude is bs
"It's fun to do bad things"- Latarian
by oldschoolraider on Jan 11, 2011 11:57 AM CST up reply actions
I agree. Pat Knight has done 10 times worse stuff than Leach as far as attitude and ridiculous statements. Yet we keep him around. Cronieism (spelling) is alive and well at TTU.
Totally agree
And he doesn’t have the same winning record
That is countrier than a biscuit. - Garth Brooks
my bubba
Was little a. Not jennings
"As we continue to merely "talk about championships""
by blackbeard on Jan 11, 2011 6:07 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
and perhaps the answer is not to coach harder
but to coach smarter. get your dad to help, recruit better, man up or leave.
"As we continue to merely "talk about championships""
It could be worse!
You could have bought season tickets like me, with your in laws, father in law over heard me talking to my daughter telling her to get me tickets (she is a student at Tech).
Not only do I have season tickets to go watch this garbage I have to take my in laws every time LOL! O well I will get to see some good teams play.
American farmers feed & clothe the world!
That is tough deal!!
"This time it's different."
by LondonRaider on Jan 11, 2011 1:37 PM CST up reply actions
its sucks to be you
Sorry
"As we continue to merely "talk about championships""
by blackbeard on Jan 11, 2011 2:46 PM CST via mobile up reply actions
I'll be supporting
I’m always hoping for an upset…..I think a lot of people will be at the USA tonight, just because it’s UT.
I’m also really excited that Tairu has been starting. He has been my favorite player for a long time, and not just because he was in my sunday school class. haha
PK has lost the plot
It’s hard to understand why the seniors seem so lost. At the very least, you would think they would play hard for themselves, even if they have (allegedly) lost respect for their coach.
I agree with PK that a big part of the responsibility lies with the seniors. They are capable.
Nevertheless, based on the references to himself and his coaching staff, I do think PK has lost the plot a little bit:
"It’s not from the effort of the coaches…Players should get fired instead of coaches eventually"
Give us a break Pat.
"It really pisses me off when it comes to questioning the coaches b/c no one puts more into it than we do"
You are 8-8 after a soft non-conference schedule and your first Big 12 conference game, sitting in last place with a senior-laden team, and you make over a million bucks a year (which no one understands or seems to be able to justify).
Do you really think that no one can question the coaches? That’s what pisses you off?
"I’ve given everything I can, and if that’s not good enough, so be it"
Perhaps, but the petulant child routine is not doing you any favors.
"This time it's different."
by LondonRaider on Jan 11, 2011 1:50 PM CST up reply actions
He really sounds like a guy
resigned to getting canned in either a few weeks or months. Probably thinks he really has nothing to lose at this point, so he let fly. Sophomoric stunt, for sure. These rants NEVER turn out well in the end, do they : )
Don't get me wrong
I’m all for creativity. If you really are on your way out, have a little fun with it.
"This time it's different."
by LondonRaider on Jan 11, 2011 3:09 PM CST up reply actions
WTF
Just heard Arena too big, town too small as to why Tech can’t sell seats for Mens basketball, and Pat has a tough job.
Adversity causes some men to break, and others to break records.
-- Source Unknown
by TechRed01 on Jan 11, 2011 6:17 PM CST via mobile reply actions
we blow
plain and simple. we’re outmatched physically and don’t seem to have any desire to out-hustle the Horns at either end of the floor. UT’s PG has 4 or 5 rebounds in the first quarter – that says it all. Sloppy and uninspired. Time to blow it up and rebuild it. And I don’t by all the crap from the commentators about how tough the job is in Lubbock. You can’t tell me that Lawrence, Manhattan, Stillwater or Waco are all that more desirable places to go to school.
It's all about mindset.
These commentators and others just don’t get a city out as far as Lubbock being a good place or accessible. I picture they have covered wagons in their minds. For that matter, I went to high school in the Texas Panhandle and when in Washington D.C. on a field trip, I was actually asked in all seriousness if we rode horses to school. People just don’t get it.
by Raider in CS, TX on Jan 11, 2011 8:10 PM CST up reply actions
PK
i wanted to give this guy a chance but he is really blowing it at tech. the offense consists of one person dribbling the whole time then jacking up a ridiculous shot. he should have started at D2 he just doesn’t have what it takes to coach the in the big 12. i really think it is a matter of coaching and not the players.
"A job well done is better than a job well said."
by I bleed Red and Black on Jan 11, 2011 6:58 PM CST reply actions
PK sucks
and we will get somebody much better for $1.2Mil that we pay PK. The commentators are idiots and choose to ignore the fact that we went to the NCAA championships every year but once during Senior Knight’s tenure. We have actually been a pretty consistent team through the 80’s and 90’s. If Lubbock would be a hard place this would not have been possible. These ESPN commentators are so uninformed that I feel like tearing my hair out in frustration everytime they open their ignorant mouth.
Hmmm
I can’t imagine how PK’s comments to the media last night failed to deliver an inspired team performance…
Although I will say he knows how to get attention, 1st basketball game I followed in I don’t know how long.
That is countrier than a biscuit. - Garth Brooks
Another game; another epic failure
But PK knows to make excuses. Here is a list from his previous 3 seasons:
Excuse for failure in his first season: These are not my guys, they can’t play my scheme
Excuse for the second season: Guys are inexperienced, they can’t play 40 minutes
Excuse for the third season: It’s all the seniors’ fault. The coaches are excellent and cannot be held accountable for the epic failure of the team.
The Team has Quit on PK!
After a team meeting called by PK, one could expect that Tech would play the game with great intensity with the hopes of upsetting a better Texas team.
Well, guess what? Tech plays flat and get’s blown out. It’s obvious that PK has lost this team, that the team has quit on him, and that we are over due for a new coach by about 1 year.
BK lost the team too, and now his son, who’s done absolutely nothing in his life to deserve becoming a college coach, let alone even a high school coach, has lost the team too.
If Tech had a great AD, we’d have a quality BB coach, and perhaps this team would be playing up to its level, and perhaps cause some noise in the Big 12.
PK needs to go now, and I would submit having no coach is better than PK. Good riddance.
Take the "P" out of "Pirate" and I'm "Irate"!!!
Time to say Sayonara PK.
It is sad to see Tech’s basketball team quit on its coach, but it obviously has happened. I don’t see how this team is going to start playing competitively or how this year is going to be salvaged.
Billy Gillespie is who Texas Tech needs. He’ll win and sell the place out by his second year. He’s done it twice in Texas at UTEP and at A&M. He can do it at Tech also. Gillespie needs Texas Tech also.
Just saw a tweet that
said Tech had two…TWO…assists tonight. I’m not a basketball guru by any stretch, but I know enough to know that two assists is abysmal and possibly a record of some sort.
I saw my first Texas Tech bball game tonight and will most likely watch my last Tech game until Knight is fired. Please fire Knight and bring on Billy Gillespie!
So what's Gillespie doing now?
I looked him up on wiki and the last status they have for him show a DUI, alcohol rehab and settling a lawsuit over his termination with UK (huh, he sued his employer…but at least they settled with him…). Anyone know if he’s doing better and has been back around basketball? Sounds like a great coach/recruiter and I like the Texas roots!
I think it would be good karma for us to hire him. Don’t parts of his background sound a little like someone we all know and many of us love???
That is countrier than a biscuit. - Garth Brooks
gillespie
He is on 103.3FM in dFW as a guest on Galloway sometimes. Last time I heard him he sounded like someone was humbled by his poor choice and his desire to come back with people holding him accountable. He would be a good fit I think. Even if he were not, could he be worse than what we have now? Heck what is James Dickey doing these days?
Check out Houston.
He is their head coach now and they are making some noises.
TTpilk Psalm 117:
1 ¶ O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
Pat Knight,
After what has been tweeted and how poorly the team played at home against arguably our worst enemy, it is clear tht Knight is not going to achieve much for the rest of the year. I am not sure the players would respond positively to anyone else should he be shown the door, but I have a feeling the whole team would be better off. I was willing to give hem the time to get something going at Tech. However, I see he simply does not have the oomph to coach for Tech. We do have a very nice basketball history to look back on with warm feelings, but none for the last four years. Gillespi may or may not be who we need, but a change is definitely needed. I hat that because Pat is really a nice person. But, like a former football coach at Tech, he has issues that he has not handled well. All I can say is, “Bye, Pat. I hope you can do better somewhere else, like Smiley Wilson Junior High.”
TTpilk Psalm 117:
1 ¶ O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.
2 For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.
ha ha ha!
"A job well done is better than a job well said."
by I bleed Red and Black on Jan 12, 2011 8:05 AM CST up reply actions
I wonder
I wonder how long the PK coaching drama will play out. It looks pretty obvious that he’s lost his team, and this really awful loss on national TV is not going to play well with the powers-that-be, even if they’re buddies with RMK. I’ve heard that Hance attends a lot of the games, and it wouldn’t surprise me if that might make things come to a head sooner rather than later. But, again I’m just another fan who’s shaking his head at our poor play this year!
Thank goodness for the Lady Raiders! Man, they are really kicking a** this year!
+1 for lady raiders!
"A job well done is better than a job well said."
by I bleed Red and Black on Jan 12, 2011 8:05 AM CST up reply actions
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