We talked yesterday about how Beard has these guys in a position to win a lot of games, and Tech has won a few of them. Beard is doing his part as far as I'm concerned. I see nothing but a bright future for the Raiders. This team is often in a position to win games, and that's a prime responsibility of Beard.
They lost at home to Kansas by a point.
The lost to Auburn by a bucket.
The beat Rice by a point.
They beat West Virginia by a point.
They beat Kansas State by a point.
The beat TCU by six, pulling away late at home.
The lost by two buckets at Baylor.
They lost by two buckets at Texas.
They lost at TCU by a point.
They beat Bayl0r by half a dozen.
I'm still a little down about the Kansas result, but I'm not down about how the Raiders played them. Tech has been playing some decent ball lately. Even counting that LSU game I hate, the Raiders have played really well for the last seven games. They are 3-4 in that stretch, and have lost their four tight games by 4 points, 4 points, 1 point, 1 point. A team can lose and play well, and Tech is. They are not playing great, but they are playing well. This team has noticeable holes, but Beard has put them in position to win time and time again.
Some people here will say Tech got lucky to beat WVU and KSU earlier this season. Maybe, I don't know. But if they did, then is it fair to say they got unlucky to lose to Kansas, at Baylor, at Texas, at TCU? Raiders lost back to back games by a combined bucket. They were in a position to win and just didn't. It happens. Texas Tech is playing some good ball, this team has some holes in it to be sure, but they are being coached up. If the Raiders play basketball like it's supposed to be played, winning will take care of itself. It seems like Tech is close.
The Raiders are in a good place mentally, they have the will to prepare to win. "Everyone has the will to win, not everyone has the will to prepare to win." This Tech team has that will to prepare right now.
I was dead nuts wrong on the pace of the game last night. I expected a grinder, with both teams playing into the strength of the other. Instead Baylor got off 60 shots - but man most of those were not quality shots. Tech on the other hand eschewed the long jumpers unless it was a gift, worked their man and got to the free throw. Even though it was a less than stellar night at the stripe, it wasn't awful and Tech made the most of it with volume.
Going to West Virginia is going to be a tough haul for Tech. Let's see..their last road win, and by last I mean *only*...was...December 17...two months ago...at Richmond. You want to lock down an NCAA bid? Play .500 in this conference and win *A* road game. Raiders can still do both. They are three under with five to play. 4-1 puts them at .500.
Is Tech playing well enough to go 4-1? Yes! If I see the recent Tech team show up and play at West Virginia, regardless of the outcome, I think Tech can win out. Iowa State, at O$U, Texas, at KSU. Tech would have beaten any of those four last night, so we know it can be done. Let's see how the road trip shakes out, I'll be looking at how Tech is playing. I rarely know the score anyway so this won't be much different. I want to see some good basketball.
They lost at home to Kansas by a point.
The lost to Auburn by a bucket.
The beat Rice by a point.
They beat West Virginia by a point.
They beat Kansas State by a point.
The beat TCU by six, pulling away late at home.
The lost by two buckets at Baylor.
They lost by two buckets at Texas.
They lost at TCU by a point.
They beat Bayl0r by half a dozen.
I'm still a little down about the Kansas result, but I'm not down about how the Raiders played them. Tech has been playing some decent ball lately. Even counting that LSU game I hate, the Raiders have played really well for the last seven games. They are 3-4 in that stretch, and have lost their four tight games by 4 points, 4 points, 1 point, 1 point. A team can lose and play well, and Tech is. They are not playing great, but they are playing well. This team has noticeable holes, but Beard has put them in position to win time and time again.
Some people here will say Tech got lucky to beat WVU and KSU earlier this season. Maybe, I don't know. But if they did, then is it fair to say they got unlucky to lose to Kansas, at Baylor, at Texas, at TCU? Raiders lost back to back games by a combined bucket. They were in a position to win and just didn't. It happens. Texas Tech is playing some good ball, this team has some holes in it to be sure, but they are being coached up. If the Raiders play basketball like it's supposed to be played, winning will take care of itself. It seems like Tech is close.
The Raiders are in a good place mentally, they have the will to prepare to win. "Everyone has the will to win, not everyone has the will to prepare to win." This Tech team has that will to prepare right now.
I was dead nuts wrong on the pace of the game last night. I expected a grinder, with both teams playing into the strength of the other. Instead Baylor got off 60 shots - but man most of those were not quality shots. Tech on the other hand eschewed the long jumpers unless it was a gift, worked their man and got to the free throw. Even though it was a less than stellar night at the stripe, it wasn't awful and Tech made the most of it with volume.
Going to West Virginia is going to be a tough haul for Tech. Let's see..their last road win, and by last I mean *only*...was...December 17...two months ago...at Richmond. You want to lock down an NCAA bid? Play .500 in this conference and win *A* road game. Raiders can still do both. They are three under with five to play. 4-1 puts them at .500.
Is Tech playing well enough to go 4-1? Yes! If I see the recent Tech team show up and play at West Virginia, regardless of the outcome, I think Tech can win out. Iowa State, at O$U, Texas, at KSU. Tech would have beaten any of those four last night, so we know it can be done. Let's see how the road trip shakes out, I'll be looking at how Tech is playing. I rarely know the score anyway so this won't be much different. I want to see some good basketball.
