Executive summary: Holy moly.
I guess I could stop right there because really what else can be said. It's going to be a while before you see this kind of game again on this kind of stage.
When the Red Raiders had cut the lead to six for the final time, a conversation I had with my dad many, many years ago popped into my head. We had this Osage orange tree on our property and dad told me one day that this gnarly old tree would not go peacefully into that good night. If we ever had to cut it down we could count on backbreaking labor for a few days, need our chains sharpened many times, and would be very likely to break a few chains. That old hedge apple tree is tough, like iron. Texas Tech is that old tree, which is still standing, still gnarly, still tough as iron.
This game was the inverse of the Arizona State game. This time when Tech absolutely had to have something, they got it. When they were kicked into a corner, cut and bleeding, bludgeoned and broken, they rose up. They got the rebound they had to have to live. They got the shot they had to have to stay alive. When it was all but done and Tech was left for dead they got the block, the steal, the basket.
And therein lies the mistake of Arkansas, the mistake that killed them: When you have Tech down, you better finish them. If you knock Raiders to the floor, if you cut off one of their arms and bash in their teeth, you better finish them. If you do not put them down when you have the chance, then you better sleep with one eye open because they are rising, dripping with blood and foaming at the mouth and blurry eyed to be sure - but they are rising and they are coming for you.
An important lesson was learned last night by Arkansas, but much more importantly Texas Tech showed what they are made of: No matter how bad things look, you can't give up. Fight, fight, fight. Take a swing. Red Raiders are relentless, remorseless - they are mobile, agile, and hostile.
What do Federiko Federiko, JT Toppin, and Darrion Williams all have in common? The each had 9 rebounds last night. Federiko got his in 12 minutes, 12 monstrous, glorious minutes. Seven of his boards were offensive, and he also scored 7 points. I can't get over the impact he had on this game. For me was the model of grit and toughness that embodies Texas Tech basketball. It seems possible, even likely to me, that the sum of all things Tech was demonstrated by Federiko. His limited minutes are the DNA of the Red Raiders.
It was a seven man rotation and really, once Kerwin Walton went out, it was a six man rotation. Toppin and Williams 38 minutes each, Kevin Overton 37 minutes, Chris Anderson 44, and Elijah Hawkins 45. Yes 45 minutes.
Long, tall, lengthy Arkansas got gouged on the offensive boards, 20-9 Tech. Tech had more assists, steals, blocks, and total rebounds. If Tech were small dogs then they have big bites. Frankly, Tech does not play small. Toppin and Williams do not play small. Anderson did not feel small driving into the lane and converting.
It will be very interesting to see how Tech plays on Saturday after this game for the ages. This is a game we will never not talk about, a game that someday in the future you will see a similar game and you'll talk about Tech's win over Arkansas. So bring on Florida, bring Auburn and Duke, bring Houston, bring hail storms and fire, bring swords and iron, bring it all. Come get some.
I guess I could stop right there because really what else can be said. It's going to be a while before you see this kind of game again on this kind of stage.
When the Red Raiders had cut the lead to six for the final time, a conversation I had with my dad many, many years ago popped into my head. We had this Osage orange tree on our property and dad told me one day that this gnarly old tree would not go peacefully into that good night. If we ever had to cut it down we could count on backbreaking labor for a few days, need our chains sharpened many times, and would be very likely to break a few chains. That old hedge apple tree is tough, like iron. Texas Tech is that old tree, which is still standing, still gnarly, still tough as iron.
This game was the inverse of the Arizona State game. This time when Tech absolutely had to have something, they got it. When they were kicked into a corner, cut and bleeding, bludgeoned and broken, they rose up. They got the rebound they had to have to live. They got the shot they had to have to stay alive. When it was all but done and Tech was left for dead they got the block, the steal, the basket.
And therein lies the mistake of Arkansas, the mistake that killed them: When you have Tech down, you better finish them. If you knock Raiders to the floor, if you cut off one of their arms and bash in their teeth, you better finish them. If you do not put them down when you have the chance, then you better sleep with one eye open because they are rising, dripping with blood and foaming at the mouth and blurry eyed to be sure - but they are rising and they are coming for you.
An important lesson was learned last night by Arkansas, but much more importantly Texas Tech showed what they are made of: No matter how bad things look, you can't give up. Fight, fight, fight. Take a swing. Red Raiders are relentless, remorseless - they are mobile, agile, and hostile.
What do Federiko Federiko, JT Toppin, and Darrion Williams all have in common? The each had 9 rebounds last night. Federiko got his in 12 minutes, 12 monstrous, glorious minutes. Seven of his boards were offensive, and he also scored 7 points. I can't get over the impact he had on this game. For me was the model of grit and toughness that embodies Texas Tech basketball. It seems possible, even likely to me, that the sum of all things Tech was demonstrated by Federiko. His limited minutes are the DNA of the Red Raiders.
It was a seven man rotation and really, once Kerwin Walton went out, it was a six man rotation. Toppin and Williams 38 minutes each, Kevin Overton 37 minutes, Chris Anderson 44, and Elijah Hawkins 45. Yes 45 minutes.
Long, tall, lengthy Arkansas got gouged on the offensive boards, 20-9 Tech. Tech had more assists, steals, blocks, and total rebounds. If Tech were small dogs then they have big bites. Frankly, Tech does not play small. Toppin and Williams do not play small. Anderson did not feel small driving into the lane and converting.
It will be very interesting to see how Tech plays on Saturday after this game for the ages. This is a game we will never not talk about, a game that someday in the future you will see a similar game and you'll talk about Tech's win over Arkansas. So bring on Florida, bring Auburn and Duke, bring Houston, bring hail storms and fire, bring swords and iron, bring it all. Come get some.
