Texas Tech

Big 12: The Most Exciting Conference in the Country

Greg Mengelt — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 07:02:48 -0800

There are better college basketball conferences than the Big 12 in 2011-12.

But there are none more entertaining.

The Big 12 has three of the nation’s top eight teams, and of the league’s 10 teams, nine are capable of beating good teams.

The league title will likely come down to No. 8 Kansas, which is atop the conference standings at 8-1, No. 4 Missouri and No. 6 Baylor. No conference has a trio of teams more fun to watch than Kansas, Missouri and Baylor.

Outside of North Carolina, Kansas has the best inside-outside duo in the country with Thomas Robinson, who is averaging 17.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game and point guard Tyshawn Taylor, who scores 16.5 points and hands out 5.2 assists per night. Kansas has won or shared the conference title for the last 7 seasons, but they have serious competitors this year.

Missouri is arguably the best shooting team in the country. The Tigers shoot 49.8 percent from the field, including Ricardo Ratliffe’s nation-leading 75.1 percent, 37.7 percent from behind the 3-point arc and 77.7 percent from the foul line. Mizzou has four players who shoot very well from deep, including Kim English, who is shooting 49.5 from the 3-point line, and Marcus Denmon, who is fourth in the Big 12 at 17.2 points per game.

There’s not a team in the nation that can match Baylor’s athletic big men. Perry Jones III is a 6-11 forward who can run, jump, handle and shoot. Quincy Miller – a 6-9 freshman – is athletic and has a soft touch. Six-foot-10 forward Anthony Jones can light it up from the 3-point line, and 6-7 senior Quincy Acy is a dunking machine. Throw in junior college transfer point guard Pierre Jackson and sharp-shooting Brady Heslip and the Bears are among the most fun teams to watch in the country.

All three of those teams, Kansas, Missouri, and Baylor, are ranked Top 10 in the country for offensive efficiency.

What sets the Big 12 apart, though, is that it has another six teams that can play spoilers. Iowa State, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Oklahoma, Texas and Texas A&M will likely play as big a role as the Big 3 in determining the conference champion.

Iowa State, led by Minnesota transfer Royce White and coached by former Cyclone great Fred Hoiberg, handed Kansas its only Big 12 loss on Saturday, 72-64. Led by freshmen Le’Bryan Nash and Brian Williams, Oklahoma State knocked off then-No. 2 Missouri, 79-72 last Wednesday. Kansas State also has a 16-point win over Missouri on its resume, and Texas pushed the Tigers to the final seconds on Monday. Even Texas A&M, who looked lost in a 1-5 stretch earlier in the season, is extremely dangerous. It took a late seconds Baylor three to knock the Aggies out last night.

The Kansas-Missouri showdowns on Saturday and Feb. 25, the Baylor-Missouri tilt on Feb. 11 and the second Baylor-Kansas matchup Feb. 8 will have huge implications in the Big 12 regular-season race. But so will the Jayhawks’ trip to Kansas State on Feb. 13, Missouri’s return visit to Texas on Feb. 20, and Baylor’s trek into Ames, Iowa, on the final night of the regular season.

Those must-watch games are what make the Big 12 the most entertaining conference in the country.

Xavier vs. Saint Louis: Wednesday's Preview

Raphielle Johnson — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:16:14 -0800

Neither team is currently in first place in the Atlantic 10 but if anything that magnifies the importance of Saint Louis (15-4, 3-2) heading east to take on Xavier (13-6, 4-2) at the Cintas Center. Both teams are a game out of first place in the loss column, and a closer look at the Billikens' computer numbers shows that they could use a win like this to bolster the resume. According to the most recent "nitty gritty" report released by the NCAA Saint Louis is currently 51st in the RPI, but their problem is a non-conference strength of schedule of 211 (overall SOS of 124).

Xavier has no such issue currently but after a loss at Dayton the Musketeers need to get back on track to remain a game behind the Flyers in the loss column. While the Phyrric victory over Cincinnati hurt the chemistry and psyche of Chris Mack's team, there's also the issue of Xavier not being as efficient offensively as they were last season. The Musketeers are averaging just 1.04 points per possession this season and they're also not shooting the three well, making 35.3% of their shots to date.

Guards Tu Holloway (15.7 ppg, 5.6 apg) and Mark Lyons (16.6 ppg, 3.6 rpg) lead the way for Xavier, but Holloway's percentages have taken a hit (40.9% FG, 31.6% 3PT). But without consistent production from the big men more responsibility ends up on their shoulders. Senior Kenny Frease (8.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg) has been around for four seasons and while there always seems to be the feeling that he's just one step away, that progression just hasn't happened. Vanderbilt transfer Andre Walker (6.1 rpg) leads the team in rebounding but neither he nor Monmouth transfer Travis Taylor has shown themselves to be capable of being a bell cow for the Musketeers on the block.

Freshman wing Dezmine Wells (10.1 ppg, 5.3 rpg) has been one of the best first-year players in the A-10, and he has to be on the short list of the most explosive finishers in college basketball. He's done well as Xavier's third scorer but with his best work coming in the open floor, someone inside needs to step up. Saint Louis also has three players averaging double figures, one of which comes off the bench. Forward Cody Ellis (11.2 ppg, 3.7 rpg) checks in at 6'8", 240 but he's more comfortable on the perimeter (40.2% 3PT), and his shooting is balanced out by Brian Conklin's willingness to go inside.

Conklin is shooting 58.6% from the field on the season with just one three-point attempt, so it's safe to say that he won't be out firing away with reckless abandon. Guard Kwamain Mitchell (11.8 ppg, 3.8 apg) runs the show but also leads SLU in field goal attempts, and his individual matchup with Holloway should be fun to watch. Saint Louis has five players who have attempted 40 three-pointers or more, with three of those players attempting more than half their shots from distance and as a team the Billikens score 31.2% of their points on the bonus shot.

If there's one area to watch it will be turnovers, especially if Xavier gets impatient and looks to force the issue offensively. Saint Louis' opponents average 15.7 turnovers per game, and with the Billikens averaging a shade under 63 possessions per game that's a sizable number. Holloway and Lyons need to make plays without getting out of control, and if they don't Saint Louis has the ability to make them pay. SLU is 2-3 on the road this season but it's not like the Musketeers have been invincible at home (9-2), which should make for an entertaining matchup.

Wednesday's schedule features five ranked teams taking on unranked opponents on the road, one of which being #6 Duke taking on a young Maryland team in College Park. The Terrapins are led by sophomore guard Terrell Stoglin, but while Maryland has the ability to give Duke some trouble on the perimeter they lack interior depth and the shot selection leaves something to be desired at times. The same could be said for Oklahoma State, who hosts #2 Missouri, and Texas Tech as a player in Jordan Tolbert that can make life difficult for #24 Kansas State.

Minnesota visits #11 Michigan State in need of a resume-building victory but to say the least it's going to be tough for Tubby Smith's team to leave East Lansing with a win. Minnesota has received good play of late from Joe Coleman, and they do have a win at Indiana to their credit. BYU's trip to Virginia Tech is big for both teams as the victor would end up with a resume-building victory that could be a difference-maker come Selection Sunday.

Also keep an eye on Georgia State visiting Drexel in hopes of sweeping the season series, with both in hot pursuit of George Mason in the CAA. Colorado State/New Mexico and Notre Dame/Seton Hall are both solid conference match ups that will also have an impact on the resumes of all four teams.

Top 25 Games
7:30 PM (2) Missouri at Oklahoma State (ESPN2)
6:30 PM Penn State at (3) Ohio State (BTN)
9:00 PM (6) Duke at Maryland (ESPN)
8:30 PM Minnesota at (11) Michigan State (BTN)
8:05 PM (14) Creighton at Drake (ESPN3)
10:00 PM (15) UNLV at Boise State (The Mtn.)
8:00 PM LSU at (16) Mississippi State (ESPN3)
9:00 PM (24) Kansas State at Texas Tech (ESPNU)
7:00 PM Villanova at (25) Louisville (ESPN)

NCAA Division I Games
7:00 PM Delaware at Northeastern
7:00 PM VCU at Towson
7:00 PM Southern Miss at East Carolina
7:00 PM Florida State at Wake Forest (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Maine at New Hampshire
7:00 PM DePaul at Rutgers (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Central Michigan at Bowling Green
7:00 PM Toledo at Miami (OH)
7:00 PM Western Michigan at Ohio (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Providence at Pittsburgh (ESPN3)
7:00 PM St. Bonaventure at Rhode Island (CBS SN)
7:00 PM Fordham at Richmond
7:00 PM BYU at Virginia Tech (ESPN3)
7:00 PM UAB at Marshall (CSS)
7:00 PM Holy Cross at Army
7:00 PM Old Dominion at UNC Wilmington
7:00 PM Binghamton at Albany
7:00 PM American at Bucknell
7:00 PM Lafayette at Colgate
7:00 PM Loyola (IL) at Detroit
7:00 PM Georgia State at Drexel
7:00 PM George Mason at Hofstra (FiOS 1)
7:00 PM Northern Illinois at Kent State
7:00 PM George Washington at La Salle
7:00 PM West Virginia at St. John's (ESPNU)
7:00 PM Dayton at Saint Joseph's (TCN Philadelphia)
7:00 PM Hartford at Stony Brook
7:00 PM UIC at Wright State
7:00 PM Saint Louis at Xavier (FSN MW)
7:05 PM Northern Iowa at Indiana State
7:05 PM Missouri State at Illinois State (ESPN3)
7:30 PM Temple at Charlotte
7:30 PM McNeese State at Nicholls State
7:30 PM Air Force at TCU (The Mtn.)
8:00 PM UCF at Tulsa (CBS SN)
8:00 PM Rice at Memphis
8:00 PM Texas State at Texas A&M-CC
8:00 PM Lamar at Northwestern State
8:00 PM Central Arkansas at Southeastern Louisiana
8:00 PM Notre Dame at Seton Hall (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Alabama at South Carolina (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Sam Houston State at Stephen F. Austin (ESPN3)
8:00 PM Jarvis Christian at UTSA
8:00 PM SMU at Tulane
8:00 PM Evansville at Wichita State (ESPN3)
8:15 PM North Texas at Louisiana-Lafayette
9:00 PM Auburn at Arkansas (ESPN3)
10:00 PM Colorado State at New Mexico (CBS SN)

Saturday Preview: #20 Marquette at #1 Syracuse

Raphielle Johnson — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:09:27 -0800

Just two games on the schedule for Saturday match ranked teams, one of which being #1 Syracuse (16-0, 3-0) hosting #20 Marquette (12-3, 1-1) with the visitors looking to rebound from a disappointing loss at Georgetown earlier this week. The Golden Eagles led by as many as 17 points in the second half but they went away from the "paint touches" that are so valued in Buzz Williams' program, which led to the Hoya comeback. Those paint touches will be even more important at the Carrier Dome, as Syracuse does a good job with their 2-3 zone at limiting those opportunities.

Jim Boeheim's team is always well-versed in who should be allowed to shoot perimeter shots and who should be defended tightly as well, meaning that Marquette will need to be judicious in their shot selection. As a team Marquette shoots 34.7% from three, scoring 22.3% of their points from distance on the season. The most reliable shooters are also their leading scorers: Darius Johnson-Odom (17.9 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.7 apg) and Jae Crowder (16.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg) both start while freshman Todd Mayo (10.2 ppg) come off the bench.

The Golden Eagles can match the Syracuse depth on the perimeter, with those three along with Vander Blue, Junior Cadougan and Derrick Wilson, but the Orange have been flat-out explosive this season. Scoop Jardine (8.7 ppg, 4.3 apg) and Brandon Triche (10.3 ppg, 3.1 apg) are the starters and have played well for much of the season, but in sixth man Dion Waiters (12.6 ppg, 2.8 apg) the Orange have one of the best reserves in the country. It can even be argued that Waiters is Syracuse's best option when considering postseason awards, which is a testament to his growth as well as Syracuse's depth.

Freshman Michael Carter-Williams also sees some time at guard, and on the wing the Orange are deep as well. Senior Kris Joseph (13.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg) leads the team in scoring and when allowed to get out and fill a lane on the break is a dangerous player to contend with. But there's also sophomore C.J. Fair (8.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg), who is second on the team in minutes, and junior James Southerland (8.3 ppg, 3.1 rpg) shoots 42.6% from beyond the arc. Marquette will be smaller than Syracuse on the wing, but they can manage the difference due to their speed. The real concern comes in the paint, where the Golden Eagles are without a key contributor.

Chris Otule is still out with a knee injury and there's been no announcement on his prospects for the remainder of the season, meaning that Davante Gardner (8.7 ppg, 4.9 rpg) had to step into the starting role. Gardner came off the bench in Marquette's win over Villanova after a subpar performance in the loss to Vanderbilt, but he responded with 13 points and ten rebounds and followed that up with 11 against Georgetown. Facing the much-improved Fab Melo (7.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 3.1 bpg), Gardner's going to need a similar performance if Marquette is to win. Turnovers will also be a major factor with Marquette forcing nearly 18 per game and Syracuse almost 19.

Also in the Big East, #9 Georgetown hits the road to take on West Virginia, and Bob Huggins' team could definitely use a win like this for their resume. Kevin Jones has been one of the best players in the Big East for the Mountaineers, who will need young guards Gary Browne and Jabarie Hinds to mature as the season wears on in order to be a team that can win games in the NCAA Tournament. And Seton Hall will look to build on the momentum gained in their win over Connecticut with a win at Providence, but with the Friars desperate for their first league win that's going to be a tough task for Kevin Willard's squad.

League play tips off in the ACC and SEC this weekend, with the former looking to sort itself out after the generally accepted top three of North Carolina, Duke and Virginia. While the Tar Heels shouldn't have much of a problem with Boston College, Duke should be on upset alert at Georgia Tech while Virginia hosts a Miami team that could be a factor in the ACC as Reggie Johnson approaches full strength. In the SEC Mississippi State visits Arkansas, and the Bulldogs had better make sure that freshman B.J. Young isn't allowed to heat up.

The Big 12's got a pair of dangerous games for ranked teams on the schedule as well, with Baylor visiting Texas Tech and Missouri taking on Kansas State in Manhattan. The Bears should beat the Red Raiders but that trip to Lubbock could be a tricky one if you're not focused. As for the Tigers, their interior depth will be tested by the Wildcats, led by Jamar Samuels, Thomas Gipson and Jordan Henriquez. If either Ricardo Ratliffe or Steve Moore get into early foul trouble, Missouri could end up in trouble as well.

Other games of note include Georgia State, who is currently in first place in the CAA, visiting George Mason just days after winning at VCU. Ron Hunter's done a masterful job with the GSU program in his first season in charge, and Devonta White and Jihad Ali have done a good job of leading the way offensively. Mike Morrison and Ryan Pearson can be a handful up front for the Colonials, and there's a strong possibility that this game isn't decided until late. Temple hosts Dayton in the Owls' Atlantic 10 opener, and after they beat Saint Louis in overtime this could be a big week for Dayton's resume if they can win at Liacouras Center as well.

Top 25 Games
4:00 PM (20) Marquette at (1) Syracuse (ESPN3)
4:00 PM South Carolina at (2) Kentucky (ESPN3)
12:00 PM (3) Duke at Georgia Tech (ESPNU)
2:30 PM Boston College at (4) North Carolina (ESPN3)
1:45 PM (5) Baylor at Texas Tech (ESPN3)
1:30 PM (6) Missouri at (22) Kansas State (ESPN3)
3:00 PM (7) Ohio State at Iowa (BTN)
8:00 PM (8) Connecticut at Rutgers (ESPN3)
12:00 PM (9) Georgetown at West Virginia (ESPN3)
4:00 PM Notre Dame at (10) Louisville (ESPNU)
11:00 AM (14) Florida at Tennessee (ESPN2)
2:00 PM (15) Kansas at Oklahoma (ESPNU)
9:00 PM (16) Mississippi State at Arkansas (ESPN3)
8:00 PM (18) Murray State at Austin Peay (ESPNU)
2:00 PM Dartmouth at (21) Harvard
6:00 PM Miami (FL) at (23) Virginia (ESPNU)
8:00 PM (24) Creighton at Bradley (ESPN3)

NCAA Division I Games
12:00 PM Virginia Tech at Wake Forest (ESPN3)
12:00 PM Xavier at Fordham
12:00 PM Canisius at Loyola (MD)
12:00 PM Wagner at Monmouth
1:00 PM Nebraska at Illinois (BTN)
1:05 PM Missouri State at Indiana State (ESPN3)
1:30 PM Ole Miss at LSU (ESPN3)
1:30 PM Auburn at Vanderbilt (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Colgate at American
2:00 PM Mount St. Mary's at Fairleigh Dickinson
2:00 PM Albright at Cornell
2:00 PM Washington at Utah (FSN)
2:00 PM Northeastern at James Madison
2:00 PM Loyola (IL) at Cleveland State (ESPN3)
2:00 PM Western Michigan at Ball State
2:00 PM St. John's at Cincinnati (ESPN3)
2:00 PM NJIT at Longwood
2:00 PM LIU-Brooklyn at Quinnipiac
2:00 PM Charlotte at Saint Joseph's
2:00 PM Kennesaw State at USC Upstate
2:05 PM Evansville at Illinois State
2:30 PM Charleston at Furman (ESPN3)
2:30 PM UMBC at Maine
2:30 PM Western Illinois at IPFW
3:00 PM Georgia Southern at Davidson
3:00 PM Texas State at Northwestern State
3:05 PM Wichita State at Southern Illinois
3:15 PM Jacksonville at Stetson
3:30 PM Lehigh at Holy Cross
3:30 PM North Dakota at New Mexico
3:30 PM Robert Morris at Central Connecticut State
3:30 PM St. Francis (NY) at Sacred Heart
4:00 PM Washington State at Colorado (FSN)
4:00 PM Dayton at Temple
4:00 PM Florida State at Clemson (ESPN2)
4:00 PM Iowa State at Texas A&M (ESPN3)
4:00 PM Bucknell at Army
4:00 PM St. Bonaventure at Duquesne
4:00 PM Mercer at East Tennessee State
4:00 PM Florida A&M at North Carolina Central
4:00 PM Bethune-Cookman at North Carolina A&T
4:00 PM Eastern Michigan at Northern Illinois
4:00 PM Coppin State at Savannah State
4:00 PM Morgan State at South Carolina State
4:00 PM Southern Miss at Tulane
4:00 PM Delaware at William & Mary
4:00 PM VMI at Winthrop
4:00 PM St. Francis (PA) at Bryant
4:30 PM Denver at South Alabama (ESPN3)
4:30 PM Central Arkansas at Lamar
4:30 PM Liberty at UNC Asheville
4:30 PM Wofford at Western Carolina
5:00 PM Troy at Western Kentucky (FCS)
5:00 PM UCF at East Carolina
5:00 PM Jackson State at Alcorn State
5:00 PM Grambling State at Southern University
5:15 PM North Florida at Florida Gulf Coast
5:30 PM Tennessee State at Jacksonville State
5:30 PM Coastal Carolina at Charleston Southern
6:00 PM Ohio at Bowling Green (ESPN3)
6:00 PM San Francisco at BYU (BYU TV)
6:00 PM Arkansas-Pine Bluff at Alabama A&M
6:00 PM Mississippi Valley State at Alabama State
6:00 PM Howard at Hampton
6:00 PM Maryland-Eastern Shore at Norfolk State
6:00 PM IUPUI at Oakland
6:00 PM Seton Hall at Providence (ESPN3)
6:05 PM Fresno State at Idaho (ESPN3)
6:30 PM Louisiana-Lafayette at Middle Tennessee
7:00 PM Alabama at Georgia (ESPN3)
7:00 PM Akron at Miami (OH)
7:00 PM Richmond at Rhode Island
7:00 PM Appalachian State at Chattanooga
7:00 PM Oklahoma State at Texas (LHN)
7:00 PM Towson at Old Dominion
7:00 PM Hofstra at UNC Wilmington
7:00 PM Kent State at Buffalo
7:00 PM Toledo at Central Michigan
7:00 PM Southeast Missouri State at Eastern Kentucky
7:00 PM High Point at Gardner-Webb
7:00 PM Georgia State at George Mason
7:00 PM Lafayette at Navy
7:00 PM Southeastern Louisiana at Stephen F. Austin
7:00 PM SIU-Edwardsville at Tennessee-Martin
7:00 PM Prairie View A&M at Texas Southern
7:05 PM Samford at Citadel
7:05 PM Illinois-Chicago at Youngstown State
7:30 PM Louisiana-Monroe at FIU
7:30 PM Campbell at Presbyterian
8:00 PM George Washington at Saint Louis
8:00 PM South Dakota State at Oral Roberts
8:00 PM SMU at Tulsa
8:00 PM Marshall at Rice
8:00 PM Nicholls State at Texas-Arlington
8:00 PM Green Bay at Milwaukee (ESPN3)
8:00 PM McNeese State at Texas A&M-CC
8:00 PM Florida Atlantic at Arkansas-Little Rock
8:00 PM Santa Clara at Gonzaga
8:00 PM New Mexico State at Louisiana Tech
8:00 PM Pepperdine at Portland
8:05 PM South Dakota at UMKC
8:05 PM North Texas at Arkansas State
8:05 PM Northern Iowa at Drake
8:05 PM Eastern Illinois at Houston Baptist
8:30 PM Morehead State at Tennessee Tech
9:00 PM Memphis at UAB
9:00 PM Nebraska Omaha at Colorado State
9:00 PM Loyola Marymount at San Diego
9:00 PM Houston at UTEP
9:05 PM Montana at Idaho State
9:05 PM Nevada at Utah State (ESPN3)
9:05 PM Northern Arizona at Eastern Washington
9:05 PM Seattle at Utah Valley
9:30 PM North Dakota State at Southern Utah
10:00 PM Cal State Fullerton at Cal Poly
10:00 PM Stanford at Oregon State
10:00 PM UC Riverside at Pacific
10:00 PM UC Irvine at UC Davis
10:00 PM Weber State at Portland State
10:00 PM Texas-Pan American at Cal State Bakersfield
10:05 PM Northern Colorado at Sacramento State
10:05 PM Long Beach State at Cal State Northridge
10:30 PM Arizona State at UCLA
12:05 AM San Jose State at Hawaii

Who Will Win the 2011-12 Big 12 Title?

Shawn Siegel — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 07:32:32 -0800

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends" Series: Texas Tech's Geoff Huston

Jon Teitel — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 11:06:54 -0700

In the most recent installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series, CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Texas Tech great Geoff Huston. After a four-year campaign in Lubbock Huston was drafted by the Knicks in 1979, and he went on to play for five teams in the NBA.

Jon Teitel: You grew up in NYC, which has produced more NBA players than any other city. What was the competition like in the Big Apple?

Geoff Huston: I grew up in the Brownsville area of Brooklyn, and we had a lot of great players. World B. Free was my mentor, and I went to school at the same time as Vinnie Johnson, Albert King, Bernard King, etc.

JT: What are your memories of the 1976 NCAA Tournament in Denton, TX (Texas Tech beat Syracuse in the first round before losing to Missouri)?

GH: It was very exciting even though I was just a freshman. We were ranked #16 in the nation, and we had a great team led by Rick Bullock.

JT: What are your memories of the 1979 NIT in Lubbock (Texas Tech lost to eventual-champion Indiana)?

GH: I remember Bobby Knight. It was a disappointing loss but it showed us how far we had come as a program. My whole college experience was great. Going to Lubbock was eye-opening for a kid from Brooklyn. It taught me a lot and I got to meet a lot of good people. At that time the SWC was a football conference, but Arkansas had Sidney Moncrief and Ron Brewer, and Baylor had a great team.

JT: In the summer of 1979 you were drafted in the third round by your hometown Knicks (15 spots ahead of Bill Laimbeer). Were you thrilled to realize your dream of making it to the NBA, or disappointed that you did not get selected earlier?

GH: I would have paid them just to take me! It is every kid's fantasy to get paid for something you would gladly do for free. To get selected by my hometown team was great: after I made the Knicks I was so proud that I put on every piece of Knicks clothing I owned and slept in them.

JT: Dallas picked you in the 1980 expansion draft, and even though they traded you to Cleveland midway through the season you ended up leading the Mavericks in scoring with 16.1 PPG. What was it like to play for an expansion team, and how did it feel to be traded by a team for whom you ended up being their leading scorer?

GH: That is the business side of basketball. Going to Dallas was great for me personally, as I got more playing time under Coach Motta and was grateful for the opportunity. Going from 85 degrees to the snow was less fun but we had a good team with Randy Smith, Bill Laimbeer, etc. We only missed the playoffs by a couple of games.

JT: In 1982 you scored 24 points and had a franchise-record 27 assists (tied for 6th-most in NBA history) for Cleveland in a four-point win over Golden State. How were you able to record so many assists, and was that the best game you have ever played?

GH: During the game I had no idea how many assists I had. I was grateful that my teammates hit a lot of shots and I hold that game near and dear to my heart.

JT: In 1982 you averaged 7.6 apg (8th-most in the NBA that season). Did you feel like you were one of the best point guards in the league?

GH: I thought I could compete with anyone I faced.

JT: You averaged 8.8 ppg and 5.1 apg (Top 100 all-time) during your eight-year NBA career. How satisfied are you with your career, and how do you want people to remember you on the court?

GH: I am humbled by my career and honored to have been a part of the NBA family. I am grateful that I had opportunity to play in the NBA and live out my dream. I think that it lets people know that anything is possible with hard work.

JT: You ended up playing for five different NBA teams. Did you have a favorite team?

GH: I will always be a Knick. I grew up here and I will always bleed blue and orange.

JT: After retiring you became the director of a recreation center in New York. Why did you take the job, and how has it worked out for you?

GH: I got involved with the City of New York Parks and Recreation Department by coaching and helping the local kids. It was a great way to give back to the community and I really enjoy working with people and trying to help the next generation. The greatest thanks I can get is when a kid comes back and shows me his diploma.

Huston is also on Jon's list of best pro players in Big 12 history.

Baylor: David Wesley (1994)
Iowa State: Jeff Hornacek (1987)
Kansas: Wilt Chamberlain (1960)
Kansas State: Mitch Richmond (1989)
Missouri: Steve Stipanovich (1984)
Oklahoma: Mookie Blaylock (1990)
Oklahoma State: John Starks (1989)
Texas: Kevin Durant (2008)
Texas A&M: John Beasley (1968)
Texas Tech: Geoff Huston (1980)

Jon Teitel's "Forgotten Legends" Series: Texas Tech's Rick Bullock

Jon Teitel — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 19:31:45 -0700

In the latest installment in his "Forgotten Legends" interview series CHN writer Jon Teitel spent some time with Rick Bullock, one of the greatest players in Texas Tech history. Bullock ranks in the top three in four major categories: points, rebounds, blocked shots and field goal percentage.

Jon Teitel: In 1972 you led your high school to the Texas state championship game before losing. How good a player were you back then, and how close did you come to winning the title?

Rick Bullock: I guess I was considered a good player, as I was Second Team All-State. We had a very good team that only lost 11 games in three years, and we only lost the title game by about five points.

JT: You were named all-conference during each of your four years in college. How were you able to come in and contribute as a freshman, and how were you able to dominate throughout the rest of your college career?

RB: Texas Tech did not have a lot of strong big men who could rebound when I got there so I was able to play immediately. We had good talent/coaching and that was the first year that freshmen were eligible to play. I was able to contribute because I could score on the low post and was a decent shot-blocker.

JT: In 1975 you fouled out against Arkansas and allegedly flipped off the crowd as you walked off the court. Why did you do that, and what do you think would happen if you did that today?

RB: It was a highly-contested game and I wanted to win very desperately. I fouled out in the final minutes and it was a very hostile crowd, so I just lost my cool at the end. If it happened today I do not think it would be that much out of the ordinary. If you watch games today you will see guys fighting on the court, going into the stands, etc.

1976 SWC Tournament

JT: You scored a career-high 44 points against Arkansas, which is the third-highest total in school history. Was it just one of those scenarios where every shot you put up seemed to go in because you were "in the zone"?

RB: Not really. It was the semifinals and they just kept bringing the ball to me. I think I made a lot of free throws that night and my shot was going in. It was just one of those nights where everything came together for me and clicked in a close game.

JT: You had 28 points and 18 rebounds in a win over Texas A&M in the tournament final and were named tournament MVP. Was that the best all-around game you ever played, and what was the feeling like in the locker room afterwards?

RB: I do not think it was one of my best games as I do not recall having a great game statistically. The first-place team in the regular season got a bye all the way to the conference finals. It was our fourth game in less than a week, while the Aggies had been sitting around and had a couple of guys suspended due to recruiting violations. They were short-handed and we were tired so it was a very close game, and Mike Russell hit a jump shot at the buzzer to win it.

JT: What are your memories of the 1976 NCAA Tournament in Denton, TX (Bullock scored 19 points [7-9 FG] in a win over Syracuse in the first round before losing to Missouri)?

RB: I remember that North Texas had a brand-new facility and we were expecting a huge crowd...but hardly anyone was there because the school was on spring break! Syracuse was not as talented or as big as we were so we won by double digits. It was fun to play at Freedom Hall in Louisville but Missouri had a much more talented team. We were a bit outmatched because Missouri was more battle-ready from playing in the Big 8 and had some very talented guards.

JT: In 1976 you graduated as the leading scorer in school history. Did you realize at the time how prolific a player you were?

RB: Not really. I am the type of person who does not dwell on the awards and accolades. Looking back at it and seeing how people rate some of the guys I played against, I think I played just as well as most of my opponents. I played against guys like Mitch Kupchak and Robert Parish in all-star games and was able to hold my own.

JT: In the summer of 1976 you were drafted in the fourth round by New York before getting released at the end of training camp. Were you thrilled to realize your dream of getting drafted, or disappointed that you did not make the team?

RB: The Knicks had always been my favorite team so it was exciting to be in New York. They had a veteran team that was not in rebuilding mode so the only rookie they kept was Lonnie Shelton.

JT: You later played professionally in the CBA and in Europe. What did you learn from these experiences, and how did they compare to college basketball?

RB: The CBA was a bit disorganized because everyone was trying to make it and be seen when scouts came to the games, so the team concept went out the window. It was a guard-oriented league because they had control of the ball, so I just did a lot of rebounding and played defense. The people in Europe for the most part treated me very well, but I did not particularly care for the fact that I was treated like a commodity. In the NBA the high draft picks will make the team but the lower-drafted guys will only make it if they fit into the system.

JT: You currently work for the San Antonio Water System and you used to coach local youth teams. Which job did you like more, and what do you hope to do in the future?

RB: I do not coach the youth teams any more because my kids are grown up. I work as an accountant but I still have kids in college, so I will be working for awhile! As my nephews get older, I might get involved with coaching them.

JT: When people look back on your career, how do you want to be remembered the most?

RB: Not sure. I do not dwell on what I used to do. I just hope people say that I was a pretty good player who played hard.

Bullock is also on Jon's list of best fantasy players in Big 12 history

Baylor: LaceDarius Dunn (2011) 2285 PTS (#1), 158 STL (#3), 388 3PM (#1), 39.4 3P% (#3), 83.6 FT% (#1), All-American
Iowa State: Jeff Grayer (1988) 2502 PTS (#1), 910 REB (#4), 199 STL (#5), All-American
Kansas: Danny Manning (1988) 2951 PTS (#1), 1187 REB (#1), 3-time All-American, 3-time conference POY, national POY, NCAA MOP
Kansas State: Rolando Blackman (1981) 1844 PTS (#3), 314 AST (#5), 2-time All-American, conference POY
Missouri: Doug Smith (1991) 2184 PTS (#2), 1053 REB (#1), 178 STL (#3), 129 BLK (#2), All-American, 2-time conference POY
Oklahoma: Wayman Tisdale (1985) 2661 PTS (#1), 1048 REB (#1), 57.8 FG% (#2), 3-time All-American, 3-time conference POY
Oklahoma State: Byron Houston (1992) 2379 PTS (#1), 1189 REB (#1), 222 BLK (#1), 159 STL (#4), All-American, conference POY
Texas: Travis Mays (1990) 2279 PTS (#2), All-American, 2-time conference POY
Texas A&M: Bernard King (2003) 1990 PTS (#1), 232 3PM (#1), 550 AST (#2)
Texas Tech: Rick Bullock (1976) 2118 PTS (#3), 1057 REB (#3), 149 BLK (#2), 56.5 FG% (#2)

College Basketball Coaching Changes 2011

Shawn Siegel — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 11:10:35 -0700

We'll track coaching changes as they occur. If there's any missing on here, or if you have contract info to add (including salaries), please mention it in the comments section.

Latest Hiring/Firing 6/27: Not done yet; Bethune-Cookman fires Reed

BCS Conferences

Arkansas
Was: John Pelphrey
Is: Mike Anderson (from Missouri)

Georgia Tech
Was: Paul Hewitt
Is: Brian Gregory (from Dayton)

Maryland
Was: Gary Williams
Is: Mark Turgeon (from Texas A&M)

Miami (FL)
Was: Frank Haith
Is: Jim Larranaga (from George Mason)

Missouri
Was: Mike Anderson
Is: Frank Haith (from Miami)

North Carolina State
Was: Sidney Lowe
Is: Mark Gottfried (ESPN analyst/former Alabama head coach)

Oklahoma
Was: Jeff Capel
Is: Lon Kruger (from UNLV)

Penn State
Was: Ed DeChellis
Is: Patrick Chambers (from Boston University)

Providence
Was: Keno Davis
Is: Ed Cooley (from Fairfield)

Tennessee
Was: Bruce Pearl
Is: Cuonzo Martin (from Missouri St)

Texas A&M
Was: Mark Turgeon
Is: Billy Kennedy (from Murray State)

Texas Tech
Was: Pat Knight
Is: Billy Gillispie

High-Majors

Bradley
Was: Jim Les
Is: Geno Ford (from Kent St)

Dayton
Was: Brian Gregory
Is: Archie Miller (Arizona assistant)

Fresno St
Was: Steve Cleveland
Is: Rodney Terry (Texas assistant)

George Mason
Was: Jim Larranaga
Is: Paul Hewitt (former Georgia Tech head coach)

George Washington
Was: Karl Hobbs
Is: Mike Lonergan (from Vermont)

Georgia St
Was: Rod Barnes
Is: Ron Hunter (from IUPUI)

Louisiana Tech
Was: Kerry Rupp
Is: Mike White (Ole Miss assistant)

Missouri St
Was: Cuonzo Martin
Is: Paul Lusk (Purdue associate head coach)

Pepperdine
Was: Tom Asbury
Is: Marty Wilson

Towson
Was: Pat Kennedy
Is: Pat Skerry (Pittsburgh assistant)

UNLV
Was: Lon Kruger
Is: Dave Rice (BYU assistant)

Utah
Was: Jim Boylen
Is: Larry Krystkowiak (New Jersey Nets assistant)

Wyoming
Was: Heath Schroyer
Is: Larry Shyatt (Florida assistant)

Mid-Majors

Boston University
Was: Patrick Chambers
Is: Joe Jones (Boston College assistant)

Eastern Michigan
Was: Charles Ramsey
Is: Rob Murphy (Syracuse assistant)

Fairfield
Was: Ed Cooley
Is: Sydney Johnson (from Princeton)

IPFW
Was: Dane Fife
Is: Tony Jasick (IPFW assistant)

IUPUI
Was: Ron Hunter
Is: Todd Howard (IUPUI assistant)

Kent St
Was: Geno Ford
Is: Rob Senderoff (Kent St assistant)

Loyola (Chi)
Was: Jim Whitesell
Is: Porter Moser (Saint Louis associate head coach)

Manhattan
Was: Barry Rohrssen
Is: Steve Masiello (Louisville assistant)

Northern Illinois
Was: Ricardo Patton
Is: Mark Montgomery

Princeton
Was: Sydney Johnson
Is: Mitch Henderson (Northwestern assistant)

Vermont
Was: Mike Lonergan
Is: John Becker (Vermont assistant)

Low-Majors

Alcorn St
Was: Larry Smith
Is: Luther Riley (Provine (AL) HS head coach)

Bethune-Cookman
Was: Clifford Reed
Is:

Colgate
Was: Emmett Davis
Is: Matt Langel (Temple assistant)

Eastern Washington
Was: Kirk Earlywine
Is: Jim Hayford (Whitworth College)

Florida A&M
Was: Eugene Harris
Is: Clem Johnson (Alaska-Fairbanks)

Florida Gulf Coast
Was: Dave Balza
Is: Andy Enfield (Florida State assistant)

Kennesaw St
Was: Tony Ingle
Is: Lewis Preston (Penn State assistant)

Lamar
Was: Steve Roccaforte
Is: Pat Knight (former Texas Tech head coach)

Monmouth
Was: Dave Calloway
Is: King Rice (Vanderbilt assistant)

Murray State
Was: Billy Kennedy
Is: Steve Prohm (Murray State assistant)

Navy
Was: Billy Lange
Is: Ed DeChellis (from Penn State)

Radford
Was: Brad Greenberg
Is: Mike Jones (VCU assistant)

Stetson
Was: Derrek Waugh
Is: Casey Alexander (Belmont assistant)

Tennessee Tech
Was: Mike Sutton
Is: Steve Payne

Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Was: Perry Clark
Is: Willis Wilson (Memphis assistant)

Top Coaching Prospects

Todd Bozeman (Morgan St Coach)
~~Ed Cooley (Fairfield Coach) HIRED~~
Keno Davis (Former Providence Coach)
Joe Dooley (Kansas Assistant)
John Dunne (Saint Peter's Coach)
~~Andy Enfield (FSU Assistant) HIRED~~
Jim Ferry (LIU Coach)
Ray Giacoletti (Gonzaga Assistant)
~~Billy Gillispie (Former Coach) HIRED~~
~~Jim Larranaga (George Mason Coach) HIRED~~
Jim Les (Former Bradley Coach)
~~Mike Lonergan (Vermont Coach) HIRED~~
Bobby Lutz (Iowa St Assistant)
Donnie Marsh (UAB associate head coach)
Gregg Marshall (Wichita St Coach)
~~Steve Masiello (Louisville Assistant) HIRED~~
John Pelphrey (Arkansas Coach)

Which BCS Conference Team is the Worst?

Raphielle Johnson — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 23:12:52 -0800

A familiar argument early in the season is which conference is tops. The preseason hype tended to go in the direction of the Big Ten, but with strong starts by the Big East and Big 12 there has been room for discussion. But what about the opposite end of the spectrum: which BCS conference member is the worst team to this point in the year? Unlike the best conference question, that answer has been rather straightforward as the Auburn Tigers have put forth quite the display of ineptitude through the first ten games of the Tony Barbee era. Lacking experience and dealing with some key injuries, the Tigers may be slipping under the radar in their own town thanks to the exploits of the football team and fans looking forward to their bowl game on January 10th. The hope for January 11th (besides the celebration of a national title): that Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton announces that he'll be joining the basketball team. Below is a breakdown of each of the BCS conference members currently with a losing record in alphabetical order, beginning with the team that may be the least deserving to be on the list.

Alabama (5-6)
Wins: Florida A&M, Troy, Alabama A&M, South Alabama, Southeast Louisiana
Losses: Seton Hall, Iowa, Saint Peter's, Purdue, Providence, Oklahoma State
Pomeroy: 74
Sagarin: 163
*Five of the Crimson Tide's six losses have come against teams from BCS leagues

The above note is exactly why Anthony Grant's team shouldn't be on here but they make the list simply because of their record. The Crimson Tide don't own any eye-popping victories, and five of their six defeats have come to teams in BCS conferences (with three of those losses on a neutral floor). Alabama is one of the better defensive teams in regards to efficiency and the triumvirate of Tony Mitchell, Senario Hillman and JaMychal Green is talented enough to make some things happen offensively. Ken Pomeroy projects Alabama to win eight games in the SEC this season, a number that isn't far-fetched when considering the strength (or lack thereof) of the SEC West. With their next three games at Coleman Coliseum look for the Tide to make their way off of this list.

Auburn (3-7)
Wins: Middle Tennessee, Georgia Southwestern, Arkansas-Pine Bluff
Losses: UNC Asheville, Samford, Campbell, Jacksonville, Rutgers, USF, Presbyterian
Pomeroy: 225
Sagarin: 306 (in between Longwood and Manhattan)
*Frankie Sullivan (knee) returned to the lineup last night

Things got off to a bad start in the summer when leading returning scorer Frankie Sullivan went down with an injury to his left knee. Sullivan's trying to give it a go, beginning with their loss last week at USF, but he doesn't look 100% and what good does that do for a team that needs a capable creator offensively? The Tigers are the lone team in the SEC with an adjusted offensive efficiency under 100 (96.7), and five of their seven losses have come to teams ranked 172 or worse in Ken Pomeroy's rankings. You'd like to say that their next three games (USC Upstate, Georgia Southern and Grambling) are likely wins, but what is a "likely win" for Auburn? If any of Gene Chizik's guys are as good on the court as they are at Jordan-Hare maybe they can make their way over once football season ends.

DePaul (5-6)
Wins: Chicago State, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan and Milwaukee
Losses: Western Carolina, Oklahoma State, Cal-State Northridge, Stanford, Indiana State, Ball State
Pomeroy: 197
Sagarin: 262 (in between UIC and Bethune-Cookman)
*Only Big East team not in the Top 100 of the Sagarin

Many expected there to be an adjustment period for the Blue Demons in the first year of the Oliver Purnell era, but a 0-3 showing in the 76 Classic didn't help the process. Included in that trip was an 88-66 loss to a rebuilding Cal-State Northridge squad, and the other 22-point beating the Blue Demons have taken this season came at the hands of Indiana State. DePaul hasn't been the most efficient team offensively and that was to be expected given their personnel. But to be allowing an effective field goal percentage of 51.1% (241st in America) certainly doesn't help matters. The good news for DePaul throughout the remainder of their non-conference slate is that four of their six losses have come by seven points or less. The bad news: they have to deal with Big East play, and as the lone team below 100 in the Sagarin it's likely going to be another long conference season in the Windy City.

Oklahoma (5-6)
Wins: Coppin State, North Carolina Central, Texas Southern, Gardner-Webb, Oral Roberts
Losses: Kentucky, Virginia, Chaminade, Arkansas, Arizona, Cincinnati
Pomeroy: 114
Sagarin: 125
*Lone team on this list with a loss to a Division III program (Chaminade)

After starting the season 3-0 Jeff Capel's team has lost six of their last eight (including five in a row immediately after that start), and they managed to set themselves apart from the other teams on this list by losing to a Division III squad (Auburn's loss to Division II Columbus State came in an exhibition) in the Maui Invitational (Chaminade). Why have the Sooners struggled? The same as just about anyone else on this list: the absence of a player who can make things happen in a variety of ways offensively. Cade Davis, who is also Oklahoma's lone senior, is a good shooter and players such as Steven Pledger and Andrew Fitzgerald can also score. But who's getting them the basketball? Oklahoma has a turnover percentage of 23%, and opponents are shooting 39% from behind the arc. But they, like Alabama, have lost five of their six games to teams from BCS leagues and you can definitely argue that they've had the toughest schedule to date. But given the start for the top of the Big 12 it could be a long year in Norman.

Oregon State (4-6)
Wins: Texas-Arlington, Charlotte, Howard, Texas-Pan American
Losses: Seattle, Texas Southern, Utah Valley State, Colorado, Montana, George Washington
Pomeroy: 188
Sagarin: 266 (in between Southern Utah and Mississippi Valley State)
*last night's loss at Montana moved the Grizzlies to 2-0 in Pac-10 play

The good news for Craig Robinson on Saturday was that the highly touted Roberto Nelson was finally able to play. But it didn't matter much as Oregon State fell at home to George Washington in their fifth loss to a team from a non-BCS conference this season. Oregon State owns three losses to teams with a Pomeroy ranking of 275 or worse, making for a stunning start for a team with one of the worst schedules in college basketball (SOS: 333). Three of the four wins have come at the expense of teams ranked 287 or worse (Howard and UTPA are in the 300s), but they receive a minor boost for being able to beat Charlotte (which Tennessee could not do). What works in Oregon State's favor is the fact that the Pac-10 is once again limping into conference play, meaning that once chemistry with Nelson is established they could win a few more games than expected. And it isn't as if Coach Robinson's team lacks experience; they simply need to get better at defending (eFG% 53.6% ranks 307th) as the season wears on.

Texas Tech (5-6)
Wins: Louisiana-Monroe, Stephen F. Austin, Liberty, Georgia Southern, Oral Roberts
Losses: North Texas, Saint Mary's, USF, Washington, TCU, UTEP
Pomeroy: 105
Sagarin: 185
*One of two teams on this list (Oklahoma) to own a win over Oral Roberts

Many saw this as a big year for head coach Pat Knight in regards to his future in Lubbock and it's gotten off to an uneven start to say the least. The Red Raiders have just one win over a team ranked in the Top 100 of the Pomeroy rankings, and with Stephen F. Austin sitting at 97 that doesn't say a whole lot. Three of their other four wins have come over teams ranked 264 or worse, but on a positive note North Texas (Pomeroy: 158) is the worst team they've lost to thus far. Texas Tech executes well offensively thanks in large part to Mike Singletary and John Roberson, but this is one of the poorest shooting teams in the Big 12 when it comes to the three-pointer (31.0%). And without a bell cow in the paint that they can look to on a regular basis that hurts the Red Raiders even more. Texas Tech has their next six games at home but with the final two being Baylor and Texas they're going to need a good finish to non-conference play in order to avoid a complete nosedive.

Dishonorable Mention: Iowa (6-5), USF (6-6), Wake Forest (6-5)

#72 Texas Tech: 2010-11 Basketball Preview

Joel Welser — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 18:13:03 -0700

Overall Rank: #72

Conference Rank: #8 Big 12 Conference

2009-10: 19-16, 4-12

2009-10 postseason: NIT

Coach: Pat Knight (37-42 at Texas Tech, 37-42 overall)

A 4-12 conference record does not sound very impressive, but Coach Pat Knight finally led Texas Tech to the postseason and the Red Raiders made a nice little run in the NIT. The hope is that the postseason success will lead to better things in 2010-2011. However, the same issues that led to that 4-12 record are still there and this is a team that needs to find a big man who can get the job done in the paint.

Key Losses: F Darko Cohadarevic, G Nick Okorie

Key Newcomers:

Texas Tech hopes Paul Cooper, Jaye Crockett or Zach Jones can at least provide something during their first year suiting up for the Red Raiders. Cooper, a junior college transfer, has the most potential to make an impact right away. Crockett lacks the size to play at the five spot, but the 6-7, 200 pound Clovis, New Mexico native spent a year on the sidelines and should be ready to contribute if the team needs him to fill in a few minutes here and there. The perimeter needs some depth too and that is where the most talented freshmen are this year. Javarez Willis is a superb point guard and will spend a year as a backup before taking over the team and Jamel Outler is a quality all-around scorer who will likely see quite a few minutes as long as he is ready.

Backcourt:

The backcourt did not go very deep last year since this is a team loaded with small forwards, but John Roberson is not a bad player to build around. The 5-11 point guard dished out 5.4 assists per game during his junior campaign, but he is about a lot more than just passing. Roberson connected on an impressive 40.9 percent of his attempts from long range and is never afraid to mix up his scoring options and attack the basket. The absence of Nick Okorie will hurt, but David Tairu seems prepared to take over the starting job. Tairu nearly matched Okorie’s scoring output of 10.8 points per game last year and that was in fewer minutes and mostly off of the bench. The 6-3 senior is now ready to take over a larger role and fill in what was lost with Okorie’s outside shooting. Now the question is who will fill in off the bench for Tairu?

Frontcourt:

Roberson may make this team tick, but Mike Singletary makes them dangerous. The 6-6 senior has had some amazing scoring outputs throughout his career and is a great all-around player. He may force a few too many three-pointers, but when one averages 15.0 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.2 steals per game, it is hard to complain. Brad Reese and Theron Jenkins are a couple of 6-6 forwards as well and, like Singletary, they may be forced to spend some time at the power forward spot. Reese is mostly a shooter, but Jenkins could develop into a player who can steal 15 minutes a game at the power forward spot. Ideally, D’walyn Roberts will stay at the power forward position most of the time. He has developed into a decent interior scorer and a fine rebounder. However, he has to stay out of foul trouble or this will be a small team that gets outrebounded consistently.

Who to Watch:

Every year it seems like Robert Lewandowski is ready to take over a starting role. Last year he started three games and the 6-10 junior is running out of time. The now departed Darko Cohadarevic did a decent job under the basket and at least gave the Red Raiders a big body who could do a little scoring and grab some boards. Now it is Lewandowski’s turn to go from ten minutes per game to 20 or 25 minutes per game.

Final Projection:

If Lewandowski cannot step up his game, Roberts will have to spend a lot more time at the five spot and many times the 6-7, 200 pounder will get outmuscled by bigger opponents. The Big 12 Conference has plenty of centers who would have a field day with a 6-7 forward under the basket. Texas Tech has enough bodies to rotate 6-7 and 6-8 forwards in and out to foul people, but that is not going to work most of the time.

Projected Post-season Tournament: NIT

Projected Starting Five:

John Roberson, Senior, Guard, 14.5 ppg

David Tairu, Senior, Guard, 9.2 ppg

Mike Singletary, Senior, Forward, 15.0 ppg

D’walyn Roberts, Senior, Forward, 7.0 ppg

Robert Lewandowski, Junior, Forward, 2.3 ppg

Next Top 144 Teams
73		74		75		76		..All

College Basketball Preview - 144 Teams in 144 Days - Alphabetical Ranks/Previews

Texas Tech 2010 NIT Preview

Joel Welser — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 19:06:51 -0700

Texas Tech Red Raiders

Big 12 Conference (17-15, 4-12)

Seed: #5

Big Wins: 12/3 Washington (99-92), 1/3 UTEP (86-78), 2/6 Oklahoma State (81-74)

Bad Losses: 12/19 at Wichita State (83-85), 2/27 at Nebraska (79-83), 3/6 at Colorado (90-101)

Coach: Pat Knight

Why They Can Surprise:

Texas Tech has four big time scorers who can explode at any time. Mike Singletary is the best of the bunch, but it is three players on the perimeter who have turned around this team and made them relatively competitive in a tough Big 12 Conference. And the backcourt starts with point guard John Roberson. When Roberson is not setting up his teammates with one of his 5.6 assists per game, he is scoring himself. Roberson knocks down about two three-pointers per game, but he is also a superb scorer around the basket.

Junior college transfer David Tairu has been a pleasant surprise for the Red Raiders. He is shooting 45.8 percent from long range and averages 9.5 points per contest. While his numbers have become much more inconsistent during conference play, Tairu is always a threat to put up points in a hurry and will provide a nice spark off the bench. Nick Okorie is the more consistent option. Okorie spent some time at the same junior college as Tairu, but he played at Texas Tech last year and that year of experience in the system has been very helpful. Both of those players could come off the bench in favor of 6-6 forward Brad Reese who is a versatile athlete.

Why They Can Disappoint:

The reason for starting another forward is to help out on the glass where the Red Raiders are pretty bad. Darko Cohadarevic is the usual starter at the five spot and averages a steady 6.8 points and 4.8 rebounds. D’Walyn Roberts is a strong rebounder as well and, along with Reese, a decent shot blocker. Theron Jenkins and Robert Lewandowski are both experienced big men who play around ten minutes per game and will do what they can to help out on the glass and play some decent defense. Yet, the Red Raiders cannot afford to get outrebounded as often as they do. They have plenty of depth in the frontcourt and plenty of size on the perimeter with Singletary, but they need to find the toughness to hit the glass and play better defense if they expect to make a tournament run.

Who To Watch:

Singletary is the dominate force on this team. He is the best rebounder and scorer on the roster and he will even block some shots, grab some steals and dish out some assists. Singletary will often score 20 or more points in a game and when he does, Texas Tech usually wins. If Singletary is having an off day, which does happen, his team will make an early exit.

Probable Starters:

John Roberson, Junior, Guard, 14.7 ppg, 5.6 apg

Nick Okorie, Senior, Guard, 11.0 ppg, 1.9 apg

Mike Singletary, Junior, Forward, 14.7 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.3 apg

D’Walyn Roberts, Junior, Forward, 6.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 1.3 bpg

Darko Cohadarevic, Senior, Forward, 6.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg

Key Roleplayers:

Theron Jenkins, Junior, Forward, 3.1 ppg, 2.1 rpg

Robert Lewandowski, Sophomore, Forward, 2.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg

Brad Reese, Junior, Forward, 7.1 ppg, 2.7 rpg

David Tairu, Junior, Guard, 9.5 ppg, 2.9 rpg

By the Numbers:

Scoring Offense: 76.4 (38^th in nation, 6^th in conference)

Scoring Defense: 76.4 (319, 12)

Field-Goal Percentage: 43.9 (153, 10)

Field-Goal Defense: 43.3 (184, 9)

Three-Point Field Goals Per Game: 5.6 (231, 12)

Three-Point Field-Goal Percentage: 37.6 (45, 5)

Free-Throw Percentage: 71.6 (83, 5)

Rebound Margin: -2.9 (277, 11)

Assists Per Game: 14.1 (95, 8)

Turnovers Per Game: 13.7 (167, 8)

Joel’s Bracket Says: First Round loss to Seton Hall

Follow Joel Welser's Postseason Capsules & College Basketball Previews on Twitter@Joel_Welser and on his Facebook page. Joel will be back in June for his annual Top 144 Teams in 144 Days preview on CollegeHoops.net