clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Texas Tech Friday Morning Notes - Seeing The Ball Well Edition

By Seth C

Double-T Nation News:

There are a ton of good things happening out on the internets this morning, I just don't have time to get to them. If you visit other SB Nation websites you'll probably notice that they are all being converted over to the new platform. DTN is headed in that direction relatively soon, more on that next week.

Texas Tech Football:

LAJ's Don Williams talks with the 7th commit for the Red Raiders, DeAnthony Sims, a 6-3/307 defensive tackle from Houston Westbury. Williams reports that on the way back from Sims visit at the Red-Black game, his appendix burst and was hospitalized from Sunday (game was on Saturday) through Friday.

Here's Sims' head coach Keeath Magee on Sims:

"He's going to be an impact player at Tech before it's all said and done,'' Westbury coach Keeath Magee said. "He's 6-3, 307, and he can move. He's active. He's raw, but he's got a lot of talent. I've got a feeling that when coach (Ruffin) McNeill (Tech's defensive coordinator) gets through with him, he'll be an all-Big 12 kid.''

Snip

Magee said Sims has good work habits, showing for 6:30 a.m. weight-room workouts, and thinks the Red Raiders will like his character.

"He's as good a kid character-wise as you'll ever be around, especially having been through what he's been through,'' the coach said. "His mother passed away when he was 11, and he really didn't know his father. He's had every reason to throw up his hands and say, You know what? I'm not going to do it.' His grandmother's his guardian angel. He's a joy to be around.''

Nice job by Buckeye Commentary, who compiled and averaged the current MSM preseason rankings, with your Red Raiders checking in at #12.

Texas Tech Basketball:

Jaye Crockett committed to Texas Tech earlier this week and cnjonline.com talked with Crockett and Crockett's current head coach, J.D. Isler. Here's Isler on Crockett:

"I think they see a huge upside to him being able to face the basket," Isler said, noting Crockett is still 16 and may not be done growing. "They think his skills are far enough along. I think they really like his length. They're going to play some zone and they're going to press some."

And Crockett on what he liked about Texas Tech:

"It was close, so I could have more Clovis people going there," Crockett said. "I like the coaching staff, I like the atmosphere. They play similar to the way Coach Isler plays us."

Texas Tech Baseball:

Date Texas Tech Oklahoma State Result
Fri. 05/09/08 @ 6:35 p.m. Zach Stewart (2-2, 6.02) Andrew Oliver (5-2, 2.10) Boxscore
Sat. 05/10/08 @ 2:00 p.m. Chad Bettis (4-3, 4,65) Tyler Lyons (8-2, 3.42) Boxscore
Sun. 05/11/08 @ 1:00 p.m. Nate Karns (2-6, 8.06) Matt Gardner (5-2, 4.76) Boxscore

Every series is a big series, especially at this point, where the Red Raiders are fighting to be a part of the Big 12 Tournament. Here's the official press release (pdf).

LAJ's George Watson previews this weekend series and takes a look at second baseman Willie Rueda, who not only does a stand up job in the field, but is also hitting at a robust .342, leading the team. Here's Hays on Rueda:

"He's starting to look like a guy we had as a freshman who was second-team All-Big 12," Tech head coach Larry Hays said. "He made that for a reason and you forget all those things when a guy has an injury and is not able to go out and perform like he did in the past. It took a while for our new coaches to see what Willie could do and it sure has helped having him back."

And Rueda:

"Right now I'm seeing the ball really well," Rueda said. "I'm just going to do my job wherever they put me, wherever they want me to hit. It's nice now hitting leadoff and seeing a lot of pitches, and letting the other guys in the lineup pick up those pitchers."

More From Viva The Matadors