Game Tonight
Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Oklahoma Sooners
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Norman, OK
Television: Big 12 Network : ESPN 360 :
DTN Preview: 8:00 a.m. :: Open Game Day Thread: 6:00 p.m.
Sooners Arrested: It's being reported everywhere, but I'll use a Oklahoma link as NewsOK reports that freshmen Steven Pledger and Andrew Fitzgerald were arrested in connection with a shoplifting incident in Norman, just hours after OU's win over Texas over the weekend. Pledger and Fitzgerald were bench players for the Sooners, not starters. The Norman Transcript is reporting that head coach Jeff Capel has declined to comment on their status. I'm guessing that Capel would hold them out tonight at the very least, but I could be wrong.
Putting Up Numbers: LAJ's Courtney Linehan writes that despite SF Mike Singletary's injury, he still put up numbers against Oklahoma St. and Singletary talks about getting to the bucket (something I mentioned after the game on Sunday):
"That’s why I was attacking the hole, because with a bum shoulder you can’t really stand out there and shoot jump shots," Singletary said. "I’m probably going to change my game a little bit."
Consecutive Wins: DT's Mike Graham writes the Red Raiders are looking for their second consecutive win against the Sooners head coach Pat Knight knows that it starts with defense:
"I thought we did a lot better," Knight said about the defense during Monday’s coaches teleconference. "To be able to hold Oklahoma State to 26 points in the first half and to keep Anderson at 10 points, I thought it was big for us. We’ve just got to be able to do it on the road."
Roberson Growing Into Role: FWST's Dwain Price writes that PG John Roberson is growing into his role as a team leader for Texas Tech:
"He kind of had bad body language when he first got here, kind of a pouter type if things weren't going his way in a game or if you got on him from a coaching aspect,'' Pat Knight said.
What a difference two years and some talented teammates make. Roberson is now one of the toasts of a Raider team that is 15-7 overall and 3-5 in Big 12 Conference play.
"He's really matured at the point now where I really don't have to get on him or motivate him,'' said Pat Knight, who is his second full season as the Raiders' head coach. "He talks up in the huddle, he's an extension of the coaches now, and that's what we're hoping for.
"We knew his first two years it takes time for a kid to learn that, especially playing at this level. But I can't be more happier having a kid like that, and knowing what I got. Not just for the rest of this year, I've got him for next year.''
Winning on the Road: LAJ's Courtney Linehan writes that the Red Raiders need to start winning on the road and OU head coach Jeff Capel also agrees that teams are holding serve at home:
"We’re just beating up on each other, with the exception of Kansas," Capel said. "You’d like to think if you can get there maybe it could happen, but I don’t know. We’ll see at the end what happens and what the selection committee does."
Miscellaneous Links: SB Nation's Chris Dobertean writes this week's bracketology, and Texas Tech could be in the NIT with North Carolina and UConn . . . Rush the Court checks in on the Big 12 . . .
Pre-Season Tidbits: LAJ's George Watson goes to his blog to give a couple bits of news, including the news that Texas Tech's strength of schedule is ranked #11 in the country and that 3B Justin Berry had a slight fracture in his left hand that will keep him out for two weeks. Watson seems to think that there's enough talent on the team to make-up for Berry's loss.
Alumni Game: The official site released information about how the baseball season will start on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. with the current group set to face off against a group of Alumni. This weekend's weather should start off a bit cold, but will warm up to 53 on Saturday.