New Logo: Much thanks to DTN reader rojo donzo for the new DTN DD logo. I didn't even ask for it, he just did it and emailed it to me last night. Good times and thanks again.
Good Summer: I guess I just missed this yesterday, but LAJ's Don Williams also had an article about QB Taylor Potts and his Manning Academy success. You've already read most of it, but I figured I'd post it anyway, and we also learned that Potts got engaged to his longtime girlfriend. Congrats to the both of them.
More Recruiting Stuff: Ryan Hyatt talked with Scout.com's Greg Powers about some of the Texas Tech commits that were at the 7-on-7 tournament last weekend. Of course, if you're reading DTN, you're already well-informed.
Ranking WR's: NE StatePaper's Samuel McKewon is ranking the Big 12 receivers and your Red Raiders check in tied for #2 with the Aggies:
T2. Texas Tech
Key Players: Detron Lewis (65/844/6), Alexander Torres (67/806/6), Tramain Swindall (55/694/5), Lyle Leong (45/571/9)
Strengths: Sure-handed bunch that intuitively knows how to find open spaces in the defense. That was by design in Mike Leach’s offense, actually. As a unit, they’re perhaps the quickest bunch in the Big 12. They’ll test every secondary.
Weaknesses: Not a ton of big-play, go-up-and-get-it potential. All of the Red Raiders’ receivers are pretty slight and vulnerable to big hits.
This is about right, as we're hoping that some players step-up as play-makers this year, but McKewon's comments about Texas Tech receivers being slight isn't necessarily accurate, but they're also not 6-4/215 either.
Tubs to Speak at the THSCA: I've been deleting those emails that keep appearing in my inbox from the athletic department, that let me know that head coach Tommy Tuberville will be in San Antonio to speak at some sort of event. Apparently, Tubs will be speaking at the Texas High School Coaches Association on Tuesday, July 20, 2010 from 1:00 to 2:00. Tubs will be center-state with Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz and Chip Kelly of the University of Oregon. The THSCA also plays their annual All-Star game on Tuesday and according to the official rosters (PDF) the incoming freshmen players will be playing: LB Zach Winbush, OL James Polk, DE Dartwan Bush, QB Scotty Young, and DE Jackson Richards. There also appear to be a few walk-ons, or maybe just guys that will be attending Texas Tech, but maybe not on the team in WR Brennan Welch and DB Garrison Williams.
If anyone is in the San Antonio area (me looking directly at SARR) and can give us a breakdown of every play, both on offense and defense, we would all appreciate it.
Miscellaneous: Phil Steele ranks the coaches on the hot seat and Colorado's Dan Hawkins and TAMU's Mike Sherman are the two Big 12 coaches to make the list . . . LJ World's Eric Sorrentino looks at the storylines for the Big 12 media days . . . KC Star's Kellis Robinett with some shocking details with the situation regarding the firing of former K-State head coach Ron Prince (this is recommended reading) . . .
Top 20 Big 12 Players: Rush the Court's Zach Hayes ranks the top 20 Big 12 players and SF Mike Singletary makes the list at #10:
10) Mike Singletary, Texas Tech- Much like Higgins and Burks, Singletary doesn’t receive much national publicity because of his team’s recent success compared to the likes of Kansas, Texas and Texas A&M. Make no mistake about it, though: Singletary can play with the best of the conference and leads a number of key returners back to Lubbock for a run at the Big Dance. Singletary first made headlines when he dropped an otherworldly 29 straight points for the Red Raiders in one Big 12 Tournament game as a sophomore. He only improved as a junior: 15.0 PPG, 6.8 RPG, 2.3 APG, but struggled with jump shot inconsistencies, making up for those off nights by living at the free throw line.
Personally, I think that #10 is too high for Singletary. If Singletary can improve on the defensive end of the floor, then maybe he works his way in the top ten, but right now, his mid-range game needs work as well does his defensive footwork. With that being said, I'm not sure who I'd move in front of Singletary on that list (simply because there are some new players I haven't heard of), but I really want Singletary to lock it in defensively, make some mid-range jumpers and his chances at playing professional basketball increase dramatically.
Playing Overseas: LAJ's Courtney Linehan writes about all of the former Red Raiders that are spanning the globe to play basketball:
Curtis Marshall grew up in suburban St. Louis and attended college in New Mexico and Lubbock, but has lived most of the past two years in Gualeguaychaying professional basketball.
Marshall is one of several former Texas Tech basketball players now in the pros who’ve come through town this summer to work out and visit friends and family in West Texas, including Mikey Marshall and Ronald Ross.
"Without basketball we probably wouldn’t be leaving the U.S.," Curtis Marshall said. "There’s a lot of people who can’t leave their own city, so I’m very grateful to be able to showcase my talents around the world."
Good to catch up with some of these players.