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Running Short on Time. I went out to look at Christmas lights with the wife and Fitsum last night so I'm running late today. There won't be a proper review of last night's loss, but we'll pick things back up tomorrow.
Must Reads
Red Raiders Fall to Ramblers. The Red Raiders were 0 for 21 last night on three-point attempts and the Texas Tech Red Raiders lost to the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers, 62-41 (recap and box score). Anytime that a team goes 0 for 21, there are two problems. First, the team is shooting way too many three-point shots and two, Texas Tech didn't take advantage of having a significant inside advantage against the Ramblers. The bit of good news is that Justin Gray was 7 for 11 for 17 points on the day, but Texas Tech needs to pound the ball inside.
The Red Raiders will play Houston tonight at 8:00 pm on Fox Sports 1 and I'll have a preview of the game later this morning.
Red Raiders Ranked #9. Well the Big 12 should be pretty good in baseball this next year as Tim Tadlock and Texas Tech are ranked #9 by Collegiate Baseball. Also ranked is TCU at #2, Oklahoma State at #5 and Texas is #7. That is a top-heavy conference and there are no other Big 12 teams ranked.
Wallace Leads Our Kids Program. This is cool, from The New Star, Texas Tech commit DT Courtney Wallace, Jr. is a leader in the O.K. Program:
O.K., which is one of only five in the nation and the only one in Louisiana, mentors 74 young black males in the area in an effort to reduce incarceration and homicide rates among black males and is coordinated by the Monroe Police Department.
And Wallace talked about how this program has helped change his life:
Courtney Wallace Jr., a Neville High School student-athlete, is one of those students who has benefited from the program.
"I've been in the O.K. Program since I was 12 years old," he said. "Since I've been in the O.K. Program, it's taught me how to be a young black man and how to lift my head high and get through some of the struggles of being a young black man in Monroe."
Men's Basketball Rankings and Things. Two of our conference blogs has a couple of looks at the Big 12, including The Smoking Musket's power rankings and Burnt Orange Nation looks at the rest of the Big 12.
ESPN's Freshman Power Ranking. What exactly is a "power" ranking? Why do we have to include the word "power" before ranking? Does this change how things are ranked and how is this any different than just a ranking? Seriously, I don't have a clue. Anyway, ESPN has their Big 12 freshmen power rankings and QB Patrick Mahomes checks in at #5 along with Oklahoma State QB Mason Rudolph. No offense to Rudolph, but I think Mahomes' numbers are quite a bit better than Rudolph's, who did really well, but threw for half the yards, only 4 touchdowns and 3 picks.