Red Raider Ravioli: like water

“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you can’t go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does.”

(Margaret Atwood, the Penelopiad)

Buongiorno a tutti!

What a demanding quote to start this column. After all, if you must wake up at 8 a.m. on Sunday morning to meet a person at 8.30 and he doesn’t show up, your mind is so much like a black cloud ready to start its concert of thunders and lightning.

Fortunately, there are only positive things to address in this edition of Red Raider Ravioli, as the basketball team won its two weekly games and is again at the top of the Big 12 standings. Considering that no. 4 Duke, no. 7 Kansas, and no. 9 Arizona lost a game this week, I expect to see the Red Raiders at least two spots higher than in the last ranking.

Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

That said, let’s start with our ruminations. Water is adaptable to barriers it finds on its path, and it’s exactly what the Red Raiders did in these last two games. Against the Longhorns, Texas Tech needed a strong man, who could overcome all the problems and score the most important shots, and Keenan Evans offered a career night with 38 points, leading the team when it was necessary.

After this, we all knew TCU would have given special attention to our no. 12, and coach Beard designed a wonderful strategy for the game in Fort Worth, as Keenan had only one shot in the first 15 minutes of play and nailed his first bucket after 15:20 when the score already was 34-18.

In this conference, in which every team has its strength and many top players, it’s very important having this capability of hitting opponents in their weaknesses, surprising them, and coach Beard is becoming a master in this particular art.

Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports

This powerful Big 12 also teaches us, if it was still needed, that there’s no easy game at all, as it’s a very fluid conference. In last seven days, we saw Kansas easily handle Kansas State, that was absolutely on fire until seven days ago, but the Jayhawks also lost yesterday at home against Oklahoma State. In the same way, West Virginia lost by 16 against Iowa State but recovered from this fall shredding the Wildcats 89-51.

The last use of the water I want to consider is putting out fires and in particular, the symbolic ones coming from too much entusiasmo (I don’t translate, you can understand what it means). This basketball team is strong, very strong, one of the strongest teams Texas Tech has ever had, but maybe putting too much pressure on this team is something we should avoid. Simply, let’s enjoy the ride. Buon viaggio!

Alla prossima!