Monday Morning Matador: shortcomings and forthcoming

So as particular as I can get about coffee, Chick Fil A honestly has a really good brew. Check it out sometime. OKAY let’s get it going:

Texas Tech Baseball falls in series with Kentucky, 1-2

After a tremendous 14-0 start to the year, the Red Raiders traveled to Lexington, Kentucky to take on the Wildcats in a three-game away series. The first two matches played out in Kentucky’s favor, ending the first at 7-10 and then the second at 6-11. Breaking the winning streak and beginning to slide, the Red Raiders came together on Sunday to hold the Wildcats to 3 while still managing to chalk up five runs. Ending the last game with a 5-3 victory helped to regain some confidence before they travel to another Kentucky city to take on the University of Louisville in a two game series starting tomorrow.

Texas Tech basketball beats Texas, falls to West Virginia

In the Big 12 Tournament Texas Tech first faced off against a Texas team that appeared to be rallying after beating Iowa State 68-64, with Longhorn forward Dylan Osetkowski rattling off 20 points. When Tech took on Texas it was a little different for Osetkowski, who only managed to pull out four points. Red Raiders rolled the Longhorns to a comfortable 73-69 victory. The following night Tech was matched up against West Virginia - a team that has been wildly back in sync with their “press” rhythm. The game was as good, if not better, than the Big 12 Championship game with both teams fighting hard for the lead. Ultimately missed free throws and missed opportunities sank the Red Raiders’ hopes at competing for the Big 12 title as they fell 63-66.

Texas Tech basketball garners a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament

Possibly the biggest news from this weekend was the unveiling of all the teams included in the NCAA Men’s Division I Basketball Tournament. After a tough and rewarding year, Texas Tech made the bid and awaited to hear its fate in regards to seeding. Before the basketball season began, fans of the Red Raiders would have been content with a low seed position in the tournament if it meant we were simply going again. However as the season unfolded and we were actually making Kansas work hard to get a shot at the Big 12 title, we began to realize how good the 2017-18 Red Raiders were. It was no longer about simply making the tournament, it was about fighting for a one seed. Something completely foreign to Texas Tech Basketball. With a faltering end of the year performance, though, people reigned back immediately. Even saying things like “I’ll take a six seed if it gets us to Dallas,” with the plea that their dear Red Raiders wouldn’t end up in Boise, Idaho. Well the basketball gods smiled upon you. The Red Raiders were announced as a THREE SEED in DALLAS, TEXAS to take on the Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks in the first round. Now Coach Beard and company prepare for what this whole season has been gearing up for: a fighting chance at the NCAA title.

Texas Tech indoor track & field finishes sixth in the country

Entering the championship competition, Texas Tech was ranked #1 in the country and thus we had expected a superstar reward under the big lights. Unfortunately, it did not become so. Senior Trey Culver came short of three-peat, earning a silver medal in the high jump competition closing his attempts with 7 feet 6 inches. This competition was the end of Culver’s indoor competition with a No. 4 all-time record, now giving him the 1-4 spots this year alone. Freshman Divine Oduduru earned first team All-America honors in the 60m and 200m races, and earned a silver medal in the 200m with a final time of 20.21. This time marked his second-fastest 200m dash this year, just behind his 20.18 race from earlier this season. Overall, the Red Raiders ended the weekend with six first team and five second team All-America accolades. As the weather warms up, the Red Raiders head to the outdoor season at the UTSA Invitational, taking place in San Antonio on March 16-17.