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Player of the week: the team

No intellectual pick today, it’s time to celebrate this group

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-East Regional-Purdue vs Texas Tech Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

If you’re looking for a sad article that cries over the loss the Red Raiders suffered from Villanova, then you’re in the wrong place. It’s true Texas Tech lost, but it’s my humble intention to celebrate a team that gave us a wonderful year.

The first Elite Eight appearance ever is just the tip of the iceberg of a season that gave many satisfactions to the fans. In which a valiant commander found a group of players that fought all year long against a tough conference and against injuries that affected many key players.

NCAA Basketball: NCAA Tournament-East Regional-Purdue vs Texas Tech Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports

We could have expected a good season after that 12-1 record with which the team closed 2017, but we couldn’t imagine the victory at the Allen Fieldhouse without trailing a single second, or the overtime victory over Texas at home, and I think many other moments that every fan will remember for a while.

So let’s honor our seniors Tommy Hamilton IV, Justin Gray, Niem Stevenson, Zach Smith and our top player, Keenan Evans, who in fact played with a broken toe (not injured, BROKEN) for the last part of the season, March included.

Let’s honor our sophomore and juniors Brandone Francis, Josh Webster, and Norense Odiase, who maybe weren’t the stars of the team, but they’ll have the important role of leading the team in 2018-19.

Let’s honor our freshmen Zhaire Smith, Malik Ondigo, Jarrett Culver, and Davide Moretti, who brought some freshness in the group, and decided many games: the best is yet to come for them. And how can I forget Andrew Sorrells, Avery Benson, and Parker Hicks? It’s only with an entire team fighting for the same result that they can reach it.