Texas Tech University Athletics
Tech Baseball Meets The Press
May 30, 2002 | Baseball
May 30, 2002
HOUSTON, Texas - The Texas Tech baseball team began its NCAA Tournament preparations today as the team opened the day with a morning workout and then addressed the media in a pre-tournament press conference.
Texas Tech took the field for the first time today at Reckling Park as the the Red Raiders worked out from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. Tech spent the first part of the workout by conducting batting practice and then spent considerable time working on defense in live game situations. The Red Raiders will be playing on a grass surface in this tournament and used every minute available to get used to the field.
Texas Tech head coach Larry Hays, who was part of a live internet chat on www.texastech.com and ESPN.com earlier in the afternoon, addressed the media at a 4 p.m. press conference at the Reckling Field media room. Quotes from both coach Hays and Washington Head Coach Ken Knutson are listed at the end of this story.
All four teams who are participating in this NCAA Regional will attend a team dinner tonight at the Rice Football stadium before returning to the team hotel for final game preparations.
Texas Tech will open the 2002 NCAA Tournament at 7 p.m. on Friday night against the Washington Huskies of the Pac-10 Conference. Tickets are available by calling (713)348-5086.
Pre-Tournament Press Conference Quotes
Head Coach Larry Hays
"I've been coming to Rice since 1983 and this is the first time I've enjoyed being here. When I got here I got in the dugout and jumped around, that was nice because they used to have really low dugouts and during a three game series I would hit my head about six or seven times. Now they have big nice dugouts and a wonderful facility. We are happy and excited to be here."
On Rice's success against Tech in the past
"They been a better team than us, I'm not really worried about Rice. We are worried with Washington. They are a good team like we used to have, they hit a lot of homeruns and steal lot of bases."
On what they have seen of Washington
"They played Missouri, BYU and a lot of Pac 10 teams that we have seen before in the past. Their numbers really jump out at you. Not many teams can beat Stanford two out of three. We have our hands full."
On what Tech has to do to win the regional
"We have to pitch extremely well. We have to pitch well for us to do what we need to do. Last weekend we had a couple of poor pitching outings and went home early. We have got to get out and pitch well and get over the hump early or we will go home early."
Washington Head Coach Ken Knutson
"We are extremely excited about being in the NCAA Tournament. We know that anytime we make the field we are going to have to get on a plane and travel because there usually isn't a regional near the state of Washington. Our guys really wanted to come to a place where they have great crowds and the atmosphere is outstanding and we definitely got that. As the other coaches have said we are going to have to pitch well to do anything in this tournament. I really don't think that the heat and humidity will be a factor unless you are in the loser's bracket and playing extra innings. We cranked up the temperature to 73 degrees in our indoor facility last week and that was 10 degrees warmer than it was outside so hopefully that will help us out."
