Texas Tech University Athletics
Texas Tech Hosts OSU For Senior Day
February 27, 2015 | Men's Basketball
Luke Adams (left), Robert Turner (middle) and Clark Lammert (right) will be playing in their final game at United Supermarkets Arena on Saturday.
February 27, 2015
LUBBOCK, Texas - "The first virtue in a soldier is endurance of fatigue; courage is only the second virtue."
Napoleon Bonaparte first uttered these words when he assumed power of the French Army in 1796.
When you look back at the last four years for Luke Adams and Clark Lammert, the virtue has been in the endurance.
Four years ago, these two young men were wide-eyed to the world and ready for anything. The have endured a tumultuous ride that has involved a lot of change. This chapter comes to a close on Saturday, as the Red Raiders host Oklahoma State at 3 p.m. at United Supermarkets Arena.
"You always would like to send out your senior with a win on senior day," said Texas Tech head coach Tubby Smith. "Each one of these young men have helped lay the foundation for the future of this program."
For Adams, Lammert and senior Robert Turner, this will be the last time the home faithful will see the trio in a Red Raider uniform. The three players have combined to make close to 200 appearances in a Red Raider lineup.
"The last four years have been very special to me," said Lammert. "I have met incredible people and I have made some great memories. I am thankful for the opportunity to play basketball at Texas Tech and I am proud to be a Red Raider."
Each senior has provided a moment, or more specifically a memory, that we will long remember.
Bubba Jennings was known for his swan release, Darvin Hamm had the cover of Sports Illustrated and Darryl Dora became the "Kansas Killer."
We remember Mike Singletary's 28 consecutive points against Texas A&M in the Big 12 Championship, Rick Bullock's 44 points against Arkansas in the semifinals of the 1976 Southwest Conference Tournament or Dub Malaise's 50-point effort against Texas. We have been provided these snippets by our classmates, our heroes and our Red Raiders.
As these three seniors exit stage left to take on their future, we are reminded of those snippets they have left us.
In his first collegiate game at TCU, fans were yelling "Justin Bieber" at Adams, but he did not hear them, as his Cochlear implant had gotten dislodged. Some might remember his first career start, when he drained five triples, his gutsy 15-point effort in Manhattan against Kansas State or winning a bronze medal at the 22nd Deaflympics. Maybe it was this season, when he kept a possession alive by recording three rebounds in 90 seconds despite only being 5-foot-9.
As a freshman against Texas A&M, Lammert almost managed a point a minute, as he finished the game in College Station with 10 points and four rebounds in 16 minutes. There was the time in Austin, when he seemingly could not miss and finished with a career-high 12 points against the Longhorns. Then there are the countless times he has greeted every player being substituted for as they come to the bench, the reckless abandon that he takes to get a loose ball or the bodily sacrifice in taking a charge.
There was the time Turner had 10 second half points against Baylor and finished with 14, as the Red Raiders upset No. 12 Baylor or the 16 points on the road to key Texas Tech's upset of No. 24 Oklahoma in Norman. Then there was the Air Force game this year, as Turner led the Red Raider back from a 19-point deficit, finishing with 19 points, including the game-winning free throws with second left. Or was it the double-double that led Texas Tech past No. 9 Iowa State?
Their effort. Our memories.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT...
Maya Angelou once said, "I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself." This quote conveys the Red Raiders' comfort level at home this season. Texas Tech is 12-6 in Lubbock and 0-11 outside the Hub City. The Red Raiders average 67.1 points per game at home, while holding opponents to 59.7 points. On the road, Texas Tech averages just 50.7 points per game ... Last season, Texas Tech upset nationally-ranked Oklahoma State at United Supermarkets Arena.
FIVE THINGS TO REMEMBER ...
? Texas Tech has used nine different starting lineups this season ... at one point, Texas Tech had started the youngest starting lineup in the country with four freshmen and a sophomore ... Expect a 10th different lineup on Saturday, as the Red Raiders are expected to start all three seniors -- Luke Adams, Clark Lammert and Robert Turner.
?Red Raider head coach Tubby Smith is in search of his 538th career win. The hall of fame coach is tied with Harry Miller, who won 537 games from 1953-88, for 63rd all-time in NCAA Division I and ranks 18th among active head coaches.
?Oklahoma State leads the series, with Texas Tech 43-14, including 10-9 in games played in Lubbock.
?Texas Tech is running the gauntlet, as 10 of its last 12 games are against Top 25 teams or teams receiving votes in the polls. Saturday's game is Game 11 in the 12-game run to close out the Big 12. Starting with Iowa State (Feb. 7), seven of the last eight games for the Red Raiders are against teams ranked in the Top 35 of the RPI. OSU has an RPI of 27.
?Led by freshmen Zach Smith (43), Norense Odiase (17) and Keenan Evans (11), Texas Tech has recorded the eighth-most single-season blocks total (120) in school history. Smith has set the freshman school record for blocks and ranks as the eighth top total in school history.
