Texas Tech University Athletics
SPOTLIGHT: Matt Mooney
October 08, 2018 | Men's Basketball
It was a truth-telling session in the final moments of a team retreat. Nothing extravagant, just a circle of plastic folding chairs in a small room at the Circle 6 Ranch outside Stanton, Texas with players and coaches talking and listening to each other. It was also a long way from the big arenas, bright lights, fans and national television cameras the Texas Tech basketball team will be in front of in about a month. That was the point.
Chris Beard had just listened to his four seniors address the team. He heard each them open up, expressing what they are looking forward to about the season and telling their teammates where they came from and who they believe they are now. Beard took that moment to ask the team a question, "Does anyone work harder than Matt Mooney? I mean, the guy loves the game so much I almost want him to shut it down sometimes because he's out there working too much. If you respect Matt Mooney and want him to lead, then I want you to stand up right now and show him."
Without hesitation, Mooney was the only one in the room still sitting. Every player, every coach, every team manager was standing to show him that they believed in him.
"You earned our respect early on," Beard told Mooney in front of the team. "This is what we want and need from you Matt. We need you to lead. This is why we wanted you to come here. We are ready for you to lead us with your toughness and discipline."
Mooney will step on the court as a Red Raider for the first time having already recorded 1,480 points, 166 steals, 228 assists and having played 97 games in his college career. A graduate transfer who has played the last two seasons at the University of South Dakota after one year at Air Force, Mooney transferred to Texas Tech to play in the Big 12, help the Red Raiders advance back to the NCAA tournament and dedicate himself to the game and team. He's been close to playing in the NCAA tournament, but reaching it remains a goal that pushes him each day.
"Coach Beard does a great job of talking positively about me and our guys," Mooney said. "He's a truth-teller and when he says that stuff it really makes us believe in ourselves. He's coached some really good players who are playing in the NBA and at the top levels overseas so he knows what he's talking about when developing players. Knowing our team believes in me helps me be a leader for this team moving forward."
Mooney has been successful everywhere he's been, but has had to prove himself at every stage of his life. He had to prove himself growing up, starting early in life by competing against his older brother, Daniel, and helping to lead his younger brother, Joseph. He's gone on to have seven college games where he scored over 30 points, including 31 last year against TCU, but those games in Wauconda, Illinois at the Mooney house with his brothers started his love for the game and remain some of his favorite memories.
"Growing up with brothers made me very competitive," Mooney said. "I always wanted to beat my older brother and I never wanted to let my younger brother beat me. Which he never has."
He averaged 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game as a senior at Notre Dame College Prep where he capped his high school career as an Illinois All-State selection and a two-time all-conference player. It was an impressive resume, but one that brought only one Division I offer where he'd spend a year at Air Force and average 6.9 points per game with 29 3-pointers as a freshman before deciding to transfer. He'd sit out a season due to NCAA transfer rules, but exploded onto the scene at South Dakota where he'd become a two-time All-Summit League First-Team and National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District selection. He led the Coyotes in scoring and steals both seasons, but after three years of development and success, Mooney made a tough decision to make another move as a graduate transfer. It was a hard choice to leave Vermillion, South Dakota and one that he knows not everyone agreed with, but it's a decision that has brought him to Lubbock and presents him with an opportunity that he has dreamed of.
"This has always been the level I wanted to play at," Mooney said. "I didn't get recruited by very many schools and Air Force was my only Division I offer. That didn't work out and South Dakota took a chance on me. I loved the staff and people in South Dakota and am forever grateful for my time there. I got to show what I could do and wanted to take a chance at playing at the highest level. It was tough to leave, but I want to show that I can play at any level and do my thing in the Big 12."
"Some people may be surprised by what Matt's been able to accomplish, but we are not," added his father, Mike Mooney. "Our family saw a kid from an early age that had an incredible skillset and passion for the game. He's worked hard at every stage of his life to get to where he is now. The game was natural for him, but he always made sure that he was also the hardest worker at practice, camps, games or wherever he was playing. It's a great feeling to see your son be successful but to understand his unique journey from high school, Air Force, South Dakota and now at Texas Tech is amazing. I couldn't be more proud of what he's already done and the way he continues to work hard to accomplish even more."
Mooney enters his final year of college basketball having already made 181 3-pointers in his career. He started by hitting 29 in his first season at Air Force and then made 76 as a sophomore and junior for South Dakota. He shot 35.9 percent from beyond the arc in his two seasons at South Dakota where he finished with 152 in 68 games. He would currently be ranked sixth all-time in Texas Tech history in 3-pointers made if he'd played all his games for the Red Raiders behind former sharpshooters John Robertson (274 made), Cory Carr (262), Stan Bonewitz (241), Koy Smith (237), Jarrius Jackson (232) and Alan Voskuil (202). Mooney's game isn't defined by the three, but he's embracing the way the game is changing and understands its value.
"If you can make a 3-point shot it is worth more so why not shoot it and make it," Mooney said. "I think it's a lot harder to guard someone who can shoot it from deep because you have to guard them all around the court. When my 3-point shot is going it's hard to guard me because it opens other areas of the game. It just keeps the defense honest."
An important narrative to last year's success for the Red Raiders was the amount of experience the team had. The loss of seniors Keenan Evans, Justin Gray, Tommy Hamilton IV, Zach Smith and Niem Stevenson along with freshman Zhaire Smith who was selected in the NBA Draft is something Beard knew the team had to address. Evans led the team with 17.6 points per game and 116 assists, Zhaire Smith averaged 11.3 points and led the team with 5.0 rebounds per game. Each of the five seniors from the departing class contributed throughout the season, played valuable roles and carried the team to wins. That's the nature of college basketball though. You keep moving, keep recruiting and keep competing. For Beard and his staff, they targeted Mooney and knew that he could help this year's team by bringing his talents and also being an experienced presence.
"Losing so much from our team last year we knew we had to add some players who could come in and produce right away," Beard said. "Simply stated, we hit a home run in recruiting Matt. We feel like we are going to have a chance to stay in the fight because of guys like Matt that we've brought in. Matt has proven that he can score at this level, but the best thing about him is that there is so much more to his game. He is a future pro because of that. He's one of our best passers and can play multiple positions at the point and shooting guard and he's also a very good defender. He uses his toughness and intelligence to get things done on that side of the floor."
Mooney is one of four seniors on this year's team, joining Brandone Francis, Norense Odiase and Tariq Owens who will all be looked at to lead. They each bring their own skillset and will be asked to contribute in different ways in their final year of college basketball.
"I respect Mooney's work ethic and honesty," Francis said. "At this point I really believe that he is a genuine guy. I think Mooney is a guy that can be a huge factor for us and someone who we can count on every single night. He brings his shooting ability along with toughness, intelligence and leadership."
"What I respect most about Matt is that he is the ultimate professional," Odiase said. "He takes care of his body, he puts in the time and he's very disciplined. He leads by example and every day he comes ready to compete."
Two days before the start of practice and an hour away from kickoff of the Texas Tech football game at Oklahoma State, a group text message was sent. Mooney had started reading the book, "Why the Best Are the Best" by Kevin Eastman and wanted to share his thoughts with his new teammates that he had only known for a couple of months. He emphasized preparation, trust, sacrifice and curiosity. It was a group text to say that he was ready to help his team be the most prepared in the country, that he understood that trust was crucial to hold teams together, that sacrifices need to benefit the team and that embracing the unknown and being coachable can get a player to where they need to be. Mooney sent the text on a Saturday night, unprompted and at a time when a lot of college students had other things on their mind. Mooney was focused in that moment though and started a thread of positive responses and emoji's from his teammates that brought them together in that moment.
"I just wanted to share a couple of things with the guys that I thought could be useful for us on this journey. I thought it was something the team could benefit from," said Mooney of the message sent on Sept. 22. "I'm still trying to work on being a leader on this team though. At my old school it was easier when you are the guy and your teammates have seen you put in the work for a couple of years. I've always been a leader by example but now I need to be more vocal. Our coaches are challenging me to be more vocal on the floor and away from the court with the guys. Some times that can be hard when you're a new player coming in and having to earn their respect."
From the text to the retreat to the season that is rapidly approaching, Mooney is valuing every moment in his final season of college basketball. As a senior he knows his time is limited, that he only has one more year and one more opportunity. He sent the text message to help his team understand some of the principles he lives by. He practices hard every day with the team and is in the gym by himself getting extra shots, not for show, but simply because he loves the game and wants to be the best player he can be to help the team.
Mooney has proven himself throughout his life and is now he's ready to do it as a Red Raider. He's already earned a bachelor's degree already in innovation and entrepreneurship and professional basketball aspirations, but right now he's focused on the present. He told his team at the retreat that one of the toughest moments in his life was getting beat in a conference tournament and not making the NCAA tournament. He said one of his goals this season was to make the tournament and advance.
He also told them he's ready to help lead them there.
Chris Beard had just listened to his four seniors address the team. He heard each them open up, expressing what they are looking forward to about the season and telling their teammates where they came from and who they believe they are now. Beard took that moment to ask the team a question, "Does anyone work harder than Matt Mooney? I mean, the guy loves the game so much I almost want him to shut it down sometimes because he's out there working too much. If you respect Matt Mooney and want him to lead, then I want you to stand up right now and show him."
Without hesitation, Mooney was the only one in the room still sitting. Every player, every coach, every team manager was standing to show him that they believed in him.
"You earned our respect early on," Beard told Mooney in front of the team. "This is what we want and need from you Matt. We need you to lead. This is why we wanted you to come here. We are ready for you to lead us with your toughness and discipline."
Mooney will step on the court as a Red Raider for the first time having already recorded 1,480 points, 166 steals, 228 assists and having played 97 games in his college career. A graduate transfer who has played the last two seasons at the University of South Dakota after one year at Air Force, Mooney transferred to Texas Tech to play in the Big 12, help the Red Raiders advance back to the NCAA tournament and dedicate himself to the game and team. He's been close to playing in the NCAA tournament, but reaching it remains a goal that pushes him each day.
"Coach Beard does a great job of talking positively about me and our guys," Mooney said. "He's a truth-teller and when he says that stuff it really makes us believe in ourselves. He's coached some really good players who are playing in the NBA and at the top levels overseas so he knows what he's talking about when developing players. Knowing our team believes in me helps me be a leader for this team moving forward."
Mooney has been successful everywhere he's been, but has had to prove himself at every stage of his life. He had to prove himself growing up, starting early in life by competing against his older brother, Daniel, and helping to lead his younger brother, Joseph. He's gone on to have seven college games where he scored over 30 points, including 31 last year against TCU, but those games in Wauconda, Illinois at the Mooney house with his brothers started his love for the game and remain some of his favorite memories.
"Growing up with brothers made me very competitive," Mooney said. "I always wanted to beat my older brother and I never wanted to let my younger brother beat me. Which he never has."
He averaged 18.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game as a senior at Notre Dame College Prep where he capped his high school career as an Illinois All-State selection and a two-time all-conference player. It was an impressive resume, but one that brought only one Division I offer where he'd spend a year at Air Force and average 6.9 points per game with 29 3-pointers as a freshman before deciding to transfer. He'd sit out a season due to NCAA transfer rules, but exploded onto the scene at South Dakota where he'd become a two-time All-Summit League First-Team and National Association of Basketball Coaches All-District selection. He led the Coyotes in scoring and steals both seasons, but after three years of development and success, Mooney made a tough decision to make another move as a graduate transfer. It was a hard choice to leave Vermillion, South Dakota and one that he knows not everyone agreed with, but it's a decision that has brought him to Lubbock and presents him with an opportunity that he has dreamed of.
"This has always been the level I wanted to play at," Mooney said. "I didn't get recruited by very many schools and Air Force was my only Division I offer. That didn't work out and South Dakota took a chance on me. I loved the staff and people in South Dakota and am forever grateful for my time there. I got to show what I could do and wanted to take a chance at playing at the highest level. It was tough to leave, but I want to show that I can play at any level and do my thing in the Big 12."
"Some people may be surprised by what Matt's been able to accomplish, but we are not," added his father, Mike Mooney. "Our family saw a kid from an early age that had an incredible skillset and passion for the game. He's worked hard at every stage of his life to get to where he is now. The game was natural for him, but he always made sure that he was also the hardest worker at practice, camps, games or wherever he was playing. It's a great feeling to see your son be successful but to understand his unique journey from high school, Air Force, South Dakota and now at Texas Tech is amazing. I couldn't be more proud of what he's already done and the way he continues to work hard to accomplish even more."
Mooney enters his final year of college basketball having already made 181 3-pointers in his career. He started by hitting 29 in his first season at Air Force and then made 76 as a sophomore and junior for South Dakota. He shot 35.9 percent from beyond the arc in his two seasons at South Dakota where he finished with 152 in 68 games. He would currently be ranked sixth all-time in Texas Tech history in 3-pointers made if he'd played all his games for the Red Raiders behind former sharpshooters John Robertson (274 made), Cory Carr (262), Stan Bonewitz (241), Koy Smith (237), Jarrius Jackson (232) and Alan Voskuil (202). Mooney's game isn't defined by the three, but he's embracing the way the game is changing and understands its value.
"If you can make a 3-point shot it is worth more so why not shoot it and make it," Mooney said. "I think it's a lot harder to guard someone who can shoot it from deep because you have to guard them all around the court. When my 3-point shot is going it's hard to guard me because it opens other areas of the game. It just keeps the defense honest."
An important narrative to last year's success for the Red Raiders was the amount of experience the team had. The loss of seniors Keenan Evans, Justin Gray, Tommy Hamilton IV, Zach Smith and Niem Stevenson along with freshman Zhaire Smith who was selected in the NBA Draft is something Beard knew the team had to address. Evans led the team with 17.6 points per game and 116 assists, Zhaire Smith averaged 11.3 points and led the team with 5.0 rebounds per game. Each of the five seniors from the departing class contributed throughout the season, played valuable roles and carried the team to wins. That's the nature of college basketball though. You keep moving, keep recruiting and keep competing. For Beard and his staff, they targeted Mooney and knew that he could help this year's team by bringing his talents and also being an experienced presence.
"Losing so much from our team last year we knew we had to add some players who could come in and produce right away," Beard said. "Simply stated, we hit a home run in recruiting Matt. We feel like we are going to have a chance to stay in the fight because of guys like Matt that we've brought in. Matt has proven that he can score at this level, but the best thing about him is that there is so much more to his game. He is a future pro because of that. He's one of our best passers and can play multiple positions at the point and shooting guard and he's also a very good defender. He uses his toughness and intelligence to get things done on that side of the floor."
Mooney is one of four seniors on this year's team, joining Brandone Francis, Norense Odiase and Tariq Owens who will all be looked at to lead. They each bring their own skillset and will be asked to contribute in different ways in their final year of college basketball.
"I respect Mooney's work ethic and honesty," Francis said. "At this point I really believe that he is a genuine guy. I think Mooney is a guy that can be a huge factor for us and someone who we can count on every single night. He brings his shooting ability along with toughness, intelligence and leadership."
"What I respect most about Matt is that he is the ultimate professional," Odiase said. "He takes care of his body, he puts in the time and he's very disciplined. He leads by example and every day he comes ready to compete."
Two days before the start of practice and an hour away from kickoff of the Texas Tech football game at Oklahoma State, a group text message was sent. Mooney had started reading the book, "Why the Best Are the Best" by Kevin Eastman and wanted to share his thoughts with his new teammates that he had only known for a couple of months. He emphasized preparation, trust, sacrifice and curiosity. It was a group text to say that he was ready to help his team be the most prepared in the country, that he understood that trust was crucial to hold teams together, that sacrifices need to benefit the team and that embracing the unknown and being coachable can get a player to where they need to be. Mooney sent the text on a Saturday night, unprompted and at a time when a lot of college students had other things on their mind. Mooney was focused in that moment though and started a thread of positive responses and emoji's from his teammates that brought them together in that moment.
"I just wanted to share a couple of things with the guys that I thought could be useful for us on this journey. I thought it was something the team could benefit from," said Mooney of the message sent on Sept. 22. "I'm still trying to work on being a leader on this team though. At my old school it was easier when you are the guy and your teammates have seen you put in the work for a couple of years. I've always been a leader by example but now I need to be more vocal. Our coaches are challenging me to be more vocal on the floor and away from the court with the guys. Some times that can be hard when you're a new player coming in and having to earn their respect."
From the text to the retreat to the season that is rapidly approaching, Mooney is valuing every moment in his final season of college basketball. As a senior he knows his time is limited, that he only has one more year and one more opportunity. He sent the text message to help his team understand some of the principles he lives by. He practices hard every day with the team and is in the gym by himself getting extra shots, not for show, but simply because he loves the game and wants to be the best player he can be to help the team.
Mooney has proven himself throughout his life and is now he's ready to do it as a Red Raider. He's already earned a bachelor's degree already in innovation and entrepreneurship and professional basketball aspirations, but right now he's focused on the present. He told his team at the retreat that one of the toughest moments in his life was getting beat in a conference tournament and not making the NCAA tournament. He said one of his goals this season was to make the tournament and advance.
He also told them he's ready to help lead them there.
Players Mentioned
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Forward
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Center
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Forward
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Forward
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Guard
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Guard
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