Texas Tech University Athletics
Red Raiders motivated to end losing streak
January 24, 2023 | Men's Basketball
Outside, there's a closed campus covered in snow. Most students won't take a step beyond their front door all day. Roads are passable, but why try when you've already received a notification at 6:11 a.m. of a day off? Inside here though, on the United Supermarkets Arena court, there's a team that knows a single moment can't be wasted. They're about to play their 20th game of the season and are still trying to find themselves. Prove themselves. Their record is 10-9 overall, 0-7 to start conference play. Lubbock came to a near shutdown with a rare snowstorm on Tuesday, but it was anything but an off day for Texas Tech basketball.
"We've got to get this figured out," said Tech coach Mark Adams to his team during practice. "I can't even stand looking myself in the mirror right now. We're better than this. I believe in you. We've got to play hard. We've got to play smart."
On the outside, there's people who are ready give up on this season that began with a preseason national ranking which rose as high as No. 21. Social media and blogs amplify it. The players and coaches hear it. Texas Tech basketball has built this expectation. Inside here, they know what the outside is saying. It's the reason this caliber of players decided to join the program. Only three players from last year's Sweet 16 run were on that team, but each of the guys on this current roster were highly recruited for a reason. They are talented. They can play. Â "We hurt for our players as a staff for this young team," said Adams on Monday night to Geoff Haxton on his radio show. "We hurt for our fans. We understand how important winning is. I believe in our guys and think we have a resilient team. I don't see anyone giving up." None these current players were on the 2021 NCAA Tournament team two years ago and most were still in high school when the program started this run of success with the first ever trip to the Elite 8 in 2018 and the NCAA Championship Final in 2019. They hear about it every day though. If not from coaches, then from fans, students, seeing the banners and photos throughout the facilities. They know what the expectation is. They understand people are frustrated the expectations aren't currently being met. Â
"It's a challenging time as you can imagine," Adams said. "We are frustrated, as I'm sure a lot of our fans are. Nobody is more frustrated than our team and myself. We have great kids who I love. We're not counting the days to get this over with. We are working to make each day count. We're trying to improve each day."
Wednesday's game against West Virginia will be the start of three games in six days. At his media availability on Tuesday, Adams said that he expects a battle against WVU which comes to Lubbock in a similar situation with a 1-6 record in Big 12 play after also being a ranked team in the non-conference part of the season. "It's a typical Bob Huggins team," Adams said. "They are going to play tough. They'll be great on the offensive and defensive glass so we'll have to match their intensity and be physical with them. They always play as hard as anyone in the league."
After the Mountaineers, there's a trip to LSU on Saturday before hosting No. 12 Iowa State next Monday to start the second round of Big 12 play. Tech, which has made a program-record four straight NCAA Tournaments, feels the urgency and understands wins need to start coming regardless of who they are playing. They're currently 0-7 against ranked opponents having played a ranked team in the previous four games. WVU is unranked but dangerous. LSU the same. Iowa State took an 84-50 win in Ames two weeks ago. At practice on Tuesday, Adams played multiple roles while coaching his team at practice. He was an instructor. A motivator. A realist. A coach who understands the situation and that his team has no room for error.
"Every game is going to be a knock-down, drag-out fight," Adams said. "I thought our guys played hard and gave a valiant effort at Kansas State against a really good team with a great home-court advantage. We battled and were really tough as a team. We've been in every one of them except that one at Iowa State that got away from us. We've got to start answering that bell though and finishing games."
For the full press conference, watch the video below.
"We've got to get this figured out," said Tech coach Mark Adams to his team during practice. "I can't even stand looking myself in the mirror right now. We're better than this. I believe in you. We've got to play hard. We've got to play smart."
On the outside, there's people who are ready give up on this season that began with a preseason national ranking which rose as high as No. 21. Social media and blogs amplify it. The players and coaches hear it. Texas Tech basketball has built this expectation. Inside here, they know what the outside is saying. It's the reason this caliber of players decided to join the program. Only three players from last year's Sweet 16 run were on that team, but each of the guys on this current roster were highly recruited for a reason. They are talented. They can play. Â "We hurt for our players as a staff for this young team," said Adams on Monday night to Geoff Haxton on his radio show. "We hurt for our fans. We understand how important winning is. I believe in our guys and think we have a resilient team. I don't see anyone giving up." None these current players were on the 2021 NCAA Tournament team two years ago and most were still in high school when the program started this run of success with the first ever trip to the Elite 8 in 2018 and the NCAA Championship Final in 2019. They hear about it every day though. If not from coaches, then from fans, students, seeing the banners and photos throughout the facilities. They know what the expectation is. They understand people are frustrated the expectations aren't currently being met. Â
"It's a challenging time as you can imagine," Adams said. "We are frustrated, as I'm sure a lot of our fans are. Nobody is more frustrated than our team and myself. We have great kids who I love. We're not counting the days to get this over with. We are working to make each day count. We're trying to improve each day."
Wednesday's game against West Virginia will be the start of three games in six days. At his media availability on Tuesday, Adams said that he expects a battle against WVU which comes to Lubbock in a similar situation with a 1-6 record in Big 12 play after also being a ranked team in the non-conference part of the season. "It's a typical Bob Huggins team," Adams said. "They are going to play tough. They'll be great on the offensive and defensive glass so we'll have to match their intensity and be physical with them. They always play as hard as anyone in the league."
After the Mountaineers, there's a trip to LSU on Saturday before hosting No. 12 Iowa State next Monday to start the second round of Big 12 play. Tech, which has made a program-record four straight NCAA Tournaments, feels the urgency and understands wins need to start coming regardless of who they are playing. They're currently 0-7 against ranked opponents having played a ranked team in the previous four games. WVU is unranked but dangerous. LSU the same. Iowa State took an 84-50 win in Ames two weeks ago. At practice on Tuesday, Adams played multiple roles while coaching his team at practice. He was an instructor. A motivator. A realist. A coach who understands the situation and that his team has no room for error.
"Every game is going to be a knock-down, drag-out fight," Adams said. "I thought our guys played hard and gave a valiant effort at Kansas State against a really good team with a great home-court advantage. We battled and were really tough as a team. We've been in every one of them except that one at Iowa State that got away from us. We've got to start answering that bell though and finishing games."
For the full press conference, watch the video below.
Postgame Press Conference: vs. Alabama (NCAA Tournament Second Round)
Monday, March 23
Press Conference: NCAA Tournament Second Round Preview
Saturday, March 21
Postgame Press Conference: vs. Akron (NCAA Tournament First Round)
Friday, March 20
A Round One Celebration
Friday, March 20