Now, the Lady Raiders will look to avenge last month’s home loss vs. TCU in Wednesday night’s road contest with the Horned Frogs, in Fort Worth, Texas, at 7 p.m. On Dec. 30, Texas Tech dominated for the first two and a half quarters, leading 54-39 midway through the third, before TCU went on a 30-5 run and eventually stole a 78-69 win in Lubbock. Japreece Dean scored 22 points to lead the Lady Raiders and Leashja Grant chipped in 21 points, but it wasn’t enough.

“You break down how they scored and look at all of that,” Texas Tech coach Candi Whitaker said. “Transition defense is why we lost that game. We gave up 21 points in transition and gave up six straight layups when we were having the meltdown.

“It is about communicating and getting back, hustling and making them operate in the half court.”

“It is the Big 12, that is what has changed,” Whitaker said. “The level of competition is the best, so everything is different. … Texas is very good and I think they are the best team in our league.”

Whitaker then blamed herself for the loss to Oklahoma State, saying that “we probably played too many defenses and confused our own kids and that is on me. Then we went on the road and played West Virginia, which I think is right there under Texas.

“They aren’t as good, but they are very talented. Some of those games are the depth and the level of play.”

Kansas State finished with 18 fast-break points in comparison to Texas Tech’s four. The Wildcats’ 18 were the most the Red Raiders have given up since Mississippi State had 12.

“We weren’t communicating,” Gray said. “We struggled to match up in transition, knowing who you have. We didn’t do a good job of communicating while sprinting back on defense.”

While the Red Raiders struggled across the board in Manhattan, they improved their performance on the boards, outrebounding Kansas State 36-32. Tech turned 17 offensive boards into 20 second-chance points.

“He’s like a rock star,” Louisiana Tech coach Skip Holtz joked. “He’s been shaking hands with everybody since we made it here.”

Juluke said he’s been very happy to be a member of Holtz’s coaching staff, but it will be good to return to his roots during this week.

“I’m excited. I’m glad to be back home,” he said. “Just being back in New Orleans and hearing the jazz music gave me goose bumps. And getting an opportunity to play at the Superdome again is very exciting.”

During his time at Karr, Juluke compiled an 80-39 record and led the Cougars to the Superdome three consecutive years with trips to the Class 4A state championship game.

Juluke’s final year with the team, they finished the season 14-0 and capped things off with a 2012 Class 4A state title. He said it was an extremely tough decision to make, but he knew taking a job with a college team would help him further his career.

“When you have built relationships and camaraderie with people that have supported you and the things you’re doing, it was very difficult,” Juluke said. “I also had to think about my family and the opportunity I had to change their lives. And as a football coach, you always have to look to grow.”

“For everyone here in Whitehouse that’s been watching Patrick, you know from the time he was a young student coming up through our elementary schools and coming up through the junior highs. Everyone saw the potential there for what he could do and knew that he was just waiting on that opportunity,” said Adam Cook, Whitehouse football Head Coach.

For former Wildcats quarterback Patrick Mahomes, his opportunity came in the form of a scholarship to Texas Tech University. Now the face of a big 12 program, Mahomes says their is still nothing like his original East Texas fans.

“It’s awesome, they’re really congratulatory and they congratulate me every time I see them. At the same time they keep me down to earth. They let me know that I’m just Patrick and they’ve known me forever. So it’s awesome I have a lot of friends back here and I love coming back,” said Mahomes.

Texas Tech transfer QB Davis Webb will be visiting the #cubuffs this weekend. Grad transfer can play right away.

— Brian Howell (@BrianHowell33) January 12, 2016