Tennis
The @ITATennis rankings are out & both Red Raider Tennis teams remain in the top 15 nationally #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/9TzfGX03ok
— Texas Tech Women’s Tennis (@TexasTechWTEN) March 22, 2016
Women's Preview: DePaul (Wednesday – 5 p.m.) and Northwestern (Friday – 5 p.m.) – https://t.co/Pmu6ZbXZrQ #WreckEm pic.twitter.com/eniF4kDuvf
— Texas Tech Women’s Tennis (@TexasTechWTEN) March 23, 2016
Softball
Congratulations to Kierra Miles who was named #Big12SB Player of the Week!https://t.co/F33YNpSTeW#WreckEm pic.twitter.com/nOqUSRwqF8
— Texas Tech Softball (@TexasTechSB) March 22, 2016
Baseball
Texas Tech Outslugs New Mexico. Texas Tech was in a slugfest with New Mexico, but prevailed 14-10 (recap | box score). This was a fun game if you like offense. Texas Tech scored the first 2 runs, then New Mexico came back and scored 5 in the 3rd. Texas Tech came back and scored 6 in the 3rd. New Mexico would then score 4 in the 5th, Texas Tech would answer with 2, 1 and 3 runs to eventually seal the game.
Zach Davis had 4 stolen bases in this game alone and was 3 for 4. Stephen Smith was 4 for 5 with an RBI. Tanner Gardner was 2 for 2 with 2 RBI and Cory Raley hit an absolute cannon to left field, was 2 for 4 for the day and 3 RBI. Ty Damron got the start, but he was pulled after 2.1 innings after giving up 4 runs. Jacob Patterson pitched the final 2 frames of the 3rd inning. Erikson Lanning was up next, going just 1.2 innings and allowing 4 runs.
The star of the pitching staff was Ryan Shetter, who went 3.1 innings and didn’t give up a single run or gave up a walk. Ryan Moseley pitched the final frame and gave up a run.
Basketball
Better Next Year. DMN’s Mike DuPont has three reasons why Texas Tech will be better next year. Here’s #3:
3. Tubby Smith won’t let them get comfortable — Texas Tech coach Tubby Smith has been through this whole song and dance before. Smith has led five separate programs to NCAA Tournament appearances and Texas Tech didn’t hire him thinking he would grow satisfied. The team is still getting adjusted to life under Smith, which includes getting used to a set number of minutes. With Aaron Ross and a young core of sophomores back next season as juniors, the Red Raiders can be optimistic of their chances to return to the NCAA Tournament under Smith.
Football
Batson and Giles Compete Inside. LAJ’s Don Williams writes about inside receivers Cameron Batson and Jonathan Giles, who have the opportunity to show how they have improved as inside receivers with Jakeem Grant graduated and Ian Sadler sidelined. Here’s Batson:
“I’ve been waiting two years for that position to come open,” Batson said Tuesday after the Red Raiders’ spring practice. “Obviously, Jakeem has done a great job. We’re going to get that position filled. I’m going to work hard to make sure the production doesn’t slack.”
And Giles:
“One of the things I had to work on was blocking coming in,” Giles said, “because I played quarterback in high school. So it’s one of the things coach Kingsbury and coach Morris worked on with me, being a better blocker and being physical.”
Also of note is that Derrick Willies and Nik Shimonek are both out this spring with injuries to their hands, which stinks, and Nigel Bethel is focusing on academics this spring and not participating in practice.
Gundy Says Longhorn Network Needs to Fold into Big 12 Network. Via CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodds, Oklahoma State head coach Mike Gundy said that the Longhorn Network is a failure:
“I appreciate what Boren is doing,” the coach said.
It’s been suggested there is a way to fold LHN into a possible Big 12 Network. The infrastructure is already there in Austin.
“If Texas doesn’t [fold LHN] in X number of years, they’re going to be in the Pac-12 or SEC,” Gundy said. “If that’s what they want, keep riding this horse. If you don’t want that, you better make some changes or it’s going to happen whether you like it or not.”
/snip/
“I don’t see anyone coming into this league,” Gundy said. “Who you going to get? You need strong football history, tradition, some type of television market. They want schools that have reputation academically. That market is not out there right now.”
Well, Gundy is saying what everyone else is thinking.
Miscellaneous. Via the Dallas Cowboys 24/7 Sports site, Jakeem Grant will visit with the Cowboys, Colts and Dolphins in a private work out . . .