“Protect This House” was the motto of the current Texas Tech athletics sponsor Under Armour for many years during the glory days of Red Raiders football. Well, maybe it’s time to bring back the slogan to Lubbock. Not for the gridiron warriors, but for our scrappy basketball squad. I think our basketball team is building a reputation outside the United Supermarkets Arena to opponents as a place where anything can happen.
RED RAIDERS WIN IN OT!
Texas Tech upsets No. 7 West Virginia, 77-76, to remain perfect 10-0 at home. pic.twitter.com/lfGLddTDAs
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 4, 2017
Before people tell me I’m getting ahead of myself… let’s take a look at the schedule. This January at home we have already eliminated the toughest Big 12 foe on the calendar in #7 West Virginia. A strong K-State team comes to town next Tuesday, yet it is a winnable game for our Red Raiders. Then we have an upward trending TCU team in mid-January coming to the USA, which will probably be favored as a Tech win. Next is a sneaky Oklahoma State team coming into Lubbock, but I think we are the better team. Lastly in January, we finish out with a decent LSU group in the SEC/Big 12 Challenge at home. We can beat the Tigers.
If you are thinking we should be afraid of any of those games, think again. We do not need to overlook any one opponent, yet play our game and stick to our guns. With Chris Beard and staff preparing our Red Raiders each and every day; lots of hard work; and our 4 to 1 mentality… Texas Tech could run all through January still undefeated in Lubbock. It’s a highly possible scenario. I cannot recall the last time a Texas Tech basketball team went all the way through January without a blemish on their home record. It would be incredible.
Starting February nationally #2 Baylor and #3 Kansas come to town. But, we won’t worry about that for now. Also, in January we go to Baylor and Kansas on the road which could result in some rough learning experiences on the court. It is all part of the game.
After the amazing upset win on Tuesday over West Virginia here was what coach Beard has to say…
We got a process we believe in. I don’t think we’re any better than anyone else. We work hard every day and you need to have some validation to your process — validation internally to show we can compete versus some of best teams in the country.
That is for sure, and us basketball fans are extremely appreciative of what our basketball program is accomplishing. While I’m not going to blow smoke and say we will win all our regular season games in January, I wanted everyone to be aware that there is the opportunity for the Red Raiders to go undefeated in Lubbock over the next month. I hope our fans and students pile into the USA and make it a rowdy place that will be difficult for all our challengers stepping foot into the arena. Let’s protect this house!!! Wreck ’em Tech!!!