Losing in Lubbock

[swok34]

Losing in Lubbock

Texas Tech is not accustomed to losing streaks…at least not from its women's basketball team.

In the 24 years since Marsha Sharp took over as head coach, the Lady Raiders have experienced not one losing season. Their long and proud tradition includes eight conference championships, 16 straight (and 18 overall) NCAA Tournament appearances, a national title (1993) and a No. 1 national ranking less than two years ago.

So Texas Tech's 1-4 start this season has left Sharp and her players in uncharted waters. The No. 24 Lady Raiders have dropped three straight – to Rice, Ole Miss and Stanford – giving the team its first three-game losing streak since the middle of the 2001-02 season and its worst start since opening the 1978-79 season at 1-7.

The news isn't all bad, though. Each of the last three losses was by three points. The first loss, against LSU in the season opener, was by eight points.

Against Stanford on Sunday, Texas Tech made just three of its final 11 attempts and missed five free throws, losing 66-63.

"We've got to have that offensive person who, when we get the wide open look for them, they'll knock it down," Sharp said. "We haven't gotten it in any game we've played, basically."

There's still plenty of time to right the ship. Sharp always does.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/columnist/katesmith/2005-11-29-smith-young_x.htm

[JK]

I have no doubt that the Lady Raiders will be just fine. One thing I was surprised to see, however, was several empty seats at the USA during Sunday's game with Stanford. Before then, I never knew what the seats looked like at USA.

[DblT81]

Re: Attendance

There was a strong cold front blowing through Lubbock on Sunday morning. Any of you have any idea what Lubbock is like outside when the surrounding cotton fields are stripped in November, plus 30 mph wind and gusts up to 45 mph?

Its like a fierce blizzard, only a different color. Brown.

My family was in town to go to the Stanford game with my 70 something year old In-Laws. It took much cajoling and pushing the I-Ls to the vehicle to get them out into that weather to go to the game. They love the LRs but they did not want to fight the wind and the things it carries. Many of the season ticket holders are in their generation. I truly believe the weather was a factor.

[walkaway]

T,
It took a lot to get me out in that weather -- and I still haven't turned final on my approach to 50.

[JK]

DBLT- I wondered what the deal was. I can only imagine what it's like that weather. In fact, after living in Chicago for many years, all I WANT to do is imagine. LOL.

Anyway, Marsha is just going to have to keep tooling with her line-up and rotations until she finds the most productive. I like the fact that she is giving Morris a look. From what I've seen, I think she can help the team a lot with more minutes of PT.

It's a little painful watching Big XII teams right now, as all the teams seem to be searching for their identities.

The exception, of course, is Baylor. Man, I'm a die-hard Longhorn but I sure do enjoy watching KMR's team play. They are SO WELL COACHED and IT SHOWS.

[Bball Girl]

Rumor has it that Morris and Smith will be starting in place of Myrick and Robertson/Henderson for Tech tomorrow night. I like Morris too...she's shown some real spunk and good defense. Smith on the other hand worries me...she can certainly create her own offense, but she can also start jacking up shots going for the big one every time she touches the ball.

Edited: Not a rumor...confirmed by the Lubbock AJ today...Morris and Smith will start in place of Myrick and Robertson.

http://www.redraiders.com/stories/113005/wbb_113005009.shtml
http://www.redraiders.com/stories/113005/wbb_113005013.shtml

"I don't like sitting on the bench, and I'm not used to sitting on the bench," the 6-foot-2 Morris said. "At first I was frustrated, but it really helped me. I knew that if I didn't want to sit on the bench, I had to step up and play like coach Sharp wanted me to play. If not, I would still be on the bench cheering."

In Tech's 66-63 loss to the No. 12 Cardinal, it was Morris who was getting cheered. She scored only two points in the game, but the bucket came on a play that demonstrated the type of athleticism Sharp said Morris can bring to the center position.

Trailing 62-58 with 2:41 left, Morris poked the ball away from Stanford center Kristen Newlin near halfcourt, dribbled to the basket and then used a cross-over dribble to free herself from Newlin and convert the layup.

"That was the old Megan Morris on that play. That's the way I used to play at South Plains. That's the way I used to play in high school," Morris said. "When I did that, I felt like me again."

[YCN]

Lubbock had some strong winds, and the day before, Boulder had even stronger winds.

But the prize goes to the far-eastern portion of Colorado, where they had to shut down the highways for over two days because of blizzard conditions. In many places, the wind blew continuously for over 24 hours at from 40 to 50 miles per hour, with gusts to above 75.

And combined with falling and blowing snow, it made travel completely impossible and terribly dangerous.

[ldlbfn]

I watched quite a bit of the Stanford-Tech game. i was impressed with Morris' play you are talking about. Henderson showed a lot as well.

[DblT81]

George, congrats on the Lobos big win against Minnesota.

That certainly makes the Big 12's tussles with UNM look better. Please continue to beat other top non-Big 12 teams. ;)

[ldlbfn]

Thanks. At 16th ranked Arizona St. Tuesday. See if they can repeat what they did in Austin. I'm starting to believe this realy could be the year the Lobos have a legit top 20, 25 team. Be interesting on the 30th too see how things look for the next Sooner game.

[Bball Girl]

In general the MWC seems to be playing alot of Big 12 teams this season...or maybe it just seems that way to me.

I'm very glad Tech is NOT playing UNM this year...given how we've been playing and the urgency that UNM showed last night, I don't think we would fair well at all in the Pit.

But we'll see what happens with Sac State tonite.

[carolann]

I'm inking in a win for Tech against Sacramento State. I'm penciling in a win against for Tech against Penn State on the road (and I'm tempted to write that in ink.)