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RedRaiderSports.com is a publication of TRI Productions Volume 25 Issue 2 Managing Editor
HERE'S TO
ANOTHER
SEASON OF
CLUTCH
PLAYS
Aaron Dickens
Cover Photo Norvelle Kennedy
Michael Strong
Screaming fans, the squeak of shoes on the court and the unmistakable swish of a three-pointer. It’s basketball season and we can’t wait to see what the Red Raiders
Writers
will do this season. How about another run at the National Championship?
Photographers Norvelle Kennedy Artie Limmer
TTU Athletics
Shannon Carrico
Matt Clare
Al Pickett
George Watson
Ben Golan
Terry Greenberg
The spirit of competition, teamwork and comaraderie are all part of what we call
The Spirit of West Texas. Red Raider Sports (USPS 0013-768) is published bimonthly in February, April, June, August, October and December. Annual Red Raider Club membership dues of $500 or higher include a one-year subscription to Red Raider Sports Magazine. Red Raider Sports is a publication of TRI Productions, P.O. Box 53604, Lubbock, TX 79453. Periodicals postage is paid in Lubbock, Texas. Address all editorial-related correspondence to Red Raider Sports, P.O. Box 53604, Lubbock, TX 79453. Red Raider Sports is not an official publication of Texas Tech University. Postmaster: Send address changes to Red Raider Sports, P.O. Box 53604, Lubbock, TX 79453. For subscription inquiries contact the Red Raider Club at 806.742.1196. Give old and new addresses and enclose latest mailing address label when writing about your subscription. ©2019 TRI Productions. All Rights Reserved.
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generosity ✯ loyalty ✯ integrity ✯ community
Red Raider Club
Update
As Thanksgiving approaches, it is a reminder of what a great time of year it is and how grateful
we are for all of our Red Raider Club members. This year, the Red Raider Club is responsible for
thirty percent of the athletic department’s revenue. Continual private funding for Texas Tech Ath-
letics is critical and we hope you are proud of your investment in more than 400 student-athletes every year.
We would like to thank all of our members who participated in the second annual Red Raider
Club Member Appreciation Week in October. For those unable to attend, our appreciation week included a full slate of events for our members, including an open football practice, a sold-out foot-
ball luncheon with Coach Wells, a Victory Circle celebration event, and a pregame tailgate. These
events are a great opportunity for us to thank all of our members, while also showing the impact of your support. Thank you for being a part of this special week.
As part of Member Appreciation Week, we were able to host our Victory Circle members for an
impactful day that featured Chancellor Mitchell, President Schovanec, Coach Wells, Coach Beard, Coach Stone, many student-athletes and our leader, Kirby Hocutt. The Victory Circle consists of donors in our highest annual giving levels starting at $10,000. We have 415 Victory Circle accounts
and just this year alone we have added 74 new Victory Circle members. Victory Circle members make up just over 6% percent of our total Red Raider Club membership. But that 6% contributes
more that 58% of our total annual revenue. Thank you to those that were able to join us for this special event.
Our overall membership to the Red Raider Club saw a significant increase this past year due to
your overwhelming support as well as the introduction of the Young Alumni Program. This program
is generously funded by George and Linda McMahan, two great supporters of our student-athletes who have provided complimentary one-year memberships to every undergraduate earning a Texas
Tech degree over the past year. We closed the last fiscal year with 13,724 members, which is the
second-largest membership in the Big 12.
The Campaign for Fearless Champions continues to bolster our athletics facilities across cam-
pus. In this issue, you will see our plans to renovate the team facility at Rip Griffin Park. We also
continue to plan for renovations of the Football Training Facility and the south end zone of Jones AT&T Stadium as part of the final stages of The Campaign.
Andrea Tirey Senior Associate Athletic Director — Development — 806.834.3270
As we enter basketball season, you’ll notice our fan support for Coach Beard and his program
has reached new heights as we have 8,000 season ticket holders this season alone. We look for-
ward to seeing a packed United Supermarkets Arena throughout this season as the Red Raiders chase another Big 12 title and compete on the national stage.
If you have any questions regarding your membership, please don’t hesitate to contact our of-
fice at 806-742-1196 and a member of our staff would be more than happy to set up a meeting. Guns up!
andrea.tirey@ttu.edu Andrea
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Boosters may not communicate with recruits or their families on behalf of Texas Tech by phone, in-person or in writing (includes social media).
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Free or discounted items or services may not be provided to student-athletes or recruits unless the benefit is available to the public or all Texas Tech students.
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Boosters may not provide academic assistance of any kind to a student-athlete or recruit (e.g., test prep, SAT/ACT fees, academic expenses, tutoring, editing/completing coursework, etc.).
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Student-athletes, recruits or their coaches, family or friends may not be invited to your suite or club seats as this constitutes special seating.
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Game tickets, apparel, equipment or awards may not be traded for or purchased from student-athletes, and items autographed by current student-athletes may not be sold.
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A student-athlete’s name, picture or appearance may not be used in a commercial advertisement, business promotion or product endorsement.
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Student-athletes may be employed provided they are paid the going rate for work actually performed.
Help us PROTECT OUR FEARLESS CHAMPIONS (806)742-3355 RedRaiderSports.com @RedRaiderRules
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b y S H A N N O N C A R R I CO
A leader is defined as someone who leads,
guides or commands a group. Since she arrived on campus, senior Emily Hill has exuded nothing
short of true leadership for the Texas Tech volleyball team.
Originally from Denton, Texas Tech was not
her first stop in her collegiate career. Hill spent her
freshman year as a standout at Mississippi State University. However, something was missing and
she knew that she needed to make a change for herself.
“I chose to come to Texas Tech because of
the family atmosphere and because of the way the community supports athletics. It was a much
better environment for me than Mississippi State and I am so grateful to have made the switch.”
After she became a member of the Red Raid-
er family, her love for the sport has grown leaps
and bounds. Hill even admits that she doesn’t
know what life without volleyball would be like.
“I love volleyball for so many reasons, but I
love being a part of a tight-knit team and being able to compete and get better every day. I
have wanted to keep playing to become the best player I can. Volleyball
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has been the biggest thing in my life for so long I don’t know what I would do without it.”
Racking up two academic awards over the
course of her career, Hill understands the impor-
tance of a higher education. As a sports manage-
ment major, she earned 2016-17 First-Year SEC
Academic Honor Roll status as a freshman at Mississippi State, as well as Academic All-Big 12 First-Team honors as a junior in 2018.
“Sports is such a huge part of my life and I
would like to give back in any way that I can. I hope to someday work for an athletic or sports or-
ganization so I can help other student-athletes live out their dreams like I was able to.”
Although her time as a Red Raider is coming
to a close, she has never forgotten the individuals
who have made her dream of competing as a Division I athlete a reality.
“From the first day on campus, it is easy to
see how the donations to the Red Raider Club
help every student-athlete. Our facilities are top
of the line, and the programs offered to help us improve our careers after sport are the best in the
country. These have had the biggest impact on me and I’m so grateful.”
WE WORK FOR YOU. It’s not something you expect to hear from an electric company. But, we’re not your typical utility. We’re a local, not-for-profit electric cooperative delivering safe, reliable electric service at the lowest possible cost. Our members are our number one priority.
SPEC.COOP • LIKE US ON FACEBOOK • 806-775-7732
Your source for power. And information.
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Donor Spotlight
b y T E R RY G R E E N B E R G
Linda & Terry Fuller
Texas Tech Athletic endowments are a perpetual source of support for our student-athletes. The endowment consists of hundreds of individual funds supporting student-athlete scholarships and program support. Endowment gifts are a way for our donors to leave a lasting legacy, fulfill their individual philanthropic goals and invest in the long-term mission of our athletic department. Chad and Donell Merchant – along with their sons and daughters-in-law – decided they would travel with Texas Tech basketball as far as the Red Raiders went in the past two NCAA Tournaments. It was a lot of travel – but nothing like the journey Chad and Donell started in their eastern New Mexico hometown in the 1980s. Since the high school sweethearts met in a Dexter High School biology class, they: • Graduated from college – Chad from Texas Tech, Donell from Lubbock Christian University. • Coached and taught at New Mexico high schools, with Chad winning a state football title at Jal High School, while his wife took the Jal volleyball team to the state tournament numerous times. • Chad got into the development/ construction business after Donell became sick with lupus and had to stop working. Chad’s business has been very successful, allowing the Merchants to support Texas Tech Athletics. They upgraded their longtime basketball tickets to scholarship row on the floor at United Supermarkets Arena, have a suite for football and recently donated $500,000 for the locker rooms at the under-construction Dustin R. Womble Basketball Center. In addition, the Merchants have also donated to the Texas Tech Equestrian Center and the Ranch Horse team, national champions five out of the last ten years. “I believe the reason I’ve gotten to where I am is – and I say this humbly – God has opened doors for me that I don’t think would have been opened had I not been faithful to Him,” said Merchant.
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Starting in Dexter Donell’s dad was principal of Dexter High School and most of the boys were afraid of him in terms of asking Donell on a date. Chad was scared of him, too, but stubborn enough to date Donell. “He was more mature than the other guys. He actually took me on dates – all the other guys would want to meet somewhere,” she said. They got married in 1984 and Donell passed up a full ride to then-Lubbock Christian College to play basketball. “We decided we wanted to pay for it,” said Chad, with a touch of humor. After working for three years, Chad went to Texas Tech and Donell to LCC – and paid – regretting passing up Donell’s full ride. After college, they went to teach and coach. “I grew up in a teacher family,” said Donell. “I didn’t know there was anything else to do. Mom was a teacher. Dad was a teacher.” When they got to Jal, Donell was told to be patient with her volleyball team that had not gotten to the state tournament in ten years. They got there her first year as coach and other years. Chad won a football state title in 1999 and played for another one. A few years later, they moved to Carlsbad so Chad could coach basketball – his and his sons’ passion. A Bad Day Everything changed the beginning of their second year in Carlsbad. “Donell one day couldn’t get out of bed, could hardly breathe and every time she breathed she was in so much pain,” said Chad. “She was in and out of the hospital every other night for a long time,” he added.
It took awhile to diagnose lupus – an inflammatory disease caused when the immune system attacks its own tissues. The Merchants had three boys – a sophomore in high school, two more in eighth and sixth grades and Donell could no longer work. Chad decided to change careers. He got into business with his brother doing remodeling work for Office Max. That led to work for Dollar General. His brother’s company was crippled in the recession in 2008. Chad could return to teaching and coaching but started his own building and development company – naming it 7B after the brand of Donell’s grandfather’s ranch from 1950. He eventually ended up developing and building Family Dollar stores – doing 40-50 a year. It was very successful, but they were working too much so Chad and his sons downsized recently. They also started building car washes in Texas and New Mexico – Champion Xpress Car Wash. “Things have been good,” said Chad. Donell is better, too. But it took a long, painful time. “A couple of years ago, I didn’t think she was going to make it,” said Chad. Donell was put on strong drugs which weakened her bones. She endured three hip replacements and a shoulder replacement. The Merchants traveled in and out of Texas to find cures. More natural approaches and moving away from the harsh medication helped. That, and reducing stress. As Chad’s business blossomed, Donell didn’t have to worry about working.
And as Chad’s sons take a bigger role with the company, he’s taken up team roping as a hobby and also raises horses to compete in ranch versatility competitions at the Merchant family spread just south of the Lubbock-Lynn county line. He has one horse that is a potential world champion, said Chad. They also own two ranches – both in New Mexico, one of them up in Cloudcroft. Enjoying Sports And the family has enjoyed Texas Tech sports – especially what Chris Beard has done with the men’s basketball team, said Chad, who went to games when only a few thousand attended. Chad coached in New Mexico for former University of New Mexico player Ron Becker, who idolized Bob Knight. “Our offense was based around our defense. If we played good defense, it opened up our offense,” he said. “That’s what I love about Chris Beard and Mark Adams,” said Chad, referring to Beard’s assistant coach who’s built the Red Raiders’ awesome defense. The Merchants have enjoyed following Beard’s team and other Red Raider teams. Son Derrick and his wife have been to the national championship game earlier this year, the College World Series a few months ago and other trips. As members of the Victory Circle, they’ve enjoyed chartered trips where all the details are handled for fans. “It’s super convenient,” he said. The recent success of Texas Tech’s sports teams has him excited. “I think we’re in the top five in the country overall,” said Derrick. “I think Coach Wells is awesome and it will take him a little while to build football.” Chad recognizes the growth of the university’s athletics programs starts with the Director of Athletics. “Kirby (Hocutt) has surrounded himself with good people with a good work ethic. They’re living it every day – 24/7,” he said.
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LET'ER b y T E R RY G R E E N B E R G
PLANS TO UPDATE RIP GRIFFIN PARK ARE COMING TOGETHER
Tim Tadlock is very appreciative of Texas Tech baseball’s home – Rip
Griffin Park – and two of his players say the “Rip” is easily in the top three in the Big 12 Conference, if not the best.
That’s about to change.
Texas Tech is launching a project to upgrade the park with improve-
ments, first, to the team facility. The team facility will be one more thing for other college baseball programs to admire about Texas Tech baseball – competing in the College World Series four of the last six years after never going. Kirby Hocutt has heard from other athletic directors about the program. “I heard a lot of congratulations – and so many comments about Tim Tadlock and how fortunate we are at Texas Tech to have who many believe is the best head coach in college baseball,” said Hocutt, Texas Tech director of athletics. And Rip Griffin’s son Mark – a member of the Texas Tech University System Board of Regents – said the project is an “absolute necessity.” “We’ve got a beautiful ballpark, but it needs some improvements,” said Griffin. “Those are the things recruits look for today. It’s a very competitive environment,” said Griffin. What’s Going to Happen “It starts with improvements for the players,” said Hocutt. “What Tim has done here is nothing short of exceptional. These coaches and players have earned the opportunity to have the best team facility in college baseball and that’s where we’re starting.” “All baseball operations will be under one roof with a very unique and special entrance. They’ve earned what we’re getting ready to move forward with. That extends to those who have come before them and helped elevate Texas Tech baseball to where it is and the current team has the chance to build upon,” Hocutt added. Tadlock emphasizes the team is grateful for the improvements, but also appreciative of what they have.
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“We’ve never taken anybody in there who didn’t like our locker room. It’s very spacious and we keep it clean. Our guys take a lot of pride in taking care of the locker room and when something gets broke, they pretty much take the responsibility of fixing it,” said the Red Raider skipper. “One time we had a ping pong table that broke. Our coaches saw it at about 10 a.m. and by 1:30 we hadn’t heard anything. We walked in there and there’s a brand new ping pong table in a box. They take a lot of pride and responsibility because it’s their area,” Tadlock added. Players are in and out of the baseball clubhouse all day and not just for team practices, said Tadlock. They park their cars there because it’s close to the nutrition program, the weight room in the Sports Performance Center and classes. “So the nicer it is, the more they’re going to enjoy it and the better it will be for recruiting,” said Tadlock. The new player lounge – much like plans for the Dustin R. Womble Basketball Center – gives players an even better place to study, hang out and work on their game. For Klein and his teammates, an important part of the facility is the batting cages. “To all the guys, it means a lot to us to have amazing facilities. We love to wear out our cages,” said Klein, who hit one home run all of last regular season, then hit two in the College World Series.
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Warren, who played minor league baseball with the Dayton Dragons in the Cincinnati Reds organization after the College World Series, said more cages allows more players to work at the same time. “It just gives us opportunities for the players to get better,” said Warren. It helps recruiting, he said. “We get great players. Now, I think there’s a chance you may get even better players. And those players will develop more. With the Sports Performance Center right here and the amount of weights and stuff in the SPC, players have gotten stronger,” said Warren, who batted .355 in 2019 with 18 home runs, an improvement over his 2018 stats. “You don’t want to get left behind other universities. Kids love to see big buildings and nice facilities. And honestly, some people decide where they’re going just off that,” said Warren. Tadlock added: “Anytime something is new, there’s always an appeal for recruits – a process that happens so early now.” New hydrotherapy and other things to improve recovery are also important, said Tadlock. “The more up to date you are with the process that can help athletes recover – that’s really good,” said Tadlock. This also shows former players the university is building on their efforts. “We’ve been talking about renovating the building for a few years. And you take all the
guys who came before – back to the Proudfoots, the Burlesons, the Redmans – all the guys who heard we’re going to do this. Those guys are a big part of what we’ve built here. It gives credibility to what you’ve been saying,” said Tadlock. Donor & Fan Appreciation When asked if the College World Series trips have helped supporters step up to fund improvements, Tadlock, sitting just outside a dugout at Rip Griffin Park on a recent late afternoon, smiled slightly and said, “I don’t think it’s hurt anything, for sure.” “We’ve got a great appreciation for anybody who gives anything to help our student athletes. If us going to Omaha helps somebody open their pocketbook to help us, that's great,” he said. “We make a commitment to give our guys everything they need to succeed each day. By renovating our facility, we’re saying we’re going to give you every resource to develop you and for you to play at the highest level you can,” Tadlock added. Hocutt said support for the baseball improvements have been from lots of different people. “It’s so rewarding to see the amount of support Texas Tech baseball gets from Lubbock and the West Texas community. Countless individuals want to be part of it and help Tim and Texas Tech baseball,” said Hocutt. Tadlock said supporting student athletes impacts generations.
“If you’re creating an opportunity for somebody to pursue their college degree that affects their kids and then their kids. It’s a lifelong gift. You’re impacting so much more than just the people who are here,” he said. Lubbock native Griffin played baseball for the legendary Cliff Gustafson at the University of Texas and was part of a national championship team before getting his law degree from Texas Tech. “Even though it’s not my alma mater – it’s my school to a large degree. It’s just amazing what’s going on here and the investment being made by the university and also the community,” said Griffin, who’s on the Board of Regents for a second time. “We’ve never regretted a dollar we invested into a program or a scholarship that we didn’t get returns beyond our expectation – whether it was for student achievement, athletic achievement or image enhancement, which is very important today, for the university and the system,” he said. Griffin added a thought for potential donors. “The return on your investment is going to be an opportunity to educate the student, enhance the opportunities at the university and create an image in the community that’s very well respected and appreciated,” he said. “I don’t know that there's a better time to be associated or to be invested in this university and this system.” The team is also thankful for their fans. “Our fans are the best in the Big 12. It’s not
even close,” said Warren, who came to Texas Tech from Oklahoma. “I have friends from (the University of) Oklahoma and Oklahoma State who hate coming here, but say it’s their favorite place to play.” “They love the atmosphere, but say it’s the hardest place to play. Tadlock’s home record the last six, seven years is ridiculous,” said Warren. Klein likes meeting fans after games. “We want to meet fans and it’s cool building relationships. They love to meet all of us and it’s more of a family environment,” he said. Griffin added Texas Tech’s baseball success comes in a town that’s always loved baseball. “Back in the old days they had a Class C farm club for the Orioles called the Hubbers for the Hub City. Then Bobby Moegle’s success at Monterey High School,” said Griffin, who played for Moegle and was part of a state title team. “It’s always been a great baseball town and Tim’s now raised the level. They sell out season tickets every year. And there’s a level of expectation.” No Secret to the Success Tadlock says there’s no secret to the success for Texas Tech baseball. “Our process is get the best baseball players we can get here, which is a daily all-day process – 365 days a year. And when they get here, be able to say we did what’s right for each guy on our roster every day. That’s easier said than done when you have 35 guys,” said the coach.
“It’s not always the pat on the butt. Sometimes it means giving them discipline, sometimes it means giving them structure, sometimes it does mean patting them on butt. Sometimes it just means showing up for them and making sure we have good practices and we’re making an effort to be our best each day,” said Tadlock, who generally avoids self-praise. But his boss doesn’t. “It’s his consistency and being grounded in an unrelentless drive to be the very best. He has the utmost confidence and belief in his system. He’s somebody who brings his lunch pail to work every day. He never loses sight of wanting to be best program in country and believes we can be,” said Hocutt. “His teams have responded to that type of leadership. Coach Tadlock is more respected in the game of baseball than anybody else I’ve ever been around – from high school coaches, to parents to major league scouts. The respect for Tim Tadlock is exceptional. They know when their son or prospect comes to Texas Tech he’ll be developed fundamentally, his best interest looked after and coached by man with the highest values and character. “That’s a winning formula,” Hocutt added. Tadlock is quick to return the compliment. “Kirby’s a great baseball director of athletics. First of all, he’s a baseball fan. He loves the game. And I think there’s a trust factor there – that if we go in and ask for something we feel is important he knows it’s real. He’s always done everything he could to help us succeed,” said Tadlock. For Warren, it’s not if, but when – since the Red Raiders have now broken the even-year curse, getting to the CWS in an odd-numbered year and going further than they had gone before. “They’re eventually going to win a national championship. What Tadlock’s done with the program is unbelievable,” he said. Going to the Series is becoming an expectation, said Klein and two straight trips have been “super fun.” “We know how hard it is to get there, we got the farthest we’ve been and we have a firm grasp on what it takes to win. It takes hard work and discipline – even on days you have off. Get work in the weight room and hold each other accountable, be unselfish,” said Klein. Griffin says the Red Raiders are maybe one more pitcher or one more key hit away from a national title. “That’s how close they are. If you can win this conference, you have a chance every year to win the national championship,” he said. When Tadlock was asked if there was a key moment in these recent years where he felt the program “arrived,” he pointed out a moment in Morgantown, West Virginia earlier this year. “When we moved Josh Jung over to short – it pretty much solidified our defense,” said Tadlock.
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“You could see some things coming together that day. We really just started ‘routining’ the routine play,” he said. Better defense and solid pitching “allowed us to really have some margin for error.” Tadlock said he doesn’t coach any different in the post-season – he coaches different each game. “It’d be nice if you could coach them all the same. You really have to see how that game is going based on what’s going on the mound, how your offense is doing, you really try to adapt – what you need to do that day to win,” he said. The coach also said he doesn’t feel any different when he’s coaching in Omaha. “You enjoy each moment – whether that’s with a guy in the batting cage, or watching a guy throw a bullpen or watching a game. It sounds corny, but we enjoy the ride,” he said. Griffin said the team keeps improving on his favorite moments every year. “My favorite memory now was the third game of the Super Regional when Kurt Wilson hit an opposite-field home run to go to Omaha. Tim continues to provide me favorite memories,” he said. When asked about his favorite memory of going to games years ago with his dad – who played baseball for Texas Tech one season – Griffin brings up a slightly different memory. During his senior year at Texas, the Long-
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• New Lockers & Finishes • New Hydrotherapy and Training Areas • New Player Lounge • Reconfigured Equipment Room
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horns visited Lubbock and he knew this was the last time his parents would see him play competitively. Griffin went three-for-four, he said. And he never gets tired of seeing his dad’s name at the park. “I never take it for granted. I’ve had friends call me from all over the country when Tech was on ESPN playing baseball and they say ‘it’s got to be proud for your dad and your family.’ And I go ‘absolutely,’” he said. Catching Up Heading into his senior season, Klein is working on a degree in business management and his classes are right next to the baseball park. “So it’s extra nice,” he said. He wants to play pro ball and after his playing days are over coach or maybe work for Major League Baseball. “The business degree prepares me for any job – math, accounting, management or marketing,” he said. Warren is back on campus working on a master’s degree in higher education administration. He’s also doing an internship with Texas Tech Athletics and calls himself a guinea pig for a program where former student athletes can learn about how the department operates.
• New Player Grooming Area • New Coaches’ Locker Room • New Film Room • New Second Level Coaches’ Offices
Warren is going around to different parts of Athletics to see what they do and hopes to eventually work with an athletic department – “hopefully here.” “As an athlete you just show up on the bus and airplane and it’s just easy for us – but don’t know how much goes into it,” he said. He’s also hanging out with former Red Raid ers who are in professional baseball. They work out together and share stories of their experiences. As Warren heads for his first spring training in February, he’s learning what it’s like from some of his former teammates. He expects to go back to Dayton and appreciates how the Reds have treated him. “I was struggling for a while and the coaches met with me and we worked together every day for two weeks before batting practice. They care about us as players and they want you to succeed,” he said. Eye on the Prize Hocutt knows Tadlock is not satisfied just getting to the College World Series. After the first two trips to Omaha, Tadlock was not convinced to put up CWS banners. “He said not until we win the whole thing,” said Hocutt, who convinced the coach to do it for recruits and fans. “His sight is always on the big trophy,” said Hocutt.
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in the
RIGH PL
Texas Tech guard Davide Moretti is known as a great shooter. He led the nation a year ago with a 92.4 free-throw percentage (97-for-105), averaging 11.5 points and 2.4 assists per game as he helped lead the Red Raiders to the NCAA national championship game. He also led Tech with 73 3-pointers, sinking 45.9 percent of his shots from beyond the arc. So what is Moretti’s secret to being such an accurate shooter? “Confidence and preparation,” he replied. “It is like taking a test. If you study for the test, there is no pressure. You can’t fail. You have paid the price.” Moretti said his father Paulo, who played professional basketball in Europe for 12 years and now coaches a professional team in Italy, spent a lot of time with him in the gym growing up. “My dad was a great shooter back in the day,” he stated. “My percentage is not where I want it. It is still a process. But I feel with all the hours I have put in the gym, you have to develop your shot and get better every day.” When the 6-3 guard came out of high school in Italy, he said he decided to go pro for two years without getting paid. “I didn’t sign a contract and I stayed in Italy,” he explained. Moretti’s goal, however, was to come to the United States to play college basketball. He said former Tech assistant coach Max Lefevre, who was born in France, called him at the end of the first preseason, inviting him to consider Texas Tech. Moretti had offers from Indiana, Connecticut and Utah, as well as Texas Tech. Three summers ago, he said he took a trip to America to visit his prospective school. “The minute I stepped on the Texas Tech campus, I know this was the right place for me,” Moretti said. “Coach (Chris) Beard didn’t tell me I was a player he wanted. He told me I was a player he needed.” Moretti appeared in all 37 games as a freshman, making just one start and averaging 3.5 points per game. But last year, he stepped up his game, earning Big 12 Conference third team honors. There were plenty of highlights, too, like his career-high 21 points in a win
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HT LACE
over Arkansas, going 12 for 12 at the foul line and scoring 20 points against Oklahoma State, and knocking in 20 points in the win at Iowa State that gave Texas Tech its first Big 12 regular-season championship. Moretti, who scored in double figures in 25 games last season, hit two three-pointers and scored 15 points against Virginia in the national championship game. “It was unbelievable,” answered Moretti, when asked what he will remember from last year’s record-setting season that culminated with the school’s first trip to the Final Four. “There are so many memories.” He listed having his whole family in California to see him play in the West Regional and then his mother and brother attending the Final Four as one of those highlights. “I wanted them there because they had never seen me play,” he said. Clinching the school’s first Big 12 title with a win at Iowa State also makes his list of highlights. “After beating Gonzaga (to earn a berth in the Final Four), there were all the fans waiting for us when we came back to Lubbock. That is something I will remember, too. There are so many memories,” he said, repeating himself. But now it is time to put that Final Four season in the rearview mirror and begin concentrating on the 2019-20 season. “This is a completely new team this year, but it is that way every year,” said Moretti, who is the Red Raiders’ only returning starter. “I am not going to let last year define this season. It is just motivation to push on.” With so many newcomers on this year’s squad, Moretti knows he will be called on to take on more of a leadership role. “I’ve got to be a leader,” he emphasized. “I have talked to coach (Beard) about that. I would like to be a leader by example, to show my teammates how to be successful.” He enters his junior season with 566 points and his next three-pointer with be the 100th of his career. He is 121-for-133 (91 percent) from the free-throw line. Confidence and preparation is the leadership example that Moretti brings to the team. Indeed, he has turned out to be a player Beard and the Red Raiders needed
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POSITION BR FORWARD/CENTER
Through graduation, transfers and eligibility exhaustion, Texas Tech’s frontcourt was entirely depleted from last year, and Beard will rely upon two true freshmen, a redshirt freshman international player and two transfers to attempt to fill the void. Like Clarke, senior graduate transfer T.J. Holyfield will be counted upon to lift the Red Raiders with his playing experience, just not for the Red Raiders. A 6-8, 225-pounder from Albuquerque who played three seasons at Stephen F. Austin State University, Holyfield redshirted last year due to an injury. In three seasons he scored 1,081 points, grabbed 595 rebounds and blocked 134 shots for the Lumberjacks. As a junior he played against the Red Raiders in the 2018 NCAA Tournament, finishing with 10 points. Joel Ntambwe is another transfer for the Red Raiders, having played his freshman season at UNLV. But his eligibility for this season has not been cleared by the NCAA, so his status remains uncertain. The 6-8, 220-pound Ntambwe, a native of Congo, averaged 11.8 points and 5.5 rebounds in his only season with the Rebels. He started all 31 games he played at UNLV, scoring in double figures in 16 games, including four double-doubles. He averaged 13.3 points per game as a senior at Aspire Academy in Louisville. Andrei Savrasov redshirted last season after playing for BC Zenith Saint Petersburg in Russia. The 6-7, 225-pounder averaged 8.0 points and 5.6 rebounds per game in the U-18 European Championship, including an 18-point game against Slovakia Tyreek Smith is one of the two freshman newcomers in the frontcourt. The 6-7, 215-pound Smith signed with Texas Tech after a stellar career at Trinity Christian High School in Baton Rouge, La., where he averaged 17.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game as a senior in earning TAPPS first-team all-state and district defensive player of the year. He was named TAPPS Class 5A Player of the Year as a junior. Russell Tchewa will be counted upon to be the presence in the middle for the Red Raiders. A true freshman from Cameroon who played at the Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut, Tchewa spent three years prior playing prep basketball in Italy
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GUARD
The entire season for the Red Raiders won’t hinge on the play of their guards but, at least early on, that position will prove crucial since it is the only spot on the team with any game experience. In fact, of the three returning letter winners for head coach Chris Beard, only 6-foot-3, 180-pound junior Davide Moretti has any starting experience, having started in each of Texas Tech’s 38 games last season. His leadership from the point position will be crucial as he will be relied upon for not only his scoring ability and 3-point prowess but also for being able to get his teammates in position to contributed both offensively and defensively. Of the 657 points returning from last season, Moretti was responsible for 438 of those, averaging 11.5 points per game, good for second on the team behind only Jarrett Culver. Moretti was also third in assists and steals in 2018-19. With Moretti having the only starting experience, it will be essential for Kyler Edwards to take a major step forward as a sophomore. At 6-4 and 200 pounds, Edwards was a solid player off the bench last year, playing in all 38 games but averaging just 5.5 points per outing. The former four-star recruit will be relied upon to provide the missing scoring left by Culver and Matt Mooney, and he showed that ability with 17 and 16 points, respectively, in two preseason exhibition games against Mega Bemax in August. Texas Tech’s only other experience comes in the form of redshirt sophomore Avery Benson. Benson (6-4, 200) appeared in 20 games last season but averaged less than a point per game. Outside of those three, Beard will rely upon a slew of freshmen newcomers, a redshirt freshman and a graduate transfer from Virginia. Part of the reason for Texas Tech’s run to the national title game last was the experience provide by graduate transfers Matt
Mooney and Tariq Owens. Beard is hoping lighting will strike twice in the form of senior Chris Clarke, a transfer from Virginia Tech. The 6-6, 210-pound Clarke averaged 9.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 1.03 steals in 79 games for the Hokies and comes to Texas Tech as the No. 8-ranked graduate transfer in the country. He had a solid game in preseason exhibition loss to the Bahamas National Team, scoring 16 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. A former four-star recruit from Converse Wagner, Kevin McCullar (6-6, 195) redshirted last season after averaging 16.8 points and 6.6 rebounds per game in high school. He helped lead Wagner to the Class 6A state title game and was listed as an ESPN top 30 national player. The first five-star recruit in Texas Tech basketball history, Jahmi’us Ramsey has the potential to be not only an instant impact player from the opening tip but a leading contender for freshman All-American. The 6-4, 195-pound Ramsey led Duncanville to the Class 6A state championship las year and was named a firstteam all-state selection. The No. 12-ranked recruit in the country showed his ability by scoring 44 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in a win over Mega Bemax in the Bahamas. Terrence Shannon, Jr. comes to Texas Tech after spending a year at IMG Academy prep school where he earned a four-star rating from ESPN, Rivals and 247Sports. The 6-6, 210-pounder was listed as the No. 92 recruit in the ESPN 100 and No. 86 by 247Sports, and showed well in the Bahamas, scoring nine points against the Bahamas National Team and averaged 16.5 points in two games against Mega Bemax. Rounding out the list of newcomers at guard is Clarence Nadolny, a 6-3, 195-pounder from France. A three-star recruit, Nadolny averaged more than 18 points and six assists per game at the Scotland Performance Institute in Pennsylvania, and he had a 13-point game against Mega Bemax in the Bahamas.
REAKDOWN
b y G E O R G EWAT S O N
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Brittany Brewer is
AIMING HIGH
Brittany Brewer had quite a summer – both on and off the basketball court. The 6-5 senior from Abilene Wylie graduated this summer, completing her undergraduate degree in Community, Family and Addiction Sciences in just three years. Graduation came on the heels of Brewer being named one of five players in the country to the Co-SIDA Academic All-America first team, becoming the first Lady Raider in school history to be awarded a first-team selection and just the third in school history to be named an Academic All-American. She also did an internship this summer at the New Legacy Home for Women, which is a 15-month program for women with drug addiction and other challenges. “The women I worked with were older than me,” Brewer said. “I wondered how they would interact with me. I was afraid they wouldn’t respond. But they are transforming their lives, and they were so respectful. It was an amazing experience.” That would have been enough by itself to make it a busy summer, but Brewer, who has obviously demonstrated a remarkable ability to multi-task, was also selected to the USA team that played in August in the Pan American Games in Peru. She is the first Lady Raider to be named to the USA Pan American women’s basketball team since Sheryl Swoopes in 1992. “It was an honor being part of the team and to play with some of the best players in the country,” she said. “It was an honor to represent our country and wear the red, white and blue.” Brewer and the USA team won the silver medal, losing to Brazil in the championship game. “I played well,’ she said. “I learned and grew a lot. My confidence grew. I had never played in a game that required that much physicality.” Second-year Texas Tech coach Marlene Stollings believes Brewer’s Kirby Hocutt experience at the Pan AmericanAthletic Games Director will pay dividends this season. “Brittany’s time in Peru has been very beneficial to her on and off the court,” Stollings said. “I think her leadership skills have improved because of that. She is someone that is really committed to Texas Tech and leaving a legacy here. She represents that. A lot of players on our
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b y A L P I C K E TT
team are really committed to helping her have a great senior year and get to the postseason because she hasn’t experienced that during her tenure here.” With only three returning players from last year’s squad, along with a number of transfers and freshmen as well as two redshirts who sat out last year, Brewer knows she needs to be “a proactive leader” this season. “My goal is to be more consistent, to hold some presence on the court, to have that same physicality and hunger to win,” she continued. “I am also working on my defense, and I need to stay out of foul trouble.” Brewer has played in all 92 games for the Lady Raiders since she arrived on campus as a highly-touted freshman. She started all 31 games last season, averaging 16.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. Her greatest performance came last March in a 104-84 win over Oklahoma in the opening round of the Big 12 tournament when she scored 40 points and grabbed 15 rebounds. The 40 points set a new Big 12 record for the most points scored by a player in the first round of the league tournament. Brewer’s 71 blocked shots last season ranks fifth in school history. Her 162 career blocks are also fifth best in school history. She had 13 double-doubles a year ago, leading the Big 12 and ranking in the top 25 nationally in that statistical category. Brewer, who tallied 20 or more points in 10 games last season, currently had 983 career points and 609 career rebounds. Last year, however, Brewer added a new feature to her game, learning to shoot the 3-pointer for the first time in her career, sinking 34 threes from beyond the arc. “Coach Stollings told me that having the ability to shoot the three would make my stock go up and make me multi-dimensional,” Brewer said. “I said ‘let’s give it a try.’ I worked hard on that. It was awesome. I love the three-pointer.” Brewer, who began work on a master’s degree in interdisciplinary studies this fall, says her other goal is to help lead the Lady Raiders to the NCAA tournament.
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POSITION BR
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REAKDOWN
b y G E O R G EWAT S O N
GUARD With only two forwards listed on the official roster, good guard play will be essential for the Lady Raiders to have success in 2019-20 season. The advantage for Texas Tech is that of the team’s three returning players from last year, all three averaged in double figures in scoring and two of the three are guards. Last year, as sophomore guard Chrislyn Carr went, so went the Lady Raiders. While head coach Marlene Stollings is hoping there is more depth to take the pressure off her point guard, Carr will still be required to play at a high level, whether it’s scoring or distributing the ball. Last year, Carr earned Big 12 Conference Freshman of the Year Honors by averaging a team-high 17.9 points and almost four assists per game. Also back for the Lady Raiders in the backcourt is 5-8 junior Sydney Goodson. Goodson made 26 starts in the 31 games she played last year, averaging 10.9 points per outing and averaging 37.7 percent from the 3-point line, good for sixth in the Big 12. She also averaged 5.0 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.6 steals per game. Stollings also is hopeful an influx of Div. I transfers, a mix of junior college talent and a pair of true freshmen will help the Lady Raiders make a big leap this season. Leading the group of Div. I transfers is 6-0 junior Levi Gordon, who sat out last season after transferring from national power UConn. A former five-star recruit who was the No. 29-ranked player in the country coming out of high school, Gordon averaged 24.7 points per game and finished as the all-time leading scorer at Hurst L.D. Bell High School. Jada Walton lands at Texas Tech after spending her first two collegiate seasons at Texas A&M, where she played in 58 games and was one of the top scorers on the team. Com-
ing out of high school, the 5-11 Walton was a three-star recruit by ESPNW HoopGurlz and the No. 30-ranked guard in the 2017 class as a four-year letterwinner at Southwest DeKalb High School in Lithonia, Ga. The final Div. I guard transfer is junior Andrayah Adams from St. John’s. The 5-10 native of Minneapolis played two seasons at St. John’s, appearing in 65 games with five starts. As a sophomore she shot 40.7 percent from the 3-point line and 42.1 percent from the field. She was a three-star recruit out of high school. Two key junior college transfers are also expected to play key roles for the Lady Raiders. Ricka “Maka” Jackson comes to Texas Tech after two seasons at South Georgia Tech. Ranked as the No. 15 junior college player in the country, the 5-8 Jackson helped lead South Georgia Tech to a conference championship and a berth in the NJCAA Women’s National Tournament in Lubbock last year. Also joining the Lady Raiders is junior Jo’Nah Johnson. As a sophomore at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M, the 5-9 Johnson averaged 15.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 5.0 assists per game after a stellar four-year career at Edmond (Okla.) Santa Fe High School. Two true freshmen will also be looked upon to be key contributors this season. Naliah Dillard, a 5-10 guard from Sacramento, Calif., is a three-time all-league selection and a second-team all-state honoree from Inderkum High School. She also played for the West Coast Premier League team. Alexis Tucker is a four-star recruit from Hawthorne, Calif., who enters Texas Tech as the No. 12-ranked player at her position and in the top 70 of the 2019 class. The 5-11 Tucker was a semifinalist for the 2017 Under-16 USA Women’s National Team Trials.
FORWARD Texas Tech’s only other returning starting experience is in the form of forward Brittany Brewer. The 6-5 senior from Abilene was a dominant force for the Lady Raiders last season. The AllBig 12 honorable mention selection started all 31 games for Texas Tech last season, averaging 16.6 points, 9.1 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots per game while shooting 52.8 percent from the field and 69.2 percent from the free throw line. Her 71 blocks led the Big 12 and ranked in the top 25 in the nation, Joining Brewer in the back court will be Salt Lake Community College transfer Emma VillasGomis. A 6-3 junior and native of France, VillasGomis helped lead Salt Lake to consecutive NJCAA Women’s National Tournament appearances, which just happened to both be in Lubbock. Salt Lake posted a 51-12 record in her two seasons with the Bruins.
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DRIVEN b y G E O R G E WAT S O N
Like most kids, Travis Bruffy loved hanging out with his grandfather. But Bruffy’s grandfather was unlike most. He wasn’t a farmer running a tractor with little Travis sitting on his lap operating the steering wheel, and he wasn’t a firefighter with little Travis getting to run the siren as the truck sped off to an emergency. There’s no doubt, however, that Bruffy’s grandfather made just as big of an impact on him as a grandfather can. Instead of farming or firefighting, Bruffy’s grandfather got him interested in something that is still a driving force for the Texas Tech senior offensive lineman. “My grandfather was a banker, and we lived with him for a period of my life,” Bruffy said. “He always told me that it’s your obligation to be an informed person, whether that be with news, politics or the economy. So, every morning, he would listen to the radio, listen to Bloomberg radio, every morning during breakfast. And when I got home, I was watching CNBC with him and we would watch how the market did that day. “He had such a passion for it and I wanted to learn from that and study that. And I wanted to, eventually, get to a point in my life where I’m a master of it and an expert in it.” Bruffy, who has started for the Red Raiders since his freshman year, has attacked his future with the same gusto and determination with which he’s attacked opposing defensive linemen and linebackers for three-plus years. That means taking advantage of every opportunity presented to him. This summer, through family connections, Bruffy had the unique opportunity to shadow one of the top executives for Credit Suisse, one of the world’s largest multinational investment banks and financial services founded in Switzerland and headquartered in Zurich. Bruffy, a double major in finance and ac counting, spent three days learning as much as he could from Shahab Jalinoos, the global head of foreign exchange strategy for Credit Suisse’s New York City office. Bruffy was able to be on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange and observe the foreign exchange (FX) and equities markets while they were being traded. He also
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got to experience options trading and emerging markets as well as spend time handing out his resumé to prospective employers. “I took about three notepads to the office and I filled them all up,” Bruffy said. “I spent from breakfast to lunch one day with the options guys, looking at their algorithms and formulas. I’m a decently cerebral guy, but that was so over my head that I was just blown away. I spent some time with the bond pricing guys and I got to see some of the commodities traded up there. Then I spent a full day with the FX guys, and that was amazing. I just took a bunch of notes and learned as much as I could from the best in the business.” It became a tremendous opportunity to get a head start toward a career in the financial world for Bruffy, an opportunity most any businessoriented student would love to have. Honestly, it’s the kind of experience students search for in whatever field of endeavor they are pursuing. For Bruffy, it’s yet another experience and aspect to the student-athlete life that he can add and show just how hard he has worked – both within athletics and outside of it – to be the most well-rounded and learned person he can even before he leaves Texas Tech. In addition to the time he has spent on football, Bruffy has served student-athletes at Texas Tech and the Big 12 off the field as well. He was one of 15 student-athletes from all Power Five conferences to attend the autonomy session of the NCAA Convention in Orlando in January. Representing Texas Tech and the Big 12 Conference, Bruffy was able to vote on key legislative measures that could affect student-athletes at the national level. He also has served as the president of the Texas Tech chapter of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, which provides the NCAA input and gives the student-athlete a voice on the rules, regulations and policies that affect studentathletes on campus. Bruffy credited Texas Tech athletics director Kirby Hocutt and Lamarr Pottinger with the J.T. & Margaret Talkington Leadership Academy as role models and taking him under their wings to put him in position to be a leader both on and off the field. Even head football coach Matt Wells joked at the beginning of the season he could see Bruffy becoming governor one day. “Travis Bruffy is an excellent representative for his peers across the nation and here at Texas Tech University,” Hocutt said. “It is a tremendous honor to have a Texas Tech student-athlete represent the Big 12 Conference at the highest level.” It’s all quite a lot for any student to be involved in, much less a student-athlete who has additional demands on his time. But, for Bruffy, it all goes back to being that well-rounded, informed person his grandfather told him he needed to be, while also fulfilling a desire to make a difference in the financial world.
“The reason I take all these things on is I don't want an excuse not to succeed, Bruffy said. “So whatever avenue I hit, I have to succeed, and I have to hit it ahead on. I'm 21 years old, I don't
know where in the world I'm going to end up. I don't know what in the world I'm going to end up doing but I promise you I'm going to tackle all of it with the same mindset.”
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NOTEBOOK RECRUITING
b y B E N G O LA N
Electric Slot Receiver Joins the Fold
Myles Price
The Colony inside receiver Myles Price has been a long-time target for Texas Tech, even going back to last year and the previous coaching staff. Price initially visited Texas Tech in October 2018 even though he did not have an offer from the Red Raiders. Fast forward to February 2019, when Texas Tech gave Price the scholarship offer he had been waiting for. Even though a verbal commitment didn’t come until months later, Price always wanted to end up with the Red Raiders. Price can do it all on the field. He is rated as a three-star prospect and the No. 121 recruit in the state of Texas per Rivals.com. Price chose the Red Raiders over offers from Arizona State, Colorado, Houston, Illinois, Kansas, Kansas State, Ole Miss, Oklahoma State, Purdue, TCU, Utah and Washington State.
Texas Tech Adds Two Defensive Playmakers
In October, Matt Wells received some good news off the field. Linebacker Derrick Lewis II was in town for his official visit that weekend and announced his commitment to Texas Tech before leaving the South Plains. Lewis II is a 6-1, 210-pound linebacker out of Clemens High School in Schertz, Texas. He had also been considering Kansas, Kansas State, Nebraska, Oklahoma State and SMU among others. Lewis is ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 127 recruit in the state of Texas per Rivals.com. The good news didn’t end there. A few days after Lewis’ announcement, defensive back Nate Floyd also pulled the trigger for the Red Raiders. Floyd is a 6-1, 170-pound athlete from A&M Consolidated High School in College Station, Texas who Texas Tech is recruiting as a cornerback. At the time of his commitment Floyd was also heavily considering Missouri and Arizona. Floyd is ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 113 recruit in the state of Texas per Rivals.com.
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Cale Sanders Jr. Texas Tech Starts 2021 Class with Versatile Corner
It didn't take long for Cale Sanders Jr. to shut his recruitment down and join the Red Raiders’ class. After picking up his first scholarship offer from Texas Tech back in June, Sanders Jr. took one unofficial visit to Lubbock and decided he wanted to play his college ball for the scarlet and black. Cornerbacks coach Julius Brown has been the lead recruiter for Sanders Jr., who plays corner, linebacker and running back for his high school. The 5-11, 175-pound prospect is unranked per Rivals.com.
Derrick Lewis II
Nimari Burnett
Nate Floyd
Micah Peavy
K Loic Fouonji
Casey Collier
Coaches Prioritizing
Texas Tech has had a few official visitors in town so far this season, and those trips already paid off with the commitments of Derrick Lewis II and Nate Floyd. Here are the other prospects who officially visited the South Plains and a look at where the Red Raiders stand in their recruitment: Offensive lineman Casey Collier. Collier is a 6-7, 295-pound prospect out of Barbers Hill High School in Baytown, Texas, who verbally committed to Minnesota in late March. Texas Tech offensive line coach Steve Farmer is always looking to add talented lineman, and Collier would be a big get, both literally and figuratively. Collier, a three-star prospect, decommitted from the Golden Gophers in early October and is evaluating his options. Wide Receiver Loic Fouonji. Fouonji is a 6-4, 192-pound receiver out of Midland Lee High School in Midland. Fouonji has been on multiple unofficial visits to Texas Tech and has shown high interest in the Red Raiders in the past. He has also visited Oklahoma State, SMU and Texas. Fouonji is ranked as a three-star prospect and the No. 124 recruit in the state of Texas per Rivals.com.
Capitalizing on the Final Four Run
Chibuzo Agbo
Chibuzo Agbo, out of St. Augustine high school in San Diego committed to Texas Tech after his official visit to Lubbock in early August. Agbo is a versatile 6-7, 215-pound forward that can play anywhere on the court. He is ranked as a four-star recruit per Rivals and one of the top 90 prospects in the country. Other recruits that Texas Tech has prioritized include Duncanville wing Micah Peavy and Prolific Prep (Calif.) guard Nimari Burnett. Both prospects have very impressive offer lists, but Texas Tech is right there in the mix and either would be a big addition to the program’s roster.
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