012219

TUESDAY, JAN. 22, 2019 VOLUME 93 ■ ISSUE 31

LA VIDA

SPORTS

Tech offers resources to recover post-holiday finances.

Big 12 coaches are in high demand around the NFL and college football.

Column: Incident at Lincoln Memorial is just another product of American outrage.

OPINIONS

ONLINE Track and field records were broken during the Red Raider Invitational over the weekend.

See the highlights on our website.

PG 3

PG 5

PG 4

ONLINE

INDEX LA VIDA SPORTS OPINIONS CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS SUDOKU

3 5 4 3 5 3

CAMPUS

Student orgs celebrate MLK Day with service

By AKHILA REDDY L a Vida Editor

IKECHUKWU DIKE/The Daily Toreador

Morgan Ballard, a senior biology major from Dallas, prepares for final exams during the Alpha Kappa Alpha study hall event Monday, Dec. 3, 2018, in the College of Media & Communication. For most people, the environment in which they study is the force that determines if they are productive and successful.

Environment impacts students’ study habits, retention levels

By ADÁN RUBIO

T

News Editor

he learning material, time and stress are all factors that can impact one’s studying.

Their environment is the force that determines if they are productive and successful.

Whether a student enjoys studying in his or her dorm room with complete silence or in the library with different background noises, their study environment is a factor some students may consider when wanting to learn effectively.

Rachel Harris, coordinator of the Tech Tutoring and Study Center in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics, said establishing a study schedule early in the semester is an important step that

requires one to consider their most productive study environment.

“When you’re trying to make a study schedule for yourself, one thing is you need to find a place that’s familiar, not brand new, that you have everything you need to study,” she said. “Just commit a couple of hours a day to that place.”

For students who want to know what type of setting is best for studying, Harris said she suggests looking for a comforting environment.

Studying in one’s room, however, is a choice she said could be bad, as there can be different distractions.

“If you get distracted, you probably need to go out,” Harris said regarding students who try to work in their dorm rooms. “It depends on who you are, what you’re used to studying with, if you like noise or

don’t like noise.”

Depending on a student’s preferences, whether it be the noise level of a room or the comfort a room provides, there can also be a variety of factors that may affect one’s retention while studying in a certain place.

The type of study environment a student feels is the most relaxing may not influence how a student retains information.

Michael Serra, associate professor in the Tech Psychological Sciences department, said the place a person selects can have little impact on their productivity while studying.

“It doesn’t mean the environment can’t interact with that,” he said. “What I would be most concerned about is an environment that is too distracting.”

Distractors, such as a roommate, cell phone or television, are the true obstacles Serra said matter more than if a place is quiet or comfortable enough for learning.

“They’re going to take away from the actual act of studying,” he said. “You’re better off trying to seclude yourself somewhere you don’t have these distractors.”

Regarding the presence of background noise in a place, Serra said some research suggests there is a preferred spot between too much and too little background noise. With the right amount of background noise, he said a student subconsciously works to suppress sounds and focuses more on studying rather than letting the mind wander.

SEE STUDYING, PG. 2

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Despite lockdown defense, Red Raider offense proving to be liability

By AUSTIN WATTS Managing Editor

After a stellar 15-1 start to the 2018-2019 campaign for the Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team, Tech appeared to be on pace for one of the best finishes in program history, but a recent string of back-toback conference losses have tempered the sky-high expectations with doubt surrounding Tech’s offense.

Expectations were high entering the season for Tech, quite possibly the highest they have ever been for a Red Raider basketball team. Coming off an Elite Eight appearance, the first in program history, Tech coach Chris Beard was expected to work his magic and make the Red Raiders contenders again despite the losses of six key players.

“I’m really proud of our guys.

Let’s think about this, K-State returns five all five starters from an Elite Eight team,” Beard said, according to Tech Athletics. “I think K-State is 4-2 right now in the conference. Texas Tech loses five seniors and a first round pick

in Zhaire Smith, we’re here at 4-2.”

Early on that expectation was rewarded, with Tech winning eight straight, largely in part of the play of sophomore Jarrett Culver and graduate transfers Matt Mooney and Tariq Owens. These expectations faltered however, following a 69-58 loss to Duke, one of the top teams in the country.

Even though the Blue Devils featured one of the top offenses in the country and many wondered if the Red Raider defense was up to the challenge, the question quickly became one of Tech’s offense, not its lockdown defense.

In the loss to Duke, it became apparent Tech was missing something, namely the clutch play of former Red Raider Keenan Evans down the stretch of tight games during last year’s Elite Eight run.

Evans, a fan favorite and four-year starter for the Red Raiders, had numerous game-winning plays and showed a penchant for putting the points on the board for Tech when it mattered most.

SEE BASKETBALL, PG. 6

CIARA PEROZZI/The Daily Toreador

Graduate student forward Tariq Owens fights for a jump ball during Texas Tech’s game against Iowa State Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, in the United Supermarkets Arena. Last week, the Red Raiders went 0-2 and are now in a four-way tie for first place in the Big 12 Conference.

Approximately 36 years ago, civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr. was honored with a federal holiday to celebrate his historical work advocating for equality and nonviolent protest.

On Monday, Texas Tech students honored Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by giving back to the Lubbock community.

As part of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, student organizations participated in various service projects throughout Lubbock. Participating organizations included the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity, the Impact Movement and the Zeta Phi Beta sorority.

For members of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, the day is especially significant since King himself was once a member, Chibu Nwafor, a junior industrial engineering major from Dallas, said. Nwafor is vice president of Alpha Phi Alpha.

“We’re a community service fraternity,” Nwafor said. “It was also the first African-American fraternity founded in 1906 at Cornell University, and we have many prominent members such as Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King Jr., Frederick Douglas.”

The fraternity has been honoring King’s life with a day of service since Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first celebrated in 1986, he said.

This year and last year, members of the fraternity served by remodeling and renovating the Caviel Museum of African American History located in East Lubbock.

Service is closely tied to King’s legacy, Nwafor said. In addition to tackling racism and civil rights, King also addressed socioeconomic problems and issues and gave to those who needed it.

“He’s just someone who has always put other people’s interests before his own interests, other people’s well-being before his own well-being, and I feel like that’s what service is about,” Nwafor said.

“Being selfless, just trying to do to right by society, and I feel like the best way to celebrate Martin Luther King’s life is through service.”

The Impact Movement student organization also celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Jevea Moore, a nutrition major senior from Sugarland, said. The organization aims to equip African-American students on campus to be disciples.

As a Christian-based organization, service is a priority, she said.

Members of the organization served on Martin Luther King Jr. Day by volunteering with an organization called Family Promise.

“Basically what they do is they work with homeless families, and they’re kind of helping them transition from homeless families to having their own home and getting on their feet,” Moore said.

Serving on Martin Luther King Jr. Day is important, Moore said. It is not just a holiday or a day to take off, but a day to honor the work King did for many years, she said.

SEE MLK DAY, PG. 3

2

NEWS

JAN. 22, 2019

WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM

CAMPUS

Avoiding stress requires effort, healthy living habits

By ANTHONY TORRES Staff Writer

No matter what people decide to do in their lives, stress is inevitable. Stress can eventually lead to low self-esteem issues.

“For a lot of students, this is their first time living independently, having to make decisions for themselves,” Greg Johnston, staff psychologist at the Texas Tech Student Counseling Center, said. “Whether they get up and go to class, the relationships they choose, financial stressors are impacted by decisions that they make. It is the first time they are having to deal with these emotions.”

For students to start avoiding stress caused by first college experiences, they can take steps to prevent

these issues from arising.

“I think exercise is also really important, as well as having that social network as well,” Nicole Noble, associate director of the University Career Center, said. “There have been a lot of studies that talk about having a social network can greatly improve our ability to be able to handle stressful situations.”

When students come to college, they are making more decisions, Noble said.

Establishing a routine, having healthy sleeping habits and creating an overall balanced lifestyle can help alleviate stress as well.

More and more students are having to find ways to manage stress and low self-esteem issues while in college. Each student

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador

The Texas Tech Student Wellness Center houses the Student Counseling Center. The SCC has walk-in clinic hours from Monday through Friday at 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. is different and needs to find what works best for them, whenever it comes to learning how to avoid stress.

“I think the best way I’ve found to handle stress and low self-esteem in college is by surrounding myself with positive

CAMPUS

Technology poses issues for student performance

By MATT HAN Staff Writer

Students use their laptops to take notes, record their professor’s lectures and go onto social media while their professor is speaking during class.

When students use their phones for entertainment or to check social media, they are creating a distraction for the other students, according to the Oxford Learning website.

Trent Seltzer, assistant dean for graduate studies at the Texas Tech College of Media and Communication, said he worries about technology being a distraction for the other students trying to pay attention to the lecture.

“Personally, it does not bother me,” Seltzer said. “But I literally had a group of students saying to please talk to a student in front of them. He was on his computer watching a video, and it was really distracting.”

As a professor of public relations, Seltzer said there are days when he asks his students to bring a laptop because they would be building

surveys or analyzing data.

On the other hand, Seltzer said he also sits in the back to watch other professors teach.

He said he sees students using their laptops to go onto Facebook, watch ESPN or text.

Bobby Schweizer, a professor of journalism and creative media industries, said he teaches media literacy, video game development and interactive media. He said his policy is for students to only use technology in class

for class-related things.

Other than a professor’s class policy, the size of the classroom contributes toward students’ temptation to sneak out their phones and not pay attention, Schweizer said.

“In a big lecture hall, students are more likely to use their technology because they feel that they are not being watched,” Schweizer said. “In smaller classrooms, people will still look at their phones, but I think they feel

MCKENZIE GARZA/The Daily Toreador

Cellphones and other electronics have become a major distraction for college students. Students who become distracted by their electronic devices can often develop an addiction, causing them to lose focus.

more pressure to engage.”

Other than technology being a distraction, he said students can focus on one thing at a time and have the tendency to think they are better at multitasking than they think.

“If I spend 45 seconds responding to an email on my phone, I would just ignore whoever was speaking up at the front,” Schweizer said. “We are doing ourselves a disservice.”

Cell phones can offer different channels of understanding. However, this creates less group discussions with other people, according to the Oxford Learning website.

Ian Wilkinson, director of Technology Support Services, said a student cannot get involved if they are absorbing content from their phones.

Regarding a student’s involvement in class, Wilkinson said retaining content depends on how a professor uses technology in the classroom.

“Technology has been used in education. That is not the problem,” Wilkinson said.

“It is how people use them.” @DailyToreador

and supportive people and being active in organizations,” Forrest Johnson, a junior finance major from

STUDYING

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Regarding the presence of background noise in a place, Serra said some research suggests there is a preferred spot between too much and too little background noise.

With the right amount of background noise, he said a student subconsciously works to suppress sounds and focuses more on studying rather than letting their mind wander.

Along with someone’s preferred level of background noise, retention of information could differ depending on how a person may perceive different study material. “ T h e r e ’s c e r t a i n l y going to be differences across students,” Serra said. “There might be different environmental conditions ideal for different topics.”

Doing a reading-based assignment while listening to background conversation or music with lyrics is one example Serra said displays how

Where do I get my copy of The Daily Toreador?

Frisco said. “A good support system is crucial to staying positive and raising self-esteem.”

The best thing students can do when they find themselves to be in stressful situations is to find out what works best for them.

“One thing that we want to do is recognize that the Student Counseling Center is a resource for their mental health needs,” Johnston said. “We have individual therapy, groups, other types of modalities…if you are feeling stressed we have a massage chair, relaxing software. It’s a place that students can reserve for an hour and come in and destress and take an hour for themselves and practice healthy self-care.” @DailyToreador

a student may focus on the language they hear and not the writing on the page. For students doing a visual or logical assignment, such as art or math, Serra said verbal noise can be a part of the study environment that could help a student focus.

Regardless of how a human’s mind processes information in different environments, finding the best study setting may consist of analyzing one’s study habits.

“They might have to do some amount of selfmonitoring,” Serra said.

Despite how a person determines the best environment for them, students could have different perspectives on what helps their learning.

Dylan Norris, freshman business management major from The Woodlands, said his main distractor while studying is his phone.

“I meet up with people from my class,” he said regarding his other productive study habits. “I study at the library.” @AdanRubioDT

Jerry S. Rawls College of Business Adminstration • 2 locations

Engineering Center • 1 location

Terry Fuller Petroleum Engineering • 1 location

Holden Hall Main Entrances • 2 locations

Math • 1 location Also available in Science building

Chemistry • 1 location Also available in Biology building

Map courtesy of Office of Space Planning & Graphics

There are more than 90 pick-up locations on campus. Find one in your residence hall or in any of your academic buildings.

Robert H. Ewalt Student Recreation Center • 2 locations

College of Media & Communication; Student Media • 2 locations

Texas Tech Library • 2 locations

Student Union Building Main Entrances • 2 locations

@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com

CAMPUS

LA VIDA

Page 3 Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019

Tech offers resources to recover post- holiday finances

By HAILEY WALTER Staff Writer

During the month of January, college students may notice a significant drop in their bank accounts in the wake of the expensive holiday season.

To recover from this drop, Texas Tech students have resources and professional advice on campus that can help get their finances back on track.

One of the options available to students is Red to Black Peer Financial Coaching. DeAndre Geels, a graduate student assistant, is a Red to Black financial coach.

“We can help them answer any questions they have about student loans, credit cards and anything personal finance related,” Geels said. “We can really try to help them ease their stress, create a spending budget and there’s certain apps they can download.”

Red to Black offers a few services for Tech students.

The coaches in the program give presentations in classroom settings on topics regarding budgeting, setting financial goals, credit score, student loans and how to manage money overall. Students can also set up an appointment and have one-

on-one confidential client sessions for free regarding any financial topic.

As a financial coach, Geels is familiar with the fact that holidays are often a large spending period due to a pressure to buy.

“People like to get people gifts, and sometimes you might live outside your means when you’re buying for people you care about,” Geels said. “Plus there’s a lot of sales that go on during the holiday season that promote spending more money.”

Since the holidays are an annual event, Geels said students can start to plan for the next large spending period now. It is important to have an overall holiday spending budget as well, he said. This strategy allows individuals to know where their money is going rather than mindless spending.

“Just throughout the year, plan for that,” he said. “Setting a spending limit on each gift is important and trying to stay within your means.”

Many people tend to let their finances get into a bad place due to avoidance, he said.

“People like to avoid the stress of even just creating a budget or knowing where they’re overspending,” he

said. “It’s an important issue to address now rather than just pushing it off.”

Mint, Personal Capital and You Need A Budget are a few apps that can help students track their finances, Geels said.

Justin Roach, an undergraduate student assistant and financial coach at Red to Black, said the first step in recovering finances involves taking a look at where an individual’s money tends to go and where it is coming from.

“First, find out all your sources of income,” Roach said. “For students this could be a job, money from parents or maybe scholarship money.”

Second, it is important to then track past expenses spent, Roach said. Students can hold themselves accountable to following financial plans in a few different ways.

“It’s really important to make smart goals and they need to be specific, measurable, attainable and timely,” Roach said. “After you have those goals, write them down on a piece of paper or on sticky notes where it’s visible to you on a regular basis.”

Having a trustworthy friend to tell this information to and holding each other accountable is a good option as

well, he said.

A large majority of students struggle with financial recovery and saving due to lack of experience, he said.

“You’re on your own for the first time, and most people haven’t been taught the skills to manage their money, which isn’t their fault at all,” he said. “I think it’s important to acknowledge that fact and that you have to start somewhere.”

Karlie Fitzsimmons, a junior business major from Austin, said after winter break, her finances are typically low due to high spending on holiday deals.

“Once I get back into school mode, I plan out how much money I need for a month’s worth of food, gas and other things,” Fitzsimmons said. “The ‘other things’ category is usually a lot because ‘treat yo-self’ and retail therapy is a real thing.”

After the holidays, Fitzsimmons said she gives her “other things” category little to no spending.

“Even though it’s a small change, it adds up in the long run,” she said.

It is important to know getting financial control and recovery is not an easy pro-

MLK DAY

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 “I mean that was his whole life,” Moore said. “He served others by fighting for justice and fighting for the rights of others, and he also did a lot of things in the community. You know, from doing charity drives and things of that nature to providing for those that didn’t have. So I pretty much think that serving aligns with what his overall life motto is about.”

Celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. Day with service is also a tradition for the Zeta Phi Beta sorority, Deja Montgomery, a junior public relations major from Houston serving as the community service chair, said.

Zeta Phi Beta is a majority African-American sorority, Montgomery said, but it is culturally diverse. The sorority is officially described as a “community conscious action oriented organization.”

Members of Zeta Phi Beta volunteered on Martin Luther King Jr. Day at Caleb’s Closet sorting out donations, she said. Caleb’s closet is a foster care clothing closet for Lubbock and the surrounding areas, according to its website.

Maintaining the annual tra-

cess, but is worth it in the end, Roach said.

“Getting control of your financial situation isn’t something that happens overnight, and it’s normal to feel like it’s taking longer

than you expected,” Roach said. “It’s important to know up front that getting finances in order typically takes a few months, and that it’s totally okay and normal.” @DailyToreador

DAILYTOREADOR

AKHILA REDDY/The Daily Toreador

Members of the Eta Upsilon chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity volunteered along with community members and students to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The volunteers posed at the Roots Community Revitalization Center on the morning of Monday, Jan. 21, 2019. dition of volunteering on Martin Luther King Jr. Day is important to the sorority, Montgomery said, especially in light of the African-American background of many of its members.

“He is a big milestone in our history,” Montgomery said. “So honoring what he stood for and just coming together as a community to better it as a whole, I think it helps to get rid of the individualistic mindset that a lot of our community has. So I think it’s a good day to come together to honor him and what he stood for.”

African-American student

organizations or organizations with an African-American background especially strive to acknowledge Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Moore said.

“With any day regarding black history like Martin Luther King Day, it’s just a reminder of where we have to come from,” Moore said, “and kind of reminders that we all can get involved in serving and fighting for justice, and it also shows us where we still need to go.”

The drive to serve exists in part because the rest of the community does not always step up to the plate, Mont-

gomery said. She would like to see the day be broadcast more around campus so that it is more than predominantly African-American student organizations serving.

“I think that we try to do more on that day just because we know that others won’t,” she said.

“It’s kind of like you have to be the representation that you want to see. So if you want to see the day be represented, if you want to see actions being done on that day, you kind of have to do it yourself.” @AkhilaReddyDT

Today’s

6 2

8

su do ku 7 8

4 1 2 9 6

4

9 6

1

4 7

9 8 2 7 2

5 8

3

5

Puzzles by PageFiller

In Sudoku, all the numbers 1 to 9 must be in every row, column and 3 x 3 box. Use logic to define the answers.

Find the solution at www.dailytoreador.com

OPINIONS

Page 4 Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2019

COLUMN

@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com

Incident at Lincoln Memorial another product of American outrage

A

32-year-old man in Los Angeles, California, comments “flaming libtard” and “snowflake” on a video on Facebook depicting a group of teenage boys’ wearing MAGA gear around a 64-yearold Vietnam veteran on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

The California man doesn’t bother to look in the mirror the next morning before he drives his family to church where the minister once read, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

A 24-year-old woman in Lubbock comments on the same Facebook video, calling the California man “ignorant” and “evil” for his comments. She receives 300 likes and 40 hearts from other users in the ever-growing, enraged comment section. She glances only quickly in the mirror the next morning as she runs late to brunch with a friend, where they discuss the death of a beloved poet who once wrote, “Among the swans there is none called

Robert Avila is a third-year law student from San Antonio.

the least, or the greatest.”

A 50-year-old-man and his 48-year-old-wife in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, see the video and spin it into something they know will get their website views through Facebook – outrage. Outrage equals profits, and money equals a better life for the man and woman who have no political leanings.

They exaggerate the story until it is unrecognizable outrage – a headline that causes you to share their page, click their website and comment in anger with a story far beyond its original source.

Once their work is done, the couple walks passed their newly purchased mirror, to their newly purchased couch, sit back and watch a favorite movie which quotes, “The main thing about money, Bud… it makes you do things you don’t want to do.”

Like adding wind to wildfire, news organizations see

the video and the “outrage” and quickly begin to shape content toward their audience. One company runs stories emphasizing the teens “taunting” a Native American man. The other site’s story emphasizes the Native American man in the video approached the teens first.

Pundits on television break down the story over and over from every angle that best attracts their audience until the unrecognizable outrage becomes one of two sides¬ – right or left.

Both stations profit from the television viewers, the online articles and the shares on social media.

Reaction videos from smaller organizations and individuals that break down “what really took place” appear on YouTube, the story trends on twitter, the story becomes a top Google search.

Outrage is spread, money is made.

It’s only been a single day and millions of Americans and millions around the world have already gone through the outrage cycle of a single story. From a single video on social media to

news to social media again, someone finally stops to watch a second video of the event, more complicated than any single narrative shared that day.

The video shows different groups converging by near accident at the Lincoln Memorial. It shows the instigating aggression of the man recording the incident and his group, the group of teen boys all dressed in the same MAGA gear standing around awkwardly.

It shows the goofy, shirtremoving response and chanting by the teens to these men, the ill-timed approach of the Native American man and his group all leading to the very strange and tense stare-down seen and discussed by millions.

Hateful and racist statements can be heard in the background of the video without being able to really distinguish who stated them or whether they are part of the awkward chants and drumming or something else entirely. Indistinguishable outrage.

Every group in this video knows their perception is right over what occurred.

There is no middle ground in their truth, no grey areas. Every group feels they were the ones harmed by the incident. When we see the incident on social media, cable news, wherever we do, we feel the same way.

Someone has to be right, and someone has to be wrong and we choose sides. Right or left.

No one in the video ever breaks from their groups to stop and converse one on one. They stick to their groups without fail, recognizing the differences in their clothes, their signs, their chants. They don’t bother to ask where the other is from, why they’re here, what they have in common. Does that even matter? Would it matter if they knew they shared beliefs, a favorite poem, a favorite movie?

No one bothered to look in the mirror at themselves after what they did. To look at themselves and ask why or what made them create a video, share it on Facebook, write an angry comment. No one stopped to ask if what they were doing was making the world better or worse, whether it was making them-

selves better or worse. No one stopped to question what role they played in the outrage.

They all just react to each other without thought, without ever reaching out or stopping to think about their own actions. They stick to their own perception of the situation, their own groups, their own outrage. And the outrage which looks more like an inability to communicate, an inability to imagine another’s perception of the word, an awkward and weird confrontation, simply remains outrage without question.

Without attempting to change, without attempting to understand, the outrage continues. The wildfire keeps burning on television, on the internet, on social media, out into our lives.

The man from California, the woman from Texas, the couple from Pennsylvania and the rest of our country just keeps walking passed that mirror without ever stopping to see what they really look like in it.

Outrage is spread, money is made. @DailyToreador

COLUMN

Freshman describes personal growth after 1st semester of college

M

y first semester of college was nothing short of a whirlwind

for me.

Most of the changes from high school to college have been great, but there were a few moments where I doubted myself and my ability to get through them. Am I able to do this? Am I capable of doing this much work? Will I be able to study for finals and do well?

CONTACT US Newsroom: 806-742-3393 Advertising: 806-742-3384 Business: 806-742-3388 Circulation: 806-742-3388 Fax: 806-742-2434 Email: dailytoreador@ttu.edu

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief McKenzi Morris (806) 742-3395 editor@dailytoreador.com Managing Editor Austin Watts managing@dailytoreador.com News Editor Adán Rubio news@dailytoreador.com La Vida Editor Akhila Reddy features@dailytoreador.com Sports Editor sports@dailytoreador.com Opinions Editor Robert Avila opinions@dailytoreador.com Multimedia Editor Ciara Perozzi photo@dailytoreador.com Digital Content Manager Ikechukwu Dike online@dailytoreador.com Copy Editor Tori McGee online@dailytoreador.com

BREAKING NEWS Email dailytoreador@ttu.edu, call (806) 742-3393 or tweet information to @DailyToreador.

CORRECTIONS The DailyToreador strives for accuracy and fairness in the reporting of news.

If a report is wrong or misleading, a request for a correction or clarification may be made by calling (806) 742-3393 or emailing dailytoreador@ttu.edu.

COPYRIGHT INFORMATION © Copyright 2018TexasTech University Student Media/The Daily Toreador. All DT articles, photographs and artwork are the property of The DT and Student Media and may not be reproduced or published without permission. The DailyToreador is a designated public forum. Student editors have the authority to make all content decisions without censorship or advance approval.

All of these thoughts swirled in my head as I went through the semester, and it wasn’t until I walked out of my last final when I realized just what I had accomplished.

I successfully completed one semester of college.

This may seem like nothing to some people, but to me, it felt like an extraordinary accomplishment. I am the first in my family to attend university and pursue a degree, so I’ve felt pressure to do well in my courses and make my family proud. I am also trying to prove something to myself and push myself to do well so I can succeed and see the fruits of my labor.

Madilynn Sheffield is a freshman adversiting major from Amarillo.

The maturity it takes to get through college is nothing to overlook. It takes effort to put in the amount of studying and personal discipline to do well in courses and should be celebrated when you see results.

This semester offers a new start and a chance to challenge myself once again.

I have definitely seen growth within myself and my mindset within these past few months and cannot wait so

see just how much I am able to accomplish this semester.

I know this may sound cliché, but I think we can all agree we grow so much within that first semester.

We are no longer as dependent on our parents and have to take full responsibility for our own actions and success. It can be a scary time, but one semester down, I find myself ready to take on another challenge.

I know it isn’t always easy to have that motivation.

You may really miss home, or you might not have done as well as you would have liked. These issues can cause extreme amounts of doubt or stress, which makes it harder

to find the motivation to push through another semester.

For me, finding confidence in my abilities was something that relieved so much stress toward the end of my first semester. To be able to go into a second semester with this confidence has already made a difference in my attitude.

This time I know I can do this because I’ve already done it before. I have much more faith in my ability, and know that with hard work, I can grow even more. I feel so much more prepared to take on this semester than last.

This semester will have different difficulties and struggles. This semester

will have its own set of sleepdeprived days and late-night study sessions. This semester will have its own set of downfalls and disappointments.

But, even if it does have all those things, I’m going to be ok.

I already have one semester under my belt, so what’s a few more? This may all sound so corny and a little preachy, but there is no other way to best describe this journey.

This experience has been incomparable to anything I’ve ever done before, and I am ecstatic to see where I can go next. @DailyToreador

COLUMN

Despite internal issues, Women’s March still advances feminist movement

W

omanhood cannot be accurately defined by any one quality or characteristic. It defines more than just a person’s reproductive anatomy, more than just it’s traditional societal understanding. The fact of the matter is, there is no set definition of what it means to be a woman; it is a definition that shapes for anyone claiming the identify as their own.

Because of this, it’s important that we begin to view women as a diverse group rather than a cohesive one in which all women hold the same values or share the same goals. I have written before about the conversation’s women are often excluded from about themselves, and not much has changed since.

Our views are continuously ignored and filed away in a political box labeled “women’s issues” and shoved aside to collect dust while

Gloria Matheson is a junior political science major from Austin.

we struggle without aid to address these issues ourselves. Again, this is still not an effective way of helping American women.

This is the main issue I’ve had with the Women’s March in the past — their messages were far too narrow in advocating solely for reproductive rights and the call to end the general oppression of women.

They never acknowledge the intersectional identities of women or distinguish how each of the aforementioned issues affects women in various groups differently.

The messages too closely reflected the higher-up political conversations that, as I mentioned, so often do not

include women.

This year ’s Women’s March however, has been much more proactive in acknowledging the diversity among women. Unfortunately, with this seemingly positive addition to the core messaging of the protests, there have been accusations of anti-Semitism and bigotry against some of the March’s most prominent leaders.

This has created more problematic division, and many women made the decision to boycott the March this year, including most of the women politicians who have made appearances and spoken at the March in years past.

While I support the choices of the women who attended the march and those who did not, I also think it’s crucial to discuss the implications these divisions have, and how they will affect the current Third-Wave Feminist Movement. Big-

otry cannot be tolerated on any level from anyone, and intersectional feminism has no room for leaders who are complicit in the oppression of other women, whether that be ethnically, racially, religiously, or ability-wise.

Considering this, the question here is whether or not this will ultimately be detrimental to the success of the movement. Overall, its clear women are learning how to advocate for one another in more effective ways — we are beginning to listen to one another and acknowledge differences not as divisions, but as a reason to continue fighting for the equality of all women.

It has almost always been the case in the history of the United States that women from marginalized groups have been ignored in the previous feminist movements, where white women were fighting for their rights

first, but I don’t see that in our future.

Of course, that’s not to say that white feminism is not still a prevalent issue, but it bodes well for the movement that women from all walks of life have seen a problem with the antiSemitism and bigotry that have plagued the leadership of the Women’s March.

This “division” is not a signal that the feminist movement is doomed to fail, but rather signaling that women are standing together in solidarity and refusing to oppress or exclude each other. Based on the dialogue surrounding the March, the future of the feminist movement is clear — it’s compassion, understanding, and solidarity.

It will be a long journey to get there, but at least women are trying. @DailyToreador

ASSOCIATED PRESS

President Trump’s government shutdown solution continues to hang in limbo WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's proposal to break through the budget deadlock appeared to be gaining little traction Monday, as another missed paycheck loomed for hundreds of thousands of workers and the partial federal shutdown stretched into its fifth week.

Despite the fanfare of the president's announcement,

LETTERS The Daily Toreador welcomes letters from readers. Letters must be no longer than 300 words and must include the author’s name,

voting in Congress was not expected to unfold until later in the week. Even then it seemed doubtful that legislation based on Trump's plan had any chance of swiftly passing the Senate. Republicans hold a 53-47 majority but would need Democrats to reach the usual 60-vote threshold for bills to advance.

Not a single Democrat publicly expressed support

signature, phone number, student ID number and a description of university affiliation. Students should include year in school, major and hometown. We reserve the right to edit letters. Anonymous letters will not be accepted for publication. All letters will be verified before they are published. Letters can be emailed to dailytoreador@ ttu.edu or brought to 180 Media and Communication. Letters should be sent in before 3 p.m. to ensure the editors have enough time to verify and edit the submission.

for the deal in the 48 hours since Trump announced it.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer's office reiterated Monday that they are unwilling to negotiate any border security funding until Trump re-opens the government.

"Nothing has changed with the latest Republican offer," said Schumer spokesman Justin Good-

man. "President Trump and Senate Republicans are still saying: 'Support my plan or the government stays shut.'

That isn't a compromise or a negotiation — it's simply more hostage taking."

While the House and Senate are scheduled to be back in session Tuesday, no votes have been scheduled so far on Trump's plan. And senators, who will be given 24-hour no-

GUEST COLUMNS The Daily Toreador accepts submissions of unsolicited guest columns. While we cannot acknowledge receipt of all columns, the authors of those selected for publication will be notified. Guest columns should be no longer than 650 words in length and on a topic of relevance to the university community. Guest columns are also edited and follow the same guidelines for letters as far as identification and submittal.

tice ahead of voting, have yet to be recalled to Washington.

McConnell spokesman David Popp said Monday that the GOP leader "will move" to voting on consideration of the president's proposal "this week."

Trump, who on Sunday lashed out at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, accusing her of acting "irrationally," continued to single her out on Twitter.

EDITORIALS Unsigned editorials appearing on this page represent the opinion of The DailyToreador. All other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their authors and are not necessarily representative of the editorial board, Texas Tech University, its employees, its student body or the Board of Regents. The DailyToreador is independent of the College of Media and Communication. Responsibility for the editorial content of the newspaper lies with the student editors.

SPORTS

WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM

JAN. 22 2019

5

FOOTBALL

Big 12 coaches in high demand around NFL, CFB

By AUSTIN WATTS Managing Editor

After a coaching carousel over the last month and a half, the calamity surrounding the college football coaching scene has started to simmer down, with the Big 12’s coaches in higher demand than most.

With eight NFL vacancies and numerous coordinator and head coaching positions available across the College Football realm, Big 12 coaches saw some of the most interest around the league, with coaches both past and present.

The first domino was Oklahoma Sooners head coach Lincoln Riley. Riley, one of the brightest minds in college football with numerous accomplishments to his name in just two years as head coach, was valued as one of the best, if not the top, collegiate candidates on the NFL radar. However, Soonerbrass and Riley quickly came to terms with the young head coach on an extension, keeping Riley tied to the Sooners for the foreseeable future.

With Riley opting to remain at the college level, eyes quickly turned to other successful and up-and-coming talent from the Big 12, settling instead on current Iowa State head coach Matt Campbell and Baylor head coach Matt Rhule.

Like Riley, both coaches were viewed as budding star coaches with the ability to rebuild a team. While Rhule having orchestrated the re-

build from the ashes for Baylor, Campbell turned a constant three-win team into an eightwin conference contender.

Like Riley, Campbell was quick to turn down the potential interest from the New York Jets, reportedly denying an interview with the team, after signing an extension with the Cyclones in early December.

With a young and budding roster at Iowa State, the decision to stay shows commitment to the team the Cyclones are building, namely around young star quarterback Brock Purdy. With some key additions and improvements from returning players, the Cyclones could easily be in the running to win the Big 12 next season over perennial champs Oklahoma.

Rhule was a name that started being tossed around in early January, with Baylor Athletic Director Mack Rhoades going so far as to confirm the interest from NFL teams, according to Pro Football Talk. Shortly after his name started to pick up steam for potential NFL-interest, Rhule shut down the rumors by reiterating to his staff he would stay at Baylor for at least another season.

With three top Big 12 coaching avenues already extended, the chances of a Big 12 talent being hired appeared to have met a dead end. Earlier in December, three head coaching changes were made, with Texas Tech, Kansas State and Kansas all hiring new coaches after lackluster 2018 campaigns.

Tech’s new coach, Matt Wells, came from a successful Utah State program, one he helped build from the ground, giving the Aggies its most accomplished decade in program history. Likewise, Kansas State went after North Dakota State coach Chris Klieman, an extremely successful FCS-level coach who won four FCS National Titles in five seasons.

With a 69-6 record over his five-year tenure at NDSU, Klieman will soon be one of the top head coaching candidates in the country if he can replicate some of that success at the FBS level.

Unlike Tech and Kansas State, Kansas went with a different approach, pursuing Les Miles, formerly of LSU. Miles had been out of College Football since 2016, having been fired by the Tigers after a 2-2 start. With a National Championship back in 2007, Miles is one of the few active head coaches in College Football with a title to their name, and all eyes are on him to see if he can turn-around the perennially bad Jayhawks.

Instead the NFL targeted a former Big 12 coach, one who was just fired at the end of the 2018 season after a five-game losing skid to finish the year — former Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury. He quickly became the hot coaching candidate of the offseason to the surprise of many, given his subpar-record while at Tech.

Despite taking the offensive coordinator job at USC just weeks after being fired by

Tech, rumors quickly swarmed that Kingsbury had became the target of coaching searches by the Arizona Cardinals and New York Jets. Rumor quickly became reality, as Kingsbury interviewed with both teams, and Arizona extending an offer almost immediately, which Kingsbury took.

While he did have his struggles at the collegiate level, namely injuries and poor defensive play that sunk the Red Raiders chances year-in and year-out, Kingsbury was one of the top offensive minds in the country for nearly a decade. With stops at Texas A&M, Houston and finally Tech, the stats were there to back up what he could do offensively, and the Cardinals sought that offensive help for second-year quarterback Josh Rosen, the Cardinals top pick from 2018.

Of the four Big 12 coaches not yet discussed in this article, two were not going anywhere if they could help it, having over a decade tenure at their respective schools. Oklahoma State’s Mike Gundy, head coach of the Cowboys since 2005, and Texas Christian University’s Gary Patterson, head coach of the Horned Frogs since 2000, are both veteran presences in the Big 12 and will likely stick with their schools until they are fired or retire.

Texas’ Tom Herman and West Virginia’s Dana Holgorsen did not draw any public consideration, with Herman’s relative inexperience as a head coach, while Holgorsen clam-

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador

Former Texas Tech football coach Kliff Kingsbury scans his play card during Tech’s game against West Virginia on Saturday, Sept.

29, 2018, at Jones AT&T Stadium. After being fired from Tech, Kingsbury was hired as the University of Southern California’s offensive coordinator but quickly left to become an NFL head coach with the Arizona Cardinals. ored for any other job than the one at WVU. While Herman’s Longhorns were on the cusp of winning the Big 12 last year, another successful season at UT will likely toss his name into NFL-consideration.

H o l g o r s e n , h o w e v e r, quickly found a job with the University of Houston shortly after the firing of former Houston coach Major Applewhite. With reports of Holgorsen’s stained relationship with West Virginia, the basics boiled down to this.

First, Houston was willing to give him the contract that WVU would not, and secondly, the Mountaineers appear to be in a rough spot regardless, losing their top quarterback and more.

With this change, Holgorsen became the fourth

head coaching change in the Big 12 during the 2018-2019 offseason and likely the last.

WVU quickly brought in former Tech offensive coordinator Neal Brown, most recently the head coach at Troy.

Overall, the Big 12 proved itself as one of the hottest coaching candidate conferences in all of college football throughout this last hiring cycle. Kingsbury and Holgorsen were quickly hired by their respective suitors, while Riley, Rhule and Campbell quickly recommitted to their schools.

With the NFL trending toward younger, more explosive head coaches, it is just a matter of time until the big leagues come calling again; the question will be of whether these coaches missed the chance while they had one. @AustinWattsDT

COLUMN

Super Bowl contenders plagued with what ifs

T

he 2019 NFC and AFC Championship games were two of the most dramatic and exciting playoff matchups we’ve seen this decade.

Each of the games held high stakes, meaning the winner of each matchup was punching their ticket to the Super Bowl.

On the NFC side of the bracket, the up-and-coming Los Angeles Rams were set to compete against Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints, in the iconic New Orleans Superdome. Meanwhile, on the AFC side, a young Kansas City Chiefs squad was ready to host a seemingly unstoppable Tom Brady and the New England Patriots.

The Saints were looking for redemption after last season’s playoffs, where they were a victim of the Minnesota Vikings famous “Minny Miracle.”

The Saints started out playing solid on both sides of the ball, as they held onto a 13-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Rams were able to respond quickly, holding the Saints to zero points in the second quarter while tacking on 10 points of their own. At this point, it seemed like the game was still up for grabs.

As the end of the game

Sam Medlin is a senior communications major from McKinney.

began to creep up, it was looking like a well-evened matchup. Will Lutz, kicker for the Saints, struck a 31yard chip shot to give New Orleans a 23-20 lead with just over a minute and a half remaining in the game.

Things were looking great for the Saints until a massive blunder by the referees forced the Saints to try and get one last stop to keep the Rams out of field goal range.

That stop never happened.

Greg Zuerlein, the kicker for LA, nailed a 48-yard field goal to tie the game, 23-23, with just 15 seconds left on the game clock. A 57-yard field goal in overtime ended up giving the Rams the win and sending them to the Super Bowl.

There were plenty of questionable calls throughout the Rams-Saints game, but there was a specific one that potentially cost the Saints a Super Bowl opportunity. It happened just before Lutz made the field goal to give New Orleans a 23-20 lead.

Saints receiver Tommylee Lewis was running a sideline fade route from the 13-yard line toward the end zone when

Brees threw a ball up his way.

Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman committed a blatant pass interference penalty that never got called.

It’s all “what ifs,” but that “what if” could have possibly cost the Saints a Super Bowl win. Who knows?

As for the New EnglandKansas City matchup, the Patriots entered the game searching for their fourth Super Bowl appearance over the last five years. It was also New England’s eighth straight time earning a trip to the AFC Championship game.

The game started out rather slow as the Patriots maintained a 17-7 lead with the teams heading into the final quarter. During the fourth quarter, a combined 38 points were scored by both teams, with the Chiefs outscoring New England, 24-14, in the fourth quarter to tie up the game.

The final two minutes of the matchup were hectic, with Kansas City taking a 28-24 lead with just over two minutes remaining in the game. The Patriots responded quickly, taking the lead with 40 seconds left on the clock.

Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes went back out on the field, successfully driving Kansas City into field

CLASSIFIEDS Line Ad Rates 15 words or less $5.00 per day

Bold Headline 50¢ extra (max. one line)

Classifications

Help Wanted Furnished Rentals Unfurnished Rentals Tickets for Sale Miscellaneous Lost & Found Clothing/Jewelry

Typing Tutors For Sale Services Roommates Travel Legal Notice

@SamMedlinTTU

Placing Your Ad

www.dailytoreador.com

There is a 15-word minimum on all classified ads. The first 2 words (max. one line) are bold and capitalized.

All ads will appear on dailytoreador.com at no additional charge. Please check your ad carefully on the first day of publication and notify The Daily Toreador of any errors.

We are only responsible for the first day’s incorrect insertion.

HELP WANTED

HELP WANTED

50TH STREET CABOOSE

DELIVERY DRIVERS WANTED!

Hiring ‑ Servers, Bartenders, Line Cooks & Hosts (will train). Tuesdays 1/2 price games.

Wednesdays $12.50 buckets, $3 You‑call‑it, 1/2 price appetizers 3‑6pm Monday‑Friday.

Sundays Texas Hold ‘Em, cash payout. 5027 50th Street 796‑2240.

Terms & Conditions

goal range with just eight seconds to spare on the clock.

This is when kicker Harrison Butker split the uprights on a 39-yard field goal attempt to tie the game 31-31, sending it into overtime for the second time on the day.

It was the first time in NFL Championship history that both playoff games went into overtime on the same day, according to ESPN. The Patriots won the overtime coin toss and after five minutes of game time, found themselves on the goal line with victory in sight. The Patriots won the game, 37-31, clinching a Super Bowl appearance for the fourth time in five years.

While both of the matchups were absolute nail biters, there were some suspect calls from each game. It might not have had any real effect on the outcome or who won, but surely is up for debate.

Personally, I want to see the Rams come away with the victory for the sole reason I am tired of the Patriots dominance in the NFL. Someone needs to be the successor to the Belichick/Brady-led New England Patriots, and McVay seems like the right coach to lead the charge.

Orlando’s Italian Restaurant has been serv‑ ing Lubbock it’s Family Recipes since 1965, making Orlando’s Lubbock’s oldest full‑ser‑ vice restaurant. Orlando’s has con­sistently won “Best Italian Food” and “Best Take‑Out” in Lubbock.

Orlando’s delivery drivers earn around $15 / hr with tips and mileage reimburse­ment, and benefit from a flexible schedule!

A dependable and safe car or truck is re­ quired, along with a good driving record and current automobile insurance. You must be able to pass a DRUG SCREEN. How to Apply: ORLANDO’S ITALIAN RESTAURANTS www.orlandos.com Click on “Application” and “Apply Here” You may email resumes to application­s@ orlandos.com No phone calls, please!

HELP WANTED HOUSE CLEANER needed $600/Weekly Working Days: Monday and Friday Time Schedule: 9AM ‑ 2PM Email: jenniferbenny18888@outlook.com

FURNISHED $325. BILLS paid free wifi/Cable/HBO. Pri‑ vate furnished bedroom for female. Quiet female rooming house. One block to Tech.

2321 13th washer,dryer, private parking. No pets $300 deposit 806‑765‑7182.

UNFURNISHED $2500 FOR Spring. 5 bedroom 3 bath. 2223 18th. Available now. $1750 now through July. Water paid. Lawn kept. Quality. Huge yard. Washer and dryer fur­nished. No pets.

806‑765‑7182. $895. WATER Paid. Lawn kept. Washer & dryer. Cute 2 bedroom. 2222 18th St. (806) 765‑7182.

Deadlines

Classified Line Ads: Placed and paid for by 11 a.m. one business day in advance.

Classified Display Ads: 4 p.m. three business days in advance. Please call for rates for display advertising.

Payments All classifieds ads must be prepaid prior to publication by credit card, cash or personal check.

Checks should be made payable to The Daily Toreador.

For the fastest and easiest service, place and pay for your ad online!

Click on the “Classifieds” link on our website to get started!

Have a question? Email:

andrea.watson@ttu.edu Phone: 806.742.3384

UNFURNISHED

UNFURNISHED

SERVICES

1‑PERSON STUDIO

WALKING DISTANCE to Texas Tech, 1Bed/1Bath apartment with a wood burn­ing fireplace. $595 a month with a $250 deposit.

Water and trash paid. Tenant is responsible for electric. 6 or 12 month leases. To sched‑ ule a viewing please call (806) 785‑7300.

New Location RIVER SMITHS Free Food Included :) Cell 781‑2931. More Informa­tion www.LubbockClass.com

Near J & B Coffee, $395/all bills pd. 1st month $200/$300 dep. Text 806‑787‑4591.

3‑2‑2 HOUSE

with fresh paint inside. Isolated master bedroom. Refrigerator, stove, dish­washer, and garbage disposal furnished. $1050 per month. $600 deposit. No pets. No smoking.

806‑535‑4787 NICE APARTMENTS and HOUSES 1/2 block from Tech on 14th and 15th streets.

Clean, Convenient, Reasonable, Free Park‑ ing.Call 762‑1263

RENT THIS 3‑2‑2 HOUSE

fireplace, stove, refrigerator, dishwasher, on cul‑de‑sac. covered patio. 6017 35th Street. $1075 per month with $600 de­posit.

No smoking. No pets. 806‑535‑4787

FOR SALE FOR SALE 2516 59TH

3 plus bedrooms. 2 bath. 2 garage. Din­ ing. Gameroom. Call Rose Realestate 806‑799‑7673.

GREAT CLASSIC home in Rush. 4 bed­ room, 3 bath. 3418 square feet. Gor­geous street. Very well kept. Close prox­imity to Tech. Attention Tech professors or medical staff. 4413 10th St. $352,000. Call Carol Matticks, Realtor, at 806‑535‑7745 for more info.

GREAT PROPERTY for Tech parents. 3 bedroom, 2 bath. Totally updated. 4203 46th St. Currently rented, available June 1. $143,500. Contact Carol Matticks. Real­tor, at 806‑535‑7745.

EZ DEFENSIVE DRIVING

MATTRESS SALE

Mattress, Furniture. Student discounts. 5127 34th Street (34th & Slide). 785‑7253.

6

SPORTS

JAN. 22, 2019

WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM

TRACK & FIELD

Red Raiders off to strong start for 2019 season

By GABRIELLE TAITE Staff Writer

The Texas Tech track and field team has had several outstanding performances so far during its indoor season in both the Corky Classic and the Red Raider Invitational.

During the Corky Classic, several personal records were made from the team’s sprinters including senior Andrew Hudson in the 60m, who ran a 6.65 in his first race of the season, according to Tech Athletics. Additionally, this mark placed him at eighth in program history. Freshman Jacolby Shelton also performed well as he marked a 6.67 in his first race as a Red Raider.

Hudson said he is proud of his strong start in the season.

“This was my fastest season-opener, so I’m really happy about it,” Hudson said. “Jacolby also ran a fast time so we were very happy about it.”

Hudson later went on to run with fellow sprinters juniors Divine Oduduru and Tyreek Mathis and senior Vincent Crisp where they won the 4x400 with a time of 3:07.41, according to Tech Athletics. Also, in the 4x400, the women’s team, which included juniors Jadsia Warden, D’Jenne Egharevba, and Damajahnee and senior Sara Limp, finished with a time of 3:36.84 marking the fastest 4x400 time for a women’s team at Tech since 2014.

In the men’s long jump, seniors Odaine Lewis and Charles Brown exceed 26 feet, according to Tech Athletics.

BASKETBALL CONTINUED FROM PG. 1

Culver tried to carry the same weight Evans had shouldered time and time again last year, but it quickly became apparent he could not do it all by himself.

Despite the tough loss to one of the top teams in the

Lewis finished in first place with a mark of 26’-2.75,” while Brown finished in second at 26’-0.” Both times are likely to qualify the two for the NCAA Championships in March.

Tech head coach Wes Kittley said he has seen tremendous improvement in Lewis’ performance since last year.

“Odaine is night and day from where he was last year,” Kittley said. “It took him a while last year, and he wasn’t as sharp indoors, but now he’s been through our program for a full year with (associate head) Coach (James) Thomas, and he’s going to have a great year.”

During the Corky Classic, junior Chinne Okoronkwo had several outstanding performances, starting with her jumping into the top-10 in program history for the pole vault, according to Tech Athletics. Okoronkwo went on to place seventh in the program record books or her mark of 14’-0,” as well as a top mark of 19’-11.75,” putting her in second place in the women’s long jump.

At the Red Raider Invitational meet, the team continued to excel by marking more personal records and ranking in multiple areas, according to Tech Athletics. Hudson gained another personal record in the 200m, placing him at No. 1 in the world for the top time.

Hudson also made the second fastest time in program history alongside fellow teammates Oduduru, Crisp and Mathis in the 4x400 at 3:04.93.

Lewis and Brown paired

together yet again in the men’s long jump to secure the top two spots in the NCAA at 53’-11.25” and 52’-4.75,” according to Tech Athletics.

Kittley said he is hopeful these performances will help the two to become ranked nationally.

“I was really pleased with those two,” Kittley said. “That will easily get Odaine in the national meet, and Charles has a lot more opportunity to jump much farther. It’s really early, but I’m very proud of where they are at this point in the season.”

In the throws, both graduate student Duke Kicinski and sophomore Seasons Usual had outstanding performances, according to Tech Athletics.

Kicinski placed first in the shot put after a mark of 59’-6.75” as well as marking a personal record in the weight throw at 64’-8.75,” ranking him fifth in program history. Usual also made a personal record in the weight throw for the second straight week at 60’-4.75.”

The team is excelling in all areas of the sport, Kittley said, which he is proud of.

“I’m feeling good about how solid we’re becoming all around,” Kittley said. “Sprints, hurdles, jumps, distance, middle distance and throws. We’ve just got to keep going.”

Following the Red Raider Invitational, the team will stay in Lubbock for the Texas Tech Classic. The three-day even begins at 12 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 24, in the Sports Performance Center.

country, expectations were still sky-high for Tech, with a deep NCAA run and conference title still in the grasp for Tech. An early win over West Virginia seemed to solidify those hopes, coupled with an early loss for the Kansas Jayhawks, the 14-year straight Big 12 Champs.

However, Tech quickly met struggles of its own, suffering

back-to-back losses to Iowa State and Baylor. Suddenly, the concern has returned about this offense, and Tech is back in a deadlock-tie for first with Kansas, Iowa State and Kansas State. Despite the late-game offensive struggles, Tech’s roster continues to improve with each game, and when it comes time, Beard expects this team to be in the fight for the conference.

@TaiteDT

IVÁN SANTIAGO BRAVO/The Daily Toreador

TOP: Sophomore Kaylor Harris leads the 60 meters hurdles during the Red Raider Invitational track meet on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in the Sports Performance Center. BOTTOM: Senior Odaine Lewis completes a triple jump during the Red Raider Invitational track meet on Friday, Jan. 18, 2019, in the Sports Performance Center. The Red Raider Open was the second home meet of the season for the Red Raiders and several athletes set personal bests and program records.

“I think the story is our guys have done great.

I think we’re a work-inprogress, we have a long ways to go, we’ve always said that. The race is just starting, the fight is just starting, we’re a part of the fight,” Beard said, according to Tech Athletics. “What’s next? Another opportunity to play on the road in the Big 12 Conference. The objective? To play well enough to have a chance to win the game. Our guys have done that in every Big 12 game to this point, just got to be a little more consistent, have to make some more plays at the end.”

Offensively, the game goes through sophomore Jarrett Culver. When he is on the court, there is little doubt Culver is one of the best players on said court, but he is also not a natural-ball handler like Evans was. While Culver can easily drive the rim and cut through traffic for dunks, layups and pick up fouls while doing so, he struggles with putting the ball in the right spot for his teammates to take important shots.

Mooney, while an excellent shooter and all-around star on offense and defense, has struggled to make three-point shots in the closing minutes of the game. Owens, a constant weapon in the paint and allaround excellent rebounder, tends to not get many chances at late-game shots.

Sophomore Davide Moretti, an up-and-coming point guard who has shown a knack for knocking down threes when uncontested, has struggled as a ball-handler, a concerning issue given Moretti was poised to help fill Evans’ role as a facilitator.

Of the aforementioned players, Culver accounts for over a fourth of the team’s offensive production at 26 percent of the team’s total points.

There is no doubt the offense runs through him. Mooney and Moretti make up about 15 and 14 percent of Tech’s total points, respectively.

Owens accounts for about 11 percent of Tech’s offense.

Every other player on the roster has less than a 10th of Tech’s total points, which indicates if a major change is going to happen over the next two months of conference play, it starts with Culver, Mooney, Moretti and Owens.

Currently, the Red Raider offense ranks 167 out of 353 teams, not exactly impressive numbers. However, when paired with Tech’s defense, which ranks first out of 353 teams in defensive rating, the Red Raiders have a clear identity, and that is playing low-scoring, grueling backand-forth games.

So far, the Red Raiders have been dominant at doing just that, but if Tech coach Chris Beard sees this team as deep NCAA Tournament contenders, the offense will have to

TOREADOR MEDIA IS HIRING

continue to make strides prior to the Big 12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament.

In recent years, the top defensive team has struggled in tournament play, in part due to the emergence of evenhigher scoring offenses. In the last three seasons, the top defensive teams have suffered a first round loss, second round loss and missed the tournament entirely due to a self-imposed postseason ban.

Prior to that, however, defense was key in the postseason, with a Sweet 16, an Elite Eight team, two Final Four teams, along with a National Champion. Defense has fared well for teams like Tech, but the offense cannot be a liability when aiming to make a deep tournament run.

Luckily for the Red Raiders, those pieces are already there. Culver is one of the best talents in the league, Mooney and Owens are resourceful, experienced veterans, Moretti and senior Brandone Francis form a formidable duo from the perimeter and the freshmen bench can score when placed in the right situation.

This team has all the talent necessary to make a splash in postseason play or even snap the Jayhawks’ 14-year Big 12 title streak. It just needs to get there, and it starts by fixing the offensive efficiency while the losses won’t knock you out. @AustinWattsDT

AD

APPLY ONLINE AT DAILYTOREADOR.COM

YEARBOOK

SPORTS WRITERS

ADVERTISING

NEWS WRITERS

FEATURE WRITERS

MULTIMEDIA