032422

DANCING WITH DEVILS

Chase Center

san francisco, california

8:39 p.m.

cbs

INSIDE: PG. 2

Former players give their opinions on the current team.

PG. 3

read the game preview for the sweet 16 match.

THURSDAY, MARCH 24, 2022 VOLUME 96 ISSUE 25

PG. 5

The court jesters go to California to support the red raiders.

Graphic by Carlos Gonzalez

Page 2 thursday, march 24, 2022

BASKETBALL

LA VIDA

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Former players react to basketball team making Sweet 16 BRANDONE FRANCIS, guard/forward

“It will be one of the most historical runs ever in sports, but at the same time I’m just happy that Texas Tech basketball is for real and God willing we (are) here to stay for a long time.”

“Makes it very humbling to know that I had the chance to help build who we are today, and I’m grateful to call Tech my alma mater. This whole thing is special, I can talk to my kids about (it) one day.”

KEENAN EVANS, guard

“Coach Adams is doing amazing in his first year and he deserves every bit of it. I feel like the one player that I love watching this year is Bryson, he’s so efficient and he just gets the job done, no antics or over showboating when he’s doing his thing.”

“It’s always fun seeing Tech go far because I know how much fun in general that was and not everyone gets to experience it. But overall I’m just happy because it really feels like we’re becoming one of those known basketball schools.”

TODDRICK GOTCHER, guard

“I’m just a proud alumni and I love seeing the guys over there playing together and having fun ... play your role as best as you can and the outcome will take care of itself.”

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO SEE A FULL GALLERY OF PHOTOS FROM THE BASKETBALL GAMES THIS SEASON.

Page 3 Thursday, March 24, 2022

PREVIEW

SPORTS

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Tech to face Blue Devils in Sweet 16 matchup

By BISHOP VAN BUREN Sports Editor

The No. 3 Red Raiders will take on No. 2 Duke on Friday in Tech’s first Sweet 16 appearance since 2019.

Tech’s up against the Atlantic Coast Conference’s highest scoring team as the Blue Devils are averaging 80.3 points per game, according to Duke Athletics.

The contest will take place inside the Chase Center, home of the NBA’s Golden State Warriors in San Francisco, California, will be televised by CBS and tips off at 8:39 p.m.

Last June, Duke’s head coach Mike Krzyzewski announced the 2021-22 season would be his last, ending his 42-year tenure at Duke as the winningest coach in Division 1 men’s college basketball history, according to Duke Athletics.

Since winning the program’s first title in 1991, Krzyzewski and the Blue Devils have won five titles, the most in the NCAA in that span, according to Duke Athletics.

In just his first season as a Division 1 head coach,

WYATT ADAMS/The Daily Toreador

Super-senior guard Adonis Arms grabs a rebound over an Oklahoma State University defender on Saturday, March 5, at the Gallagher-Iba Arena in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Tech’s Mark Adams has a chance to eliminate Duke and end Krzyzewski’s coaching career with a Sweet 16 loss.

The Red Raiders ranked No. 12 in the Associated Press final Top 25 poll after ending the season 27-9, while the Blue Devils finished 30-6 and were ranked No. 9.

When the NCAA selection committee announced

the NCAA Tournament’s West Region teams, Tech received a No. 3 seed and Duke a No. 2 seed.

Tech started this year’s March Madness run with a 97-62 victory over Montana State, the most points scored by the Red Raiders in an NCAA Tournament game in program history, according to Tech Athletics.

Tech took on Notre Dame

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Head coach Mark Adams observes the court as the Red Raiders faced off against the Oklahoma State University Cowboys in the United Supermarkets Arena on Jan. 13, 2022

in the Round of 32 two days prior on Sunday, defeating the Irish 59-53 despite entering the game 2-5 when scoring less than 60 points.

The Red Raiders’ starting five scored 51 of 59 points on Sunday, just their third appearance as a starting unit after being debuted in Tech’s Big 12 Championship loss.

Senior forward Kevin Obanor led Tech with 15 points and 15 rebounds in the win over Notre, recording the 34th double-double of his career, his fourth as a Red Raider and his fifth in five career NCAA Tournament games.

The last player to have a double-double in their first five career NCAA Tournament games was Louisiana State University’s Shaquille O’Neal from 1990-92.

While Obanor leads Tech in rebounding with an average of 5.4 per game, Tech’s super-senior forward Bryson Williams leads the Red Raiders in scoring with an average of 13.9 points per game. Williams surpassed his average with 14

points against Notre Dame.

The same player leads Duke in scoring and rebounding, as the ACC Freshman of the Year in 6-foot-10 forward Paolo Banchero, averaging 17 points and 7.9 rebounds per game, according to Duke Athletics.

A finalist for the Karl Malone Power Forward of the Year award and member of the All-ACC First Team, Banchero has 11 double-doubles this season with all but one resulting in a Duke victory.

Banchero is averaging 18 points per game in this year’s NCAA Tournament while shooting 53.6 percent from the field, according to Duke Athletics.

The Blue Devils are the ACC’s highest scoring team (80.3 points per game) and leads the conference in assists with 610, averaging 16.9 per game according to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Duke is 9-4 when Banchero scores 20 or more points this season, but 14-0 when any other player does.

Two players have started all 36 games alongside Banchero in junior forward Wendell Moore Jr. and sophomore center Mark Williams.

Moore is an ACC All-Defensive Team member and averages 13.5 points per game, the second most on the Blue Devils behind Banchero.

Duke’s 204 blocks this season lead the ACC, and Williams has contributed over half of them with 104.

In addition to averaging a conference-high 2.9 per blocks game, Williams led the ACC by shooting 72.7 percent from the field in ACC play, according to the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Duke is shooting 48.8 percent from the field this season for the ACC’s second-highest rate, but their opponents are shooting

conference-low 41.4 percent from the field. The Blue Devils are 1-3 when they shoot worse than their opponent, and 29-3 when they shoot better, according to Duke Athletics.

The winner of Thursday’s matchup will advance to the Elite Eight and stay in San Francisco until at least Sunday.

While the Blue Devils hope to end Krzyzewski’s career with another deep March Madness run, the Red Raiders are aiming to end his career with a loss. @BishopVB_DT

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Junior guard Terrence Shannon Jr. dunks the ball against Baylor Univeristy at the United Supermarkets Arena on Feb. 16, 2022.

OPINIONS

Page 4 Thursday, March, 24, 2022

CARTOON

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COLUMN

Tech school spirit is like no other university’s I often asked why I chose to attend Texas Tech. There are many ways to answer the question, but one that sums it all up is that I love the spirit this school has.

Now, any college student can probably say that their school takes pride, but that’s probably not true.

There is a range of students and how they show their school pride. There is just something about this school’s fans that goes above and beyond. Red Raiders

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Chyna Vargas is a secondyear journalism major from San Antonio.

travel across the country to support the men’s basketball team. Red Raiders uphold traditions that date back to when the school started. The list goes on.

We are not perfect, as we tend to get overly excited about victories. For example, the reaction to the 2019 Final Four March Madness victory was over the top as students were setting electric scooters on fire and flipping cars. Tech fans are very spirited but sometimes not the smartest.

However, that goes to show that Red Raiders are willing to get in trouble with the law to showcase their love for the school. The dedication was seen as well throughout

the football season as when COVID-19 was limiting seats to games, fans would still wake up early and register for limited tickets. Fall 2020 football season showed every week a sold-out stadium and the stands filled with highspirited students, alumni and fans.

Red Raiders show unconditional love for the school.

The fan base even continues beyond athletics. We have Tech traditions that are forever embedded in the walls of the campus. Something that every Red Raider looks forward to each year. We have Carol of Lights, Arbor Day and our homecoming that within itself has special Tech traditions.

I had a friend visit from another university and he expressed that his school and town does not go all out for school pride. Being in Lubbock means that everywhere you go, there is something

Tech related near you. This makes the school truly feel like a college town and why the people who attend are so passionate when it comes to representing Tech.

People in Lubbock who have not attended Tech have yard signs in their yard, bumper stickers, attend Tech events and get just as excited as the alumni or students.

Having no ties to Tech and still wanting to support the school is a rare commodity that others may not understand. That’s how bizarre Red Raiders are.

According to the Unigo website, a website to learn more about universities, students list things that make Tech unique to prospective students. While academics and status of education was one of the subjects talked about, a popular and recurring mention was that Tech is known for its spirit. And those who uphold the legacy

of traditions are the alumni.

The alumni are the ones who continue the Red Raider pride. With their continuous hard work and dedication remaining after graduating from the university, traditions stay just as important as when they first started.

Being in Lubbock means that everywhere you go, there is something Tech related near you.

When most people graduate from college, they move on to the next chapters of their life and not give it a second thought to their life in undergrad.

Tech alumni are a different breed and continue to eat, breathe and sleep Tech.

Which is a crazy thought to see and wonder myself if I will be a prideful Tech alumni who continues to support the school no matter how long ago I graduated from here.

Perhaps it is our fan base that has helped the basketball team progress in the NCAA tournament. Maybe our fans are the reason our school takes so much pride in our academic programs.

No matter what the cause may be, Red Raiders are ready to back up the school if it means it’s putting the school on the map.

No matter how we show support or uphold our traditions, it’s a trait that no other school can compete with, and I am proud to say that I am a Red Raider. Because of this unique Raider power, Tech is a powerhouse no matter the event. @ChynaVargasDT

COLUMN

Tech thrives without Beard’s coaching With Beard’s decision to return to his alma mater in 2021, some players followed him, graduated, or went into the transfer portal, leaving five players returning for newly appointed head coach Mark Adams. After combing through the transfer portal and returning players, Adams had his 16-man roster ready for the 2022 campaign.

Adams, 65 years old, grew up about 40 miles southwest of Lubbock and was one of Beard’s assistant coaches at Tech, focusing mostly on defense. At his news conference after being hired, Adams said, “I don’t know why anyone would ever want to leave this program.” Adams has surpassed all expectations, and is now one of the finalist in the Naismith Coach of the Year.

It’s clear that Tech is in good hands under Adams, and maybe even better without Beard. The Red Raiders finished the regular season with a better record than the Longhorns and have

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Jonathan Kath is a second-year creative media industries major from Mesquite.

already gone further in the tournament.

On top of Adams being responsible for Tech’s success under Country Club ChrisBeard, the players responded with loyalty for Adams once the athletics director hired him.

Tech has an undying loyalty for Adams as exemplified in the team’s motto; Together we attack.

This is what has propelled Tech throughout the season, the sense of togetherness and brotherhood. Maybe it’s because of Beard leaving or they love to play with one another, but either way the chemistry they have is a key reason why they have succeeded.

With the off-season shenanigans in the rearview

mirror, it was time for the Red Raiders to begin their quest for a national championship. So, how did they stumble into the Sweet 16?

Tech started the year off winning 10 of its first 12 non-conference games, with one of the losses coming from another Sweet 16 team, Gonzaga University.

According to Tech Athletics, the Red Raiders finished third in the Big 12 regular season with a record of 12-6, losing in the Big 12 championship game to the University of Kansas. With the regular season done, Tech ended up being a three seed heading into March.

As many highs as there were throughout the regular season, Tech faced just as many lows, most importantly injuries. Junior Terrence Shannon Jr. and junior Kevin McCullar were in and out of the lineup almost all year, a big blow for the Red Raiders.

Shannon and McCullar were two of the five players who returned to play for Adams

“TURNING RED”

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and provided much-needed stability and leadership, something Tech was in need of.

Tech has undying loyalty for Adams as exemplified in the team’s motto; Together we attack.

Chemistry, while very important comes second to play on the court. Generally speaking, teams that win the championship have multiple players who have the ability to lead the team in scoring.

Out of the 16 teams left, Tech is one of the most-balanced squads when it comes to player performance.

In the round of 32 game against the University of Notre Dame, senior Kevin Obanor led the team with 15 points. A couple of days earlier, against Montana State

University, Shannon tied for a team-high with 20 points.

Overall, the Red Raiders have seven or eight guys who can give them 20 points a game at any moment, making them a threat in March.

Even with a deep roster of scorers, Tech does not shoot the ball very well. On the season, they are shooting an abysmal 32 percent from three and 47 percent from the field, according to Tech Athletics. Despite not shooting the ball well, Tech continues to win games because of its chemistry and their defense, something that Adams and Tech is known for.

Tech may not have the most talent on the floor from here on out in March, but I can bet no one has as much chemistry and passion as the Red Raiders.

Players love playing for Adams and one another, fighting every game to keep moving on. No one said March was going to be easy, but Tech continues to prove why they are one of the best teams in the country. @Jkath_DT

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LA VIDA

MARCH 24, 2022

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BAND

Tech Court Jesters follow team to Sweet 16

By TEA MCGILVRAY

Digital Content Manager From Lubbock to San Diego to San Francisco, music follows the men’s basketball team as it move through the NCAA March Madness tournament. The Court Jesters, an indoor athletics band at Tech, is a volunteer based program outside of the Goin’ Band from Raiderland travels alongside Red Raider basketball’s team, coaching staff, donors and parents.

Second-year baritone player and accounting major Barrett Potts said the flights to March Madness games tend to be high energy because everyone travels together and is there to support the team.

“I think it’s fair to say that everyone is a pretty big fan of basketball, or at least a Tech,” Potts, the Lubbock local, said.

“Everyone’s loud, everyone’s sharing on the internet. We

typically stand the whole game just because you know, we’re college students and that’s what we do.”

After Tech’s 59-53 win against Notre Dame, the Red Raiders secured their seat in the Sweet 16 bracket of the March Madness tournament.

Kristen Casey, a fourth-year animal science major from Buda, attended the Notre Dame game in San Diego and said she was excited about the win because that gives the whole team another chance to travel.

“I was biting my nails because it was like a really close score. Just the atmosphere and it was just, it was like, it’s hard to explain. It’s just really exciting and like, you can’t anticipate what’s gonna happen next,” Casey said.

The Court Jesters members are chosen based on audition, game attendance and availability. Potts said he went

File Photo/The Daily Toreador

Court Jesters cheering on the mens basketball team in 2019. The Court Jesters are a volunteer based indoor athletics band that travels alongside the team and its biggest supporters. to all but three of the men’s basketball games and several women’s games throughout their regular season, which allowed him to travel with the team for March Madness.

He said one of the perks of being a Court Jester is the ability to attend the games for free, travel with the team and get guaranteed good seats.

“I didn’t go to the UT game

here with the Court Jesters. I went as a student, where, you know, everyone camped out everything like that. That was so much more stressful trying to make sure you’re going to

get a good seat,” Potts said.

“Whereas with this, you get to have a good seat and you get to be close and know that you’re going to have a spot no matter what.”

Traveling with the team on such short notice can be both a thrill and a stressor, Casey said. While the games during spring break didn’t cause much stress for the band, she said that balancing school with travel can be difficult. Going into the game against Duke, both Court Jesters say they are looking forward to it because they think it could be Dukes head coach Mike Krzyzewski’s last game.

“I know right now he’s got, I think it’s 99 NCAA tournament wins. So I think the goal is to keep him from the 100 and hopefully, hopefully beat whoever we play next and get to keep going all the way to New Orleans next week,” Potts said. @TeaMcGilvray_DT

BASEBALL

No. 16 Tech to host No. 2 Texas for Big 12 opener

By CHRIS WILLIAMS Sports Reporter

The No. 16 Texas Tech baseball team will open conference play against the No. 2 Texas Longhorns at Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park.

The three-game showdown is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. on Friday.

Te c h h e a d s i n t o t h e matchup with the top overall record by win percentage in the Big 12 with 81.6 percent (18-4), a conference that currently boasts four teams in D1Baseball’s Top 25, with two in the top 10.

Texas leads the pack at No. 2, with Oklahoma State following at No. 9. Tech and TCU enter at No. 16 and 19, respectively, to round out the conference.

Tech sophomore right-

handed pitcher Chase Hampton said the Red Raiders are hitting its stride at this point

Carlos Gonzalez/The Daily Toreador

Houston native, Zac Vooletich runs to first base before getting out.

in the season.

“I feel like we’re very hard to beat,” said Hampton, who has accumulated a 3-1 record in five starts this season.

“Our pitching and hitting has come a long way and I think we’re going to be really good.”

The Red Raiders’ offense has led their success so far this season, as they have scored a conference-best 202 runs in 21 games. They also lead the nation in drawn walks with 144, according to the NCAA. Tech head coach Tim Tadlock said his staff has given their hitters more room for trial and error when in the box, which has resulted in 196 strikeouts as a team thus far.

“We’re a work in progress as that goes,” Tadlock said.

“We want to give our guys the

freedom to learn how to hit.

The easiest way to learn how to hit is to go up there and be aggressive.”

Preseason Big 12 Player of Year Jace Jung has drawn plenty of caution from opposing pitchers this season, drawing 23 walks this season, tied for third most in the country, according to the NCAA. The sophomore second baseman also leads the Red Raiders in batting average, OPS, on-base and slugging percentage, according to Tech Athletics.

Tech’s pitching staff has fanned 244 batters this season, led by junior righthanded pitcher Brandon Birdsell’s 43. Birdsell struck out 15 batters while walking none in six innings against Rice University on March 12, according to Tech Athletics.

Olivia Raymond/The Daily Toreador

Sophomore right-hand pitcher Jase Lopez fills in for freshman left -hand pitched Mason Molina in the sixth inning at the Dan Law Field at Rip Griffin Park on March 3, 2022.

The Longhorns entered 25 rankings including Basethe season with high expec- ball America, D1Baseball, tations after a 50 win season and the National Collegiate that culminated with an ap- Baseball Writers Association. pearance in the 2021 College FOR THE REST OF THE STORY, World Series. A consensus VISIT DAILYTOREADOR.COM preseason favorite, Texas topped many preseason Top @ChrisWilliamsDT

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LA VIDA

MARCH 24, 2022

6

Pom Squad prepares for Sweet 16 game

By TANA THOMPSON la vida editor

The Texas Tech Pom Squad travels far and wide, right next to the basketball team. As the Red Raiders men’s basketball team competes at the Sweet 16 in San Francisco this weekend, the Pom Squad will be cheering them on.

Erin Alvarado, the Pom Squad head coach, said they sent six Pom Squad members to San Francisco, and they will prepare for their tournament while they are there.

“So when we go to these tournaments, we can’t take the full team. So we’ve really just been like in tournament mode where the kids who are not at the tournament are in Lubbock practicing because we’re getting ready to compete at this international competition as well,” Alvarado said. “So my assistant coach is here with them and I was in Kansas City to for the Big 12, so we actually like to have practice in the cities once we get there.”

The Pom Squad returned from the Big 12 tournament on a Monday night and then left Tuesday morning for San

Francisco.

Erica Wehrle, a fourthyear kinesiology student from Frisco, was a member of the Pom Squad in 2019 when the Red Raiders qualified for the NCAA Final Four tournament.

“We are so excited for the Sweet 16 and to help our basketball team and support Coach Adams,” Wehrle said.

“It reminds me of my freshman year back in 2019 when Texas Tech went to the Final Four. I was lucky enough to travel to Minneapolis and got to perform on the court. It was one of the best experiences of my life and I have faith this team can do it again.”

Along with being a Pom Squad member, the girls must also balance being full-time students. During tournament season, finding that balance can get challenging, Wehrle said.

“We have regular practices, workouts, and appearances and juggle many different things at once, but that is what makes this team so special,” Wehrle said. “Our coach holds us to the highest standards and places so much emphasis on our academics to ensure that we put our

schoolwork first - even when we travel. All of us are very proactive when it comes to our schoolwork and will communicate in advance with our professors if we are missing due to traveling with the team.”

Alvarado said study hours are provided for the Pom Squad members to be able to get their school work done during trips.

“We had a team average GPA of over 3.6 so I know that they’re disciplined students, and we were able to travel again for football last season,” Alvarado said. “You know, we still had study hall hours when we were in Kansas City, like anytime that we’re gone over classes, we’ll schedule that into our daily session of setting aside time for them to really just focus on school.”

After the tournament this weekend, the Pom Squad will begin to prepare for their next task; a competition.

The Texas Tech Pom Squad has been chosen as the 2022 US National Jazz Team competing at International Cheer Union (ICU) on April 20 through 22 in Orlando, Florida, and they are the only team in the country that

is representing the United States.

“We could not be more grateful for this opportunity as it has been something we have been working for, for a long time. We will be using the same jazz routine that we competed at UDA Nationals, so we are spending this time refining and enhancing movement quality, skills, and timing,” Wehrle said. “We are so proud to represent the United States of America at ICU and show the world what we are capable of.”

TanaThompsonDT

SYDNEY BANOVIC/The Daily Toreador

The Pom Squad runs off court after a time out call made by Tech at the United Supermarkets Arena on Feb. 19, 2022.

SYDNEY BANOVIC/The Daily Toreador

The Texas Tech Pom Squad performs a dance at the women’s basketball game against Texas at the United Supermarkets Arena on Feb. 9, 2022.

WYATT ADAMS/The Daily Toreador

The Texas Tech Pom Squad cheers on the Tech men’s basketball team with their Guns Up at the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City, Missouri on March 10, 2022. The Pom Squad accompanies Tech basketball teams to every game, including ones out of town, to cheer on the team and promote school spirit.

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LA VIDA

MARCH 24, 2022

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PROFILE

Driver Tom Walters becomes ‘part of the team’

By GRACIE HANCOCK Staff Writer

Tom Walters has been driving for Texas Tech Athletics since 2011. Walters has specifically been driving the men’s basketball team for the past five years.

Walters said when he is with the team he does not feel like he is working. He feels he is “part of the team.”

“When they get in and out of the bus, they bump my fist or give me a hug,” Walters said. “Bryson Williams, he’s, of course, one of the big guys, and he’s always giving me a hug and telling me he appreciates me, and all these guys make me feel like part of them.”

The team makes sure Walters knows they appreciate what he does for them.

Walters said the team’s attitude toward him never changes. Even if they lose a game, the team is thanking him for always being there to drive them day and night.

The players are not the only ones who show their gratitude for Walters.

Walters said the coaches make it a point to thank him

after every trip.

“I’ve known (head coach) Mark Adams quite a long time. He always, after every game, doesn’t matter if they win or lose, he always walks up to me, shakes my hand, gives me a little man hug and tells me ‘thank you.’ (Adams) always says “Thanks, Tom, I appreciate what you do and keeping us safe,” Walters said. “Corey (Williams), one of the other coaches, same thing, he’s always hugging me. He is like a ray of sunshine and all of the coaches are friendly and I just don’t feel like I’m working. I feel like I’m with them, supporting them and being with them and part of the family.”

Walters said he likes to get to know the players off the court. He bonds with the players and pays attention to the things that they like.

At the front of the bus, Walters has two containers he fills with candy for the players. Walters changes out between Hershey bars, York Peppermint Patties and Starburst.

“I noticed here lately they’ve been really liking those Starbursts,” Walters

said. “I saw them keep picking through it and they were getting the pink ones. I asked a couple of them and they said ‘Yeah, the pink ones are the best!’”

Walters devotes a lot of his time to be there for the team when they need him.

Walters says he can legally drive 10 hours at a given time so for the team’s San Diego game, Walters had to leave a day before the team.

For the team’s game in San Diego, Walters left Lubbock and drove to Tucson, Arizona, which is exactly 10 hours. The next day Walters drove to San Diego to meet the team at the airport.

“I always try to get there a couple of hours before they do, just in case I have any issues and then when they come in, they just get off and get on the bus and then we start our day with them,” Walters said.

After the team’s win on Sunday, Walters drove the team to the San Diego airport. After dropping the team off, Walters spent the night in San Diego.

On Monday Walters drove from San Diego to San Francisco to prepare for the team’s

arrival Tuesday afternoon.

“I got here last night, and then they’re flying in this afternoon. So we’ll start our episode this afternoon with them, their first game is Thursday and if they win, I’ll be here all week with them,” Walters said.

Walters said he is flexible with the team’s schedule and always ready to adapt to any changes that the team needs.

“Sometimes as soon as they fly in, we go straight to practice, sometimes we’ll go to the hotel check-in first and sometimes they’re hungry, just want to go eat first.

I just roll with the flow,” Walters said. “We have an itinerary and we don’t always follow it. Sometimes coach Adams just wants to all of a sudden go do something else and so I’m flexible. And that’s one of the reasons they like me. I don’t throw a cow over the itinerary. If they decide they want to do something different, I’m all for it. Let’s get it done.”

Walters has been transporting Tech athletes for over a decade and said his past five years transporting the men’s basketball team has

COURTESY PHOTO

The bus driver for Texas Tech Athletics, Tom Walters, poses in front of the Tech Spirit Bus. Walters has been driving the men’s basketball team for five years, including this weekend. been an exciting journey.

Walters picked up the team Tuesday afternoon at the San Francisco airport.

The team will play Duke

at 8:39 p.m. today at the Chase Center Arena in San Francisco. @GracieHancockDT

CAMPUS

Game days bring superstitions

By KAITLYN SALAZAR Sports Reporter

Superstitions are a common tradition in the sports world.

While they may not have any concrete effect on a game, fans believe certain things or actions will ultimately affect the outcome of a match.

The Texas Tech men’s basketball team is known to have one of the most dedicated fan bases in the nation. This season, the fans set a new attendance record at the United Supermarkets Arena with 15,300

fans against the University of Texas at Austin on Feb. 1.

With this in mind, a trip to the Sweet 16 rounds of the NCAA Tournament has Red Raider fans following the team, whether it be by taking a trip to San Francisco, California, to watch them compete or cheering them on from the comfort of their own home.

Calan Johnson, a third-year broadcast journalism student from The Woodlands, said his dedication to the team gives him bragging rights.

“It was always a point for me

to go to every home game this season, which I’m glad to say I was able to do,” Johnson said.

While every fan may celebrate differently, each of them may have a specific routine, or superstition, to follow.

Johnson said he has a set routine for every game day.

“I always got a soft pretzel for home games and always wore a jersey,” Johnson said.

“Sometimes it would be one of the Texas Tech jerseys, and other times it would just be any other jersey I have. It just feels wrong to not watch a Tech

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game without a jersey on.”

However, superstitions are not limited to something a fan eats or wears. Aaliyah Benavidez, a first-year education student from Hobbs, New Mexico, said she participates in game-time rituals with a simple hand gesture.

“Some superstitions I have are that I always do the Guns Up when (Tech) shoots free throws, even while watching it on my computer,” Benavidez said. @KaitSalazarDT

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