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THURSDAY, APRIL 4, 2019 VOLUME 93 ISSUE 50

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CIARA

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TEXAS TECH VS. MICHIGAN S TAT E

DEFENSES CLASH IN RED RAIDER, S PA R T A N M AT C H U P

U.S. Bank Stadium Minneapolis, Minnesota 7:49 p.m.

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ENTERING POP. 422,331

FINISH THE FIGHT!

TEXAS TECH

GONZAGA

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TEXAS TECH

MICHIGAN

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Program records shattered in Beard era

PG. 6

Minneapolis trip requires planning

PG. 7

Local watch parties bring game to fans

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Managing Editor

n the first Final Four appearance in Texas Tech men’s basketball program history, the Red Raiders will face the Michigan State Spartans at 7:49 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, an NCAA Tournament regular year in, year out.

“Michigan State, we know they’ve got a great team, we know it’s not going to be easy,” sophomore guard Jarrett Culver said. “It’s the Final Four, so we’re going to have to go out there, compete and play some of our best games.”

Having toppled Northern Kentucky, Buffalo, Michigan and Gonzaga en route to making the Final Four, Tech has faced a bevy of teams featuring great offenses, great defenses and a mixture of both.

Michigan State falls in the latter category, as coach Tom Izzo’s team is 12th in offensive rating and 25th in defensive rating out of 351 teams, according to sports-reference.com.

PG. 9

Spirit Programs, band step into spotlight

PG. 11

Our picks: Who is Tech’s MVP?

PG. 12

Why each Final Four team could win it all

PG. 15

Fans swarm Minneapolis for historic game

ONLINE: WORD ON THE STREET:

Thoughts on the Final Four

THE LEGACY STARTS HERE

TEXAS TECH

PG. 5

By AUSTIN WATTS

SEE PREVIEW, PG. 2 Minneapolis

INSIDE:

BUFFALO

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TEXAS TECH

NORTHERN KENTUCKY

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Take a picture with the poster on the back and tag us on social media @DailyToreador.

SLIDESHOW:

Road to Minneapolis

CAST YOUR VOTE:

Who do you think will win the National Championship?

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FINAL FOUR

APRIL 4, 2019

PREVIEW

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Michigan State, despite a close call against the Duke Blue Devils, has handled with ease every opponent it has faced in the NCAA Tournament.

In the opening round, the 2-seed Spartans bested 15seed Bradley, 76-65. In the round of 32, Michigan State dominated 10-seed Minnesota for two halves, 70-50.

In the Sweet 16, the 3-seed LSU Tigers proved to be little trouble, as the Spartans took a resounding 80-63 victory over one of the better teams in the country. In the Elite Eight, the 3-seed Spartans ran into the 1-seed Blue Devils, with the game coming down to a one-point finish, as Duke fell, 68-67.

The Spartans are led

by Izzo, the winningest coach in program history with over 600 career wins.

Izzo was hired by Michigan State to replace the departing Jud Heathcote

in 1995, the previous program holder for wins. Over his 24 seasons with the Spartans, Izzo has strung together 22 straight NCAA Tournament appearances, a streak topped only by blue-blood programs such as Kansas (30), UNC (27) and Duke (24), according to the NCAA. “We know they’ve got a great coach, they’re very tough. It’s going to be a tough game, our guys will have to be tough to compete,” Culver said. “They’ve got great guards and are big on offensive rebounds.

That’s just going into what we already know, and coach (Chris Beard) will get us prepared for everything else.”

Izzo’s teams have been a consistent threat in the postseason, with eight Final Four appearances and a National Championship in 2000. This season, the Spartans appear to have one of their best squads in recent program history, pulling the Big 10 regular season title, the Big 10 conference tournament

title, another NCAA Tournament appearance and a Final Four appearance.

I n I z z o ’s t e n u r e a t Michigan State, the Spartans have accomplished this feat exactly three times, doing so in the 1998-99 and 1999-2000 seasons, including adding a national title in 2000.

“One of many things I respect about coach Izzo, No. 1 he’s a coach’s coach,” Tech coach Chris Beard said. “He has that great respect for coach Heathcote, his mentor, and older coaches. He takes care of young coaches, he’s just good for college basketball. No. 2, it’s just the toughness, unselfish culture, it’s the way the game should be played.”

The Spartans have a roster rotation roughly eight deep with at least 15 minutes per game played. Of the eight, only seven will be available against Tech, as the Spartans have made it this far without their second best scorer, an impressive feat given injured junior guard Joshua Langford was the team’s best shooter.

Langford suffered a foot injury in late December, and a month later, Izzo announced Langford would miss the remainder of the season, according to ESPN. The Spartans’ top scorer this season has been starting junior point guard Cassius Winston, an offensive threat few in college basketball can rival. With 18.9 points per game, 3.0 rebounds per game and 7.6 assists per game, Winston can create offense not only for himself but is a major facilitator for his team.

The Big 10 Player of the Year has been the spark plug for Michigan State over the year, scoring in double digits in all but two games this year, with eight straight double-digit games. “(Winston) is doing great things. He’s one of their best players,” Culver said. “I feel like we’re going to stay true to ourselves, still try to play our defense. I’m sure the coaches will have us ready and adjustments and stuff for great players like that.

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CIARA PEROZZI/The Daily Toreador

Sophomore guard Jarrett Culver directs the offense in the game against Arkansas Pine-Bluff on Dec. 5, 2018, in the United Supermarkets Arena. The Red Raiders will face off against Michigan State in the Final Four.

I think we’ll be ready for it, but what he’s doing, he’s doing what great players do.”

Like Tech’s own Jarrett Culver, Winston provides his team with a No. 1 scoring threat, with Winston putting up 76 points compared to Culver’s 86 over their four tournament games. Winston has been the better passer of the two with 31 assists to Culver’s 18, but Culver has been a more dominant force in the paint with 27 rebounds to Winston’s eight.

Each player has the most win shares on their teams with 7.7 for Winston and 6.9 for Culver, according to sports-reference.com.

Apart from each team’s

superstars, the two teams differ wildly offensively, as Tech’s scoring trails off in its top five, while Michigan State’s second through fifth options are all equally effective.

Winston accounts for 769 points produced, largely in part of his excellent ability to move the ball and find open teammates, while Culver accounts for 680 of Tech’s points between his own scores and assists.

For the Red Raiders, transfer guard Matt Mooney accounts for 407 points produced, sophomore guard Davide Moretti accounts for 385, while transfer forward Tariq Owens accounts for

321. After Owens, senior guard Brandone Francis provides a spark off the bench with 217 points produced, a steep drop-off from Tech’s top four scoring options.

For the Spartans, the drop-off from Winston to their second-best scoring threat, sophomore forward Xavier Tillman, is steep.

Tillman accounts for 386 of Michigan State’s points produced this season and is followed closely by junior center Nick Ward with 373, redshirt senior Kenny Goins with 342 and senior Matt McQuaid has 317 points produced this season.

SEE PREVIEW, PG. 3

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FINAL FOUR

PREVIEW

CONTINUED FROM PG. 2

CIARA PEROZZI, ADRIAN ROMERO, AUDREY KERR/The Daily Toreador

TOP: Sophomore guard Davide Moretti passes during the ball during Texas Tech’s game against Arkansas on Saturday, Jan. 26, 2019, in the United Supermarkets Arena.

MIDDLE: Transfer guard Matt Mooney drives the ball to the basket during the game against West Virginia on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, in the United Supermarkets Arena. With a final score of 81-50, the Red Raiders won the game by their biggest margin in a Big 12 game since 1999.

BOTTOM: Transfer forward Tariq Owens dunks during the game against Texas Christian University on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, in the United Supermarkets Arena. Owens broke the program record for most blocks in a single season this year.

Where Tech stands a chance is the number of injuries the Spartans’ have battled through this season.

Over 36 games the Spartans have fielded six different starting lineups, with their current lineup of Winston, Tillman, McQuaid, Goins and freshman forward Aaron Henry being the most consistent, having started the last 12 games.

An injury to junior center Nick Ward will limit his minutes in this game, while Langford is still out for the season. If at full health, the Spartans would be a near unstoppable force, with a powerful center and elite shooter added onto an already strong Final Four team.

Michigan State’s strategy is easily apparent, as Izzo has surrounded the 6-foot-1 Winston with four towering starters to help dominate the paint and defend the interior. All four of the Spartans’ projected starting players around Winston range in size from 6-foot-5 to 6-foot-8, with the injured Ward coming off the bench at 6-foot-9.

Compared to Tech, guards such as Mooney and Moretti will match up against bigger players for a good portion of the game, while the 6-foot-10 duo of Odiase and Owens will have an advantage in the majority of their matchups.

“We talk to our guys a lot about being basketball players and not being positions,” Beard said. “Our bigs will work on dribble, pass, shoot today, our guards will work on post moves and guarding big guys. It’s kind of just the versatility that we play in.

You’ve got guys like a Matt or Culver that can guard big guys on a switch.”

Where the Spartans will best contest the Red Raiders is in offensive efficiency, as Tech quickly can become onedimensional if one of its top five scorers is schemed out the game by their opponent.

For Michigan State, the presence of a pure point guard makes it near impossible to successfully shut down the Spartans’ attack, as any of their top five guys can punish with ease if not contained.

Where Michigan State truly dominates is pulling in rebounds, and the Spartans’ do so at a near unprecedented level.

With the most defensive rebounds in the league with 1,136, Michigan State’s total rebounds amount to third most in the league with 1,543. The Spartans are also first in the league with 710 assists. Overall, the Spartans have scored 2,974 points this season, 10th most out of 351 teams, according to sports-reference.com.

In comparison, the Red Raiders lack much of the success the Spartans boast across various offensive categories. Tech is 92nd in the league for total rebounds with 1,230. The Red Raiders are 88th in assists with 481, with 2,627 total points this season, ranking 62nd out of 351 teams, according to sports-reference.com.

Where Tech will have an edge is defensively, as the team holds opponents to just .369 from the field and .420 from two-point range this season, second and third best respectively in the league.

While not top five, the Red Raiders also force opponents to struggle from three, holding teams to just .293 shooting from outside this year, 10th best out of 351 teams, according to sportsreference.com. Allowing just 59.0 points per game this year, Tech’s defense allows the third-least points per game this season.

Michigan State’s defense rivals Tech on the interior, holding teams to just .369 shooting from the field, second best in the league, and .420 from two-point range, third best. On the perimeter, Michigan State’s size advantage works against them, as teams are able to find more success, shooting .314 from three, 34th best in the league. At 65.1 points per game allowed, Michigan

APRIL 4, 2019 State’s defense ranks 34th out of 351 teams, according to sports-reference.com.

“From watching the (Duke vs. Michigan State) game, we’ve just seen that Michigan State is a really good team,” Owens said. “We played Duke earlier this year and we know how tough of an opponent Duke is, just watching that game we saw how hard Michigan State plays, how tough they are …

Cassius Winston is an AllAmerican, he’s a great point guard, great player. They’re going to be a tough team.

It’ll be a tough matchup, so

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we’ll have to take this week to prepare for a great team.”

The key to the game will be for Tech to remain aggressive on offense, as Tech’s defense will do its job of keeping the score low. If the Red Raiders allow Izzo’s aggressive defense to take one of their star guards out the game, it quickly could get out of hand for Tech.

However, the Red Raiders stand a chance at the first National Championship appearance in program history if the team can execute on both sides of the ball. @AustinWattsDT

OPINIONS

Page 4 Thursday, April 4, 2019

CARTOON

@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com

COLUMN

The reality of Final Four excitement for a Red Raider

W

here does the time go during March Madness? It’s getting difficult to study and write notes with a pen when my guns are always up.

My brain seems to mirror the Red Raiders’ shutdown defense in tourna-

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

ment play, shutting down my concentration along with any chance I have of getting work done. I can yell “Raider!” at 4 a.m. thinking I’m alone in the library and someone somewhere behind a musty bookshelf still will answer with an enthusiastic “Power!” in response.

It’s 2 a.m. and freezing on a Sunday morning outside the United Supermarkets Arena after a win against Gonzaga, I’m hoping to get a selfie with Davide Moretti, and the Texas Tech Red Raiders are in the Final Four for the first time in history.

On a windy day this week in the Hub City, the flat roads seem to carry the sweet sound of the “Matador Song” everywhere I go, heard either faintly in the distance or as loud as the car blasting through speakers and sub-

woofers stopped next to me at the stop light where Texas Tech Parkway meets Indiana Avenue.

On a Monday, the “Fight Song” breaks out in a performance by the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra as an audience claps and cheers in hope for a basketball team they love.

I’m in a city that lives, breathes and loves Tech, a college campus centered at its heart. In a city like this, on days like this, a dribbled ball at the local high school carries a greater weight of importance. A well-timed screen and a layup in Maxey Park between friends feels like the gamewinning play.

A hometown hero in Jarrett Culver lighting up the court, every living room, every restaurant and bar in the city — a local boy centerstaged on national television — brings more meaning to a place like Lubbock than most college teams probably will ever know.

It’s 10:15 p.m. on a Mon-

day, I’m too busy re-watching all of coach Chris Beard’s Fireside Chats to study, and the Texas Tech Red Raiders are in the Final Four for the first time in history.

I can yell “Raider!” at 4 a.m. thinking I’m alone in the library and someone somewhere still will answer “Power!” in response.

It’s difficult to get to class navigating a sea of red and black Elite Eight or Final Four shirts, an assortment of Red Raider gear sprawling across campus. There isn’t a conversation without excitement over basketball, whispers and chatter, the ringing of the Victory Bells still vibrating through the air.

A professor slows his speech at the end of class, adjusts his tie to look forward

and announce Friday’s lecture is cancelled because, “by God” he’s going to the Final Four. At a chapel filled with students, a priest discusses the need to avoid distractions from God, while he himself breaks from service to ask God to “bless the Red Raiders” as they make their way to Minneapolis.

It’s 5 p.m. on Tuesday, I can’t stop thinking about the Red Raiders rushing into the locker room after their Saturday win, Chris Beard with the game-winning net around his neck and the entire team dancing to the song “Old Town Road.”

I'm gonna take my horse to the old town road, I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no more, I got the horses in the back, and the Red Raiders are in the Final Four (for the first time in history).

Even with the weight of a city, a campus, its passionate Red Raider students and alumni, there’s no pressure to be felt on a team

entering new territory in the Final Four. It’s pure joy, excitement, Saddle Tramps stamping and ringing bells as Raider Red stands straight throwing to the crowd Guns Up with both hands.

It’s Matt Mooney with his assists, Davide Moretti with his threes, Tariq Owens with blocks, Norense Odiase with his dunks and Culver with his, well, everything.

And all the while it’s Beard leading the way — with the intensity, the humor, the trust of a father figure to the team, to his young girls, to a college campus, to a city, to Red Raider Nation.

It’s 7:30 a.m. at the United Supermarkets Arena parking lot on Wednesday, I’m with hundreds of fans waiting to send off our beloved team, and the Red Raiders are in the Final Four for the first time in history.

Wreck ‘em, Tech.

Eleanor Guinan, Texas Tech men’s basketball beat writer, contributed to this column. @DailyToreador

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Coaches gearing up for demands of the Final Four Dick Bennett's fingerprints will be all over this year's NCAA Tournament.

The former longtime coach has ties to three of the four coaches in Minneapolis this week, one by blood.

B e n n e t t ' s s o n , To n y, coaches Virginia. Auburn coach Bruce Pearl used to coach against Bennett while at Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Even bought one of Bennett's videotapes on defense.

Michigan State coach Tom Izzo used to work Bennett's camps.

In a Final Four where stingy defenses rule, it's fitting Dick Bennett has such a strong connection.

"His influence on the game, maybe a lot of people don't know about it, but in the coaching circles has been huge," Tony Bennett said Monday. "My dad, he's an open book, as they say. He's so honest. He just wants to help the game because the game's been so good to him."

Dick Bennett's coaching career spanned five decades,

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from his days as a freshman coach at West Bend High School in Wisconsin to leading the Wisconsin Badgers to the 2000 Final Four.

Bennett's calling card was his "pack line" defense, which his son has utilized and enhanced to turn Virginia into one of college basketball's stingiest teams.

Relying on his dad's defense and an improved offense, Virginia bounced back from last year's historic loss to No. 16 seed UMBC to reach the program's first Final Four since 1984 this year.

Now that Bennett has finally made it to the Final Four as a head coach — he was a student manager for the 2000 Wisconsin team — he will again turn to his dad for advice, along with former Badgers coach Bo Ryan.

"I've listened to people and when I've either read some things or heard things coaches said, it seems like it's the balance of, you do have to enjoy it, but you do have to remain focused and

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prepare well because you can get pulled in by so many different obligations," Bennett said.

Bennett is not alone in feeling his way through the Final Four.

Outside of Izzo, who's making his eighth appearance, none of the other coaches have led teams to this stage.

The three new coaches have been to the NCAA Tournament in previous years, so they know what to expect from that standpoint.

But at the Final Four, everything ratchets up: demands on time, the pressure, the stage, the attention, little things that become big like demand for tickets.

Pearl has a simple plan for dealing with the whirlwind: change nothing.

"My approach is going to try to be to just do what we do, keep it the same," he said. "I just think the routine that we try to keep, the pace we try to keep from when we practice, the media, the

hotels — you know, you're busy, and the kids are busy.

You just kind of grind like you do all season long."

Texas Tech's Chris Beard plans to follow the example set by the coach he'll face Saturday night: Izzo.

Through his days as a young assistant or smallschool coach, Beard always admired the way Izzo handled himself and ran his program. Beard would go watch Izzo's teams at their open practices whenever the Spartans were in the Final Four and patterned his program after Michigan State's toughness under the man he calls an idol.

Beard chatted with Izzo once at an AAU tournament — "I'm sure he doesn't remember" — and was impressed by how amiable he was to a coach he had never met before. So when Beard saw he would be facing Izzo's Spartans, he picked up the phone Monday morning.

"Today talking to him on

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the phone was just really cool," Beard said. "People talk about Final Four moments, and I'm sure there will be a bunch this weekend, but it's pretty cool having a chance to talk to Coach Izzo.

We have so much respect for his program."

Izzo's previous Final Four experience should certainly help him in the buildup to Saturday's game against Beard and the Red Raiders.

He recalled the first year at the Final Four, in 1999, he was still dealing with tickets just before tip-off and has learned through the years what to do and what not to do.

Izzo hasn't been to the Final Four since 2015, but he knows the ins and outs of navigating what will be an unfamiliar world for the other three coaches.

"Experience helps some, but I think the excitement of it, everybody handles it differently. I have experience, but I don't get to play the game," Izzo said.

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FINAL FOUR

APRIL 4, 2019

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FINAL FOUR

Program records shattered in Beard era

By MAX HENGST Staff Writer

The Texas Tech men’s basketball team is prepping for its first Final Four appearance, the latest feat in the Red Raiders’ recordbreaking season.

The team raised some eyebrows after it was predicted to finish seventh in the conference in the Big 12 Preseason Poll but brought home a share of the regular-season championship for the first time in program history, according to Tech Athletics. The Red Raiders earned a 26-5 record in the regular season and went 14-4 in conference play.

Two Red Raiders broke individual records to help contribute to the team’s historic season.

The projected NBA lottery draft pick, sophomore guard Jarrett Culver, was the first player in program history to be named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, according to Tech Athletics. Culver is also the first player in program history to score 1,000 after his freshman and sophomore seasons. Culver sits at 1,096 points in his first two years at Tech.

Graduate transfer Tariq Owens wrote his name in the school record books with his ability to block shots this season. On Dec. 1, Owens broke the singlegame block record after sending eight shots back in Tech’s game against Memphis, according to Tech Athletics. Owens has blocked 88 shots this season, giv-

ing him the single-season school record. Tony Battie has held the single-season block record since 1996-97 with 71 blocks.

Wi t h t h e 7 5 - 6 9 w i n against No. 1-seed Gonzaga, the Red Raiders will make an appearance in the Final Four for the first time, according to Tech Athletics.

The school recordbreaking basketball team has been led by head coach Chris Beard, who has turned the program around in his three seasons at the helm.

Prior to Beard, the men’s basketball team never earned a win in Morgantown, West Virginia, or Lawrence, Kansas, according to Tech Athletics. Beard broke both losing streaks

after coaching the team to an 85-73 win in Lawrence last season and a 62-59 win in Morgantown this season. Beard also coached the team to its first win in Austin since 1996 with a 68-62 win against Texas.

Along with the big road wins, Beard coached the 2018-19 team to 11 conference wins, the program’s single-season high, according to Tech Athletics.

In his second year as head coach at Tech, Beard led the team to the nation’s best and the program’s single-season record with eight wins against AP Top 25 teams in the 2017-18 season, according to Tech Athletics.

Beard also coached this year ’s team to the program’s second-best regular

season record, going 26-5 this season, according to Tech Athletics. After winning four games in the tournament thus far, the 2018-19 team has tied the program record for the most wins in a single season with 30 wins. The only other time a Tech basketball team won 30 games in a season was in 1995-96.

Beard’s guidance also led to the first back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances in program history, according to Tech Athletics. After coaching the 2017-18 team to the first Elite Eight appearance in program history, he now has led the team to its first back-to-back Elite Eight appearances.

After his first two years as the team’s head coach, Beard racked up 45 wins to

tie him with Bob Knight for the most wins in program history for a coach in their first two seasons, according to Tech Athletics.

Along with all the things Beard has accomplished in a short period of time, he also coached the first one-and-done NBA prospect in program history and the second NBA draft first-round selection with Zhaire Smith, according to Tech Athletics.

The record-breaking season for the Red Raiders has led them to the furthest tournament run in program history which culminates in their matchup against Michigan State on Saturday with a trip to the national championship on the line. @MaxHengstDT

FILE PHOTOS/The Daily Toreador

LEFT: Chris Beard puts his Guns Up while speaking at his introductory news conference on Saturday, April 16, 2016, the morning after Texas Tech announced the hiring of Beard, in the United Supermarkets Arena. Tech hired Beard to be the head men’s basketball coach after three seasons under Tubby Smith. RIGHT: Sophomore guard Jarrett Culver cuts his piece of the net during the Texas Tech men’s basketball team’s Welcome Home celebration on Saturday, March 9, 2019, in the United Supermarkets Arena. For the first time in program history, the Red Raiders have advanced to the Final Four.

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FINAL FOUR

APRIL 4, 2019

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FINAL FOUR

Minneapolis trip requires planning from game attendees

By ADÁN RUBIO News Editor

With the Texas Tech men’s basketball team playing in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament on Saturday, one may be thinking about booking a flight to Minneapolis.

For those planning to go to Minneapolis to attend Tech’s game against Michigan State at 7:49 p.m. on Saturday, there may be different travel factors to consider.

According to Google Maps, Lubbock and Minneapolis are about 1,134 miles apart. A flight from Lubbock to Minneapolis can last up to four hours and 20 minutes long, a car ride is about 16 hours and 46 minutes long and multiple bus trips accumulate to about 23 hours.

One-way bus fares, according to the Greyhound website, can cost about $132 to $169.

For those flying to Minneapolis, prices will be different.

According to the Expedia website, a four-hour, roundtrip flight from Lubbock to Minneapolis could cost about $1,139 to $1,186.

Because of the costs and availability of flights, people may look for different flight options.

Allan Judah, chief operating officer of National Travel Systems, said people have been calling the company about available flights.

“All the flights are sold out into Minneapolis,” he said. “People are just going to be very, very flexible in their plans and kind of think outside the box.”

Whether it be driving all the way to Minnesota or flying to a neighboring state, such as Iowa or Illinois, and renting a vehicle, Judah said there are other ways one can get to Minneapolis.

“People need to make sure they are dealing with reputable people,” he said

regarding how people also need to be careful when paying for transportation. “This is a national deal. You start getting the scammers out.”

Along with traveling to a different place, finding places to eat and sleep is another factor one may need to consider when going to a city to attend a basketball game.

For hotel arrangements, Judah said one should be sure to prepay an actual hotel and not a hotel broker.

“Then, you’re going to run the risk of getting there and not having tickets, not having your room,” he said regarding those who do not pay for a room from the hotel itself.

According to the Trivago website, hotel rooms can cost about $93 to $125 a room per night.

Regardless of finding credible booking sources and cheap prices, Judah said some may not be able to get a hotel room in Minneapolis.

“The rooms right downtown Minneapolis are going to be packed,” he said.

For people who need a room, Judah said he sug-

gests people stay in St. Paul, Minnesota, instead.

“People just need to do their due diligence,” he said regarding making travel

and hotel plans. “They need to know who they are dealing with and handing their money over to.” @AdanRubioDT

For all your game coverage on Saturday, visit www.dailytoreador.com.

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FINAL FOUR

APRIL. 4, 2019

7

FINAL FOUR

Local businesses plan watch parties

By MALLORY ROSETTA Staff Writer

Many local businesses across Lubbock are opening their doors to Texas Tech basketball fans who need a place to watch the Final Four game on Saturday, April 6, as the Red Raiders face the Michigan State Spartans.

Nick Muscari, owner

of Nick’s Sports Grill & Lounge, said one reason his restaurant is a top choice for people to come watch the game is partly because the restaurant is owned and operated by Tech graduates.

Nick’s is a place that always has supported Tech, Muscari said. Since many of the workers are students or Tech graduates, it gives the restaurant a

family feel that brings Red Raiders together.

“Our loyal fans have been coming and watching the games all year,” he said.

“It’s usually a pretty lively atmosphere, and everyone really gets into it.”

If fans are planning to watch the game at Nick’s, Muscari said to arrive early, because it will be busy for most of the day leading up

IKECHUKWU DIKE/The Daily Toreador

The student section stands for the National Anthem before the Texas Tech men’s basketball game against Oklahoma State on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in the United Supermarkets Arena.

to and following the game.

“It’s usually pretty full for the games, and we’re always really busy,” he said.

“It’ll fill up quick.”

Brady Perkins, general manager of Cricket’s Draft House & Grill, said the business is teaming up with the Tech branch of Barstool Sports to host a watch party lasting all day until after game time. There will be March Madness specials happening as well.

There will be many games and events hap pening throughout the day leading up to tipoff, Perkins said. There will be a 16-person tournament called Buckets for Beers, where fans will play a miniature version of basketball to win free beers, as well as a similar competition called Buckets for Buckets, where contestants can win buckets of beer.

Women representing Corona Light also will be coming to set up right at tipoff and will stay from 8 to 9 p.m.

Barstool Sports also will host a giveaway with some of

CIARA PEROZZI/The Daily Toreador

Fans go crazy after a dunk during Texas Tech’s game against West Virginia on Monday, Feb. 4, 2019, in the United Supermarkets Arena. Fans can watch the Final Four game on Saturday, April 6, in one of many viewing parties hosted by local businesses. its apparel, such as T-shirts and flags, he said.

Perkins’ best advice is for people to get to wherever they plan on watching the game early, because it will be busy all day since this is such a historic moment for Lubbock.

“If people want to get involved with the competitions, I would suggest getting there at least an hour early,” he said. “It’s going to be ridiculous crazy, and we’re extremely excited.”

Darryl Holland, owner of the Cactus Theater, said the theater is co-hosting a watch party with the Tech Alumni Association. All current and former students, faculty, staff and Tech fans are invited to come watch the game, which the theater will be projecting onto its big screen.

To g e t a s p o t a t t h e watch party, Holland said

people can go online and buy a $5 meal voucher which will reserve a seat in the theater. There will be a full concession stand and bar set up, and the voucher will be good for a combo package of a food and drink item.

There are 379 seats in the Cactus Theater, so Holland said to go online, to the box office or to call during its afternoon hours from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. to purchase the voucher ahead of time.

He said he hopes fans will take the theater up on this unique opportunity to support the Red Raiders.

“We hope people will help fill up the Cactus and snatch up those vouchers,” Holland said. “We have the biggest screen in town for this watch party, and we’ll have some ‘Raider Power’ going.” @MallloryRosettaDT

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Tech Spirit Programs, band step into national spotlight

By AKHILA REDDY LA VIDA EDITOR

As members of the Texas Tech men’s basketball team step onto the court in Minneapolis, Minnesota, this Saturday, they will not be alone.

Accompanying them will be various members from Tech’s Spirit Programs, including members of the Pom Squad, cheer squads and Raider Red, Stephanie Rhode, spirit program director, said. Members from the University Court Jesters, student musicians who play at the basketball games, also will be present.

“We have to have a way to get the crowd involved at the games, and that is traditionally what spirit programs and bands do,” she said.

With this being Tech’s first appearance in the Final Four, Rhode said she is not sure what to expect. However, the spirit programs and the University Court Jesters are being called upon to participate in many events, promotional videos and more leading up to the game, more so than they have experienced in the past.

Everything is being taken up a huge notch relative to what the programs normally do, Rhode said.

“You know it’s the Super Bowl of college basketball, and so it’s a huge media event,” she said. “There are lots of cameras and lots of people there not only for the game, but for the pre-game festivities. You know it’s apparently one giant pep-rally party getting ready for the game.”

The Final Four is unlike any other, Connor Farrington, a sophomore political science major from Sachse, said. Farrington is a member of the Court Jesters and has performed in the first round, second round, Sweet 16, and Elite Eight and will perform on Saturday at the Final Four.

While he is not sure what will be required of the band,

he has been told there will be a lot more appearances in terms of pep rallies, practices and more as opposed to the downtime the band usually gets.

Members are waiting to do whatever Tech coach Chris Beard tells them to do, he said.

“It’s the Final Four, and everyone wants to get to know Texas Tech,” he said.

“Who is Texas Tech? What are they up against? What’s going on with them, and the band’s part of that.”

Performing at NCAA Tournament games is a different experience than performing at home in the United Supermarkets Arena, he said. With the high stakes and limited number of Tech fans, the Court Jesters must find a way to make an impact.

“You yourself have to be like 10 fans, because it’s not a home game,” he said. “Like at Texas Tech, all the students are there, but when we’re in Anaheim, one court jester has to be like 10 fans. We have to be as passionate, as loud.”

Members of the Pom Squad will be taking on a challenge as they performs back-toback at Nationals in Florida and then at the Final Four in Minneapolis, Lauren Lund, a senior nutritional sciences major from Omaha, Nebraska, said. Lund is a fourth-year member of the Pom Squad.

“We compete at nationals on Friday here in Daytona Beach, Florida, so right when we get off the stage from finals, we’re going to bus from Daytona Beach 23 hours all the way to Minneapolis, and we’ll get there right before the game starts,” she said.

The packed schedule is exciting, Lund said. Between performing at Nationals and at the Final Four, the week is the epitome of everything she has been waiting for as a member of the Pom Squad.

“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity,” she said.

“I never thought I would say

that I got to dance and cheer at the Final Four championship for NCAA basketball in college, and I’m so excited, and I can’t believe that I’m going to be doing this.”

The opportunity for Tech’s spirit programs to perform at the championship and step onto a national platform is significant, Rhode said.

Being able to cheer on games at home and in the regular away locations such as Kansas is a big deal, Rhode said, but doing something on the level of a Final Four game is a new type of honor for all involved.

“Even though I’ve been to other tournaments, you walk into the arena and you see all the signs for March Madness, NCAA, Sweet 16, Elite Eight and you know you’re just like, ‘Whoa, I’ve watched this for years on TV, and now we’re involved in it,’ and so in a way I expect it to kind of be a surreal experience to walk into that stadium and to really see it.”

Tech’s appearance on the national stage is also a platform to advertise and recruit for the university and the Spirit Program in general, Lund said.

Not all universities include both the Pom Squad and cheer squad in tournament games, so seeing those students get to travel and perform together shows the support of the university, she said, which serves as a good recruiting tool for the programs.

The Final Four has brought Tech a level of positive attention that extends past the basketball team to the spirit programs and more, Rhode said. Listening to the news, Rhode said she has heard Tech being mentioned by prominent, national news people, something that has not happened before.

The coach of the Pom Squad, Erin Alvarado, also told Rhode when driving the Tech-branded bus to nationals, wherever it stopped,

COURTESY OF STEPHANIE RHODE

Members of the Texas Tech AllGirl Cheer Squad celebrate the men’s basketball team’s Elite Eight victory over Gonzaga at 5:09 p.m. on Saturday March 30, in the Honda Center in Anaheim. The Red Raiders will play Michigan State at 7:49 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. people took notice in a way they had not before. This opportunity is a chance to let people know what Tech is and what it represents to the community, the panhandle and more, Rhode said. “It’s just really awesome to have the opportunity to say to a national audience, ‘Hey, we’re special, we’re a wonderful school with lots of great attributes,’ and so it means quite a lot to us,” she said. @AkhilaReddyDT

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Final Four matchups bring more excitement this season

T

his year’s road to the Final Four has contained some of the most exciting moments in recent March Madness history.

No. 4-seed Kansas State losing to No. 13-seed UC Irvine in the first round of the bracket was a giant upset, especially considering Kansas State is the regular season Big 12 champion along with Texas Tech.

Sam Medlin is a senior electronic media and communication major from McKinney.

Back to the Final Four, both sides of the bracket draw plenty of interest, with each team bringing something unique to the table. Looking at the No.

1-seed Virginia Cavaliers going up against No. 5-seed Auburn, the Tigers have one of the most fascinating stories in the playoffs so far.

Reason No. 1 for this is because it’s the first time the Tigers have advanced past the round of 32 since the 2003 season, according to Auburn Athletics. The second reason is because Auburn successfully defeated a blue-blood

program in all three rounds leading up to the Final Four, clinching its first Elite Eight and Final Four appearances in program history.

Auburn took down No. 4-seed Kansas in the round of 32, then in the Sweet 16, the team unexpectedly demolished the No. 1-seed North Carolina Tar Heels, 97-80, according to Auburn Athletics. Next, the Tigers faced

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No. 2-seed Kentucky in the Elite Eight, winning, 77-71, in overtime.

Virginia is still known for what happened last year — being the first ever No. 1-seed to lose to a No. 16-seed in the first round of March Madness, according to the NCAA website.

Clearly, the Cavaliers came into March Madness this year looking for redemption, successfully clinching a third Final Four bid in program history after defeating No. 3-seed Purdue, 80-75, in overtime.

Taking Virginia’s defensive efficiency into consideration, along with its player seniority and experience in playoff basketball, I can’t help but think the Cavaliers will beat Auburn and earn a bid to their first National Championship in history.

The matchup between Virginia and Auburn is set to take place at 5:10 p.m. Saturday, April 6, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Flipping to the other side of the bracket, Tech will face No. 2-seed Michigan State at 7:49 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis for a national championship berth.

This is Tech’s first time in program history to earn a spot in the Final Four, according to Tech Athletics. It is also Tech head coach Chris Beard’s second straight year successfully leading his Red Raider squad to an Elite Eight appearance.

No. 3-seed Tech took down the No. 2-seed Michigan Wolverines in the Sweet 16, clinching a spot in the Elite Eight against No. 1-seed Gonzaga, according to Tech Athletics.

Then, in a shocking display of a powerful offense versus a defensive-minded team,

the underdog Red Raiders defeated the Bulldogs, 75-69.

No. 2-seed Michigan State put on an impressive performance in the Elite Eight, downing the best team in the nation, Duke. The matchup was a nail-biter, with the Spartans barely sliding away victorious, 68-67.

Duke losing early has everybody shook, mostly because it was expected the freshman trio of Zion Williamson, R.J. Barrett and Cam Reddish would lead the Blue Devils to a national championship title.

Tech and Michigan State are obviously two talented teams that deserve to be where they are, but I believe Tech is going to walk away with a victory.

If what I say is correct and it ends up being Tech and Virginia in the championship, it’s going to be an electrifying battle of the top-two defenses in the nation. Both the Red Raiders and the Cavaliers will be on the hunt for the first title in each of the programs’ histories.

If Tech’s starting foundation of guard’s Jarrett Culver, Davide Moretti, Matt Mooney, Norense Odiase and Tariq Owens all show up ready to play, the Red Raiders can claim their first National Championship.

It’ll end up coming down to defensive assignments, rim protection and, of course, being able to score the ball more than their opponent.

Like the late and legendary football head coach Paul “Bear” Bryant once said, “Defense wins championships.” It rings true to this day and is universal across nearly all sports. @SamMedlinTTU

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Our picks: Who is Texas Tech’s post-season MVP? CHRIS BEARD, head coach Texas Tech coach Chris Beard has completely changed the men’s basketball program, and sometimes the MVP isn’t always a player. He has the highest win-loss percentage in Texas Tech program history at .712 along with the only Final Four appearance for the Red Raiders.

Beard holds the program record for most wins in the NCAA Tournament. Prior to Beard, Tech was 6-16 in the NCAA Tournament. With Beard, the team is 7-1 in the NCAA Tournament, so he already has more NCAA Tournament wins than the rest of Tech’s program history

combined, according to sports-reference.com Under Beard, the men’s basketball team has been ranked highest in program history at No. 6 in the AP Top 25 Poll. The men’s basketball program has the highest seed in the NCAA Tournament under Beard over the past two consecutive years at No. 3. The only other coach to have the same seed in the tournament was James Dickey in 1995-96, according to sports-reference.com.

Beard has turned the program around and deserves to be the MVP. @ChaseSeaboltDT

MARK ADAMS, assistant coach While picking Jarrett Culver, Tariq Owens, Davide Moretti, Matt Mooney or Norense Odiase would be easy for the Team MVP award, my nod goes to coach Mark Adams for making them all succeed on the court.

Tech would not have gone this far if it was not for its defense, which can be attributed to Adams and head coach Chris Beard. Tech’s defensive play has made all the Red Raiders on the court defensive stars and has gotten Tech to its first Final Four appearance in program history.

Of Tech’s top five defenders per defensive rating with at least 20 min-

utes per game played, Culver came in second, Moretti came in eighth, Mooney came in third, Owens came in first and Brandone Francis came in fifth in the Big 12. That across-the-board level of dominance is not possible without like-minded teammates with a dedication to defense, and so much of that dominance is accredited to Adams.

Ask any player on the team who makes the team’s elite defense tick, and they’ll tell you Adams. @AustinWattsDT

JARRETT CULVER, sophomore guard From the minute he stepped onto the court, Jarrett Culver has taken the collegiate men’s basketball world by storm and deserves the MVP. The Lubbock native has excelled in his sophomore season. He has posted an average 18.9 points and 6.4 rebounds per game, according to Tech Athletics, and helped lead the Red Raiders to their first Final Four.

Along with making history, Culver became the first men’s basketball player at Tech to be named the Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, according to Tech Athletics.

After defeating 1-seed Gonzaga, Culver was named the west region Most Outstanding Player, averaging 21.5 points and 6.8 rebounds, according to Tech Athletics.

The Coronado high school graduate has reached limits and broken records in only the two years he has been a Red Raider and with his collegiate career likely coming to after this season for the NBA Draft, he deserves to go out as the post-season MVP. @DaniDixsonDT

DAVIDE MORETTI, sophomore guard Davide Moretti is my most valuable player for multiple reasons, including being one of the best two-way players on the team.

Moretti is shooting at a phenomenal rate — .502 percent from the field.

He also led the Big 12 after shooting .472 from behind the arc, according to sports-reference. His ability to shoot the ball places him second on the team with 11.6 points per game.

Another aspect of Moretti’s offensive game that has had a huge impact on the team’s success is his performance at the free-throw line. He leads the

Big 12, shooting .921, according to sports-reference.

Moretti is also a valuable player on the defensive end because he can guard almost any position without picking up fouls. He has the third most steals per game with 1.1, according to sports-reference.

He might not lead the team in points, rebounds and assists, but Moretti has had one of the biggest impacts on the Red Raiders’ success and is my most valuable player. @MaxHengstDT

MATT MOONEY, graduate transfer guard Texas Tech’s basketball team has been successful this year because of how it plays as a team and its stellar defense. Leading the charge for the Red Raiders on the defensive side is Matt Mooney.

He finished the regular season the Big 12 leader in steals with 67, according to sports-reference. He was rewarded for this effort by being named to the Big 12 All-Defensive Team and the All-Big 12 Second Team.

His defense has not been the only impressive thing this year. He was a true jack-of-all-trades player for Tech, averaging 11 points, three re-

bounds, three assists and shooting 38 percent from the three-point line this season, according to sports-reference.

He has a usage rating, the number of times a play was run through him, of 22.6 percent, the second most on the team, according to Fox Sports.

Mooney’s ability to create space while forcing turnovers in bunches on the other end is something that cannot be replaced. He is the most valuable player this team has, and it has shown every time he gets a chance. @JayStraderDT

NORENSE ODIASE, redshirt senior center Norense Odiase is the silent weapon on the team. He’s doesn’t make many shots, but when he does it’s painful for the other team.

After Odiase’s slow start against Northern Kentucky, the senior from Fort Worth pulled down 15 rebounds against Buffalo, according to sportsreference.com. Also, of the four games the team has played in the NCAA Tournament, Odiase has committed only three turnovers — one against Buffalo and the other two against Northern Kentucky.

It’s not a secret Odiase has been through adversity, not just this semes-

ter, but throughout his career at Tech. The night before the Baylor game, the center had two family members die in a car crash. Two years earlier, Odiase suffered a broken foot and had to sit out the year.

Most people don’t go through this much adversity in a lifetime. Yet, Odiase had to go through this in his collegiate career and he is still one of the top leaders on the team.

Both his stats and his history make Odiase Tech’s MVP. @EleanorGuinanDT

FINAL If you are drinking while watching the game, use public transportation like Uber or Lyft to get home or back to your hotel. TTU students can also use the TapRide app to get home safe in Lubbock.

If you are driving to Minnesota, make sure you rotate drivers and that someone is always awake with the driver.

Plan lodging ahead of time. Whether it is a hotel, Airbnb or something else, make sure it is secure before you leave for your trip.

Whether cheering on the Red Raiders at home or on the road, pace yourself, set a limit, keep an eye on your drink, and step in if a friend has had too much to drink.

Congratulations to Texas Tech student athletes and the TTU Basketball coaching staff for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

Tag RISE and let us know how you're staying safe and celebrating smart!

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Why each team could win the championship

By Austin Watts / Managing Editor @AustinWattsDT

2-seed Michigan State A Michigan State National Championship is long overdue. The Trojans won back in 2000 in Tom Izzo’s fourth season and have since made the NCAA Tournament 19 times. It’s about time Izzo brings home another championship. On the flip side, however, that may be the reason the Trojans do not win it all this year, as they have had five Final Four appearances since and only made the championship once since 2000, falling in 2009 to North Carolina. Five Final Fours since 2000 make the Trojans one of the most dangerous teams in the country, but a 1-4 record in those games does not exactly serve as a bid of confidence.

3-Seed Texas Tech Unlike the other teams in the Final Four, Tech is relatively unknown this late into the season. Every other team has been here before. For example, Michigan State has been to the Final Four eight times under Tom Izzo, but this is just Tech’s first Final Four appearance. That is also what makes the Red Raiders so dangerous. Tech coach Chris Beard has built one of the best defenses in the country, and so far it has worked better than many could have imagined. An amazing 2017-18 campaign had many expecting Tech to fall back to earth afterward, but instead the Red Raiders improved across the board. Of all the teams left in this tournament, Tech is the most unpredictable.

1-Seed Virginia Cavaliers This is Virginia’s revenge tour. The team, coach and fan base spent the entirety of the offseason as the laughing-stock of the league after the team’s surprise upset at the hands of UMBC last season and have come to collect their revenge. The Cavaliers have not faced an extremely hard schedule up to this point, but it is apparent their slow style of play is too much for most teams to handle. As long as the defense holds onto the lead, their offense will wear defenses and clocks out, and the college basketball world will have to deal with the laughing-stock of 2018 emerging as the champions of 2019.

5-Seed Auburn Tigers This might be the hottest team in college basketball, and it is not even because Auburn is necessarily the best. A 30-9 record is because of several conference losses, but the Tigers dominated the SEC Tournament and the Midwest bracket of the NCAA Tournament. Auburn was not expected to be this good, but tell that to North Carolina, Kansas and Kentucky, three blue-blood programs the Tigers mauled en route to a Final Four appearance. If we are picking a champion based off resume alone, then Auburn is an easy pick for most accomplished run. Next up is another 1-seed in Virginia, but if the Tigers take the team down as easily as they did North Carolina in the Midwest, then nobody can stand in their way.

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FINAL FOUR

Red Raider basketball’s success benefits Beard

By ELEANOR GUINAN Staff Writer

When Chris Beard signed to be the men’s basketball head coach three years ago, he promised in his introductory news conference to take the basketball team to the Final Four for the first time.

In the process of accomplishing this and several other feats this season, Beard will receive many bonuses for his achievements.

“I want to do what Coach (Marsha) Sharp did here. I want to take a team to the Final Four,” Beard said in his introductory press conference, according to Tech Athletics. “I want to do what some of the great coaches in the tradition of this program have done take teams to the NCAA Tournament.”

The Red Raiders won the regular season Big 12 title, finished in both the Associated Press Top 25 and Top 10 and worked their way through the NCAA Tournament, winning the West Region to earn a Final Four appearance.

I n i t i a l l y, B e a r d g e t s $300,000 a year as a base salary, according to the contract, and in 2018-19 he will receive $2.5 million for “rights fees for outside athletics-related income,” according to the contract.

With the supplemental income, or bonuses, in his contract signed in 2018, the head coach already has earned $600,000. However, because of a supplemental agreement, Beard taps out

IVÁN SANTIAGO-BRAVO/The Daily Toreador

Coach Chris Beard calls a play to the team during Texas Tech’s game against Oklahoma State on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in the United Supermarkets Arena. Beard’s contract allows for up to $500,000 in bonuses each season. at $500,000 in bonuses, according to the contract.

This year was the first year the men’s basketball team won the regular season Big 12 title, being the first year Beard gets a $250,000 bonus, according to the contract.

After the team finished

at the No. 9 spot in the Associated Press Top 25 poll, Beard got a $25,000 bonus for finishing in the top 10.

Beard also received a $25,000 bonus when he was named Big 12 Coach of the Year in March, according to the contract.

If Tech had beat West Virginia in the Big 12 Championship game and won or earned runner-up, Beard would have earned an extra $50,000 or $100,00 bonus, according to the contract.

However, the Red Raiders fell short in the tournament, moving on to the NCAA Tournament.

After the loss to West Virginia, the team headed to Tulsa as the 3-seed in the NCAA Tournament. Just an appearance in the NCAA Tournament gave Beard a $50,000 bonus, according to the contract. When Tech beat Northern Kentucky, 72-57, in the first round to advance to the round of 32, Beard earned another $25,000, according to the contract.

In the second round, when the Red Raiders walked away with a 78-58 victory against Buffalo and moved on to their second-straight Sweet 16, an additional $50,000 was earned by the coach, putting his total at $425,000.

The success of the team did not stop there. Beard and the rest of the coaching staff pushed Tech to a 75-69 victory over Gonzaga, putting the team in the Elite Eight and giving Beard another $75,000 bonus, according to the contract.

Making it to the Final Four is something the program has never done before in Tech men’s basketball history. When the players arrive in Minneapolis, Beard will have added another $100,000 bonus, according

to his contract, but already capped out at $500,000.

If Tech wins the National Tournament, the head coach would have another $200,000 bonus, but already capped out according to the contract.

After the season concludes, the head coach could

have received another partial bonus because of his players’ GPAs, according to the contract. The last bonus the head coach may receive would be if the NCAA gives Beard an Academic Performance Rating of 950 or higher. @EleanorGuinanDT

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FINAL FOUR

Tech fans swarm to Minneapolis for historic game

By MEGAN MOSES Staff Writer

One of the first Raider Red mascots and a former Saddle Tramp, Billy Smith, followed the Red Raiders to Tulsa, Oklahoma, Anaheim, California, and now Minneapolis, Minnesota, to watch the men’s basketball team heads to the Final Four.

“It’s the biggest deal we’ve gone through in the sporting arena,” he said.

Originally from New Mexico, Smith said he moved to Lubbock where his uncle then convinced him to become a Red Raider. After he tried out for the cheer team, Smith said his Red Raider pride has never left him.

“Raider Red was just so fun, because I got to be creative in the suit,” he said.

“Red Raiders, we are just passionate people.”

Last year when Tech advanced to the Elite Eight, the Tech alumnus said he was at the game, and the crowd was electric.

“Last year in Boston, we all just sat down and cried because we were so happy,” he said. “Raider Power was insane out in the hallway.”

The crowd chanted ‘Raider Power’ for about 30 minutes, and he said no one wanted to stop. Smith encouraged all students to attend the Final Four game on Saturday, whatever it takes.

“There’s nothing in this world that is going to replace a memory,” he said. “You never regret going to a game.”

Alaia Luk, a freshman cellular molecular biology major from Houston, said when student tickets be-

came available, she called two of her friends who had been to every home game with her.

“I expect the energy to be out of the roof,” she said.

“Especially being in such a compact place with a bunch of people and everyone is excited for the game.”

The crowd should be full of die-hard fans, she said, because the tickets were expensive. She is grateful the student tickets prices made it possible for her to attend.

There’s nothing in this world that is going to replace a memory. You never regret going to a game.

BILLY SMITH FORMER RAIDER RED “I literally went to every single home game that we had, so I’ve definitely followed them throughout the year,” Luk said.

Katy Parrish, a Tech alumna from Brownfield, said she and her husband decided during the Elite Eight game they would travel to the Final Four bout if Tech won.

“If they win this, we have to go,” Parrish said. “And I almost said it as a joke, but as the game progressed, we got so excited.”

Both Parrish and her husband have immense pride in Tech, she said, and they cannot believe the team has

made it so far.

“Both of us have grown up Tech fans our entire lives, which is why we went to Tech,” she said. “We are just really proud to be Red Raiders.”

Parrish bought tickets for the championship as well, she said, and she is hoping to see Tech win.

“Anytime we watch live sports we get excited, especially Tech,” she said.

Jennifer Nance, a thirdgeneration Red Raider alumna from Colorado, said she buys season tickets to football and travels for many Tech sporting events.

“Super die-hard Tech fans, always have been” Nance said. “Even living in Colorado, we make it to games all the time.”

She went to Anaheim and said her section was right behind the opposing team.

“I think it’s going be on fire. In Anaheim it was incredible,” she said. “We were chanting ‘Red Raider’ so loud that Anaheim got up and moved.”

About Red Raider pride, she said nothing in Texas can beat the devotion of the fans.

“Everybody talks about UT and A&M, but the Red Raider fans are a force to be reckoned with,” Nance said.

Nothing has compared to the camaraderie of this year’s men’s basketball team, she said.

“You can really see that

IVÁN SANTIAGO-BRAVO & AUDREY KERR/The Daily Toreador

TOP: Raider Red hypes the crowd up at the beginning of Texas Tech’s men’s basketball game against Oklahoma State on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, in the United Supermarkets Arena. BOTTOM: The Tech student section yells to distract the opposing team during the game against Texas Christian University at on Monday, Jan. 28, 2019, in the United Supermarkets Arena. they are a family, and they play like a team,” she said, “lifting each other up and making it work.” @MeganMosesDT

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HELP 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

Placing Your Ad

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

NOW HIRING

For all positions — bartenders, security, bar‑ backs, waitstaff & shot girls. Must be TABC certified. Interviews are Thursdays at 9 p.m., 2216 I‑27. For questions, call Madison De‑ leon at (806) 577‑9245.

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.

MOVE IN TODAY

One bedroom house. Close to campus.

Nice appliances. Private fenced yard. Park‑ ing. $385. Near 26th & University. Call Ann or BJ 795‑2011.

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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.

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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

$1750. SHORT‑term lease through July.

5 bedroom 3 bath. 2223 18th. Available now. Water paid. Lawn kept. Quality. Huge yard. Washer and dryer furnished. No pets.

806‑765‑7182.

RAIDERRENTHOUSES.COM Renovated 2 & 3 bedroom houses close to Tech. Pre‑leasing now for 2019‑2020

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

$845. WATER Paid. Lawn kept. Washer & dryer. Cute 2 bedroom. 2222 18th St. (806) 765‑7182.

1‑PERSON STUDIO

3/2’s 3212 31st 3107 28th 2/1’s 3007 47th

RENT806.COM

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

Pre‑Leasing Houses Now for July 2019.

806‑793‑8759.

1, 2 and 3 bedroom houses available June ‑ August. All appliances and secu­rity system furnished. 438‑6522 or tsprop453@gmail. com.

1,2,3 & 4 bedroom houses available for summer or fall. Come visit the Tech Ter­race office at 26th & Boston.

1,2,3 & 4 BEDROOM HOUSES

Pre‑leasing now. Visit Tech Terrace Real Estate office at 26th & Boston. TechTer­race. com NICE APARTMENTS and HOUSES 1/2 block from Tech on 14th and 15th streets.

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

TECHTERRACE.COM

WALKING DISTANCE to Tech. 2/1. Hard­ wood floors. All appliances. Pets wel­come.

3309 25th St., near Tech Terrace Park. $1,090/month. 806‑470‑7088.

MATTRESS SALE

ALLAMERICANSTORAGE.COM

Rent online 24/7. 24/7 Rental station. Clean.

5839‑49th 792‑6464.

EZ DEFENSIVE DRIVING

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

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