0422318

MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2018 VOLUME 92 ■ ISSUE 55

LA VIDA

SPORTS

Campus: Red Raider becomes powerlifting national champion, IPF Open world record holder.

Men’s basketball: Several Big 12 teams facing turnovers.

Column: National Walkout Day could have been more effective.

OPINIONS

Check out our slideshow from this weekend’s Lubbock Mayor’s Marathon on our website.

ONLINE

PG 3

PG 6

PG 4

ONLINE

INDEX LA VIDA SPORTS OPINIONS CROSSWORD CLASSIFIEDS SUDOKU

3 5 4 2 5 3

Raider Reds carry on Tech tradition

By MARY BETH HOLM

M

Staff Writer

oments before kickoff, the Saddle Tramps position themselves in a large, 40-yard circle on the field of the Jones AT&T Stadium. As they ring their bells, Raider Red walks on the field with the confidence and swagger of a champion. As one of two Texas Tech mascots, Raider Red symbolizes Tech’s confidence and West Texas friendliness.

Raider Red made his first appearance in fall 1971, after the Southwest Conference passed a rule prohibiting schools from bringing live mascots to away

games. Realizing someone needed to represent Tech at away games, Jim Gaspard, a member of the Saddle Tramps at the time, based the new mascot off the cartoons by Dirk West, according to the Texas Tech traditions website.

Bruce Bills, the head cheer and mascot coach, oversees the administrative aspects of the Raider Red program. In the 2017-18 academic year, the two students who served as Raider Red made 373 appearances across the globe and made Raider Red’s international debut at the Costa Rica campus. Bills was unable to attend the international venture, but said it was fun to plan and set up for the student who got to go. “ I t ’s g o o d to, as the line says in The Matador Song, bear our banners far

DEAN WHITELAW/The Daily Toreador

John Brown, a junior industrial engineering major from Melissa (left), and Hanna Brainard, a restaurant, hotel and institutional management major from Whitedeer, pass their guns off to the next Raider Red on Friday, April 20, 2018, in the McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center. Brown and Brainard served as the iconic Texas Tech mascot for the 2017-2018 academic year. and wide,” Bills said. “That’s something that we’re proud to help do for Texas Tech and be that face for the university.”

Students who want to be Raider Red or his assistants, are members of either Saddle Tramps and/or High Riders and have a 2.5 GPA or higher, Bills said. The first round of tryouts involves a preliminary interview with Bills and the rest of the Spirit Program advisory committee. The purpose of the interview is to get to know the applicant’s personality and how well they can manage their time.

The second round of the interview, called the “Final Walk,” judges the applicant’s ability to interact with the public. The advisory committee takes the applicant in costume to a public area, like campus or the South Plains Mall, Bills said.

Hanna Brainard, a restaurant,

hotel and institution management major from Whitedeer, was one of two Raider Reds for the 2017-18 academic year. She initially got involved in the Raider Red program because her sister was a mascot at their high school and she saw the joy her sister brought to others.

“Coming to Texas Tech, I knew I wanted to become a High Rider,” Brainard said. “I knew High Riders had the special privilege of having the opportunity to try out for Raider Red. In that moment, I thought ‘What would be cooler than becoming the mascot?’”

Brainard had the honor of being the first female Raider Red to shoot the shotguns before kickoff at the Eastern Washington University football game on September 2, 2017.

She said it was the moment where she truly felt like Raider Red. “I was shaking the whole time

I’m part of Texas Tech tradition now and that’s something I will always cherish.”

JOHN BROWN 2017-18 RAIDER RED at the first football game, but I was shaking while I was holding (the shotguns),” Brainard said. “When I got up to shoot, I pulled the trigger, I released my breath. In that moment, I felt unstoppable. I felt like I am Raider Red himself. It was one of the most empowering moments I’ve ever felt.”

SEE RAIDER RED, PG. 3

SOFTBALL

CAMPUS

Seniors influence team dynamic

Researchers uncover 3-D locomotion of model organism

By NOAH MICIOTTO Staff Writer

In comparison to last season, the Texas Tech softball team has made drastic improvements as a program.

Last year, the team won only 19 games, according to Tech Athletics.

In the 2018 season, the Red Raiders surpassed last year’s total number of wins before even starting Big 12

conference play.

Despite having a very young team, Tech’s success has been heavily influenced by the upperclassmen. Although Tech frequents five freshman starters, the seniors on the team are the glue that holds the squad together.

Each of the three seniors bring something different to the table.

SEE SENIORS, PG. 5

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador

Senior Kaylee Strickland bats against New Mexico State on Tuesday, Feb. 27, 2018, at Rocky Johnson Field. Strickland is one of three seniors on the team.

By AKHILA REDDY Staff Writer

The Nematode C. Elegans — a benign roundworm only about 1 mm in length — does not initially apBILBAO pear to be at the forefront of cutting-edge research.

This tiny roundworm, however, has become one of the most important model organisms in biology, with behaviors whose mechanisms could lead to breakthroughs in our understanding of the human body.

Jerzy Blawzdziewicz, professor and associate chairman in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, and Siva Vanapalli, associate professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering, published a research paper titled “Roll Maneuvers are Essential

DEAN WHITELAW/The Daily Toreador

From left: Amar Patel, Jerzy Blawzdziewicz, Mizanur Rahman and Siva Vanapalli were part of the team, including not pictured Alejandro Bilbao, who were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America for their work with 3-D Locomotion of Key Model Organisms. for Active Reorientation of Caenorhabditis elegans in 3-D Media,” detailing a key behavior of the Nematode C. Elegans, Blawzdziewicz said.

The Nematode C. Elegans was chosen as the focus of the project due to its status as a model organism, Blawzdziewicz said. It

is easy to grow, easy to observe, has a short life span, was the first animal to have a fully sequenced genome and has a completely mapped out neural system. It also shares some key genetic similarities with humans.

SEE RESEARCH, PG. 2

2

NEWS

APRIL 23, 2018

WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM

CAMPUS

Tech offers resources for students with disabilities

By MOLLY MCLENDON Staff Writer

For students on campus who have any kind of disability, Texas Tech offers various services.

Heidi Brady is the co -director of the Therapeutic Riding Center.

“In this program we teach Texas Tech students to help children and adults with disabilities,” Brady said.

The students are taught how to lead therapeutic riding sessions or hippotherapy sessions, she said. With

RESEARCH

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 “Genes that humans have are very similar to genes that the nematode has,” Blawzdziewicz said. “So if you want to understand some biologically important processes - how muscles work, how they are affected by defects in genes and so on - that translates between this animal and humans so there’s lots of interest. It’s not just a tiny animal studied for no reason.”

The key behavior they studied was how the Nematode moves, or its locomotion, Blawzdziewicz said. Previous studies on the topic have been based on Nematodes grown in a 2D environment, on agar gel in petri dishes, Blawzdziewicz said.

In its natural habitat of decaying organic matter, however, the nematode navigates a complex 3D environment.

both of those sessions the students are interacting with individuals with disabilities in the community.

“We are both a teaching service and research service,” Brady said.

Individuals with disabilities in Lubbock and the surrounding areas can apply to take part in the services and be involved with the program.

“We have a very wide variety of disabilities because both hippotherapy and therapeutic riding can help such a diverse array

of individuals,” Brady said.

“Some of our biggest members are on the autism spectrum, we also have members with different types of developmental delays.”

The program starts with two-year-olds in hippotherapy and four-year-olds in therapeutic riding.

The changes in members are clear, Brady said. There are improvements in developmental scores as well as walking scores.

“I assist with daily office information, daily office contracts, from students,

faculty, staff, and I also assign applications from students to all of the SDS members here,” Dr. Tamara Mancini, the senior assistant director at Student Disability Services, said.

“And then work with students who aren’t assigned to assist with classroom accommodations.”

SDS provides classroom accommodations to any student that is registered with the office with any type of disability, she said.

“That disability could include anything from ADHD

and a learning disability to chronic illness to a concussion, to a temporary accommodation because you went skiing over spring break and broke your leg,” Mancini said.

Accommodations are set up for each individual student, she said. It also depends on what the student needs for each class.

For students with a learning disability, Mancini said that they provide accommodations in the classroom that include notes, or providing power

points as well as longer testing times or testing in a different location.

Tech supports over 3,000 students with a broad range of disabilities, she said.

According to the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center website, there are resources for the students that range from physical to mental health resources.

“So, a lot of really basic accommodations that lots of students have, but the most familiar that students typically need,” she said.

“So 2D movements are understood quite well, but 3-D movements, not really,” Blawzdziewicz said.

The novel aspect of this project was studying the 3-D movements of the Nematode, doctoral student Amar Patel said.

“Nobody had really looked at how they move in 3-D, a three-dimensional space,” Patel said. “What we figured out was that while the worm usually restricts its motion to a dorsal ventral plane in 2-D, what it does in order to move in 3D is it twists.”

Understanding Nematode locomotion has many practical applications down the line, Blawzdziewicz said, such as comprehending how neural systems control motion. The relatively simple neural system of the nematode makes it relatively easy to study, and information gleaned is applicable in other scenarios.

“It gives you fundamen-

tal information you can use to comprehend more complex organisms,” Blawzdziewicz said.

Another application is drug screening, Blawzdziewicz said. The way to recognize something is wrong due to a genetic deficiency is by observing the behavior of the nematode. The effects of subsequent drug can also be observed in the behavior of the nematode.

“So if the nematode is moving slower or is incapable of moving in 3-D, then we can say that we modified the gene and now we are using a drug that would try to fix that deficiency in that gene,” Blawzdziewicz said.

“With the drug, is the nematode moving normally?”

The potential impact of the research is demonstrated by the journal the paper was published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America,

Blawzdziewicz said.

“It is one of the most prestigious journals in the United States and is very, very selective,” Blawzdziewicz said. “It is a journal that many very important research papers have been published in.”

Challenges throughout the project included the months required to obtain simulation results and having to repeat and redo procedures, Patel said. Writing the paper was also a challenge due to the interdisciplinary nature of this research.

“We’re sort of in a field that’s between engineering and biology,” Patel said.

“So you have to write in a language that’s not only understandable by mechanical engineers but also by biologists who might not have the mathematical background.”

David Dela Cruz, a junior mechanical engineering major from Lubbock, is working in Blawzdziewicz’s lab to further comprehend Nematode

locomotion, he said.

“My specific part of the project is environments and how mechanical stuff effects the nematode’s travel through the environment,” Cruz said. “So for example, if you’ve got a random amount of obstacles, like pillars, how do those pillars effect how often the nematode reach the chemical it’s going towards?”

His experience in the research lab has been invaluable, he said. In addition to being something to impress future employers with, undergraduate research has given him the opportunity to experience new subject matter and ways of learning.

It has also allowed him to become more comfortable with more open-ended problem solving.

“When you get out into the real world there’s no textbook problems,” Cruz.

“So, learning how to figure that out and adapting to

situation where you don’t really know much is one of the most important things I’ve gained from research.”

Research teaches invaluable skills, Blawzdziewicz said. If you are doing homework and only get 90 percent of it right, that is still an A, he said. In research, 90 percent correct means that there is still more work to do until 100 percent is reached. This follow through and persistence is very important, he said.

“Research teaches skills that are useful not only if you want to stay in research but if you go for whatever job, even it if it’s completely unrelated to what the research was about, because it is training you in recognizing a problem and learning to find what needs to be done in order to tackle the problem,” Blawzdziewicz said.

@MollyMcLendonDT

@AkhilaReddyDT

ASSOCIATED PRESS

ASSOCIATED PRESS

4 dead in Waffle House shooting Islamic State suicide bomber kills 57 in Afghan capital NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A gunman wearing nothing but a green jacket and brandishing an assault rifle stormed a Waffle House restaurant in Nashville and shot four people to death before dawn Sunday, according to police, who credited a customer with saving lives

by wresting the assailant’s weapon away.

The gunman shot people in the parking lot before entering the restaurant, where he continued firing until a customer grabbed the rifle, Nashville Police spokesman Don Aaron said. Four people were also wounded before

the gunman fled, shedding his jacket.

Authorities said they were searching for the suspect, 29-year-old Travis Reinking, and that they were drafting murder warrants for him. Nashville police tweeted that the pickup truck the gunman drove to the restaurant was registered to Reinking.

Aaron, the police spokesman, said three people died at the restaurant and one person died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, where two others were being treated for gunshot wounds.

Medical Center spokeswoman Jennifer Wetzel said one was in critical condition and the other was in critical but stable condition.

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — An Islamic State suicide bomber carried out an attack at a voter registration center in the capital Kabul on Sunday, killing 57 people and wounding more than 100 others, said officials from the Afghan interior and public health ministries.

Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Majro said that among 57 who were killed in the attack, 22 were women and eight are children. Majro added that 119 people were wounded in Sunday’s attack, among them 17 children and 52 women. “The tolls could still rise,” he added.

Come Check Out Lubbock’s Premier Footwear Shop in

South Plains Mall

BOOK US FOR PRESENTATIONS! Bring in a University Career Center Representative to speak with your students about their future!

To schedule a classroom presentation, call 806.742.2210.

•FIND YOUR NEW FAVORITE BRAND• BIRKENSTOCK • NIKE • DANSKO • OBOZ • PIKOLINOS SOREL • CHACO • ASICS • KEEN • HOKA ONE ONE • ECCO TOMS • HUNTER • BROOKS • ADIDAS • SPERRY

Gen. Daud Amin, the Kabul police chief, said the suicide bomber targeted civilians who were registering for national identification cards.

The large explosion echoed across the city, shattering windows miles away from the attack site and damaging several nearby vehicles. Police blocked all roads to the blast site, with only ambulances allowed in.

Local TV stations broadcast live footage of hundreds of distraught locals gathered at nearby hospitals seeking word about loved ones.

The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement

carried by its Aamaq news agency, saying it had targeted Shiite “apostates.”

The attack comes almost a month after another deadly attack by IS in which a suicide bomber carried out an attack near a Shiite shrine in Kabul that targeted attendees celebrating the Persian new year. That attack killed 31 people and wounded 65 others.

In a statement issued by the president’s office condemned Sunday’s attack and quoted President Ashraf Ghani as saying such “terrorist attacks” won’t prevent people from participating in upcoming parliamentary elections.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Businesses looted amid Nicaragua unrest MANAGUA, Nicaragua (AP) — Dozens of shops in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua have been looted as protests and disturbances sparked by government social security reforms continued into Sunday. Human rights groups say at least 26 people have been killed in several days of clashes.

Images broadcast by local news media showed looted shops in the sprawling Oriental Market district and at least one Walmart.

Police apparently did not intervene, in contrast to what had been a heavyhanded response to the demonstrations, in which dozens have been injured or arrested.

State-controlled media blamed protesters for the

looting, while critics speculated that it was being allowed in order to pressure the business sector, which has set conditions for talks with the government, including an end to the harsh crackdown.

From the Vatican, Pope Francis said he was “very worried” about the situation in the Central American nation and joined local bishops in seeking an end to all violence.

The disturbances broke out in response to President Daniel Ortega’s effort to shore up the troubled social security system with a combination of reduced benefits and increased taxes. They appear to have expanded to include broader anti-government grievances.

@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com

RAIDER RED

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 Bills said acting as the mascot coach is fun because he gets to know the students outside their work as Raider Red. Out of costume, the students are organized and serious about their job, but once they get into costume, Bills said they are full of energy and ready to greet Red Raider fans.

“It’s fun for us to see the different personalities when they’re a student and when they’re Raider Red,” Bills said. “They have different personas come out.”

John Brown, a junior industrial engineering major from Melissa, is an assis-

LA VIDA

tant to Raider Red. He got involved with the Raider Red program in spring 2017 because he enjoyed the tradition of Raider Red and wanted to be a part of his favorite part of being a Saddle Tramp.

“The character being created by Dirk West and then (Saddle Tramps) actually bringing Raider Red to life was really cool,” Brown said.

“I wanted to be a part of the elite group of guys who have done it before.”

Brown’s favorite part of being Raider Red’s assistant is getting to interact with the younger Tech fans and be the communications tool between Tech and the Lubbock community, he said.

“It’s opened my eyes to lots

Page 3 Monday, April 23, 2018

of different things,” Brown said. “It’s gotten me out there a little bit more. It’s made me a better, more rounded person.”

Brainard said she would like to be remembered as a Raider Red who went above and beyond to serve in the role as mascot, who brought joy to everyone and who embodied the Tech spirit.

“This has been one of my most memorable experiences of college,” Brainard said. “This is the highlight of my college career. By being Raider Red, I feel so much more connected to Texas Tech and to the spirit as well. I’m part of Texas Tech tradition now and that’s something I will always cherish.” @MaryBethHolmDT

CAMPUS

Red Raider becomes powerlifting national champion, IPF open world record holder

By JARET THURSTON Staff Writer

At the 2018 USA Powerlifting Collegiate National Championship, Alex Maher, a senior physics major from San Antonio, became a national champion and an IPF Open World Record holder.

The Red Raider prepared for the Collegiate National Powerlifting Competition for the two months leading up to competition, and the work paid off.

“I got into powerlifting because my high school rugby team would have workouts at a CrossFit gym,” Maher said. “Coaches noticed that I was good at lifting heavy and recommended powerlifting.

Then I met a powerlifting legend, Gene Bell, who convinced me to compete.”

To prepare for the competition, Maher worked out four times a week. The 10 days before the competition, he amped up his protein and carbohydrate intake, while keeping calories at or below 3,000 to lose seven pounds before competition.

Maher said he did a full meet consisting of squats, bench press and deadlift in that order, getting three attempts at each event or else you “bomb out” and cannot place.

There were 840 total lifters, 25 lifters in his division and weight class, he said.

“I competed equipped (knee wraps, squat suit, bench shirt, deadlift suit) in the 74 kg (163) weight class. I went six for nine in attempts winning the competition with my deadlift,” he said. “I got an unofficial IPF Open World Record on my last deadlift of 330kg/727lbs.

I almost bombed out on squat depth but got my third attempt and had to bench without a bench shirt because of injuries.”

One of Maher ’s close friends and coach, Omar Rahman, met Maher four years ago, and has been coaching him for a year and a half.

Rahman programs all of Maher’s powerlifting training, guides him in his nutrition and handles him at competitions, Rahman said.

“Alex has been powerlifting long before I started coaching him, and the one thing that stood out is his consistent technical efficiency for squats, bench and deadlifts,” Rahman Said.

“That is one of the most important aspect to master, to continuously progress strength wise.”

Rahman said he believes Maher has the potential to make history in powerlifting.

“He is also one of the calmest and most humble lifter(s) I’ve ever met or seen which is rare considering he’s lifting absurd amounts of weight,” Rahman said. “He has pause deadlifted (pausing the bar

CAMPUS

English Department to host debut reception

The Harbinger Student Journal of Art and Literature will host a reception celebrating the release of its 2017-18 edition of the publication at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, April 24, in the room 001 of the Department of English building.

The release reception will feature readings of the Harbin-

ger’s published work, which include fiction, poetry, and, for the first time, plays. The reception will also feature art that is in the 2017-18 edition of the Harbinger.

Refreshments will be provided and the event is free and open to the public. @MaryBethHolmDT

mid shin level to a motionless stop and then finishing the rest of the lift) 315kg (695lbs) without a deadlift suit and belt. I expect him to deadlift more than 800lbs very soon —without a suit of course.”

Ian Bell, a powerlifter for 13 years, has been helping Rahman coach Maher for the

last four years.

“I started back training at Olympic Gym, the gym I trained at as a kid. I had a crew of people that I would train with, and when I came back there was this new guy,” Bell said. “They introduced him as a rugby player who was interested in powerlifting.”

Today’s

su do ku

4 6 7 6

5 2

3

8

4 2

3 8

4 7 2 9

2 5

1

1

1 3 6

3

7 6

7 1

Puzzles by PageFiller

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

Find the solution at www.dailytoreador.com april is...

sexual assault

awareness MONTH

visit rise.ttu.edu for more information

Rahman and Bell guided Maher into powerlifting, and before long, his potential started to show. Bell said they knew Maher would soon be a future collegiate champion and world record

breaker, which he now is.

“As of today we are brothers in iron and in life, and I just play my part to ensure he can be as successful as possible on the platform,” Bell said. @DailyToreador

Page 4 Monday, April 23, 2018

CARTOON

OPINIONS

@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com

COLUMN

National Walkout Day could have been more effective

S

ince I heard the news from my friends back home, I’ve been debating about whether or not I should address this topic.

The politically active

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

EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief McKenzi Morris (806) 742-3395 editor@dailytoreador.com Managing Editor Avery Aiken managing@dailytoreador.com News Editor Michael Cantu news@dailytoreador.com La Vida Editor Ryann Rael features@dailytoreador.com Sports Editor Austin Watts sports@dailytoreador.com Opinions Editor opinions@dailytoreador.com Multimedia Editor Dean Whitelaw photo@dailytoreador.com Digital Content Manager Tori McGee online@dailytoreador.com Copy Editor Nathan Lamb online@dailytoreador.com

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

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

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

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

communities I left behind took a large role in organizing Friday’s walkout, and I wish that I had only positive reports about the events.

Unfortunately, that’s not the case.

According to the New York Times, the idea for a second National Walkout Day originated in Ridgefield, Connecticut, when high school sophomore Lane Murdock started a petition on Change.org. She lives in close proximity to Sandy Hook Elementary School, the site of a shooting that took place in 2012. That day, 20 young children between the ages of six and seven were killed, along with six Sandy Hook employees.

It’s unfortunate the Parkland shooting was not a shock to her, or to any other students near her age. It’s just seen as something that will happen from time to time, and our leadership doesn’t really see a problem with it. Before the tragic events in Parkland, the discussion about shootings being far too common was continuously brushed under the rug.

Gloria Matheson is a freshman political science major from Round Rock.

The political landscape is different this time. Everyone can feel it. This movement is different. I’d like to think this is due at least in part to the fact that it is student led.

It’s truly inspiring to see that two months later, the gun debate is still a hot topic. Students across the country are keeping this discussion alive. The terms of these discussions are obviously vastly different depending on location, but the fact that it’s still happening is not insignificant.

For that, I applaud this movement. They’re doing wonderful things in that regard and advocating for a relevant issue. Across the country, the walkout was successful. The 13 seconds of silence were observed in honor of the 13 lives lost in the Columbine shooting almost two decades ago. Tragically, the events are all too familiar in our day and age.

The walkout was lined up

real protest.

Because the absence was excused for one of the walkouts, many students who didn’t really care about the issue decided they would go anyway to skip class.

So instead of every protestor focusing on the topic at hand, I saw pictures of signs promoting the legalization of marijuana.

Furthermore, some students came to protest the walkout itself, and started yelling slurs and offensive rhetoric at the students who were observing the moments of silence. They chose to disrupt the silence, citing the fact they were exercising their freedom of speech in harassing the other students.

The discourse then turned into a screaming match between those who identify as conservatives and those who identify as liberals. This diluted the message even further and showed me that a lot of the people I grew up with are not mature enough to handle this kind of thing.

Of course, I attribute this to the sheltered world the principal fosters for the students

who don’t want to hear other people’s opinions.

The true intention of the protest was lost upon so many. This is unfortunate to me, but I still think it was beneficial for the students who actually wanted to learn about this issue. Those that came in with an open mind and an open heart said the walkout was a refreshing communal experience. Seeing so many of their classmates walking out to try to make a difference was moving for them and seeing pictures of it was moving to me.

There are so many things that are right about this movement, so I won’t sit here and bash it entirely.

But it’s important to critique a movement and find out what we can do better to be more effective.

I admire the students who truly felt passionate about this issue and wanted to show their support for it.

I think they’re doing a lot of good, and bringing this issue to schools is the continuation of a necessary conversation. @DailyToreador

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Russian lawyer questions why Mueller hasn’t contacted her MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian lawyer who discussed sanctions with Donald Trump Jr. in New York during his father’s 2016 campaign for the U.S. presidency said Sunday that special counsel Robert Mueller has not contacted her and she thinks he isn’t interested in finding the truth.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Natalia Veselnitskaya also detailed her recent meeting in Berlin with the U.S. Senate Intelligence Committee, which is investigating allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election as well.

Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr., the president’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort in June 2016 after Trump Jr. was told she could provide potentially incriminating information

about Hillary Clinton.

Mueller, a former FBI director, is leading a federal probe of possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. He has filed charges against multiple former Trump campaign aides.

The apparent lack of interest shown by Mueller’s team in her testimony could be a sign the special counsel is not eager to find out what happened, Veselnitskaya told the AP in the interview in downtown Moscow.

“If Mueller’s team is not working to discover the truth, they will never question me,” she said.

Veselnitskaya also said she was thinking about approaching Mueller to discuss the hacking of her email in February that she claimed bears resemblance to the 2015 hacking of the Democratic National Committee.

through advertising revenues generated by the student sales staff with free campus distribution resulting from student service fees.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

PUBLISHING INFORMATION

to be pretty much the same at my former high school, with many people wanting to participate. I asked many of my former classmates for their accounts of the events, to which they replied that the protest was meant to be advocating for kindness and promoting oneness among the student body.

While I don’t think that this was the original intention of the walkout, I can appreciate the sentiment and think perhaps this is an even better focus. We should promote awareness about mental health issues because that seems to be central motivators for school shooters. But when the issue is watered down this way, we stop trying to hold someone accountable for it.

Another high school in my hometown marched down to a politicians office to hand him a petition with their names on it and show that they wanted more gun control. My former high school, on the other hand, did not do this. In fact, the principal even gave them an excused absence for the walkout, which made it a lot less of a

Periodical Postage paid by The DailyToreador, Media and Communication building, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, 79409-3081. Publication number 766480. The DailyToreador is a student newspaper published Monday through Thursday, September through May; Tuesdays June through August, excluding Sept. 5, Nov. 23-24, Dec. 8-Jan. 18, March 13-16 and May 10-June 5. The Daily Toreador is funded primarily

Call: 806-742-3388 Subscription Rates: $150 annually; single issues: $1.

Postmaster: send address changes to The Daily Toreador, Box 43081 Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas 79409.

LETTERS

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

Veselnitskaya is a wellconnected Moscow lawyer who has worked with a company called Prevezon Holdings Ltd. The company’s owner is the son of a former Russian government official and a fierce advocate for rolling back U.S. sanctions on Russia.

At the time of her 2016 meeting at Trump Tower, Veselnitskaya was helping defend Prevezon against charges it had engaged in money laundering from a $230 million Russian tax fraud scheme.

Trump Jr. and others in attendance have downplayed the meeting, saying nothing came of it. Trump has denied that he or his campaign coordinated with any Russian attempts to interfere in the election.

Veselnitskaya on Sunday showed to the AP screenshots of what she said were phishing

emails and subsequent messages, showing that her email account had been hacked. She said three of her email accounts were targeted in February, around the time when she began negotiating a meeting with the Senate Intelligence Committee.

The committee has expressed interest in determining whether Veselnitskaya’s appointment with Trump Jr., Kushner and Manafort was part of a Russian government effort to help Donald Trump’s White House campaign. It was described that way in emails to Trump Jr. in the days before it took place.

Several congressional committees are looking into whether Russia interfered in the 2016 election and whether there were Russian ties to Trump’s campaign.

The House Intelligence Committee has finished its in-

phone number, student ID number and a description of university affiliation. Students should include year in school, major and hometown.

We reserve the right to edit letters. Anonymous letters will not be accepted for publication. All letters will be verified before they are published. Letters can be emailed to dailytoreador@ttu.edu or brought to 180 Media and Communication. Letters should be sent in before 3 p.m. to ensure the editors have enough time to verify and edit the submission.

GUEST COLUMNS

The Daily Toreador accepts submissions of unsolicited guest columns.

While we cannot acknowledge receipt of all columns, the authors of those selected for publication will be notified. Guest columns should be no longer

vestigation and said it found no evidence of collusion or coordination with Russians.

The Senate Intelligence Committee approached Veselnitskaya earlier this year, but she refused to go the United States, saying she feared for her safety. The lawyer and the committee’s investigators instead met in a Berlin hotel on March 26 and talked for three hours.

“That was essentially a monologue. They were not interrupting me,” Veselnitskaya said. “They listened very carefully...Their questions were very sharp, pin-pointed.”

The investigators mainly wanted to know about her 2016 meeting at Trump Tower. Veselnitskaya says she repeated her previous statements about it, insisting that she was not linked to the Russian government and merely wanted to discuss sanctions against Russia.

than 650 words in length and on a topic of relevance to the university community. Guest columns are also edited and follow the same guidelines for letters as far as identification and submittal.

EDITORIALS

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

SPORTS

WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM

APRIL 23, 2018

5

MEN’S GOLF

Red Raiders heading to Big 12 Championship

By SAMUEL MEDLIN Staff Writer

The No. 12 Texas Tech men’s golf team is heading to Oklahoma to compete in the Big 12 Championship, starting on Monday, April 23, and lasting until Wednesday, April 25, at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa.

The field for the tournament is stacked, with No. 1 ranked Oklahoma State leading the pack, according to the Golfstat website. Other notable teams in the Big 12 include No. 12 Tech, No. 3 Oklahoma University, No. 10 Baylor and No. 14 University of Texas.

“We’ve seen years where

SENIORS

CONTINUED FROM PG. 1 On Sunday, April 22, Tech honored each of its seniors and their accomplishments prior to the start of the final game of the conference series against Iowa State, according to Tech Athletics.

All three seniors, Kaylee Strickland, Cheyenne Powell and Allison Knopp, have accomplished many things in their careers at Tech.

In the finale of the threegame series against Iowa State, the Red Raiders picked up a win on Sunday, April 22, by a score of 5-2. The win snapped a 10-game losing streak for the Red Raiders.

Along with all the other Red Raider softball players, Tech head coach Adrian Gregory values the seniors and what each of them present for the squad.

“All three of them are vastly different,” Gregory said. “I think these guys are laser-focused on doing what they need to do to get out success through. They’re just really wanting to play and get better and win.”

Strickland, a native of Princeton, is perhaps one of the most dynamic players on the team. Strickland often resides at the ninehole spot in the lineup offensively, and in left field on the defensive side of

there’s been four or five teams even in the top-15 and this year is no different,” Tech head coach Greg Sands said when asked about the strength of the Big 12 Conference.

Last year, the Red Raiders took home a fourthplace finish during their trip to the conference championship, according to the Golfstat website.

Texas claimed the Big 12 title in 2017.

“I feel like we got a good group of guys,” Sands said about the players he is taking to the event. “I feel good about what we’ve been doing, and how we’ve been progressing leading up to (these) events.”

The Red Raiders are com-

ing off a third-place finish at the El Macero Classic earlier this month, according to Tech Athletics. That top-3 placement meant Tech has clinched a top-3 finish in all but one tournament in the spring season.

Junior Ivan Ramirez was the Red Raiders highest finisher on the individual leaderboard in their last tournament, according to the Golfstat website.

Ramirez took home a sole third place finish for the event with his total combined score of 3-over par.

Seniors Hurly Long and Fredrik Nilehn’s presence will be much needed at the conference championship.

Both Long and Nilehn have been selected to play

the ball, according to Tech Athletics. Often in softball, the number nine batter is underestimated; however, Strickland exploits the common misperception of the last batter in the lineup.

Strickland’s main offensive threat is her speed, and it makes her valuable at the bottom of the lineup. As a left-handed “slapper” type batter, she uses her quickness to get a head start down the baseline. Strickland also places a lot of pressure on catchers and defenses due to the threat she poses on the base paths.

Defensively, Strickland holds down a portion of the outfield. Strickland’s speed once again gives her an advantage over the competition, as she can efficiently track down and catch balls hit in the outfield. Strickland makes many diving plays in the outfield and her effort proves the type of player she is.

Powell, a right-handed pitcher from Blanchard, Oklahoma is another important factor for Tech.

Powell originally signed with Oregon University out of high school before transferring to Tech, according to Tech Athletics.

“Cheyenne is fun and keeps our kids loose and is a super character in the dugout,” Gregory said.

Despite her lax person-

ality, Powell went straight to work when she got to Tech. Powell posted a winning record of 7-6 on the year in her first season as a Red Raider, according to Tech Athletics. Powell has great command of her fastball and uses her off-speed pitches to throw of the opposing batters. Powell is one of Tech’s most prominent throwers in the circle.

Powell ran into some troubles in her junior year, as she missed a big portion of the season due to an injury, according to Tech Athletics. As a senior, Powell currently has the second-best ERA on the team at 4.05 on the year. Overall, Powell is one of the main reasons for Tech’s success.

The third and final senior for Tech is Powell’s batterymate, Knopp. Knopp is a native of Saint Louis Missouri, according to Tech Athletics.

Like Powell, Knopp also transferred to Tech, as she played her freshman year at Butler Community College in Kansas.

“Ali is confident, and kind of borderline cocky which is great,” Gregory said.

Knopp uses her confidence to her advantage as she frequents the seven hole offensively and holds things down behind the plate defensively as a catcher. Knopp is a solid hitter and is certainly capable to change the score of the

in the annual Palmer Cup that is happening in the coming summer, according to Tech Athletics. Nilehn has also been nominated for multiple national awards this season. Sands mentioned Nilehn’s status is still unknown for the tournament as he recovers from an injury that has held him out the last few weeks.

With a strong showing in the Big 12 Championship, the Red Raiders could snatch a bid into the NCAA Regional Championship, which will take place from Monday, May 14, to Wednesday, May 16, with the site for the tournament to still be determined. @SamMedlinDT

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador

Texas Tech golfer Wes Artac walks on the Rawls Course during mens golf practice. The No. 12 Texas Tech men’s golf team is heading to Oklahoma to compete in the Big 12 Championship, starting on Monday, April 23, and lasting until Wednesday, April 25, at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa.

FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador

Senior Allison Knopp catches a pitch against OSU Cowgirls during a home game at the Rocky Johnson Field on Saturday, March 31, 2018. Knopp currently has four home runs on the year, according to Tech Athletics. game with just one swing of the bat. Knopp currently has four home runs on the year, according to Tech Athletics.

Despite having a big bat, Knopp is most important for Tech on defense. As a catcher, Knopp has eyes on the whole field resulting in her telling the Red Raider defense how and when to make certain adjustments.

Knopp has an outstanding fielding percentage at .990 on the year, proving her sharp defensive skill set,

according to Tech Athletics.

These three seniors have made a huge impact for Tech, primarily on the defensive side of the ball.

They also provide a great example for the younger Red Raiders on the team, both on and off the field.

Both the seniors and the freshmen appreciate and reciprocate their dependent relationship on one another.

“I think without all of them [freshmen] this team is just not the same,” Powell

said when asked about what she has seen from the freshmen. “I think all of them have just done a great job.”

Although the number of seniors on the squad is low, the seasoned trio collectively creates a huge part of the Red Raider’s success.

Each of these seniors have exemplified great character throughout their time at Tech, and ultimately paved the way for the up and coming Red Raiders. @NoahMiciotto_DT

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Mets, Braves series finale postponed due to rain, rescheduled for May 28 ATLANTA (AP) — The final game of the four-game series between the New York Mets and Atlanta Braves was postponed because of rain on Sunday.

Rain began falling at SunTrust Park late Sunday morning and was forecast to continue through the afternoon and night.

The game will be made up as part of a split doubleheader on May 28.

Braves manager Brian Snitker said the rainout will

give his players a well-timed rest — even though he was hoping his team could build on momentum gained from Saturday night’s 4-3 last at-bat win.

CLASSIFIEDS Line Ad Rates

Classifications

Help Wanted Furnished Rentals Unfurnished Rentals Tickets for Sale Bold Headline Miscellaneous 75¢ extra per day Lost & Found (max. one line) Add a photo or logo for $1 extra per day Clothing/Jewelry 15 words or less $10 for 5 days additional words 20¢ per word

Typing Tutors For Sale Services Roommates Travel Legal Notice

Terms & Conditions

TUTORS

HELP WANTED

UNFURNISHED

PART TIME POSITION AVAILABLE.

$465. BILLS paid. One block to Tech. Nice big studio. 2313 13th rear. Quiet. Cute.

Spotless. Lawn kept. No pets. $300 deposit.

765‑7182. Consider 4 month lease.

HELP WANTED APARTMENT INTERN 29 hours a week except May 15th‑ August 31st 39 hours jti incorporated 806‑792‑3288 ENERGETIC, FUN, KID LOVING SUMMER CAMP INSTRUCTORS, LIFEGUARDS, GYMNASTIC INSTRUCTORS, AND PRE‑ SCHOOL TEACHERS NEEDED. email mar‑ cathomastega@gmail.com

FRECKLES! MODELS NEEDED.

$50 per session. Email headshot to LDA‑ VID70@OUTLOOK.COM

GET UP WITH THE CHICKENS

Imagine being done with your work day before your classes even begin. We have an opening in circulation to deliver The DT to our campus loca­tions. 10‑15 hours per week. Must have good driving record and insur­ance. Visit our website at www.daily­toreador.com and click on work for us.

LITTLE GUYS MOVERS

All applicants must meet the following cri­ teria: Valid driver’s license and clean driv­ing record 21 years of age or older We will conduct a thorough background check.

This is a physically demanding job and we lift some very heavy objects, all day every‑ day, but it is satisfying.

You can apply seven days a week 8‑6PM 4709 West Loop 289

3:30‑9:00 p.m.; Work 7 days in a two week period. Sundays 1:00‑9:00 p.m. (every two weeks). Answering phone, re­ceiving vistors and confirming obituaries with newspaper.

Great student job. $10.00 hour. Sanders Funeral Home, 1420 Main St., 763‑6433 SUGARBAKERS CAFE AND BAKERY. Part‑time front counter help. Apply within 4601 South Loop 289, suite 1.

YWCA OF LUBBOCK

Like kids? Like teaching? Like water?

Swim Instructors Needed!

Part‑time evening hours during the week only.

No experience necessary.

Call 776‑9508 or visit ywcalubbock.org

FURNISHED APARTMENTS NEAR TECH

LiveSomeWhere.com/Texas‑Tech Search/filter apartments!

List/search subleases for free!

UNFURNISHED $1750 FOR Fall. 5 bedroom 2 bath. Large Historic tutor home. 2222 14th. 2 block to Tech. Water paid. Washer and Dryer fur­ nished. Lawn kept. No pets. 765‑7182.

$565 CUTE 1 Bedroom duplex. Near Tech.

Washer/Dryer furnished. Polished hardwood floors. Lawn kept. Quiet. Appli­ances. Water paid. 2205 18th. No pets. $300 deposit.

806.765‑7182

1‑2‑3 BEDROOM HOUSES

EXCEPTIONAL HOMES IN TECH TERRACE PRE‑LEASE TODAY!!!

DETAILS AT TTUrental.com

1,2,3 & 4 BEDROOM HOMES

Pre‑Leasing now. TechTerrace.com

2 & 3 BEDROOM HOMES

available. We’ve got what you want con­ vient to Tech! Newly updated! www.lub­ bockleasehomes.com. 806‑771‑1890.

2309 38TH. NEW HOUSE.

Pre‑Lease now. 3 bdrm, 2 bath, 2 car ga‑ rage. $1800/mo.

2111 15th. New House. 4 bdrm, 3 bath, 2 truck garage. Loaded. $2000/month.

1910 62nd. First Month FREE. 2 bdrm $800/ month.

2209A 15th. First Month FREE. 1 bdrm, $450/month. Walk to TTU Call 806‑782‑7456

wicz, who was scheduled to start for the Braves, will have his start pushed back to Monday night, when Atlanta opens a four-game series at Cincinnati.

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

Payments Click the “Classifieds” link on All classifieds ads must be our website to get started! prepaid prior to publication by Have a question? Email:

www.dailytoreador.com

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

All ads will appear on dailytoreador.com at no additional charge. Please check your ad carefully on the first day of publication and notify The Daily Toreador of any errors. We are only responsible for the first day’s incorrect insertion.

VIOLIN & PIANO Lessons. Violin “outfits” $355, all sizes 1/16‑4/4 (806) 589‑8753

“We’ve still got seven days before we have an off day, so it will be good to give everybody an extra day,” Snitker said.

Right-hander Mike Foltyne-

Deadlines

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

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

UNFURNISHED 4 BEDROOM HOUSE

2415 21st, Alarm, Wood/Tile Floors, awe­ some backyard with Gardener!

June 1, 2018‑May 31, 2019 (806)632‑4211 www.21RaiderAlley.com BEAR FLATS apartments available. Hard­ wood floors, stucco walls, bolted metal ceilings, washer/dryer connections, & pri­ vate patios. 4202 17th loft style apart­ment, 806‑792‑0828.

CLOSE TO campus. We have some won­ derful 1, 2 & 3 bedroom homes with nice appliances, lovely yards. www.Techrental­ homes.com 795‑2011.

NEAR TECH. 1 bedroom apartment. W/D hookups. Water paid. Private yard. Avail­able now. $425/month plus bills. 2205 26th rear.

806‑535‑1905.

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

Clean, Convenient, Reasonable, Free Park‑ ing.Call 762‑1263 NICE ONE bedroom back house near Tech.

Near 21st and University. Appli­ances.Wash‑ er & dryer included. Private yard. $485.

Move in today. Call 795‑2011 or come by our rental office 4211 34th to see Ann. PRE‑LEASE Today! 3/2/1 ‑ 1 mile from Tech. Washer/dryer hookups, central heat and air, hardwood floors. Cute house. $900 plus bills. 2217 29th. 806‑535‑1905.

PRE‑LEASE TODAY! Near Tech. 4/2.

Large basement, huge backyard, 2 living areas, heat/air, hardwood floors, wash­er/ dryer hook up. $1700 monthly plus bills.

806‑535‑1905. 2301 29th.

RENT806.COM

Tired of Apartment Life? Get a House!

credit card, cash or personal check.

Checks should be made payable to The Daily Toreador and payment is required before the ad starts running..

dawn.zuerker@ttu.edu Phone: 806.742.3384 Fax: 806.742.2434

UNFURNISHED TECHTERRACE.COM

1,2,3 & 4 bedroom homes.

Pre‑Leasing now.

MISCELLANEOUS 32ND & FRANKFORD

Affordable Storage High Security, great location.

Units from $20 and up Reserve online today... www.AffordableStorageLubbock.com Call 791‑1166

A PLUS SUPER STORAGE

38th & Milwaukee Registor to WIN $500 Amazon Card & $20 Off the 1st month rent www.AplusSuperStorage.com Call 785‑7555

MATTRESS SALE

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

SERVICES A PLUS SUPER STORAGE

Formerly ‑ Storage Today Nth University & Clovis Rd THE Closest Storage to Campus Register to WIN $500 Amazon Card www.AplusSuperStorage.com Call 744‑3636

AARK SELF STORAGE

Great rates and specials for summer, only 10 minutes from Tech. Call 806‑748‑7444

SERVICES AFFORDABLE STORAGE

50TH & Ave Q (behind United) Climate & Dust Controlled Units. $20 Off 1st Month Reserve Today, Pay in May! www.AffordableStorageLubbock.com Call 767‑9777

AFFORDABLE STORAGE

Formerly Add A Closet Storage Located off 4th & Frankford Great Student Discounts!!

Reserve Today, Pay in May! www.AffordableStorageLubbock.com Call 793‑5560

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

SUMMER STORAGE SPECIAL Call or reserve online for the BEST DEAL in town! 2 great Storage Zone locations 309 Frankford Ave. (806) 853‑7115 & 1525 S. Loop 289 (806) 748‑7622. storagezone. com. Home of the No Hidden Fee Guaran‑ tee.

6

SPORTS

APRIL 23, 2018

WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM

MEN’S BASKETBALL

Several Big 12 teams facing turnover

By AUSTIN WATTS Sports Editor

As the 2017-2018 men’s basketball season is now in the rearview mirror, several of the Big 12’s top teams are faced with uncertain futures, with legitimate stars from each team departing for the NBA Draft, or due to seniors graduating.

Texas Tech is one team that will see a lot of turnover on their roster, with five seniors graduating, and freshman guard Zhaire Smith declaring for the NBA Draft.

Smith decided to hire an agent, and will not return to Texas Tech, while seniors Keenan Evans, Justin Gray, Niem Stevenson, Tommy Hamilton IV and Zach Smith have all played their last minutes as Red Raiders. The senior trio of Evans, Zach Smith and Gray made up the core of Tech’s team for the last four seasons, and adapting to life after them will be a challenge for Tech coach Chris Beard.

Beard is not the only coach dealing with the struggle of losing the core of

his team, as Kansas coach Bill Self and West Virginia coach Bob Huggins are each facing the daunting task of replacing their best players. Kansas finished first in the Big 12 last season, while West Virginia finished in third place.

Kansas was able to make the Final Four last season, but will be tasked with replacing its three best players next season. Seniors Devonte’ Graham and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk are both graduating, and likely to pursue NBA careers. Sophomore Malik Newman declared for the draft with an agent, forgoing his eligibility. Junior Lagerald Vick is another player from KU entering the draft, and sophomore Udoka Azubuike is testing the waters, but the loss of Graham, Mykhailiuk and Newman will create a significant hole for the Jayhawks at the top of the roster.

However, it is still Kansas. After 14 straight years of winning the regular season title either outright, or splitting a share of the title, the Jayhawks will field a strong roster next season. Self will find talent somewhere over the offseason to replace the

1

four of his five leading scorers that are departing.

Meanwhile, the West Virginia Mountaineers are facing the task of replacing most of the talent at the top of their roster. Senior guards Jevon Carter and Daxter Miles Jr. will both be graduating, and are expected to pursue NBA careers, while sophomore center Sagaba Konate is testing the waters. The loss of Carter and Miles will create significant holes offensively for the Mountaineers, and the loss of Carter’s defensive leadership in WVU’s press style defense will be a relief for other Big 12 teams.

Regardless, West Virginia head coach Bob Huggins will need to find more talented players that can play hard on both ends of the court, and with two of his top guards departing, the Mountaineers could struggle next season.

Another team suffering heavy losses is Texas. While Texas was not the best team in the Big 12 last season, losing so much talent will hurt the Longhorns on both ends of the court. Freshman star Mo Bamba will depart for the draft as one of the top

prospects available, while junior Kerwin Roach is testing the waters and junior Eric Davis Jr. will remain in the draft. With sophomore Andrew Jones still recovering from missing most of last season, Texas coach Shaka Smart will have a tough season ahead as he enters his fourth season at Texas, in what is likely a “make or break” year for Smart.

Oklahoma loses its top player in Trae Young, but overall the Sooners return most of their players next season. Aside from senior Khadeem Lattin graduating, the Sooners will return a more experienced squad next season. Oklahoma’s biggest problem will be replacing Young’s production, as he was a huge part of the Sooners’ offense.

Baylor does not have many players pursuing the draft, but the Bears will lose four seniors that all averaged almost 10 PPG. Without that veteran leadership on the team, the Bears will face serious struggles next season in such a strong conference.

Of all the teams losing top talent, Baylor might have the toughest road to compet-

ing in the Big 12 next year with few options in recruiting or younger players to replace the departing seniors.

Iowa State will return most of its roster next season and could see serious improvement from the 4-14 conference record the team had this season. With another offseason under their belts, the Cyclones could find themselves in the mix next season, especially with several of the top teams looking at young and inexperienced players to fill holes in their rosters.

Kansas State has possibly the best outlook of any Big 12 team heading into next season, with the Wildcats returning almost the entire team that helped them to a Elite Eight appearance this season. With junior star forward Dean Wade returning to lead the charge for the Wildcats, Kansas State will have a serious shot at winning the Big 12 title next season.

TCU is losing two of its top scorers, but returning most of the roster. With a struggle in conference play last season, the Horned Frogs will likely field more

@AustinWattsDT

4

3

2

of the same next season, as the team is on track for a finish in the middle of the pack.

Oklahoma State is the final team to see major turnover, as three of the top seniors depart. However, with head coach Michael Boynton entering his second season, the Cowboys will likely see some improvement as Boynton adds more players that fit his scheme. With a 21-15 finish with a rookie head coach last season, the arrow is trending upwards for OSU, with the Cowboys likely being a Big 12 title contender in the next few seasons.

Overall, the Big 12 could be in store for a shakeup next season, with three of the top teams facing a tough road back to the top. Kansas State appears to have the easiest path to a top finish, while several other schools in the Big 12 do not appear to have an answer this early in the offseason. Next season could easily end up being one of the wildest in recent history for the Big 12, with so little set in stone for how well these teams will fare next season.

FILE PHOTOS/The Daily Toreador

1: Senior guard Niem Stevenson watches the ball as he plays defense against senior Devonte’ Graham during the game against Kansas University in the United Supermarkets Arena on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2018. Tech lost to Kansas 74-72. 2: Senior guard Keenan Evans fights off Jevon Carter as he moves down the court during the Texas Tech Men’s Basketball game against West Virginia in the United Supermarkets Area on Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018. Texas Tech won 72-71. 3: Redshirt junior guard Brandone Francis defends against Oklahoma’s Trey Young during the game against Oklahoma in the United Supermarkets Arena on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. The Red Raiders beat the Sooners 88-78. 4: Senior guard Keenan Evans prepares to make a shot while Mohammad Bamba attempts to block the shot during the game against University of Texas in the United Supermarkets Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018. Tech beat UT 73-71.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Giannis’ tip-in lifts Bucks over Celtics MILWAUKEE (AP) — Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 27 points, including tipping in the go-ahead basket with 5 seconds left, and the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Boston Celtics 104-102 on Sunday to tie their first-round playoff series at two games apiece.

Boston’s Marcus Morris missed a 14-footer at the buzzer with Khris Middle-

ton’s hand in his face to seal a nail-biting win for the Bucks.

Seconds earlier, the 6-foot-11 Antetokounmpo jumped and reached up with his left arm around Boston’s Jayson Tatum to put back Malcolm Brogdon’s missed layup for the game-winner.

G a m e 5 i s Tu e s d a y night in Boston.

Jaylen Brown had 34

SWING FOR THE FENCES

points for the Celtics, while Tatum added 21.

Tatum’s 18-footer with 52 seconds left gave the Celtics a brief 100-99 lead.

He just couldn’t hold off Antetokounmpo on the other end for the decisive tip-in.

The disappointing end for the Celtics overshadowed their spirited rally from a 65-45 deficit with 7:37 left in the third quarter.

KATIE SPRADLIN/The Daily Toreador

Cody Farhat, a junior outfielder, hits the ball on April 22, 2018, at Rip Griffin Park. The Red Raiders lost to the University of Oklahoma, 12-5, on Sunday, but won the series two games to one.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Ginobili, Aldridge help Spurs beat Warriors

Buy Tech Photos The Daily Toreador and La Ventana Visit

www.dailytoreador.com and click on Buy Photos.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — Manu Ginobili scored 10 of his 16 points in the fourth quarter of what could have been his final home game with the Spurs, and San Antonio beat the Golden State Warriors 103-90 on Sunday to avoid a series sweep as coach Gregg Popovich remained out following the death of his wife.

LaMarcus Aldridge had 22 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Spurs, but they were willed to the finish by the 40-year-old Ginobili, who has said he will decide in the offseason if he will return for a 17th season.

Kevin Durant had 34 points and 13 rebounds

f o r t h e Wa r r i o r s , w h o can wrap up the series in Game 5 at home Tuesday.

Popovich missed his second straight game after his wife, Erin, passed away Wednesday following a prolonged illness. Lead assistant Ettore Messina led the Spurs again, but to a much different showing than in Game 3.

Golden State outscored San Antonio 29-21 in the third quarter and went on a 13-5 run beginning two minutes into the fourth quarter to pull within 88-86 with 6 minutes remaining.

Aldridge banked in a 3-pointer with 4:22 remaining to stop the Warriors’ run and Ginobili took

over with a pair of 3-pointers in the final minutes.

San Antonio opened with the same energy it had to start Game 3, but its shots fell this time. The Spurs extended their lead to as many as 17 points in the first half while holding an edge in almost every statistical category.

San Antonio shot 53 percent on 3-pointers after shooting just 26 percent in the opening three games.

The Spurs were 15 for 28 on 3-pointers on Sunday while the Warriors were 7 for 28.

Aside from Durant, only Klay Thompson (12) and Shaun Livingston (10) scored in double figures for the Warriors.