THURSDAY, NOV. 19, 2020 THURSDAY, VOLUME 95 â– ISSUE 14
The
Daily Toreador
TAking the court
2
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
NOV. 19, 2020
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WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Women’s basketball prepares for conference play By ZACH RICHARDS Sports Editor
Editor’s note: All information accurate as of Wednesday, Nov. 18. The Lady Raiders will begin their 2020-2021 conference slate with one of the most accomplished women’s basketball programs in the nation, Baylor. Coming off of a national title in 2019, the Bears have plenty of talent under head coach Kim Mulkey. The Lady Raiders have not fared well as of late against Baylor, losing 23 games in a row, with their last win coming at home in 2006. Last season, however, Tech gave Baylor one of their closest games of the season, and even put up the highest points (79) against the Bears on the year. In the first match, former Lady Raider Brittany Brewer garnered 24 points, current Lady Raiders Lexi Gordon and Chrislyn Carr combined for 34 points. Tech lost 87-79 but showed why they could compete with top-tier teams in the country. Now, with new head coach Krista Gerlich and the addition of the league’s second-leading scorer in 2019, Vivian Gray, Tech will try and snap the streak in Waco on Dec. 14. The time has yet to be announced. Tech will play its second conference game against TCU at 2 p.m. on Dec. 19. This will be the Lady Raiders’ first Big 12 game at home, taking place at United Supermarkets Arena. Tech has had success over TCU of late, sweeping the 20192020 season series over the Lady Horned Frogs with an 8076 victory and an 87-83 victory. The two teams have played a total of 20 matches dating back to 1998, and despite Tech winning of late, they trail the overall series with nine wins to TCU’s 11, according to Tech Athletics. The game against TCU will mark a four-game homestand for the Lady Raiders,
MANDI MCDONALD/The Daily Toreador
Junior guard Chrislyn Carr dribbles the ball down the court during the Texas Tech vs. West Virginia women’s basketball game on Mar. 4, 2020 in the United Supermarkets Arena. The Lady Raiders will take on West Virginia on Jan. 27. 2021, at home. who will face three nonconference foes in Southern, Morgan State and Incarnate Word before traveling to Stillwater, Oklahoma, for their third conference matchup against Oklahoma State on Jan. 2, 2021. This matchup has inherent headlines, with one of Tech’s top players, Vivian Gray, transferring from Oklahoma State to play for Gerlich and Tech. The Lady Raiders have defended their home court well against the Lady Cowgirls, tallying a 13-4 record at United Supermarkets Arena against them. Last season, they split the season series, but game one was record-breaking for Tech, as they knocked down a historic 20-three-pointers on route to a 109-79 victory. After the game against Oklahoma State, conference
play is officially underway, and there will be no more non-conference matches for the rest of the year. Tech will then travel back to Lubbock for a two-game home stint against Oklahoma and Iowa State. On Jan. 6, Tech will welcome the Lady Sooners to United Supermarkets Arena. Tech has swept Oklahoma in the season series for two years straight and will look to continue the tradition moving forward. In their last game, Tech’s Andrayah Adams had a career-high 29-point performance to bolster a 106-94 Tech victory on the road. The tandem of Carr and Gordon also were in the 20-point club, with Carr having 23 points and Gordon having 22. Then, on Jan. 10, the Lady Raiders will welcome Iowa State to the mix for the 30th
matchup since 1999, according to Tech Athletics. Tech is lagging behind Iowa State on the series with 11 wins to the Lady Cyclones’ 18; in fact, the Lady Raiders have only won two games since 2017, one of which was the most recent behind 27 points from Brewer. Iowa State has one of the most prolific scorers in the conference in junior guard Ashley Joens, who led the Big 12 in scoring last year as a sophomore. The first and secondplace Big 12 scorers from the 2019 season will meet in Gray and Joens when Iowa State comes to United Supermarkets Arena. On Jan. 13, Tech will travel to Morgantown, West Virginia, to play against the Lady Mountaineers. Te c h h a s s t r u g g l e d against West Virginia, los-
ing seven matches in a row. On the series, the Lady Raiders have five wins out of 17 matches dating back to 2013, according to Tech Athletics. Despite the disparity, the past five matches have been within single digits, and the most recent match was decided by two points in favor of the Lady Mountaineers. Tech will then return to Lubbock for the last home game of the first round of conference play against Texas on Jan. 17. The Lady Longhorns have consistently had one of the most competitive women’s basketball rosters in the league. The last match between the Lady Raiders and Texas ended with Tech falling 81-66 at home. Now, Tech will try and break the 14-game losing skid with a win over Texas at United Supermarkets Arena. The last game of the first round of conference play will
see the Lady Raiders traveling to take on Kansas on Jan. 20 in Lawrence, Kansas. On the series, Tech has an edge over the Lady Jayhawks, winning 15 of the last 25 matchups, according to Tech Athletics. The last game between the two took place in Lubbock and saw Gordon and Adams both go for 19 points in a victory. Tech will look to keep the streak alive against the Lady Jayhawks on the road. Feb. 3, the Lady Raiders will welcome Kansas State to United Supermarkets Arena for the 28th match since 1999, according to Tech Athletics. Tech has lost 10 in a row to the Lady Wildcats and are on their longest losing against Kansas State streak since joining the conference. In Manhattan, the Lady Raiders have a 3-10 record against the Lady Wildcats. At home, the record improves to 4-8. With a new-look team, Tech will try and break the skid. The conference portion of the basketball season includes each team playing each other twice. The next round of conference play is as follows: • Jan. 23: Lady Raiders at TCU • Jan. 27: Lady Raiders vs. West Virginia • Jan. 30: Lady Raiders at Texas • Feb. 3: Lady Raiders vs. Kansas State • Feb. 6: Lady Raiders at Iowa State • Feb. 10: Lady Raiders vs. Baylor • Feb. 13: Lady Raiders vs. Oklahoma State • Feb. 17: Lady Raiders at Oklahoma • Feb. 20: Lady Raiders vs. Kansas • Feb. 24: Lady Raiders at Kansas State @ZachRichardsDT
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BASKETBALL PREVIEW
NOV. 19, 2020
3
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Men’s basketball conference play begins mid-December By RYAN MAINVILLE Staff Writer
The Texas Tech men’s basketball team will begin their conference play on Dec. 17. Dec. 17 Tech will welcome Kansas to United Supermarkets Arena for the first conference match of the season. Last year, they ended the season against Kansas with a 66-62 loss. The Jayhawks won the Big 12 regular-season championship for the 17th time since 2000 last year. Led by All-American Devon Dotson and Big 12 Player of the Year Udoka Azubuike, Kansas won all but one of their 18 conference games. With both of those players entering the NBA Draft, the Jayhawks will look for contributions from their returners and newcomers. The Jayhawks return Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year guard Marcus Garrett. Garrett averaged 9.6 points and 1.8 steals per game last season, according to ESPN. Dec. 22 Tech will then travel to Norman to face the Sooners. According to Tech Athletics, the Red Raiders are trailing in the season series with 26 wins to Oklahoma’s 38. The Sooners welcome back guard Austin Reaves and forward Brady Manek after each player individually averaged at least 14 points and five rebounds per game last season, according to ESPN. Manek was selected to the All-Big 12 third team, while Reaves was selected to the Big 12 All-Newcomer team after transferring in from Wichita State. Jan. 2 Tech will begin a twogame conference homestand against Oklahoma State and Kansas State. For Oklahoma State, Cade
Cunningham, 247Sports’ highest-rated recruit in the class of 2020, will be joining head coach Mike Boynton and the Cowboys this season. Cunningham is expected to be the first overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, according to Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report. Oklahoma State brings back guard Isaac Likekele after he averaged 10.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game his sophomore season, according to ESPN. Jan. 5 Kansas State --The Wildcats will be without their three leading scorers from last season as forwards Makol Mawien and Xavier Sneed have graduated and guard Cartier Diarra has transferred to Virginia Tech. Kansas State finished last in the Big 12 Conference standings last season. Jan. 9 After their homestand, Tech will begin a road trip with Iowa State. Guard Tyrese Haliburton has declared for the NBA Draft after two seasons with the Cyclones. Last season he led the team in scoring, assists, rebounds and steals before injuring his wrist in February, according to ESPN. The Cyclones will return guard Rasir Bolton, who was selected to the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention after averaging 14.7 points per game last season, according to ESPN. Iowa State will also add four-star center Xaiver Foster, who is the 13th highest ranked center in the class of 2020, according to 247Sports. Jan. 13 The Red Raiders will then travel from Ames, Iowa, to Austin to take on Texas. The Longhorns will return all five of their top-five leading scorers last season. The guard
trio of Matt Coleman III, Andrew Jones and Courtney Ramey averaged a combined 35.1 points per game last season, according to ESPN. Jan. 16 Baylor is coming off a historically good season in their program’s history. Tech will host them at United Supermarkets Arena in hopes of avenging their losses last season. The Bears finished with a conference record of 15-3. Last season was the first time since 1948-49 that the Bears lost three or fewer conference games. The Bears’ leading scorer last season was sophomore guard Jared Butler, who averaged 16 points per game last season according to ESPN. After initially declaring for the NBA Draft, Butler made the decision in early August to withdraw his name and return to Baylor for the upcoming season. Jan. 20 Tech will make the trip to Fort Worth to match up against TCU in the first round of play. The Horned Frogs will be without guard Desmond Bane for the first time since the 2015-16 season as he enters the NBA Draft. Bane has led TCU in scoring for the past two seasons and was selected to the All-Big 12 First Team last season. TCU will return guard RJ Nembhard and center Kevin Samuel, who averaged a combined 22.1 points and 12.1 rebounds per game last season, according to ESPN. Jan. 25 The Mountaineers are led by their two big-men, Oscar Tshiebwe and Derek Culver. Tshiebwe and Culver averaged a combined 21.6 points and 17.9 rebounds per game last season, according to ESPN. Tshiebwe was a unanimous selection to the
Big 12 All-Freshman team last season. Guard Miles McBride was also selected to the Big 12 AllFreshman team after averaging 9.5 points per game last season, according to ESPN. The Red Raiders will face West Virginia on the road in Morgantown. The second round of Big 12 play is as follows: • Jan. 23: Red Raiders vs. Iowa State • Feb. 1: Red Raiders vs. Oklahoma • Feb. 6: Red Raiders at Kansas State • Feb. 9: Red Raiders vs. West Virginia • Feb. 13: Red Raiders at Baylor • Feb. 17: Red Raiders vs. TCU • Feb. 20: Red Raiders at Kansas • Feb. 23: Red Raiders at Oklahoma State • Feb. 27: Red Raiders vs. Texas @RyanMainvilleDT
MADELINE DIFFEE/The Daily Toreador
Sophomore guard Kevin McCullar jumps to shoot the ball during the Texas Tech Men’s Basketball game against Texas Christian University on Feb. 10, 2020, in the United Supermarkets Arena. The Red Raiders will take on the Horned Frogs on Jan. 20. 2021, in Fort Worth.
OPINIONS
Page 4 Thursday, Nov. 19, 2020
COLUMN
@DailyToreador www.dailytoreador.com
The DT creates unforgettable experiences I
wrote one crappy article about how some high school students felt about the food served in the cafeteria. Fast forward a few years later, I decided I wanted to pursue journalism in college and possibly make a career out of it. I vaguely remember that journalism class I took when I was a sophomore in high school, but I clearly remember that one article we had to write as the final project. The tense was not correct in certain sentences, I broke many Associated Press style rules and I was lazy and interviewed a few friends. Sue me. I thought life was going to point me in the direction I needed to go just like everyone else thought. I did not think I would need to understand the difference between active and passive voice and why the Oxford comma was our enemy. Do not worry, as I have been hit with enough AP Stylebooks and SPJ Code of Ethics informational sheets to know to never again make those mistakes. But despite that article being lost forever due to a flash drive malfunction, I still can visualize it to this day. Comparing myself now to that past idiotic kid made me realize something: I am unsure of how I got here. That is fitting considering at the end of my high school career in May 2017, I also was unsure of myself and what career path I would take. I mean, I know what decisions led me to the position I am currently in, but I am unsure why those decisions were made. Despite having good grades in math and science courses in high school, the thought of going into a STEM
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EDITORIAL BOARD Editor-in-Chief Chase Seabolt (806) 742-3395 editor@dailytoreador.com Managing Editor Mallory Rosetta managing@dailytoreador.com News Editor Adán Rubio news@dailytoreador.com La Vida Editor Natalie Cervantes features@dailytoreador.com Sports Editor Zach Richards sports@dailytoreador.com Opinions Editor Mateo Rosiles opinions@dailytoreador.com Multimedia Editor Autumn Bippert photo@dailytoreador.com Digital Content Manager Madeline Diffee online@dailytoreador.com Copy Editor Emma Sipple online@dailytoreador.com
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Adán Rubio is a senior journalism major from Lubbock
field did not seem right to me. I also loved competing in Accounting UIL but did not think that field would be my main career path. Having always enjoyed writing, whether it be creative writing or the satisfaction of finishing a long English paper, I looked back on my experiences in high school. I did not fully hate that sophomore journalism class, so why not pursue that in college, right? Being asked what I wanted to do in college was a conflicting moment for 18-year-old me. “I love to write, and anything that can expand my writing skills in a way to inform people is a career I want to do,” is what I would say to people who asked why I had a sudden interest in journalism despite not being on my school’s yearbook or newspaper staff. I truly wanted to pursue writing, but I also wanted to avoid becoming an English teacher at all costs, so journalism it was. This is the mentality I entered South Plains College in the fall of 2017. It was not until I learned I was going to take a news writing class and was going to contribute to the campus’ newspaper, The Plainsman Press, that stress finally started to kick in. With the cafeteria food story under my belt, I marched into the newsroom and volunteered to cover my first event: the Lubbock Downtown Farmers Market. With the paper being printed biweekly, I had plenty of time to write the article, but even a few days felt like I only had 30 minutes to come up with something good. I definitely started to question my choices. Even to this day, I am a person that enjoys the comfort zone, does not like a lot of attention drawn to himself, hates the unexpected and likes to keep to himself with as little human interaction as possible. Regardless of these reasons, I decided to choose a major that would require me to face many stressful deadlines, have my name and frumpy headshot be seen by multiple readers, cover breaking news and interview strangers on a daily basis.
Again, it is why certain decisions were made that irks me. It was not until the publication’s adviser, Charlie Ehrenfeld, gave his popular first-day pep talk that my view started to change. “This newsroom will change you for the better if you let it,” are words that echo through my head whenever I am in a rut in my career path. These words helped me through the stressful times trying to put a coherent story together, fixing my flawed attempts at headlines, staying up late in the newsroom to lay out the newspaper and much more. These words meant if I roll with the punches and remember what I want out of the experience, I will be a better person in the end. I will never forget everything Charlie has done for me. I would not know how my life would have turned out if I changed my major. Thank you for the blunt advice and the moral support, Charlie. Lord knows I would not have been able to overcome these challenges without it. I continued to grow at the Plainsman Press, but it was not long before I had to write a similar farewell to this one and say goodbye to the family that helped that confused 18-year-old. A chapter of my life was complete, and I was accepted into Texas Tech for Fall 2018. The next decision to make was to find another home that would change me for the better. After hearing a lot of suggestions on what jobs and organizations Tech had to offer, The Daily Toreador was one that stuck out. I will be honest, prior to filling out an application, I heard a lot of whispers about how stressful the job could be and the time commitment it would entail. I was hesitant but moved forward with the application knowing I would need to go big or go home. I expected the staff writer position on the paper’s news section to be challenging, and my expectations were exceeded. But a few things similar to my experience at the Plainsman Press happened: I recalled what I wanted out of this experience, and I started another family. Do not get me wrong, I was more stressed and exhausted than I ever had been at SPC. I was dealing with more deadlines, some of which required faster turnaround than what I was used to, I had to think of multiple story ideas a week and I had to get used to social
media. But I was not alone. Looking back at my news editor, Matthew Setzekorn, is a strange feeling. During my job interview with him, I thought about how I would ever move up in a job like this when I was scared of the tasks I had before me. Thinking about everything in between that interview and getting the news editor position at the end of my first semester at The DT made me realize there would always be these fears and challenges, but there are ways to thrive. Watching Matt lead the news section was not always the prettiest thing, especially as it reminded me of what I had lying ahead during my first semester as an editor. But seeing him work to make the news section the best it could be while also dealing with us pesky staff writers was something I always admired and tried to emulate. It seems luck is rarely on a news editor’s side but thank you Matt for showing me ways to overcome life’s challenges. Similar to when I started as a staff writer, I fully expected the news editor job to be hard as hell, and my expectations were exceeded once again. For roughly two years, I had to juggle schoolwork, breaking news coverage, online and print content and staff writer management. For any former or current editor from The DT, one knows this is an understatement of an editor’s daily tasks. In general, journalists are expected to be knowledgeable in a variety of areas and produce content accurately and quickly. Even in some of our proudest moments, we receive no appreciation for a piece or receive backlash for simply reporting the news. For student journalists, add in a full-time course load, and you got yourself a recipe for disaster. This does not seem to be an isolated phenomenon. Last spring, months before the pandemic, The Plainsman Press, unfortunately, had to end its print publication due to fewer students entering the major and wanting to contribute to the paper. A lack of motivation to inform the public continues to be journalism’s worst enemy. Needless to say, there were moments as an editor when I felt unmotivated, confused and bitter. I was having flashbacks of my freshman self who entered journalism as a scared kid who later developed his skills to be confident in what
he wrote. Considering the stress I was facing, was that prior triumph all for nothing? I continued to face these negative experiences for four semesters, even in Spring 2020 when I held both the news and La Vida editor position, which definitely added to the stress. The COVID-19 pandemic definitely did not make things better. The world threw a lot at journalists in 2020. Although, I am only harping on the negative experiences I have faced, which in the grand scheme of things, were not as prominent as they seemed in the present moment. Obviously, since I am writing this farewell nearly five semesters after starting as a staff writer at The DT, there was one factor that kept me going through all the stress: the people. I cannot imagine the social recluse I would be if I did not join The DT. By simply sitting in one of the available seats on the reporter row as a staff writer, I always was greeted with kindness by other staff writers, editors and advisers, who would later encourage me to apply for news editor. As much as I would love to fill this entire page with this farewell, there are just too many people to thank individually, but I will try my best to compact my appreciation. To my news section staff writers, I only hope that I and the other editors fostered a similar welcoming environment for you all. I am super proud of the growth and the perseverance I have seen this semester, especially during the pandemic. I cannot wait to see your guys’ names in the news, whether you are covering the news or are being spotlighted in the media for your inevitable achievements. I also have had the pleasure of working with some great student editors, who will make their mark on the world. For those individuals who have either mentored me or helped make this paper the best it could be—you know who you are—I will be forever grateful for your friendship. We may have been stressed and exhausted, but we were stressed and exhausted together. I never thought I would have a big network of friends I could rely on. I always considered myself a very introverted person who does not like to be the target of attention. That slowly started to change, as I have been the butt of many inside jokes, been compared
to quirky fictional characters from cartoons and other TV shows, was encouraged to go to college parties and received the infamous A-Dizzy nickname and other variations of it. Whether it be the unity when covering breaking news, the moral support we provide one another or the laughs we have when laying out the paper, the memories I have of working with the everchanging editorial board will be ones I will cherish for years to come. I will be honest, we have had our drama, secrets and rough patches here and there, but what family doesn’t? If it was not for the people of The Daily Toreador newsroom, I would not have understood my potential as a journalist. I never said every moment was consumed by negativity, as there were multiple opportunities I gained that will continue to shape me as a person. A journalist experiences the lives of the people with whom they interact. From the sources I have interviewed, such as insightful Tech faculty, staff and Lubbockites, to the media relations professionals that take time out of their busy schedules to help student journalists, there hardly was a day when I did not interact with someone unique. Without the people of The DT, I never would have covered interesting events or impactful topics, such as a simulated plane crash, aspects of the pandemic, elections, historic changes to the university and more. The skills I have gained are ones that will definitely help me excel in my pursuit for a master’s degree in mass communication at Tech and any future endeavors. These experiences and more are why I always will consider these past five semesters as some of the most formative times of my life. I have learned so much more about being a journalist and about myself throughout this journey than I ever expected, and it is all because of the people I have met along the way. The Daily Toreador, thank you for being the outlet that has turned that 18-year-old cowering behind his cafeteria food story into someone who can adapt to overcome anything. This may be farewell, but I will never forget the home you provided. @AdanRubioDT
COLUMN
Editor reflects on memorable college journey
If I’m being completely honest, this doesn’t feel real to write. I feel like I’m in some type of dream. I wish I could go back to freshman year and start over, but time goes on. College was something I had dreams about all throughout my life, especially in high school. I thought about all of the friends I’d make and new things I would try. However, I never knew I’d be where I am today, and I mean that in the best way possible. During my freshman year, my biggest commitment was marching in the Goin’ Band. Running out of those tunnels with 400 of my best friends is an indescribable feeling. It was so fun that I ended up doing it for three full years. I sat in my first class with Dr. Dean, a class that all of the upperclassmen told me about at orientation. They were right; that class was huge, but it’s a class all CoMC students have to take for the full college experience. At the end of my sophomore year, I finally broke out of my shell a bit more and applied for Dean’s Student
LETTERS The Daily Toreador welcomes letters from readers. Letters must be no longer than 300 words and must include the author’s name,
Madeline Diffee is a senior CMI major from Richardson.
Ambassadors. Interviews are not my favorite thing, but they helped me grow so much as a person and as a leader. I am now able to talk to prospective students and their parents with knowledge and confidence, and this is all thanks to my recruiting coordinator, Emily Balke. Thank you for pushing me to be my best and providing the Dean’s Student Ambassadors and me with so many amazing opportunities. Over the summer going into my junior year of college, I decided to submit an application for multimedia staff at The Daily Toreador. At first, I didn’t hear anything, but I was persistent and was so grateful to receive a position starting in the fall of 2019. I was definitely quiet in the newsroom. That is just how I am at first. I was intimidated by all of these amazing stu-
signature, phone number, student ID number and a description of university affiliation. Students should include year in school, major and hometown. We reserve the right to edit letters. Anonymous letters will not be accepted for publication. All letters will be verified before they are published. Letters can be emailed to dailytoreador@ ttu.edu or brought to 180 Media and Communication. Letters should be sent in before 3 p.m. to ensure the editors have enough time to verify and edit the submission.
dent journalists like Mallory Rosetta, Chase Seabolt and Ikechukwu Dike. I never realized how hard these people and the rest of the staff had to work to make such an amazing publication. My appreciation for journalism has grown immensely since being hired. Flash forward to the middle of Spring 2020, and two of my coworkers wanted me to apply for an editorial board position at the paper. Of course, at first, I thought I was nowhere near qualified. However, I worked my butt off. I received the position of digital content manager for the fall 2020 semester, a.k.a, my last semester as a college student. I had no idea about the friendships and connections I would be making with this editorial board. From the laughs we had at training to the long nights laying out the paper, I would not trade this group of people for the world. Mallory Rosetta Thank you for crying to Harry Styles with me and always being down to order a ‘McDelivery.’ Thank you for
jamming to One Direction in the car and always having a smile on your face no matter what mood someone else may be in. Thank you for being my #1 bestie. Chase Seabolt Thank you for always making us laugh at any time of the day, even on late print nights. Thank you for keeping us on top of things while making sure we’re having fun at the same time. Thank you for being so understanding of what others are going through. Mateo Rosiles Thank you for blessing us with your style every day. Thank you for letting us watch “The Bachelorette” at your house every week. You are always on top of everything you do, and I really admire you for that. Adán Rubio Thank you for all of your funny side comments, whether they be about hating Chase or just in general. Thank you for blessing us whenever you get a new haircut. I know we all appreciate it. Emma Sipple Thank you for brightening
GUEST COLUMNS The Daily Toreador accepts submissions of unsolicited guest columns. While we cannot acknowledge receipt of all columns, the authors of those selected for publication will be notified. Guest columns should be no longer than 650 words in length and on a topic of relevance to the university community. Guest columns are also edited and follow the same guidelines for letters as far as identification and submittal.
anyone’s mood. You always have your stuff together, and I really admire you for that. You always have something funny to say in the office, and it always makes my day. Natalie Cervantes Thank you for always bringing a smile everywhere with you. Thank you for always hyping me up and letting me know about new job opportunities. Your laugh is contagious, and I know everyone in the office can agree with me on that one. Zach Richards Thank you for entertaining us with your dislike of any and all fruits and vegetables. Being able to sit next to you was an honor. You also had all this time to decorate your desk like mine, but alas, it’s still empty. It’s OK, we still love you. If whoever’s reading this ever gets the chance to meet these people, never let them go. They are the most kindhearted, funny and compassionate people you will ever know. I love all of you crazy DT Fall 2020 Editors. I’ll see you soon. @MDiffeeDT
EDITORIALS Unsigned editorials appearing on this page represent the opinion of The DailyToreador. All other columns, letters and artwork represent the opinions of their authors and are not necessarily representative of the editorial board, Texas Tech University, its employees, its student body or the Board of Regents. The DailyToreador is independent of the College of Media and Communication. Responsibility for the editorial content of the newspaper lies with the student editors.
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BASKETBALL PREVIEW
NOV. 19, 2020
5
CAMPUS
Raider Riot discusses limited gameday attendance By AMANDA HAMPTON Staff Writer
When a fan watches a Texas Tech basketball game, the presence of the student section, Raider Riot, is difficult not to notice. Michael Di-Benedetto, Raider Riot co-founder, said Raider Riot is the secondlargest student section in the country. Every student is considered a part of Raider Riot when they are sitting in the student section. “Raider Riot wraps up the rowdiness that West Texas has to provide,” Di-Benedetto, a senior marketing major from Rockwall, said. Dylan Winn, Raider Riot president, said Raider Riot strives to get students connected to the basketball game. They fill the seats as much as possible and lead unifying chants during the games. “If you have a bunch of students yelling and doing their own thing, it’s not as cohesive,” Winn, a senior journalism major from Albuquerque, New
Mexico, said. “We want the student section to be more cohesive, and we want to unite the entire student body.” The student section will have between 700 and 1000 seats available at each game this basketball season due to COVID-19 restrictions, Winn said. His concern for this basketball season is students assuming they will not be able to get tickets to the games and not even try to attend, Winn said. While there are fewer people allowed to attend, Winn likes to remind students that Tech has the most seats available in the Big 12. The reduced number of students allowed at games will impact the atmosphere of the game by making the arena quieter than usual, Winn said. “This is when four to one, Coach Beard’s motto, about mentality over physicality comes into play,” Winn said. “Every student has to bring four times the energy that we used to because there are about four other students that you are cheering for.”
A rowdy crowd can get in the other team’s head and impact the game, Di-Benedetto said. The Tech student section helps contribute to a Red Raider home-court advantage. The student section that can be the most creative will have the most successful homecourt advantage this year with the limited attendance policy, Di-Benedetto said. “When it comes to the Big 12, any team can beat any team,” Di-Benedetto said. “That’s why it is so important to have a home-court advantage.” Carlos Botto, Raider Riot fan engagement co-chair, said his goal this basketball season is to make the United Supermarkets Arena the most intimidating arena in the country for an opponent to play in, despite having fewer fans. Botto, a senior marketing major from Colorado Springs, Colorado, is looking forward to making fewer people in attendance seem like the full number of people are at the game, he said. Raider Riot will consistently be standing dur-
ing the games and creating as much noise as possible. “It’s kind of like last year, we want to keep the same energy and pace, regardless of how the team is playing,” Botto said. Raider Riot is looking into offering new ways for students to be included in the Tech basketball experience, Winn said. One way they plan to accomplish this is by having free outdoor watch parties for students who are unable to get tickets. To ensure the smaller student section is just as energetic as previous years, Raider Riot will be hosting an ESPN inspired pregame show an hour before the game starts, Winn said. “That way, we can get the students hyped up, get them ready to go into the game and get them ready to cheer their hearts out,” Winn said. “We hope it entices people to get to the USA and cheer for their basketball team in-person.” Since other Big 12 schools do not have as many people allowed to attend the games, there is no reason Raider Riot cannot
MADELINE DIFFEE/The Daily Toreador
The Raider Riot student section sings the Matador Song. This will be Raider Riot’s fourth season. be the best student section this year, Di-Benedetto said. “We have four or five times the number of students other schools are allowing,” DiBenedetto said. “We’re set up for success.” Students interested in be-
ing a part of Raider Riot only need to attend a basketball game, Di-Benedetto said. For more information on Raider Riot, students can go to https://discord.com/invite/ WPmPJ6V. @AmandaHamptonDT
CAMPUS
United Supermarkets Arena ready for emergencies during event By ARIANNA FLORES Staff Writer
During the spring season of sports, the United Supermarkets Arena is home to men’s and women’s basketball. This year, the arena will hold a total of 20 basketball games between the Red Raider and Lady Raider Basketball programs, according to the United Supermarkets Arena website. During a game, if there any fans who feel sick or become injured, they are to report to the first aid room or let an event staff member know of the situation. Event staff members will be marked as such. M o r e o v e r, i n s i d e t h e arena there is a first aid room located on the north
MANDI MCDONALD/The Daily Toreador
The United Supermarkets Arena is the home of both Texas Tech Basketball Teams. The Lady Raiders will play the first game this season on Wednesday, Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. concourse, according to Meredith Kent, the Venue Director and Texas Tech University Assistant Vice President for Auxiliary Services. For all major arena events, there are on-site EMS crews
who can respond to all medical situations a fan may have. Also available for fans are Assisted Listening Devices (ALD). Anyone who wishes to use these devices will need to have a valid driver’s license
in order to check it out. The ALD’s must be returned by the end of the event. If a child is lost or missing during an event, parents are asked to go to the south concourse and locate the event control room, according to the United Supermarkets Arena website. There the area management will contact and work with the Texas Tech University Police who will help and solve the situation. The lost and found is also located in the event control room on the south concourse for fans to report or claim and lost items, according to arena guide. Fans are asked to wait until the end of the event to claim or report any items. The Lady Raider match against the University of Texas at Rio Grande Valley at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 25
in the United Supermarkets Arena. At 6 p.m. that same day, the men’s basketball team
will take the court to play Northwestern State. @AriannaFloresDT
6
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
NOV. 19, 2020
WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Red Raiders’ roster consists of seven returners, newcomers By RYAN MAINVILLE Staff Writer
Texas Tech enters the 2020-21 season with a roster that has seen a lot of turnover from a year before. Guard Jahmi’us Ramsey entered the NBA Draft after leading Tech in scoring last season. Guard Davide Moretti accepted an offer to Olimpia Milano, an Italian professional basketball team in the Lega Basket Serie A. Tech also graduated both of their seniors, guard Chris Clarke and forward T.J. Holyfield, after they came to the program as graduate transfers. The Red Raiders also lost forward Andrei Savrasov and center Russel Tchewa to the transfer portal. Tchewa transferred to the University of South Florida, while Savrasov now plays at Georgia Southern University. Former Red Raider assistant coach Brian Burg is entering his first season as head coach at Georgia Southern. Tech will look to bounce back from an 18-13 season, the team’s fewest wins since Chris Beard’s first season as head coach in 2016-17. Guards The centerpiece of the guard rotation is junior Kyler Edwards. Edwards has played 1031 more minutes as a Red Raider than anyone else on the roster, according to Sports Reference. Edwards was one of only five players in the Big 12 last season who had at least 350 points, 90 assists and 120 rebounds, according to ESPN. After averaging 3.1 assists per game last season, he will look to find ways to get his teammates involved in the offense. Tech acquired two junior guards by way of the transfer portal this offseason: Mac McClung from Georgetown and Jamarius Burton from Wichita State. McClung is coming off a sophomore season where he averaged 15.7 points, 3.1
MADELINE DIFFEE/The Daily Toreador
Senior forward TJ Holyfield practices shots during warmup for the Texas Tech Men’s Basketball game against West Virginia University. The game took place on Jan. 29, 2020, in the United Supermarkets Arena. The Red Raiders will take on West Virginia on Jan. 25, 2021. rebounds and 2.4 assists per game, according to ESPN. He scored a season-high 33 points against Oklahoma State last year in early December. After initially declaring for the NBA Draft, McClung withdrew his name from consideration and entered the NCAA transfer portal. He would announce his decision to transfer to Tech just four days after junior guard Davide Moretti accepted an offer to play professional basketball in Italy. McClung’s waiver for immediate eligibility was approved by the NCAA on Oct. 30. Burton is coming off a sophomore season where he led Wichita State in assists and was second on the team in points, according to ESPN. He distributes the ball with ease and involves his teammates in the offense. In his first season as a Shocker, Burton broke the Wichita State record for total assists by a freshman with 126, according to WSU Athletics.
Burton has received a waiver for immediate eligibility by the NCAA but is currently undecided if he will play or redshirt the season. The Red Raiders return sophomore guard Terrence Shannon Jr. after a promising freshman campaign. After averaging 9.8 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last season, Shannon was selected to the Big 12 AllFreshman team, according to Tech Athletics. Despite shooting 82.9 percent from the free-throw line last season, Shannon only shot 25.7 percent on three-point attempts last season, according to ESPN. He overcomes the low shooting percentage with highflying drives to the basket. The Red Raiders also return defensive-minded players such as redshirt sophomore Kevin McCullar and redshirt junior Avery Benson. Benson had a career game against the number one ranked Louisville Cardinals
last season. In that game, he scored a game-high ten points off the bench while getting two blocks and one steal in the process, according to ESPN. McCullar started the final six games of the season last year. During that stretch he averaged 10.0 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, according to ESPN. Clarence Nadolny is coming off a freshman season where he played a reserve role for the Red Raiders. Nadolny averaged 6.1 minutes per game and had a gamehigh nine points against Houston Baptist, according to Tech Athletics. The Red Raiders have three incoming freshmen guards. Nimari Burnett is the highest rated recruit in Tech history as a five-star prospect, according to Tech Athletics. He is also the first McDonald’s All-American in school history. Burnett is a combo guard who can play on and off the
ball. 247Sports’ National Basketball Analyst Brian Snow has complimented his passing ability, scoring around the basket and shooting from three-point range. Micah Peavy is the thirdhighest rated recruit in school history, according to 247Sports. Peavy comes from Duncanville High School, where he was teammates with former Red Raider Jahmi’us Ramsey. 247Sports’ Director of Basketball Scouting Jerry Meyer says Peavy’s strength on offense is scoring off the bounce and around the basket. Chibuzo Agbo Jr. comes to the program from San Diego, California. Agbo is a four-star prospect, according to 247Sports. Agbo averaged 22 points per game as a senior last season, according to Tech Athletics. Josh Gershon, a national recruiting analyst for 247Sports, compliments his versatility on defense and three-point shooting.
Forwards Senior Marcus SantosSilva transfers to Tech after playing three seasons with the VCU Rams. He is immediately eligible after graduating this summer. Santos-Silva averaged 12.8 points and 8.6 rebounds per game last season, according to ESPN. He finished with the fourth most total rebounds and sixteenth most total points in the Atlantic 10 Conference last season, according to Sports Reference. He scored a season-high 26 points against George Mason last season, according to ESPN. His season-high in rebounds last season came against Saint Francis (PA), where he brought in 18 rebounds. The Red Raiders return two forwards who spent last season redshirting: freshman Tyreek Smith and sophomore Joel Ntambwe. Smith medically redshirted last season after breaking his foot during the preseason. He began practicing towards the end of last season but did not see game time. As a senior at Trinity Christian High School in Cedar Hill, Smith averaged 17.9 points, 12.3 rebounds and 3.0 blocks per game, according to Tech Athletics. Ntambwe redshirted last season after not being granted a waiver for immediate eligibility by the NCAA. Ntambwe transferred to Tech after playing one season at UNLV. During his freshmen season at UNLV, Ntambwe started all 31 games and averaged 11.8 points per game, according to Tech Athletics. He was also a 38.6 percent three-point shooter, according to ESPN. Freshman Vladislav Goldin comes to Tech after playing one year of prep basketball in the United States. Goldin has also played for the Russian U18 and U19 National Teams. Standing at 7 feet and 1 inch tall, he is the tallest Red Raider on the roster. @RyanMainvilleDT
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM
NOV. 19, 2020
7
CAMPUS
Womble center to support basketball program growth
MANDI MCDONALD/The Daily Toreador
The construction of the Dustin R. Womble Basketball Center is expected to be completed in December 2020. The facility is set to house two practice basketball courts and a new weight room.
By ADÁN RUBIO News Editor
Texas Tech basketball soon will have a new home on campus dedicated to growing program athletes’ prowess on the court. The establishment of the Dustin R. Womble Basketball Center, which is nearing completion west of the United Supermarkets Arena (USA) near the intersection of 18th Street and Indiana Avenue, will bring different amenities aimed at improving the skills of Tech’s basketball players. The Tech System Board of Regents approved the concept of the Womble center and a Stage I design budget of $750,000, which was set to provide planning and design services for the facility, on Dec. 14, 2017, according to minutes from that day’s meeting. At the time, the facility had an anticipated budget of $23.5 million. Now with an approved project budget of $29.5 million, according to the Tech System Facilities Planning and Construction (FP&C) website, the Womble center is near completion after being in construction since December 2018.
There are hopes the facility will be fully completed this December, according to a statement from Billy Breedlove, vice chancellor of FP&C. As of now, branding for the facility is ongoing. “Both teams have practiced on their new courts and worked out in the weight room,” Breedlove said, according to the statement. “This will be one of the top facilities in the country.” The Tech men’s and women’s basketball programs can take advantage of the Womble center’s different features including two practice courts, two sets of locker rooms, a training area, a nutrition center and a weight room that will be one of the largest in the Big 12 Conference, according to information from FP&C. Film rooms and lounge spaces for both teams are other features that will be included. Tony Hernandez, deputy athletic director at Tech Athletics, said the center is designed to develop student athletes. He works with FP&C to ensure aspects of the new facility will be acceptable for Tech Athletics and the programs that will utilize it.
The Womble center will be the finest in the country when it opens, Hernandez said. Regarding hosting celebratory events, such as a ribbon-cutting, after the center is completed, Hernandez said there are not any plans, but there are hopes to later recognize those who supported the center’s establishment. “We will do something to honor everyone who made this building possible,” he said. “We’re fortunate to know some really great supporters, like Mr. Womble and many others, that helped this project along, and we want to make sure they’re recognized and honored for what they’ve done for us.” Regardless of any plans for celebration, Hernandez said the facility will elevate both Tech basketball programs. “Our technology inside of the facility is fantastic,” he said. “Really, it’s just going to be an exceptional home for our men’s and women’s basketball programs.”
Regarding the benefits of different features, Hernandez said a Womble center basketball court, which will be a similar size to the court in the USA, will have seven additional baskets on each of its sides. This will allow for more basketball practice and student athlete development to happen at one time. Mike Ryan, senior associate athletics director for facilities and event operations at Tech Athletics, said
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the Womble center will give the student athletes in the basketball programs a place to practice at all times. “We’ll have access to the courts 24/7 as well as every other area of the building,” he said. “We have a great relationship with the management team at the United Supermarkets Arena. However, they can only put one team on the court at a time.” The USA houses the main court and a small practice gym, Ryan said. With three Tech Athletics programs currently scheduling times to practice in the USA and the need to give certain student athletes the ability to practice on their own, the Womble center will be beneficial in providing a specialized space just for the basketball programs. “Each team can practice up to 20 hours a week if they lead up to the season,” he said. “But the players can also take jump shots and shoot free throws and do the things that it takes to be an elite Division I player outside of practice. Currently, with volleyball and both teams in there, there’s times where it’s difficult to find floor space, as the student athletes have time between classes to get shots up.” For aspects, such as weight rooms, Ryan said the current situation inside the USA is similar to that of the basketball courts. The volleyball program also utilizes the USA weight room, Ryan said. Although, the strength and conditioning staff have done a great job of scheduling teams for use of the USA weight room. For the Womble center weight room, Ryan said the men’s and women’s basketball programs will just have to coordinate schedules between themselves. “The new weight room at
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Really, it’s just going to be an exceptional home for our men’s and women’s basketball programs. TONY HERNANDEZ DEPUTY ATHLETICS DIRECTOR In addition to weight and training rooms being shared between the two programs, there will be offices in the Womble center for the programs’ coaches, Ryan said. These amenities will be huge benefits all under one roof. In the strength and conditioning areas at the Womble center, Ryan said there will be an office for a full-time strength coach for both basketball programs. There
also will be an office in the center for a full-time men’s basketball athletic trainer and a women’s basketball athletic trainer. “There was a lot of thought that went into this project from the architect team and the end users: both men’s and women’s basketball,” he said regarding how the entire facility will be useful. The Womble center will create opportunities in the USA that may not have been possible before both basketball teams began relocating their offices and locker rooms in a different spot, Ryan said. The USA will continue to be home for basketball and a big part of both programs. “We are extremely grateful with our partnership with the United Supermarkets Arena and consider that management team a part of Athletics,” Ryan said, “and [we] really appreciate all they have done over the last 20 years since the arena opened to do their part in creating time and space for all three of the athletic teams that are in that building.” @AdanRubioDT
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8
BASKETBALL PREVIEW
NOV. 19, 2020
WWW.DAILYTOREADOR.COM
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Lady Raider staff close-knit after two months together By ZACH RICHARDS Sports Editor
After the termination of former Texas Tech women’s basketball head coach Marlene Stollings, the program went in a new direction with the hiring of Krista Gerlich in late August. Along with Stollings, her staff was also wiped from the university and left Gerlich in search of a new staff to build just three months shy of a new season. However, she got it done with hand-picked coaches that garnered experience both alongside Gerlich and across the country. Directly under Gerlich will be newly instated associate head coach, JC Carter, who bolstered an impressive resume before traveling to Lubbock. At Florida State, where he served as an assistant coach while helping lead his team to a 48-17 record over two seasons, Carter spent a lot of time working with guards. Coming to Tech’s program, one of which is heavily predicated around guard-play, Carter’s experience was the perfect fit. “The pressure is going to come more on our guards this
year,” Carter said. “We’re working so that they can handle that pressure and that responsibility, but at the same time instilling a confidence that they’ll need every day.” With 6-foot-5 forward Brittany Brewer leaving Tech to take the next step of her career with the Atlanta Dream in the WNBA, Tech was left with a hole not only in the post department, but also the scoring department. Brewer had 64 more field goals made than the next-highest player on the team last season, according to Tech Athletics. She also averaged a team-high 16.6 points per game. With the transition to a guard-based roster, Carter’s hiring added fluidity to the move. But it is more than a oneperson effort to manufacture a winning roster in three months. Gerlich added four more integral pieces that have all meshed to produce a productive atmosphere prior to the season. “It’s seemed like the most natural relationship of a new staff that I’ve ever been a part of,” Carter said. Across the court, another new face in assistant coach
Ashley Crawford has identical feelings. In what has been only a couple of months of work has been made easier by the new, eager faces. “Coach JC [Carter] brings a light to us in making us laugh but at the same time keeping us on track,” Crawford said. “It doesn’t even feel like it’s only been a couple of months, it feels like he’s been with us for a long time.” Crawford said the addition of the new coaches do not feel like new hires, but adding new family members to the group. In Gerlich’s introductory news conference, she emphasized having a family atmosphere and putting mental health ahead of everything. The players and the coaches have appeared to have bonded and created a positive atmosphere in three short months. Gerlich’s connection to her new hires off the court stretches on-court as well. Forming tandems that produce the best learning and social experiences for the players. “Sometimes the way we explain stuff to players Is like good cop, bad cop. She might be
passionate and really explaining something, and then I’m more on the calm, cool and collected end.” Crawford said. Gerlich and Crawford’s relationship stems further than just now, as they spent seven years working together at UT Arlington. They have built a chemistry and learned to work with each other in the most productive way possible, Crawford said. After talking to several members of Gerlich’s new staff, one thing was steadfast: The group’s likeness in terms of their values. After a 1,690 trip from Oregon State, assistant coach Eric Ely decided to join Gerlich in Lubbock with a strong history of winning under his belt. Ely was part of three Pac12 titles and a Final Four appearance. While bringing a winner’s mentality to Lubbock, he was met by a staff who had the same mindset. “His values and character align with ours,” Crawford said. On the other end, coach Carter knew Ely prior, but still said the similar winning mindsets and respect for each other that has been built up through the
FILE PHOTO/The Daily Toreador
Krista Gerlich, head coach of women’s basketball, discussing the upcoming season at the Wreck ‘Em Tech Athletics Breakfast on Sept. 3, 2020, at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center. years is prevalent. The connection between the coaches is vastly important, as they need to function at the highest level to produce the X’s and O’s for the roster; but at the same time, a well-functioning coaching staff makes communication with the players easier. “Some days maybe I need to be the good cop, but other days maybe I need to have a strong voice and support what she [Gerlich] says to the players,”
Carter said. “Sometimes our players need the head coach to tell them ‘good job’, and we as the assistants can be more stern … I feel like we do feed off of each other pretty well on that.” At 1 p.m. on Nov. 25, Gerlich, her staff and the women’s basketball team will take the floor for the first time in the Gerlichera, and welcome the visiting UTRGV Vaqueros at the United Supermarkets Arena. @ZachRichardsDT
WNBA
Former Lady Raiders continue talents in WNBA By ZACH RICHARDS Sports Editor
The Lady Raider basketball program has had nine players drafted dating back to the league’s creation in 1997, according to the WNBA website. A trailblazer for both Te x a s Te c h a n d t h e WNBA, Sheryl Swoopes was the first player to sign a WNBA contract, according to the league’s website. In the inaugural season of the WNBA, Swoopes led the Houston Comets to a championship. Following Swoopes was Alicia Thompson, who was
drafted in 1998, one year after Swoopes. Thompson played at Tech from 1994 to 1998 and became the Lady Raiders’ second all-time leading rebounder and scorer. She then was drafted ninth overall by the New York Liberty. She also played for the Seattle Storm, where she had the best statistical season of her career, according to ESPN. Tech continued its tradition of sending Lady Raiders to the pros the following two drafts with Angie Braziel in 1999 and Keitha Dickerson in 2000. They both had relatively short careers.
Braziel, after being drafted by the Charlotte Sting in the fourth round, went on to only play 52 games in her professional career. She averaged 3.9 points, 2.3 rebounds on 42 percent shooting from the field, according to basketball-reference. She played her final season for Indiana at 24 years old. Dickerson also had a short WNBA career, playing 23 games while averaging four points and 4.4 rebounds, according to WNBA stats. She played one more season with Utah before leaving the game. After three years of not having a draftee, Tech
emerged with the lowest pick in school history in Plenette Pierson. She was drafted by the Phoenix Mercury with the fourth overall pick in the draft. Pierson played 14 years in the WNBA before finally retiring in 2017. Over the course of her career, she averaged 9.6 points and 4.1 rebounds, according to basketball-reference. One year later, Tech sent Jia Perkins to the WNBA with the 35th overall pick by the Charlotte Sting. She had another long career, spending 13 years in the league averaging 10.6 points per game, according to basketball-reference.
In 2005, Cisti Greenwalt was drafted with the 3rd overall. Her WNBA career was short-lived; she played in five games and averaged .4 points and 1.6 rebounds, according to basketball-reference. She then went on to play professionally in China, where she still resides. In 2006, Erin Grant was drafted in the third round by the Sacramento Monarchs, she went overseas and won a Swedish championship for Stockholm. In 2006, she transferred to the WNBA with the Houston Comets for two seasons. In 17 games, she averaged 1.5 points and
1.1 rebounds, according to basketball-reference. Current Lady Raiders in the Pros After 2006, the Lady Raiders went 14 years without putting a player on the draft boards. Brittany Brewer broke the streak in 2020 with a 17th overall selection to the Atlanta Dream. She was picked in the second round as a center. On the professional stage, Brewer had limited time in her rookie year. With only five games under her belt, Brewer averaged .8 points and one rebound in her time on the Dream. @ZachRichardsDT