Texas Tech's Defense Re-Buffs Colorado

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Texas Tech coach Pat Knight couldn't have asked for a better teaching point on the importance of good defense than the Red Raiders received Wednesday.

Fresh off a frustrating 101-90 loss to Colorado during Saturday's regular-season finale, the ninth seeded Red Raiders put the clamps down on that same Buffaloes team four days later to come out with an 82-67 win during the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament at the Sprint Center.

What a difference playing a little defense and four days can make.

"The first time we played them, we kind of got mixed up because they were running so many cuts and all that stuff," said Tech guard John Roberson, who led the way with 19 points, nine assists and three steals. "But this time, we were locked in defensively, we knew exactly what they were going to do and we followed the game."

The Raiders, who ended the regular season with seven straight losses, trailed eighth-seed Colorado by as many as 10 points early in the first half but stormed back to take a 35-31 lead into halftime after scoring several transition baskets off Buffalo turnovers.

There were times when players like Mike Singletary seemed frustrated with the team's lack of focus early, but they settled down about midway through the first half and then cruised to victory to break a three-week funk.

"Defensively we just buckled down and that's what we hadn't been doing the past three weeks," said Singletary, who had 13 points and six rebounds for the Red Raiders. "That's why we gave up 101 points at Colorado. It's all about defense, it's all about getting the mix of things to do out there and locking up."

Now, the Red Raiders get set to meet No. 1 Kansas during Thursday's quarterfinal rounds. At 17-14 and 4-12 in league play, the NIT is the Raiders most realistic shot unless they get super hot and win the Big 12 tournament. Defeating a respectable Colorado team four days after losing by 11 could go a long ways in securing an NIT bid for Tech.

"I think we should be in, we are the only other team (outside of the Big 12's presumed NCAA tournament bound top seven teams) with a winning record," said Knight. "Those were a tough three weeks but we are also in the best league in the country and five out of those teams we played were ranked. We played good basketball this year.

"For them to overlook us and overlook a team in the best conference would just be a shame. But there is always human error."


GAME BALL GOES TO:

The Red Raiders got scoring from a lot of different places, but junior guard John Roberson was the most consistent with a team-high 19 points, nine assists and three steals in 36 minutes. He also did a nice job of defending Cory Higgins, who went for 30 on Saturday but had just 18 on Wednesday.


HEART GOES OUT TO:

Freshman guard Alec Burks is one of the best young players in the Big 12, but he certainly still needs some help. Burks, the Big 12 Rookie of the Year, led the Buffaloes with 24 points and ten rebounds. Had Colorado pulled out the win, the nation would have had a chance to see one of the top young players against No.1 Kansas on Thursday.


KEY ELEMENT:

While Knight points to the difference defense made in the win, the bench was also Wednesday afternoon. The Raiders reserves, led by Brad Reese's 16 points, outscored Colorado's 30-9.


WHERE TO FROM HERE:

Texas Tech head coach Pat Knight said a couple weeks ago that a NIT bid would be huge for his program and defeating a quality opponent like Colorado, combined with a respectable showing Thursday against No.1 Kansas, could be enough to secure an NIT shot. Finishing with a 4-12 record and losing seven straight to end the regular season makes the Red Raiders a bit of a tough sell for even the NIT, but the Knight name as well as players like Mike Singletary and John Roberson gives Tech enough star power to be attractive to the postseason.

As for Colorado, the NIT could also be a possibility for the team that is poised to make some noise in the Big 12 next season. The Buffaloes have some exciting players in the program like Big 12 Rookie of the Year Alec Burks along with junior guard Cory Higgins. Colorado finished the regular season strong with three straight wins.

WHO'S GOT NEXT?

For winning Wednesday, the Raiders now have the task of trying to upset No. 1 Kansas in front of a virtual home crowd for the Jayhawks at the Sprint Center. When the two met Jan. 16 in Lawrence, Kansas ran away with an 89-63 win.

SOUNDBITE

"It's going to be tough. It's like comparing my won-loss record to my old man's."

Pat Knight referencing his Hall of Fame father Bob Knight when asked about having to face Kansas in a quick turnaround game.