Texas Tech Upsets #5 Texas

Yesterday, Pat Knight's Texas Tech Red Raiders beat #5 Texas 83-80. It was Knight's second win over a team ranked in the AP Top 25. And more importantly, it was a much needed turnaround win, as days earlier, Tech had lost to Texas A&M by 44 points -- the worst margin of defeat in school history.

Following the loss at A&M, Pat Knight put his team through an old fashioned, hard nosed practice:

"Bob Knight, said his son, did 'regular old drills' that in some way involved basketball. On Thursday, the younger Knight left the court behind and made his players run sprints while carrying weights. Then they shot lots of free throws. After that Pat Knight made them carry tractor tires and then flip them over - in relay races."

It's good to see Pat Knight getting some decent wins at Texas Tech. Knight inherited the remainder of his father's contract at Tech (which he had just extended for three more years at the beginning of this season), so he's got guaranteed money coming, no matter what happens with regard to his stewardship of the program. The previous administration at Tech had agreed to let Knight succeed his father (whenever the elder coach Knight decided to retire). But the new Texas Tech administration has indicated that they may not be inclined to extend the coaching position to Pat Knight.

So getting wins over top opponents is crucial for Pat Knight's bid to continue as the head coach at Texas Tech.

Knocking off Texas was a good start.


On a Side Note:

I've been saying this for a long time, but I think Texas is perpetually overrated.

Aside from their 2003 Final Four team, I've never understood why Texas gets the national media love that they do.

Year after year, Texas has struck me as being a paper tiger. And so far, I've seen nothing that would cause me to change my mind with regard to this year's team.