 "Photo: File photo")
Texas Tech coach Pat Knight has spent all season trying to transfer his philosophy and identity to his basketball team, which became his about a year ago after his father, Bob Knight, stepped down and gave him control.
While the progress obviously has not transferred to the win column - Tech ranks 11th in the Big 12 Conference - Pat Knight said he still takes pride in how his squad exerts just as much effort as any other team.
"The record is not where we want it to be, but I wouldn't trade these kids for anything," he said after a loss to Texas A&M on Saturday. "As long as I coach, I'll always remember this group, that they didn't lay down on me. We're taking some bad punches, but it's like they say, 'It's not how hard you can punch but how hard you can take a punch.'"
And the punches keep coming.
After the Aggies handed Tech its fourth straight loss and 11th in the last 13 games, Pat Knight criticized the referees and later was suspended by the Big 12 for his comments.
Therefore, he will not roam the sidelines when Tech (12-15, 2-10 in Big 12 play) plays No. 25 Texas (18-8, 7-5) at 8:30 p.m. today in Austin, which presents one more challenge the Red Raiders are dealing with.
"There's a phrase in boxing, 'Play it to the bone,' which means play it all the way," Pat Knight said during Saturday's press conference. "We're going to play it to the bone. We've got games left, these guys aren't going to give up, and we're going to play it all the way and see what happens."
Tech assistant coach Stew Robinson and associate head coach Chris Beard will coach against the Longhorns instead.
Texas coach Rick Barnes said Pat Knight called him Sunday to inform him of the suspension, and Barnes put himself in Knight's position, which involved four Tech players fouling out and A&M shooting 51 free throws.
"I know what it's like when you're fighting for every possession and you fight for your kids, you fight for your coaches, you fight for everybody," Barnes said. "At some point in time you hit a point where you feel like you gotta do what you think you need to do. I understand. Believe me, I've been there. I've gone through those situations, and they're hard because you're fighting and scratching for everything."
The Red Raiders will need to scratch and fight as much as possible if they want to alter history today. The Longhorns have won 12-straight games against Tech in the Erwin Center in Austin.
As if it was not already difficult enough, the Longhorns handed then-No. 2 Oklahoma its first conference loss of the season on Monday with a 73-68 win.
After starting Big 12 play with a 4-1 record, UT dropped three straight games before winning three of its last four to climb back into the NCAA Tournament scene.
In Tech's previous meeting with Texas at home Jan. 17, the Red Raiders trailed by six points at halftime, but the Longhorns pulled away in the second half to secure a 71-49 victory.
"We obviously learned, especially from their last run, they're obviously vulnerable," Tech center Robert Lewandowski said. "I know they can be beaten. I know they played well against Oklahoma the other day. It's obvious that we have a chance. We're right there, but we can't give in. We can't let down. We gotta play all 40 minutes."
If Tech wants a chance to stop the Longhorns, who are in the Top 25 for the first time in three weeks, it will need to shut down guard AJ Abrams. Abrams averages 17.1 points per game and had 16 straight at one point during the second half against Oklahoma. He had 11 points against Tech earlier this season.
Tech had trouble shutting down Texas swingman Damion James, who has recorded a double-double in three-straight games. James had a game-high 18 points against the Red Raiders in the previous meeting.
But whatever way the Red Raiders go about trying to slow down the Longhorns, they will have to fight without Pat Knight on the sidelines.
"I think it'll motivate everyone," Prince said. "Maybe just try to do this for coach because he won't be there. Just make us play harder."
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