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In front of reporters at Big 12 Conference Basketball Media Days, Kristy Curry did not answer questions about what it will take to win a national title and Pat Knight can be sure he won’t have to either.
Instead, the Texas Tech women’s and men’s basketball coaches have to respond to being ranked in Big 12’s cellar once again heading into the 2009-2010 season.
“Obviously, the past three years we haven’t been respected very much, and I understand and respect that,” Curry said of her team during Big 12 Women’s Basketball Media Day Wednesday in the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Mo. “But at the same time, nobody expects more than we do of ourselves. Within our family, we know what our expectations are and our goals. We’re working toward that every day, just getting better.”
Knight and juniors John Roberson and Mike Singletary have a chance to state their case during Big 12 Men’s Basketball Media Day today at the Sprint Center in Kansas City. The Lady Raiders — represented by Curry, sophomore forward Kierra Mallard and senior guard Jordan Murphree — wrapped up their media day Wednesday.
The Lady Raiders are picked to finish 10th in the Big 12 in the coaches preseason poll even after the conference has lost a handful of stars. Baylor, a perennial powerhouse, is picked to win the Big 12.
Jhasmin Player and Jessica Morrow from Baylor, Danielle Gant and Takia Starks from Texas A&M and, most notably, Courtney and Ashley Paris from Oklahoma are a few of the big names the conference has lost to graduation.
At media day, Curry said there is now a little more room for other young players to make a name for themselves this season.
Curry was asked about a number of things on Wednesday, from the conference’s outlook to Mallard’s growth. But she did harp on expectations from her team compared to others in the Big 12.
Tech has a young squad heading into the season with three seniors on the roster — Murphree, Tilmila Martin and Ashlee Roberson. The Lady Raiders finished last season at 16-15, 6-10 in Big 12 play.
“It’s like I tell them, age doesn’t define beauty,” Curry said. “Hopefully our experience level in this league won’t define our beauty this year.”
The Red Raiders were picked to finish ninth in the Big 12 this season, but Knight seems to have no problems with being that low. In his first full season as head coach, Tech finished the 2008-2009 season at 14-19, 3-13 in Big 12 play.
Before he and his players took off for Kansas City, Knight said Wednesday he expects to be underrated this season. He said he believes the Red Raiders may surprise some with a revamped team.
“It’s good we’re picked low,” Knight said. “I actually did an interview with (a magazine). I’m not going to say what magazine. He had no idea about any of the players. I went down through all our players. He was like ‘Well I’m gonna move you up.’ I was like ‘No, you keep me in the basement where I know you have me.’”
Knight said he has been concentrating on defense this offseason, as the Red Raiders scored plenty of points last season, but didn’t have the defense to win more games. Tech finished fourth among Big 12 teams in scoring offense last season with 77.7 points a game, but allowed the most points per game with 79.
Knight said now he has an improved Roberson, Singletary and Robert Lewandowski along with junior college standouts Theron Jenkins, Brad Reese and David Tairu, in hopes they can turn Tech’s fortunes around.
The schedule could be tough to handle, however.
The Red Raiders have Oregon State, Washington and Stanford on the nonconference schedule in addition to playing in the Big 12 with a team slated to be No. 1 in the country in Kansas.
“If our strength of schedule’s not in the top five — because you add the three Pac-10 teams, you add where we go on the road, then you add the Big 12 to it — that’s a crime,” Knight said. “You’re fortunate to win some of those games or all of them in the preseason, your RPI’s going to be high.”
The Red Raiders begin their season against South Dakota at 6 p.m. Nov. 13 in Lubbock.
The Lady Raiders will conduct an open practice for fans Nov. 3 at 8 a.m. at the United Spirit Arena — a part of their Rise and Shine promotion where the first 200 fans to the arena receive free breakfast. The season-opener for the Lady Raiders is at home against Sam Houston State at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 14.
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