Tariq Owens
Florida's Kerry Blackshear Jr speaks during the Southeastern Conference NCAA college basketball media day, Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2019, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)
Tip Ins: Blackshear Jr leads latest crop of impact transfers

By Dave Skretta Oct. 28, 2019 03:04 AM EDT
The days of roster building from the high school ranks are long over, and any

Texas Tech coach Chris Beard, left, talks about Jarrett Culver, right, who declared to enter the NBA basketball draft during a news conference, Thursday, April 18, 2019, in Lubbock, Texas. (Brad Tollefson/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal via AP)
Big payday for Beard after Texas Tech's run to title game

Apr. 29, 2019 01:10 PM EDT
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Texas Tech has made Chris Beard one of the nation's top-paid

Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver (23) drives against Virginia's Ty Jerome (11) and De'Andre Hunter (12) during the overtime in the championship of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 8, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Texas Tech's Culver declares for NBA draft after 2 seasons

Apr. 18, 2019 04:37 PM EDT
LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Big 12 player of the year Jarrett Culver declared for the NBA

Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver (23) and Brandone Francis react after the team's 85-77 loss to Virginia in the overtime in the championship of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 8, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Tech has foundation for future after reaching national final

By Dave Campbell Apr. 09, 2019 09:02 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Brandone Francis plopped down in front of the Texas Tech locker

Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard reacts during the second half in the championship of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament against Virginia, Monday, April 8, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Analysis: Offensive adjustments lead Virginia to first title

By John Marshall Apr. 09, 2019 12:27 AM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Virginia has been a titan of defense, its pack-line squeezing the

Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver (23) and Brandone Francis react after the team's 85-77 loss to Virginia in the overtime in the championship of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 8, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Culver, Texas Tech can't finish comeback in NCAA title game

By Dave Campbell Apr. 09, 2019 12:11 AM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Jarrett Culver walked slowly around the perimeter as the final

Virginia's Ty Jerome (11) makes a shot against Texas Tech's Kyler Edwards (0) during the second half in the championship of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Monday, April 8, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
NCAA Latest: Virginia's clutch tourney goes down in history

Apr. 08, 2019 03:27 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Latest on the NCAA Tournament championship game between

Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver (23) takes a shot during the first half in the semifinals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament against the Michigan State, Saturday, April 6, 2019, in Minneapolis. (Brett Wilhelm/NCAA Photos via Getty Images via AP, Pool)
Things to know for the NCAA championship game

By John Marshall Apr. 08, 2019 02:18 AM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The NCAA Tournament will take an ugly turn in its final or,

Texas Tech's Jarrett Culver, left, and head coach Chris Beard questions during a news conference for the championship of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2019, in Minneapolis. Texas Tech will play Virginia on Monday for the national championship. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Analysis: Breaking down Virginia, Texas Tech title game

By Dave Skretta And Ralph D. Russo Apr. 08, 2019 02:02 AM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Texas Tech and Virginia have reached the national championship

Texas Tech guard Matt Mooney reacts to fans after a semifinal round game against Michigan State in the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 6, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Matt Mooney's college odyssey ends with Tech in title game

By Dave Skretta Apr. 07, 2019 04:11 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Much like his vagabond coach, Texas Tech's Matt Mooney has

Auburn guard Samir Doughty (10) shoots over Virginia forward Mamadi Diakite (25) during the first half in the semifinals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 6, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Athletic big men changing the way college teams play defense

By John Marshall Apr. 07, 2019 03:29 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Michigan State thought it had a mismatch. Thanks to a switch by

Virginia's Ty Jerome, left, and Kyle Guy answer questions during a news conference for the championship of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, April 7, 2019, in Minneapolis. Virginia will play Texas Tech on Monday for the national championship. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
NCAA Latest: Texas Tech preaches calm to fanbase in Lubbock

Apr. 07, 2019 02:12 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Latest on the championship game of the NCAA Tournament between

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo reacts on the bench during the first half against Texas Tech in the semifinals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 6, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Mooney scores, Texas Tech clamps down in 61-51 win over MSU

By Eddie Pells Apr. 06, 2019 11:14 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — For those who thought Texas Tech only plays defense, it's time to

Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard celebrates at the end of a semifinal round game against Michigan State in the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Saturday, April 6, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
NCAA Latest: Get ready for a defensive-minded title game

Apr. 06, 2019 05:32 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Latest on the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament (all times

The Connecticut band performs during the first half of the team's Final Four semifinal against Notre Dame in the NCAA women’s college basketball Friday, April 5, 2019, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)
Final Four - Game 2 (win) at Final Four - Game 1 (win) 4/7/2019

Apr. 05, 2019 09:56 PM EDT

Michigan State head coach Tom Izzo directs his team during a practice session for the semifinals of the Final Four NCAA college basketball tournament, Friday, April 5, 2019, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Michigan State, Texas Tech get ready for a Final Four grind

By Eddie Pells Apr. 05, 2019 05:36 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Hunker down, hoops fans. This one might be ugly. The

FILE - In this March 30, 2019, file photo, Texas Tech head coach Chris Beard celebrates after the team's win against Gonzaga during the West Regional final in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, in Anaheim, Calif. Beard was named The Associated Press Coach of the Year, Thursday, April 4, 2019. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
Texas Tech's Beard named AP men's college coach of the year

By Aaron Beard Apr. 04, 2019 05:00 PM EDT
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Chris Beard of Texas Tech had a cheering, boisterous audience as

FILE - At left, in a March 22, 2019, file photo, Texas Tech guard Matt Mooney (13) shoots against Northern Kentucky during the second half of a first round men's college basketball game in the NCAA Tournament, in Tulsa, Okla. At right, in a Feb. 23, 2019, file photo, Texas Tech guard Jarrett Culver (23) shoots against Kansas during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game, in Lubbock, Texas. Texas Tech has gotten to its first Final Four with contrasting guards. Culver is the sophomore standout, Mooney is a graduate transfer. (AP Photo/File)
Culver, Mooney take different paths to Tech and Final Four

By Stephen Hawkins Apr. 02, 2019 06:32 PM EDT
Hometown standout Jarrett Culver was the first recruit Chris Beard reached out to

Texas Tech celebrates after the team scored against Gonzaga during the second half of the West Regional final in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Saturday, March 30, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
Texas Tech locks down 'Zags to earn to 1st Final Four trip

By Eddie Pells Mar. 30, 2019 08:41 PM EDT
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — One player came all the way from Italy. Another arrived from

Michigan coach John Beilein reacts during the second half of the team's NCAA men's college basketball tournament West Region semifinal against Texas Tech on Thursday, March 28, 2019, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)
D up: Texas Tech clamps down in 63-44 win over Michigan

By Eddie Pells Mar. 29, 2019 01:11 AM EDT
ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — More than 24 minutes into the game, the nation's best defense