By Faith Pinegar and Zach Moss
KTXT Sports Staff
Texas Tech men’s basketball interim head coach Chris Walker became just the 7th Red Raider coach to start the season 2-0, following Tech’s 91-63 victory on Wednesday night inside the United Spirit Arena against Omaha.
Junior Dejan Kravic puts up a shot in Tech’s 91-63 victory against Omaha on Wednesday night inside the United Spirit Arena. Photo By Alana Kiker
“I felt like this game was a great effort,” Walker said. “We started off great first two games. Started off ok in the first half, and picked it up in the second. I tell my guys our style is to wear the opponent down. I have confidence in everyone. Bottom line is play hard, play together, and keep going at opposing team.”
Red-shirt junior forward Dejan Kravic was one of the main contributors in tonight’s game as he shot 9-for-11 from the field with 20 points and six rebounds.
Kravic felt that the motivation he received from his coaches and team is what led to his great performance.
“Coach sent the message that I need to be more confident, the coach and the players gave great motivation and kept me up the whole time,” he said. “In the first half I was a little passive, but coach told me to be more aggressive, and that is what I did.”
Junior forward Jaye Crockett came off the bench three minutes into the game, and ended up with a double-double, his fifth of his Tech career, going 9-for-12 from the field with 22 points and 10 rebounds.
“I don’t pay attention to the whole ‘coming off the bench’ or starting thing,” he said. “As long as I’m playing, I’m happy.”
Crockett’s career-high performance comes after struggling in Tech’s season opener against Prairie-View A&M, where the Clovis, New Mexico native contributed only five points.
Following up a performance like that, with Wednesday night’s performance definitely caught the attention of the man in charge and now Walker knows Crockett is embracing the role he has put him in.
“He actually bounced back from last game,” Walker said, “and I told him- you’re an older guy, you probably want to be a starter which is fine but you can be the best spark we have coming off the bench with some of these young guys.”
Looking towards the rest of the season and how Walker wants to have his program viewed he said the main thing he wants people to take away from their team is that they lay everything on the line every night.
“Bottom line, when asked ‘what is Tech basketball,’ it’s playing harder and more together than the other team.”
The Red Raiders hit the court again on Tuesday as Tech faces Grambling State inside the USA with tip-off set for 8 p.m.
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