| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
WHEREAS, The Texas Tech men's basketball program achieved a |
|
|
new level of success during the 2018-2019 season, as the Red Raiders |
|
|
advanced all the way to the NCAA Division I national championship |
|
|
game; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, In the course of an unforgettable season, the Texas |
|
|
Tech players repeatedly surpassed expectations; with their |
|
|
inspired play against their Big 12 foes, they earned a share of the |
|
|
regular season conference title, claiming that trophy for the first |
|
|
time ever; Tech was rewarded with an invitation to the "Big Dance" |
|
|
of the NCAA tournament and embarked on a thrilling run that |
|
|
electrified the Red Raider faithful; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, After defeating Northern Kentucky and Buffalo, |
|
|
Texas Tech upset the highly ranked Michigan and Gonzaga squads to |
|
|
earn its first trip to the Final Four; in the semifinals, the Red |
|
|
Raider defense demonstrated its trademark tenacity, leading the |
|
|
team to a 61-51 win over Michigan State and setting the stage for |
|
|
the title game showdown against Virginia; in that contest, the Tech |
|
|
players gave their all through four hard-fought quarters and an |
|
|
overtime period but saw their season come to an end just one win |
|
|
short of the national championship; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, The Red Raiders had numerous heroes during their |
|
|
history-making campaign; Lubbock native Jarrett Culver was named |
|
|
the Big 12 Player of the Year, and he and Matt Mooney earned spots on |
|
|
the Final Four All-Tournament Team; valuable leadership was |
|
|
provided by veteran players Norense Odiase, Brandone Francis, and |
|
|
Tariq Owens, while sophomores Davide Moretti and Deshawn Corprew |
|
|
and freshman Kyler Edwards were also key to Tech's success; the team |
|
|
was guided by head coach Chris Beard, who was named the Associated |
|
|
Press Men's College Basketball Coach of the Year and the Big 12 |
|
|
Coach of the Year for his outstanding efforts; and |
|
|
WHEREAS, By proving itself one of the top teams in college |
|
|
basketball, Texas Tech has furthered the Lone Star State's |
|
|
reputation for sports excellence and ushered in an exciting new era |
|
|
for Red Raider athletics, and its achievements are a source of great |
|
|
pride for the university's students, alumni, and fans; now, |
|
|
therefore, be it |
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
|
|
Legislature hereby congratulate the Texas Tech University men's |
|
|
basketball team on advancing to the championship game of the 2019 |
|
|
NCAA Division I tournament and extend to the team's players, |
|
|
coaches, and staff sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it |
|
|
further |
|
|
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|
|
prepared for the Red Raiders as an expression of high regard by the |
|
|
Texas House of Representatives. |