Texas Tech Basketball

Patrick Mahomes isn't ready to stop cheering for a Chris Beard-led basketball team.

The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback urged Beard, who is the Texas Tech men's basketball head coach, to remain at his alma mater amid rumors he could leave for the Texas Longhorns:

It is no surprise Mahomes, who attended Texas Tech's Final Four game in 2019, wants Beard to stay put. The coach has been with the Red Raiders for five seasons and has a 112-55 record with three NCAA tournament appearances.

He led Texas Tech to the Big 12 regular-season title and its only Final Four appearance in men's basketball history in the 2018-19 campaign after the team reached the Elite Eight the previous season.

However, the Texas job is open after Shaka Smart left for Marquette.

Beard seems like a natural fit considering Texas is his alma mater and he had experience as a student assistant. Chip Brown of 247Sports reported he is the "leading candidate" for the position.

Still, the Longhorns don't have an MVP quarterback lobbying for them on social media.

Texas Tech men's basketball coach Chris Beard has been reprimanded by the Big 12 following a theatrical ejection during Tuesday's 82-71 loss to No. 14 West Virginia. 

“Coach Beard’s conduct was inconsistent with sportsmanship expectations in the Big 12 Conference,” Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a statement. “He is being issued a public reprimand, and put on notice that any future sportsmanship violations may lead to a more severe penalty.”

Beard was not fined for his conduct. 

Carlos Silva Jr. and Don Williams of the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal obtained a letter sent from TTU athletic director Kirby Hocutt to Bowlsby arguing the coach did not violate the conference policy on sportsmanship and vouched for his character:

"This letter is in response to your email regarding a possible sportsmanship incident in our men’s basketball game against West Virginia. Your email states that head coach Chris Beard exhibited unsportsmanlike behavior towards the officials resulting in two technical fouls and ejection from the game.

"This incident occurred near the end of the game following some subjective decisions by the officials. Due to the reasons explained below, it is our position that a violation of C.R. 12.3.5 (Other Misconduct) did not occur. Chris Beard exemplifies sportsmanship on the court and towards the officials. Not only does he live it, but he also talks about it with the team frequently. In his nearly five years in the Big 12 he has not received one technical foul until this last game. He speaks to the team and reminds them about the importance of showing sportsmanship not only on the court but also through their communication.

"We take pride in the fact that as a team we have a very low number of technical fouls. Since Chris has been here, we have never had more than 3 player technical fouls in any given season. In his post-game comments, Chris praised the three officials when asked about the officiating in the game.

"Chris said, 'These guys are the best of the best. These three guys out there tonight, not only do I like, but I respect and trust them. But in college basketball, sometimes you just got to fight for the players and that was my decision tonight to do that.' I respectfully will state that it is our position that we have not violated the Other Misconduct policy of the Conference. Please contact me if you have any questions or would like to discuss further."

Beard further defended his actions in his postgame press conference following the loss. 

"There was no message there, I just thought sometimes from a coaching standpoint you've got to fight for your players," Beard said. "Obviously college basketball, you guys know the drill—Big 12 policy and all that—I would just say from my point of view the West Virginia player was calling a timeout from the floor...if that call is made we've got a chance to set up our press and still have a chance to play the game."

The conference didn't find that explanation satisfactory. If Beard acts out again in a similar manner, he may find himself digging into his wallet to make things right. 

Mac McClung's last-chance jumper gave No. 15 Texas Tech a comeback victory over No. 4 Texas, 79-77, on the road Wednesday night.

The Red Raiders, who improved to 11-3 with the win, trailed 48-38 at halftime but used a 41-point second frame to upend Texas, which was limited to 29 points in the second half.

The Longhorns' only other loss of the season came at the hands of No. 3 Villanova on Dec. 6.

McClung ended the night leading all scorers with 22 points on 42.9 percent shooting from the field, eeking out ahead of Texas star Andrew Jones, who posted 20 points by going an impressive 63.6 percent from the field, hitting four of his six three-point attempts.

Texas Tech's Kevin McCullar and Texas' Jericho Sims each tallied 16 points for their respective teams.

The first half was all Texas. The Longhorns hit 50.0 percent of their shots while holding Texas Tech to 37.0 percent shooting in the opening frame, but the Red Raiders worked quietly. 

Those minute mistakes added up for the Longhorns in the second half as the Red Raiders defense continued to force itself into every play. Suddenly, Texas was hitting just 33.3 percent of its shots from the field, committing eight turnovers in the second half to add onto seven from the first frame. Together, those re-possessions resulted in 19 points for the Red Raiders, while a balanced bench produced 18 points. 

The Red Raiders will face another tough test against No. 2 Baylor on Saturday, while the Longhorns should have a break against Kansas State the same day. 

The NCAA granted Mac McClung's transfer waiver, allowing him to play for Texas Tech in 2020-21 after leaving Georgetown for the Red Raiders. 

McClung shared a video Friday announcing the news:

The 6'2" guard averaged 14.2 points and 2.2 assists in two seasons with the Hoyas.

McClung entered the NCAA's transfer portal on May 13, with the Washington Post's Kareem Copeland noting he was the fifth Georgetown player to transfer out since the start of December. Two weeks later, the Gate City Virginia, native announced he was heading to Lubbock, Texas.

Getting McClung's transfer waiver affirmed is more good news for head coach Chris Beard after the NCAA ruled in September that Jamarius Burton can play right away after leaving Wichita State. Burton was a two-year starter for the Shockers, averaging 7.9 points and 3.4 assists.

Texas Tech was the national runner-up in 2019 but only managed to get 18 wins prior to the COVID-19 pandemic shutting the season down. Not surprisingly, Jarrett Culver, Matt Mooney, Tariq Owens and Brandone Francis proved difficult to replace.

Jahmi'us Ramsey, the leading scorer from this past year, chose to test the NBA waters, and Davide Moretti opted to start his professional career overseas. That made it even more important for Beard to land an experienced guard or two who could guide a turnaround.

Suddenly, a roster that already had Kyler Edwards and Terrence Shannon Jr. looks pretty strong with the additions of McClung, Burton and fellow transfer Marcus Santos-Silva.

A report by USA Today's Jori Epstein and Daniel Libit published Wednesday revealed what Texas Tech players called "a culture of abuse" within the Red Raiders women's basketball program.

Marlene Stollings took over as head coach in April 2018 after leaving her post at Minnesota. Since her arrival, 12 players have transferred out, and Stollings had personally recruited seven of the players, per Epstein and Libit:

"In the correspondence of five players to the NCAA regarding transfer waivers for [Emma] Merriweather and [Marcella] LaMark, they described the Texas Tech program as an 'extremely unhealthy' and 'toxic environment' in which players were 'mistreated” and 'degraded,' according to copies obtained by USA TODAY Sports. And in the exit interviews, which were anonymous, players addressed the exodus bluntly.

"'That's not a lack of talent or a lack of playing,' one player wrote. 'That's having respect for themselves that they recognize a toxic environment when they see one.'"

Epstein and Libit shared a statement from athletics director Kirby Hocutt, who said one staff member had resigned because of allegations brought forth by players and that the school conducted an investigation:

"Additionally, based on information received we conducted an in-depth program review of our women’s basketball program.  ... I have thoroughly discussed this review with coach Stollings and am confident that we are taking appropriate steps to improve the relationship and communication between coaches and student-athletes so that we can continue to grow the success of our program both on and off the court."

Stollings was quoted in the piece as well:

"Our administration and my staff believe in the way we are building and turning this program around here. Our student athletes are developing a disciplined approach both on and off the court. 

"I want our students, fans and alumni to know we are committed to winning championships at Texas Tech and doing it the right way through hard work, accountability and fierce determination."

The portrayal by the players differed significantly, with Merriweather calling Stollings "evil and manipulative and vindictive in a quiet watered-down manner."

The former Texas Tech center was diagnosed with depression and experienced panic attacks due to her anxiety. She expressed the lack of support she felt from the Texas Tech coaching staff, telling Epstein and Libit she was "scolded for displaying symptoms of depression."

Merriweather also alleged that Stollings took away her dog, calling him a "distraction" and asking boosters if they wanted to take the dog. "She just tore him away from me," Merriweather said.

The allegations weren't limited to Stollings.

Some players said that former strength and conditioning coach Ralph Petrella spoke negatively about their weight and "applied pressure near their chest and groin" while demonstrating reflexive performance reset techniques. One player alleged he made inappropriate comments to the point she wondered whether he was "grooming" her.

The school's Title IX administrator, Stollings and then Hocutt were contacted by one player in March after a one-on-one meeting with Petrella. She said he "applied pressure to her pubic bone, went under her sports bra to reach a chest pressure point and went under her spandex shorts to reach an area near her groin." 

After being informed of the allegations, Hocutt said Petrella had resigned from his role a day earlier. Through legal representation, Petrella denied "any inappropriate conduct while employed by the Texas Tech University women's basketball program" and said he resigned voluntarily after the 2020 season.

Red Raiders assistant coach Nikita Lowry Dawkins previously coached at New Mexico State, where she was the subject of an investigation into physical and mental abuse within that program. Merriweather alleged that Lowry Dawkins instructed her to snap her wrist with a rubber band "each time she had a negative thought."

Texas Tech head men's basketball coach Chris Beard delivered on a promise he made to a fan on Twitter just under one year ago.

On Aug. 1, Twitter user Rylee Albracht asked Beard how many retweets it would take for him to officiate their wedding. Beard said he would do so and also bring Whataburger for everyone at the wedding if the Texas Tech student section was filled for the team's Nov. 5 season opener.

It came to fruition, and Beard provided proof Friday he was at the wedding:

Beard has spent four seasons as the head coach at Texas Tech, and it hasn't taken him long to endear himself to Red Raiders fans.

The 47-year-old Marietta, Georgia, native led the Red Raiders to a 31-7 record during the 2018-19 season and took them all the way to the national championship game, though they lost to the Virginia Cavaliers.

That marked the first time in program history Texas Tech made it as far as the Final Four.

Beard and the Red Raiders didn't get a chance to replicate that run, however, as most conference tournaments and the NCAA tournament were canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The pandemic didn't stop Beard from coming through in the clutch for a pair of Texas Tech fans, however, which will likely only serve to make him even more popular in Lubbock if and when college basketball returns for the 2020-21 season.

Texas Tech confirmed Monday there have been recent positive COVID-19 tests within the men's basketball team, but the athletic department could not specify how many positive tests or who tested positive:

"It's up to individual athletic [departments] to choose whether or not to self-report cases," Jeff Rosen of the Kansas City Star noted. "Of course, no one should expect student-athletes names to be released—there are laws against that—but it would seem to be in the public interest to know whether there's spread at a school."

The Big 12 announced June 1 that voluntary on-campus activity would be permitted for basketball programs beginning July 6. However, head coach Chris Beard and other Red Raiders participated in a local protest last week:

The 2019-20 college basketball season was canceled March 12, prior to conference tournaments and the NCAA tournament, amid public health and safety concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.

Texas Tech finished last season 18-13 after going a program-best 31-7 in 2018-19 before losing the national title game 85-77 in overtime to Virginia.

Former Georgetown guard Mac McClung will continue his college career at Texas Tech after announcing his decision to transfer Wednesday.

McClung had initially declared for the 2020 NBA draft following his sophomore season but withdrew from the draft and entered the transfer portal May 13.

"It was a number of different events that made me feel I had no choice but to transfer from Georgetown," he told Jonathan Givony of ESPN. "I really wanted to stay, but things throughout my career made me realize that I couldn't.

"I'm looking for a place I can call home. A place I can be a part of a family and help them succeed."

After he announced his decision to transfer, more than a dozen schools contacted the player within the next 24 hours, per Evan Daniels of 247Sports.

The list was eventually narrowed down to Texas Tech, Auburn, Memphis, USC, BYU, Arkansas and Wake Forest:

He eventually landed with Texas Tech, for whom he will have two more seasons' worth of eligibility.

McClung turned heads with his athleticism early in his basketball career, becoming a viral sensation with his dunking ability, which continued at the college level:

It's gained him online fame, and he boasts more than 700,000 followers on Instagram.

The 6'2" guard has also proved to be an impact player, averaging 15.7 points per game in 2019-20 until a foot injury limited his season to just 21 games. He finished with 13.1 points per game as a freshman.

There is still room for McClung to improve, especially with his outside shooting after hitting just 29.5 percent of his three-point shots in his first two seasons. He could also add to his playmaking ability after averaging 2.4 assists per game last year.

Still, he remains a high-upside player who should be able to help his new team as soon as he steps on the floor.

The Red Raiders are only one year removed from a trip to the national championship game and head coach Chris Beard has his team consistently contending with the best in the Big 12.

Adding McClung could help Texas Tech once again make a deep run in the NCAA tournament.

Texas Tech made a notable addition to its future backcourt Tuesday when it landed guard Nimari Burnett as part of its 2020 recruiting class.

Burnett, who is 6'3" and 185 pounds, is a 5-star prospect and the No. 22 overall player, No. 5 combo guard and No. 7 player from the state of Illinois in his class, per 247Sports' composite rankings.

He is talented enough to be a primary contributor for his new team from the moment he steps on campus and can either handle the ball as a creator or play off it and take advantage of openings as a perimeter shooter.

Burnett is physical enough to play through traffic and either score himself or facilitate when additional defenders collapse.

The Chicago native moved to California to continue his high school career in 2017, and Orion Sang of the Detroit Free Press noted he thrived at multiple AAU events. One of those events was the Nike EYBL in Atlanta, where he averaged a head-turning 23.8 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.8 steals per game against impressive competition.

The same athleticism that allows him to get into the lane on offense helps him stay in front of ball-handlers as a perimeter defender, and he has enough size to challenge shooters.

Burnett's ability to impact the game in a number of ways as a versatile playmaker will help him find a role in various lineup combinations as soon as his freshman season.

He also continues what has been an excellent run of recruiting in recent years for the program:

If he lives up to his potential as a scorer, passer and defender, he can propel the Red Raiders on a deep NCAA men's tournament run and set the table for other top-notch recruits to follow in his footsteps.

Texas Tech has suspended basketball player Deshawn Corprew after allegations of assault, according to Scott Phillips of NBC Sports. 

"Once Coach Beard was made aware of Title IX allegations against Deshawn Corprew, the men’s basketball student-athlete was immediately suspended from all team activities, pending a full investigation. Further comment will be withheld until the appropriate time," the school said in a statement Monday.

As a redshirt sophomore, Corprew appeared in 37 of the team's 38 games last season while helping the Red Raiders reach the NCAA tournament title game.

The forward averaged 5.0 points and 3.3 rebounds per game, ranking eighth on the team in minutes per game.

Texas Tech's NCAA tournament run led to its first Final Four in school history, during which Corprew averaged 8.3 minutes per game.

Little information is currently known about Corprew's allegations and his future standing with the team is in doubt.