When the Lady Raiders open Big 12 play it will be with a different edge and confidence than we’ve seen in past seasons
“I think that this team has so many options, so many threats at every position, and we’ve got a bench,” Tech’s junior guard Larryn Brooks said.
“They expect to win. They expect to play well every time they step on the floor,” Lady Raiders head coach Candi Whitaker said. “They have high expectations for themselves.”
Finishing the non-conference slate with an 8-3 record, it’s now the third time under coach Whitaker that the Lady Raiders will enter the Big 12 with 8-plus wins
Their three losses all coming to the three power 5 teams they’ve faced, but a schedule in which they believe has prepped them for the beast that is the Big 12
“We’ve played a lot of good competition, including Texas A&M, Miami, Arkansas, so I think that we are definitely ready,” Brooks said. “We understand what the competition is like.”
“If we had scheduled a bunch of teams that we beat by 30-plus points, I might be a little nervous for them, but we haven’t done that,” Whitaker said. “We scheduled mid-majors that are going to have a chance to win their league. We scheduled BCS teams on the road. So I don’t think it’s going to be a shock.”
Much of that quiet faith in where this team is headed comes because of three transfers who have been through the ringer in power 5 competition, and three true freshman who have who have given this team an immediate face lift.
“They’ve played with the best, they’ve against the best. Recee’ has been on USA teams. Larryn Brooks played in a lot of Big Ten games. I don’t know if Arella really cares who she is playing, she’s going to hook it up and play. And we’ve got just so much better size. I mean Jada who has played against all of these kids, saw this size in the SEC, but with that being said, the Big 12 is tough and every night is going to be physical,” Whitaker said.
Texas Tech begins Big 12 play on the road at No. 16 Texas. Tip is set for Thursday at 7:02 p.m. on the Longhorn Network.