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SportsPulse: The Texas Tech Raiders are heading to the very first Final Four. Scott Gleeson of USA TODAY explains how they did it and what makes them special.
UNITED STATES TODAY & # 39; HUI
ANAHEIM, Calif. – Earlier this season, Texas Tech coach Chris Beard said he received a letter from Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski.
He arrived shortly after the schools played at Madison Square Garden on December 20th.
It was one of the things apparently directed against people who might be surprised, if not shocked, that Texas Tech is heading to the Final Four for the first time in the school's history after the third-seeded Red Raiders , beat Gonzaga, the Saturday seeded Honda Center.
Unlike Gonzaga, Duke beat Texas Tech – by a score of 69-58, after Texas Tech got a score of under 60-57 while there was still 3:41 left to play – but the Red Raiders impressed Krzyzewski.
"After the match on the handshake line and down the hall, Coach K had good things about our team," said Beard. "What a battle of heavyweights. You are really good. Good luck this season. '
"Then he wrote me a letter."
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The letter. And the love that he has received from other coaches. While the media may have missed Texas Tech's potential, Beard made it clear to coaching community members that he knew his team was talented.
Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrate their Elite Eight victory. (Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA Today Sports)
There was Rick Pitino, who reportedly visited the Texas Tech locker room in Memphis after the Red Raiders defeated the 78-67 Memphis Tigers.
"He talked to our players in the locker room after the game and he said," I've had less talented teams than you can get to the Final Four, "recalled Beard. "It's about intangibles and the things you defend. (Kansas coach) Bill Self of our league thought we were good enough to run in this tournament. "
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But the applause started even before the start of the season. Beard said the Cougars coach, Kelvin Sampson, had grabbed him: "And he's going," Chris, "you're really good, your new pieces, you're really good and you can compete for one (Big 12 championship, "he said.
It turns out that this team is good enough to compete for even more.
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