Basketball
CBS Sports’ David Cobb and NCAA’s Andy Katz have Fardaws Aimaq as one of the top transfers with Cobb acknowledging that Aimaq would be higher if not for his injury. Katz has Aimaq at #11 and Cobb has him at #19:
Aimaq averaged 18.9 points and 13.6 rebounds for a 20-12 Utah Valley team in 2021-22, and he began flashing his outside shot by hitting 43.5% of his 46 attempts from 3-point range. He was also a two-time WAC Defensive Player of the Year, which makes him a perfect fit for Texas Tech’s gritty defensive system under coach Mark Adams. His all-around game should make him an impact player for one of the Big 12’s top programs.
Congrats to Kevin Obanor who was named to the Julius Erving Award watch list!
The Field of 68 previewed the Big 12 so if you have an hour to kill, please listen and if you don’t have an hour, Texas Tech starts at the 22 minute mark.
Football
The Dallas Morning News writers have Texas Tech’s side withRyan Mainville and Baylor’s side with Michael Haag and 5 things to know about each team and here’s one from Mainville:
Home dominance
Lubbock has not been a friendly place to play for Baylor. It’s been 32 years since the Bears defeated the Red Raiders in West Texas. The series was played at a neutral site for 10 of the years since then, where Texas Tech went 4-6. The two teams have provided a nail-biter each of the past three years. The largest margin of victory by either team over the last three years has been three points. Expect another fight under the lights of a sold-out Jones AT&T Stadium.
Congrats to redshirt freshman quarterback Behren Morton who was named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week!
CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd writes about how money doesn’t solve problems for certain college football programs. I was listening to Greg McElroy on The Ticket this week and he said that maybe, just maybe, some of the reasons why Texas A&M is having to suspend players and some of their players aren’t working out is because simply buying the best players may mean that they’re at a school for the wrong reason. Dodd has a similar thought which is just pouring money into a program does not necessarily equal success. Dodd mentions Miami, Texas and TAMU as programs who have all the money in the world, but don’t have the success.
Head coach Joey McGuire was on with ESPN Central Texas’ Matt Mosley and also with 365 Sports’ David Smoak.