On the Court
Assistant head coach Dave Smart has been hired as the new head coach at Pacific, which is great for him. Smart was heralded as a terrific hire because Smart was a defensive wizard. I am guessing that head coach Grant McCasland will make another similar and smart hire (see what I did there).
In other hiring news around the Big 12, long-time Baylor assistant coach John Jakus will be the new head coach at Florida Atlantic. Baylor has lost Jerome Tang and now Jakus, which were there for a long time and a big part of Baylor’s success. Losing long-time assistant coaches would seemingly makes things more difficult for Baylor to recruit and do the things that they do, but I’m guessing Scott Drew will make a good hire or promote from within and be fine.
One other coaching note is that Andy Enfield is expected to leave USC to then be hired at SMU, which makes recruiting in the DFW area a bit more competitive and wouldn’t it be interesting if Bronny followed Enfield to SMU.
On the Diamond
Texas Tech is in Orlando to face UCF in a 3-game series starting. I’m not going to get a preview done, but I will post tomorrow and will have a weekend thread.
GAME ONE:
MATCHUP: Texas Tech (18-7, 4-5 Big 12) vs. UCF (16-6, 4-5 Big 12)
DATE: Thursday, Mar. 28, 2024
TIME: 6:35 p.m. (CT)
LOCATION: Rip Griffin Park at Dan Law Field (Lubbock, Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: RHP Mac Heuer (2-2, 5.18 ERA) vs. RHP Ben Vespi (2-1, 4.50 ERA)
GAME TWO:
MATCHUP: Texas Tech (18-7, 4-5 Big 12) vs. UCF (16-6, 4-5 Big 12)
DATE: Friday, Mar. 29, 2024
TIME: 5 p.m. (CT)
LOCATION: Rip Griffin Park at Dan Law Field (Lubbock, Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: RHP Kyle Robinson (3-2, 4.65 ERA) vs. Dom Stagliano (0-1, 3.63)
GAME THREE:
MATCHUP: Texas Tech (18-7, 4-5 Big 12) vs. UCF (16-6, 4-5 Big 12)
DATE: Saturday, Mar. 30, 2024
TIME: Noon (CT)
LOCATION: Rip Griffin Park at Dan Law Field (Lubbock, Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: TBD vs. Wiley Hartley (2-1, 2.84 ERA)
Alternately, Texas Tech softball will host UCF starting today for their series with the Knights:
Big 12 softball is back at Rocky Johnson this weekend as the Red Raiders will host UCF beginning on Thursday at 6 p.m. with game two on Friday at 6 p.m. and the final game on Saturday at 12 p.m.
Texas Tech (21-8, 2-4) has not played a game in 11 days since its series against Iowa State was canceled due to weather last weekend.
The Knights (14-14, 2-7) are in their first season in the Big 12 and despite their 2-7 conference record, they have been competitive in every game they’ve played. Last time out, UCF faced No. 2 Texas and were swept but in two of the games they fell by only two runs.
On the Gridiron
The Big 12 will hold a Pro Day at the Star in Frisco and a handful of players will be in attendance and will be broadcast on the NFL Network:
The event is the first in its kind at a conference-wide level following a partnership between the Big 12 Conference and the NFL. Scouts and team personnel from all 32 teams are expected to attend the two-day event, which will be aired on a tape-delayed basis via NFL Network.
Xavier White and Baylor Cupp will help kick off the event early Thursday morning as the quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends take the field from 7:15-10 a.m. inside the Ford Center. Defensive backs round out the opening day with Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, Rayshad Williams, Malik Dunlap and Tyler Owens all working out in front of scouts from 2:15-5:15 p.m. that afternoon.
Big 12 Pro Day continues Saturday with specialists going from 7:15-9:30 a.m. followed by offensive lineman from 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., defensive linemen from 12:30-3 p.m. and linebackers rounding out the event from 2:45-5:15 p.m. (all times central).
Texas Tech will have at least one player in each workout group, beginning with punter Austin McNamara and continuing with offensive linemen Cole Spencer, Rusty Staats and Dennis Wilburn, defensive linemen Myles Cole and Jaylon Hutchings as well as linebacker Tyrique Matthews.
Drill of the day with Zach Kittley and the quarterback group.