College basketball fans will remember this past offseason when Chris Beard became the newest Head Coach for the Texas Longhorns. He left fellow Big 12 program Texas Tech to coach at his dream school, but in doing so he turned a program that idolized him against him. The highly anticipated return of Beard to Texas Tech will happen tonight on February first. Texas Tech Head Coach Mark Adams and star player Terrence Shannon Jr are ready for the Big 12 showdown.
Terrence Shannon Jr. to me on Chris Beard returning tonight:
??“I’m not scared for him. He’s a tough guy. I hope they behave. ?Just don’t do anything to get us a technical foul.”?
“They don’t like him. They might throw stuff at him. Hopefully they don’t. Just chant stuff.”
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 1, 2022
Can anyone remember a situation similar to Chris Beard going immediately to coach a rival … in any sport at any level?
Rick Pitino left Kentucky in 1997 and went to Louisville … but that was 5 years later.
— Jeff Goodman (@GoodmanHoops) February 1, 2022
The Texas Longhorns came into the season a National Championship contender and overall they have performed well. They currently sit as the 23rd ranked team in the nation and at third in the Big 12 Standings. Texas Tech is currently ranked at 14th in the nation, but fourth in the Big 12 Standings. This Top 25 and conference matchup will surely have a different level of intensity to it with Chris Beard making his return to Texas Tech.
Hostile environments are nothing new for in-state and in-conference rivals, but the Texas Tech fans will surely make their presence known all game. Texas at Texas Tech tips off on ESPN Two at nine p.m Eastern Standard Time in Lubbock, Texas.
