said. Even though were an inexperienced team playing together, were an experienced team with different parts, he said. And so hopefully our identity is going to be our expe

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Chris Beard doesnt want a grace period for winning at Texas Tech.Theres no two- or three-year plan for the 43-year-old first-year coach to make the Red Raiders more competitive in the Big 12.Hes brought in six new players, including three graduate transfers.We expect to win immediately, Beard said. We do have a lot of pieces. The challenge is to try to put this together quickly. Thats the challenge in trying to be successful year one.Last year, Beard led Arkansas-Little Rock to its best season in school history, guiding the Trojans to an 85-83 double overtime thriller over No. 12-ranked and fifth-seeded Purdue in the NCAA Tournament.In April, he was hired to coach in Lubbock, where hed been an assistant for 10 years under Bob Knight and Pat Knight. He had accepted the job at UNLV in late March and jilted the school after learning that Texas Tech was looking for a replacement for Tubby Smith, who left to coach Memphis.Beard said Smith elevated the program in his three years with the Red Raiders, calling the Hall of Fame coachs time in Lubbock legendary.The Red Raiders havent had a winning Big 12 record since 2006-07, when Beard was an assistant under Bob Knight. Texas Tech finished seventh in the Big 12 last season (19-13, 9-9). They lost in the first round of the NCAA to Butler.Beards aim is to lift the program in the Big 12 standings and beyond.Wed like to join the top half of the league, he said. Then we would like to join the top tier of the league. We want to be in the conversation for championships. To do that is a process, but you have to start by being willing to talk about and I wont shy away from that.Here are some things to know about the Red Raiders, who open their season at home Nov. 11 against Houston Baptist:MESHING PLAYERS AND MATURITYGetting the six new players -- three graduate transfers and three junior college players -- on the same page has gone well, Beard said. Even though were an inexperienced team playing together, were an experienced team with different parts, he said. And so hopefully our identity is going to be our experience, our maturity and these six seniors.TALLER TEAMThe Red Raiders have five players 6-8 and taller. Two of them, 6-9 center Norense Odiase and 6-8 forward Zach Smith, are returning starters. At 6-8, forward Aaron Ross came off the bench, and Matthew Temple, a 6-10 senior forward, didnt play a lot. The newcomer is 6-8 Anthony Livingston, who is graduate student who played last year at Arkansas State.REBOUNDING REBOUNDThe Red Raiders finished ninth in the conference last season at just 34 rebounds per game and hope to improve on that. The taller players will help but there has to be a willingness to get to the boards. I think our rebounds will be better than last year, said Smith who averaged 7.3 rebounds per game last season to finish sixth in the Big 12. It wont be as problematic.MOTION OFFENSEBeard spent almost a decade learning the motion offense from Bob Knight. Hell use that and plenty of pick and roll that he learned coaching in the ABA and the Swiss national team during a summer off while he was coach at Angelo State in 2014. Its just a unique style of play, so we feel like we have the best of both worlds, Beard said.Odiase loves the combo offense: We know that it causes a lot of problems for the defenses. Stitched Dolphins Jerseys . -- The Sacramento Kings are set to become the first major professional sports franchise to accept Bitcoin virtual currency for ticket and merchandise purchases. Discount Dolphins Jerseys Online . Brandon Morrow allowed five runs on six hits over three innings. He struck out two, walked one and hit a batter. Edwin Encarnacion had a two-out, bases loaded two-RBI double in the third inning. http://www.dolphinscheapjerseys.com/?tag=authentic-minkah-fitzpatrick-jersey . Deulofeu injured a muscle in his right leg in Evertons 4-1 win over Fulham in the English Premier League on Saturday. Barcelona says that its team doctors will "co-ordinate" with Evertons medical staff as Deulofeu recovers. Sale Dolphins Jerseys Store . Tomas Berdych and Radek Stepanek defeated Nenad Zimonjic and Ilija Bozoljac 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (4) on the indoor hard-court at Belgrade Arena. The victory improved the Czech pairs impressive cup doubles record to 14-1. Authentic Cornell Armstrong Jersey . -- Jakob Silfverberg is making himself right at home with the Anaheim Ducks, scoring four goals in his first four games. For North Carolina coach Roy Williams, establishing a physical tone is something he wants to see from his team during four games in Hawaii.That has started to happen during the fifth-ranked Tar Heels first three games, though too sporadically for the coach.I always look at how many points they got on offensive rebounds, Williams said, referring to opponents. Weve still got to do a better job on the backboards.North Carolina (3-0) meets Hawaii (2-1) on Friday night at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu before three games next week in the Maui Invitational.You could say physical, but just overall a little bit more aggressive, swingman Justin Jackson said in describing the emphasis on rebounding.The Tar Heels have used various combinations in the first three games, something that should pay off across the season.Its just a work in progress and I think that Coach does it for a reason, forward Kennedy Meeks said.North Carolina and Hawaii are facing off for the first time since the mid-1990s. North Carolina has won all four previous meetings. The Rainbow Warriors are 2-18 all-time against teams ranked in the top 5.Hawaii has been in a pair of one-point results and a six-point decision during the first week of the season.Im really proud of our guys, theyve been thrown in the fire at even a higher magnitude because these were all close games, said second-year coach Eran Ganot, according to a Warrior Insider report. Im proud of the poise they showed in all three, even the first night when we lost. Our job is to get good shots at the end, and we did.Hawaii is led by UCLA transsfer Noah Allen, a 6-foot-7 senior who averages 16.dddddddddddd3 points per game.Ganot said the wear and tear of the opening stretch is something worth monitoring already.We got to go back to work, but right now, first we got to rest them (the players), he said. It always starts with us getting healed up, and refreshed. ... And then, obviously well be looking at North Carolina.North Carolina likely will play without forward Luke Maye on this trip because of a sprained ankle.The Tar Heels also wont have assistant coach Steve Robinson, whos staying behind because of a blood clot in his right leg.He has been advised to avoid travel. The former Florida State head coach also missed last weeks opener at Tulane.Robinson is in his 14th season on Williams North Carolina staff.Its uncomfortable for me, Williams said of Robinsons absence.While he was on the bench for two recent home games, Robinsons status for future road games is undetermined.I hate it because were not going to a place where theres 24 feet of snow and wind, Williams said of this trip. Its a nice place to go and weve had some good moments in the Maui tournament. We won a couple of them. But Ill miss him from a personal viewpoint, but he has got to take care of his body.When Robinson isnt with the team, director of basketball operations Brad Frederick has been cleared to serve as an assistant coach.Fridays game caps a tripleheader at the arena, with Rainbow Classic games preceding it. ' ' '