KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Texas Tech coach Chris Beard is no stranger to win-or-else scenarios, he reminded his team this week.
Last year, Beard's Little Rock team was 27-4 and regular-season Sun Belt champions but needed to win the conference tournament to have a chance of playing in the NCAA tournament.
"We were in the exact same situation we find ourselves in with this team," Beard said. "We have to win the tournament to extend our season."
Tech (18-13) had consecutive one-point losses to TCU and Kansas as a part of its 6-12 Big 12 season.