Red Raiders’ Matt Mooney: It’s Been Quite a Journey”

The NFL MVP was screaming from joy in the stands, while watching how his Texas Tech defeats Michigan State Spartans in the Final Four game of the 2019 NCAA tournament.

Patrick Mahomes was once the leading figure of this university. That spot is now reserved for the whole basketball team of the Red Raiders.

After beating the Spartans 61-51, this generation became the first one in the history of the school who reached the national championship game. And they became the absolute hit of the March Madness.

“It’s been quite a journey,” said Matt Mooney, after the game.” But I’m thankful for it.”

The guy who had to transfer twice in his college career, finally got some satisfaction after overcoming tons and tons of problems, and challenges. The former guard of the Air Forces, then South Dakota, scored 22 points and was the most efficient player on the floor. Previously, he dropped 17 in the Elite Eight game against Gonzaga.

“It’s a God thing,” he added, explaining that the guy from above helped him defeat all the adversities throughout his life.

Coach Chris Beard was very pleased with the way his starter played.

“The thing that impressed me tonight was just his courage, wanting to make those big plays in big moment.”

Mooney sunk three downtown hits when his Red Raiders created the biggest lead of the game, 48-35. But the Spartans came back, making a 9-0 series, holding the opponents without a point for almost four and a half minute.

Eventually, Jarrett Culvert woke up and decided this game. One of the guys who amazed America since the start of the March Madness couldn’t score during the first half, missing all of his 6 shots.

But when counted the most, Culvert poured several points, and hit a three which eventually decided the game, with a minute to go. That was his sixth consecutive bucket, in 90 seconds, and the Red Raiders went from being just one point up, 52-51, to a six-point lead. He added one more free throw afterward and sealed the game.

Culvert stated that it isn’t hard for him to keep shooting the ball even in the moments when his hand is cold. With the team behind his back, everything turns out just fine.

“When you’ve got a whole team that trusts you on the court, you keep shooting with confidence,” he said.

What won this contest for Texas Tech is the fantastic defense. They totally dominated the second-best defensive team in the country and used their weapon to eliminate them.

Michigan State made only 15 field goals in this match from 47 attempts, which is 31.9%. The Spartans were even worse behind the arc, 7 of 24, 29.2%. As a result, this crew scored the fewest number of points this season.

“They got us kind of caught in that trap today,” Kenny Goins commented.

This was the eighth Final Four for coach Tom Izzo. He has only one NCAA title, and that took place 19 years ago. He hoped for another shot at the trophy, but this time it was the Red Raiders who stopped him.

“They played really good defense,” Izzo said, and also pointed towards mistakes of his team. “We just kind of got stagnant and didn’t move things.”

The next stop for Texas Tech are the Virginia Cavaliers. All of the experts are foreseeing a tight and close battle, which will be decided with one possession.

According to the bookmakers, it seems that this final is going to be one of the worst when it comes to efficiency. The current over/under limit is 117.5 points, and Tony Bennett’s boys are favorite by one point.

It practically means that neither side will reach 60 points. We’ll see about that, but one thing is certain.

It is going to be one hell of a show in breezy Minneapolis

The tip-off is scheduled for Monday at 9:20 PM local time. Don’t miss it.