Texas Tech tops Colorado

By Howard Richman - Mcclatchy Newspapers     Mar 8, 2007

? Texas Tech senior guard Jarrius Jackson laughed at the notion of being considered a Kansas State killer. If the Red Raiders knock off the Wildcats on Friday, it just might bury K-State’s NCAA Tournament hopes.

Twelve months ago, it was Wildcats coach Jim Wooldridge who got fired just minutes after Jackson and Texas Tech bumped off the Wildcats in the first round of the Big 12 tournament.

On Friday, the Red Raiders might end up being in the terminator role once again against K-State. Jackson, who helped the Red Raiders beat Colorado, 81-71, in a Big 12 men’s opening-round game Thursday at the Ford Center, doesn’t necessarily view his team as the Wildcats’ worst nightmare.

“Actually, it’s kind of unfortunate for us,” Jackson said, “because everybody’s telling them they might not be in the tournament. We know they’re going to come out ready to play.”

Texas Tech’s Martin Zeno, who pounded Colorado for 28 points, won’t take any chances against K-State.

“We’ve got to play hard because we know they’re going to play hard,” Zeno said. “They’re playing for something, and we know it.”

Texas Tech, the No. 5 seed and now 21-11, brought Colorado coach Ricardo Patton’s Buffaloes career to an end.

The Red Raiders got 13 points apiece from Jackson and Charlie Burgess and 12 from Decensae White.

No. 12 seeded Colorado, which made only one of 11 three-point shots, still only trailed 66-63 when Richard Roby made that lone three-pointer with 5 minutes, 25 seconds remaining. That, however, was as close as the Buffaloes got.

Colorado senior guard Dominique Coleman scored 25 points. But the Red Raiders brought his career to an end.

What’s next for him?

“Class on Friday,” Coleman said.

Texas Tech also denied Patton from prolonging his job, which he announced Oct. 25 would come to an end at the conclusion of the Buffaloes’ season.

That end came Thursday. Colorado finished 7-20, its first 20-loss season since 1988-89.

“I’m at peace with who I am. I’m at peace with the job we’ve done,” said Patton, who guided Colorado to two NCAA Tournaments and four NITs .

So what’s next for Patton? He isn’t sure. But he’s definitely got a sense of humor about it.

“If you go down to Wendy’s and you hear a familiar voice saying, ‘Can I take your order?’ it may just be me,” he said.

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