By Kyle Beery97.1 The Ticket
Michigan State is set to face Texas Tech in the Final Four Saturday night.
Many Spartan fans probably don't know a ton about the Red Raiders, other than what's been seen on the court over the last few weeks in the NCAA Tournament:
- They are very good defensively, as was evident in their 63-44 win over Michigan in the Sweet 16.
- Jarrett Culver is a great two-way player.
- He's averaging 21.5 points, 6.8 rebounds, 4.5 assists and 2.25 steals per game during the tournament.
- Davide Moretti and Matt Mooney can light it up from the 3-point line and Tariq Owens can protect the rim.
The Red Raiders advanced to their first Final Four in school history and won their first conference title since 1996.
They bring a lot to the floor, but here's what you should know about the team off the floor:
Fireside Chats
Head coach Chris Beard -- who is in his third season at the helm in Lubbock, just his fourth as a D-I head coach -- has taken the college basketball world by storm. And not just with his elite defensive prowess. The 46-year-old has a certain fiery, yet charming, personality.
And that personality has shone brightly all season on social media.
Beard has hosted "Fireside Chats" throughout the season, where he interviews players, coaches and other guests next to a fire, keeping things lighthearted, yet insightful. Think of it as a coach's radio show, but brief and made for social media.
It's a nod to President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who
delivered a series of evening radio broadcasts to the country throughout his presidency.
We had fun at the beach, but being back by the -- is where we belong. Pull up a seat and get your weekly #FiresideChat update from @CoachBeardTTU and our special guest, The Godfather. #4To1Hidden --: #GristmillInGruene @GrueneTX--Selections: @Travistritt, #NotoriousBIG pic.twitter.com/WiF02DP0r1
— Texas Tech Basketball (@TexasTechMBB)
December 4, 2018 Most of the season, the segment has been in front of a screen playing a video of a fire, but before the team's Sweet 16 game, Beard and a former player were in front of an actual fireplace. "We've gotta make this pretty quick. I don't know about you, but my back is sweaty," Beard joked.
Remember in 2013 when Michigan State's football team won the Rose Bowl and the team's anthem was "Some Type Of Way" by Rich Homie Quan?
The song took East Lansing by storm, and the artist himself even became a Spartan fan and got to be on-hand for the team's win over Stanford in Pasadena.
Social media presence is becoming a major factor in college recruiting these days, and if Chris Beard keeps this up -- both on and off the court -- there's no telling how high he can take this program. The Red Raiders had made the NCAA Tournament just twice in the 10 years before he became coach. He's brought them to two straight Elite 8's and has them eying a national title this weekend.
While MSU fans certainly won't be rooting for the Red Raiders this weekend, they'll probably have a hard time finding anything to dislike about this program.
Saturday's semifinal is set to tip-off at approximately 8:49 p.m., following the conclusion of Virginia-Auburn, which starts at 6:09 p.m.
