Sticking to defensive identity the key for Red Raiders as Notre Dame looms

SAN DIEGO — Mark Adams is a glass-half-empty type of person.

But even the pessimistic firstyear Texas Tech could not have been happier with the play of his defense, which led to offense, in a statement 97-62 win over Montana State in a first-round NCAA Tournament game.

“I don’t know if I could have scripted this any better,” Adams said following Friday’s win. “It was a great game for us.”

Now, they need to do it again two days later.

The No. 3 seed Red Raiders advanced to the Round of 32 and are set to take on Notre Dame in a 6:10 p.m. Sunday matchup against Notre Dame with the winner advancing to the Sweet 16.

Texas Tech is looking to advance to the third round for the third time since 2018 — the last time included a special run to the NCAA title contest back in 2019.

This time around, the Red Raiders will compete against the Fighting Irish — an opponent with not much of a series history. The only time the two teams squared off

back on Dec. 6, 1975, was in South Bend, which ended in an 88-63 Notre Dame win.

Notre Dame guard Cormac Ryan feels it will be a competitive matchup against the Texas Tech defense, which is yielding 60.4 points per game — good for No. 11 in the country.

“Texas Tech is a strong defensive team, and we’re going to be prepared to play a competitive, tough game,” he said. “That’s what you sign up for in March Madness and that’s what we’re going to get.”

Adams agreed about facing off against the No. 11 seed Fighting

Irish.

“I know he’s got a great offensive mind and defensive mind,” Adams said Saturday of Notre Dame head coach Mike Brey. “So they play really good defense, as well, and block out and don’t give up a lot of second and third shots.

“I don’t know exactly what he’s going to do with only another day to get ready for our defense. And it’s kind of the same on our end. … At the end of the day, it comes back to we’ve just got to play well, do what we do best and stick to our identity. And I’m sure they’ll do the same.”

Denis Poroy / Associated Press Davion Warren and Texas Tech enter their Sunday showdown against Notre Dame with the 11th-best defense in the country.