LUBBOCK, Texas — The Texas Tech men's basketball team arrived back in Lubbock Tuesday and was immediately greeted at their home arena with a huge crowd of supportive fans.
Monday night's loss in the NCAA championship game in Minneapolis was tough for the team and for fans, but the team has made history for Texas Tech, achieving more success than any other men's basketball team in the school's history.
"Last night, they ran out of time with class," said Coach Chris Beard as he addressed the crowd.
Beard celebrated the character and integrity of his players, taking time to honor four graduating seniors and also sophomore star Jarrett Culver, who is widely expected to be drafted by the NBA.
"The record books may not show it, but I think they're champions," Beard said.
Beard has turned the team around in three years since joining the program, and today he said that work for next season begins immediately.
Smiling fans in the stands were a welcome sight after the disappointed faces in Lubbock. There was a silver lining for the city and the university, though. After rioting and vandalism marred the Final Four victory over the weekend, there were no major disruptions following Monday night's loss. An increased police presence in and around campus tightly controlled the crowds. While a handful of fans were detained or arrested, most fans kept their cool.
Tuesday, fans in the arena were focused on the achievements of the team.
"They already won in our hearts and all of Lubbock's hearts," student Avery Aiken said.
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