By Kevin Cullen
The Daily Toreador

USA – Texas Tech coach Dan Spencer will face his former team, Oregon State, who he won two national championships with in 2006 and 2007.

The Red Raiders have an 11-day, eight-game road trip through California. The trip will be the first to California since 2001. Tech opens the season at home against against Southern Utah and Texas-Pan American starting Feb. 20 with Big 12 Conference action beginning against Nebraska March 13-15 at Dan Law Field.

Spencer said the non-conference games are tough games and will help prepare his team for later in the season.

“I think we are excited about opening at home,” Spencer said. “I think the California trip against good people will put us in the right frame of mind, keep us around, keep us together. When you’re on the road, you do a lot more together than when you’re at home. I think we will be fully prepared by the time Nebraska comes to town.”

Having such a lengthy road trip early in the season is an advantage, as the California trip is something Spencer said you cannot put a price on.

“I think early in the year your routine is different on the road,” he said. “You’re always with your teammates; you’re always around the coaches. You don’t go home and get away from it and come back; you go to the hotel room. There’s team meetings, team meals, position meetings. It’s really a business trip and they get used to the feel of being on the road.”

Spencer said the road trips hold extra value from a preparation standpoint, as the Red Raiders will be on the road for five road series with Big 12 Conference opponents, compared to four at home.

Exposure is important for recruiting, and the 2009 schedule will provide many opportunities for Tech to get noticed by potential recruits.

Spencer said barring any unforeseen changes like last year, this year’s schedule is strong and balanced with a total of seven teams who advanced to the 2007 NCAA Tournament, which is exciting to the team.

Spencer will face his former team for the first time in Palm Springs after spending the last 11 seasons at Oregon State, three of which were spent as associate head coach.

“I haven’t really thought about it really, to be quite honest with you,” Spencer said. “It’s funny because I was the guy that started that tournament. I was doing the scheduling at Oregon State when I talked to coach (Larry) Hays when I said, ‘Hey, do you wanna come to Palm Springs and play?’ and he said, ‘Sure.’ I don’t think it’ll mean anything more to me up until we play, and then it will. It will mean something because I know a lot of those guys.”

Photo: Texas Tech Athletics

Source: The Daily Toreador

Tags: Texas Tech