When Texas Tech coach Pat Knight needs advice, he doesn’t have to consult John Wooden or Dean Smith.

He goes straight to dad, better known as the General.

Bob Knight knows a little about man-to-man defense, so Pat sought him out after the Red Raiders gave up way too many points in recent games.

“I talked to my dad about it, and I realize the first thing kids want to do is play offense,” Pat Knight said. “Defense is the hardest thing to get across to them. It’s got to become urgent for them. You’ve got to hammer it into them every day.”

There’s no question the Red Raiders can score. Last month, they beat East Central (Okla.), 167-115, to break the school record by 39 points. But giving up 115 points to a team that’s a few rungs below Big 12 caliber is a reason for worry.

After a 5-0 start, the Red Raiders have split their last six games.

They’re still trying to learn how to win on the road, dropping an 85-79 decision to Lamar and a 96-78 loss to Texas-El Paso.

However, they bounced back with an 86-78 win over New Mexico Saturday in Lubbock as Alan Voskuil hit six of nine treys and finished with 28 points.

Not counting on offense

Though Knight likes that his team is scoring 87.8 points per game, he’s not counting on offense to carry the Red Raiders in the Big 12.

“When you get in our league, everybody has firepower,” Knight said. “We’re not talented enough to get into a shootout. That’s why there’s going to be a huge emphasis on defense. You probably never thought you’d hear a Knight say this, but I’ve been pleased with our zone defense. I’m just not pleased with our man-to-man defense.”

After a seven-year apprenticeship at Tech, Pat took over for his dad just before the Red Raiders played Baylor on Feb. 6 last season in Waco.

The Bears pulled out an 80-74 win that night, and Knight finished the season with a 4-7 record.

Many people thought Bob Knight put his son in a tough spot by handing him the head coaching reins in the middle of Big 12 play.

But Pat Knight is glad he got those games under his belt.

Honeymoon over

“I got the honeymoon out of the way,” Pat Knight said. “I got to see the highs and lows of being a head coach, and it prepared me for game time pressure.

“The main thing was that I got some things established on the team, and showed the players how I wanted to play offensively and defensively. When the season was over, I felt like I’d been doing it for a couple of years.”

Raiders show balance

The Red Raiders have showed a lot of balance this season with four players averaging double-figure scoring.

Point guard John Roberson leads the team with a 16.7 scoring average and is dishing out 6.4 assists per game, while Voskuil is averaging 15.4 points while burying 45 percent of his treys.

Nick Okorie, a transfer guard from South Plains College, has been a nice addition by averaging 11.8 points. Sophomore forward Mike Singletary has been a solid player with 10.9 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

But the Red Raiders still need more help inside, and they need a stronger emphasis on defense.

“We’ve just got to change our frame of mind a little,” Knight said.

jwerner@wacotrib.com

757-5716

JOHN WERNER’S BIG 12 MEN’S HOOPS RANKINGS

Team Record Last

1. Oklahoma (12-0) 1

Crocker burns VCU

2. Texas (9-2) 2

Nipped by Spartans

3. Baylor (10-1) 3

Jerrells saves day

4. Missouri (9-1) 4

Hot at home

5. Kansas (8-2) 5

A lot of youth

6. Texas A&M (10-1) 6

Carter playing big

7. Oklahoma St. (8-3) 7

Anderson ripping nets

8. Texas Tech (8-3) 8

Roberson in charge

9. Kansas St. (8-3) 10

Balanced attack

10. Nebraska (7-2) 9

Dropped 2 of 3

11. Iowa State (7-3) 11

Slipped by Jacksonville

12. Colorado (5-3) 12

Struggling to score