Can Texas Tech Defend the Culture? Krista Gerlich's Honest Take on Her Program, Roster & World University Games
DEFEND THE CULTURE. Those are the words that scrolled across the wall in a recent video put out by Texas Tech as the Lady Raiders prepare to represent Team USA at the World University Games in Germany this week.
But what is that culture? A program that was once THE PRIDE of campus. A National Championship banner hangs at the United Supermarkets Arena with their name on it after all – the only team outside of track and field to have one.
Yet it’s that pride that makes it impossible to ignore the past decades of struggle. This isn’t a school where fans will simply pretend they do not see it. They care.
The roots are too deep in the West Texas soil for people not to.
“Passion, Purpose and Pride.”
That’s what Krista Gerlich answered when asked what exactly is the culture this team is working to defend. What she wants this program to be built on.
“The Lady Raider brand has always been about being a role model and being the best version of yourself,” Gerlich told RedRaiderSports’ Shelby Hilliard in an interview on the Seeing Scarlet Podcast. “We want to be proud of what we are putting out on the floor, we want to be proud of how we represent and we want others to be proud of us as well.”
*Discuss this article and the team with fellow Red Raiders here.*
Gerlich was honest. She nor the team is ignoring its past or the hole they are trying to climb out from. She was a large part of this program’s brightest days, her jersey is quite literally in the rafters – she knows the standard. It’s why she acknowledges that standard has not yet been met and why getting Tech back there is a responsibility she doesn’t take lightly.
“We want to be fierce, we want to be aggressive, we want to be competitive. We want to be winners,” Gerlich expressed. “It’s taken awhile to be able to build that culture back up. We’re still not there, but I think our culture is so much better. I think we have a great responsibility to continue to represent Texas Tech but also to continue to inspire.”
Will Maturity Be The Separator?
The question remains though is this group, of seven returners and six transfers, the one that can turn that ever elusive corner for the program? Is this the year those roots do more than hold up in a storm?
I can’t answer that, until we see it, but I can say by all accounts it’s a group that wants to be that. A team that has sacrificed their summer and attacked practices with a focused, business-like approach.
Perhaps a product of the nine seniors and 11 upperclassmen that make up the roster. A sense of urgency to do something special for Texas Tech in their final years here.
“There’s a lot of urgency, they are very mature,” explained Gerlich when asked what excites her most about this year’s team. “You do want to stay older, I’ve learned that in the past couple years of the transfer portal world. If you don’t stay older, you are going to play against older, so you have to stay that way.”
She noted this maturity even has them still trying to figure out who the hype woman on the team is. There isn’t a lot of silliness or dancing in practice. It’s a very workmanlike group.
“There is a lack of…what’s the word,” Gerlich paused to think. “It’s not enthusiasm, energy…we have all that. We are business-like. So we aren’t goofy and kinda silly or loud. And I’m okay with that. I’m excited about how determined they are. They all want to have a great senior year and all want to help this program take that next step. I’m excited about their determination and how unified they already are. It’s been really fun, their chemistry has been really really good.”
Who Has Stepped Up This Offseason?
With Bailey Maupin out injured of late especially, a lot of that attitude in the offseason has been led by fifth-year senior Denae Fritz. Gerlich had a lot of praise for her, calling her the most competitive player on the team, even joking she isn’t sure how much the men’s practice squad hates or loves playing against Fritz’s intensity everyday. An attitude Gerlich made sure to note is reflected in Maupin and the newcomer from Ole Miss Snudda Collins too.
So no, Fritz isn’t going to lead a dance circle (let her cook tho 💃) but her play alone is enough to hype up her teammates and head coach alike…who doesn’t remember their epic chest bump at the Big 12 tournament last year? Just one of many blow the top off the roof moments she created in her first year with the team last year.
“She’s being a great leader, a senior…she’s being a returning senior,” emphasized Gerlich. “Someone who’s been in our program for a year and understands what we want. She’s holding all of our kids to a standard that we are very very proud of….still talks some trash all the things we love.”
With fellow senior leaders Maupin and Collins both out (precautionary) for the upcoming World University Games this week, Gerlich is looking to Fritz to fully step into that leadership role. She also mentioned Adlee Blacklock and transfer addition Sidney Love as additional senior leaders she is looking forward to watching shine in Germany.
“Sidney Love has really stepped up, Adlee is playing through some things as well. I really hate that Bailey can’t play in this but it’s also made others step up instead of her just doing it. We are going to benefit from that in the regular season.”
You can hear what Gerlich had to say about every individual player on the team in the full interview here. Definitely worth a listen, we will break down the roster in future articles but why wait?
What It Means To Represent Team USA?
If you missed it, Texas Tech is representing Team USA on the women’s basketball side at the World University Games. Baylor is taking the honors on the men’s side.
“To represent your country is something every kid dreams of,” said Gerlich. “Also for Texas Tech, the exposure we are going to give the Double T and our brand in Germany is incredible. Not only are they going to see Red, White and Blue but they are going to hear about the Red Raiders.”
The event gets underway this week so stay tuned to RedRaiderSports.com as we cover this team’s trip to Germany. Team USA [aka Texas Tech] will begin play on Friday versus the host country Germany. You have to go back to 2015 since the United States has won this competition. A team that had future WNBA players Courtney Williams and Aerial Powers on it. OKAY, BET! 😤🇺🇸
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