KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Whatever the expression, Texas point Myck Kabongo says it fits how the Longhorns are feeling entering the Big 12 tournament this week.
“It’s a new day, it’s a new chapter, it’s a new season for us,” Kabongo said Tuesday before Texas practiced at the Sprint Center for its first-round game with bottom-seeded TCU (11-20) at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday. “A lot of confidence. We’ve come a long way from the beginning of the year.”Kabongo, who returned for the final eight regular-season games after missing the first 23 while serving an NCAA suspension, said he’s not interested in what-could-have-been had he been on the floor the entire season helping nurture a young Longhorns team. Texas is 5-3 since he has been back and has won two in a row.“We’ll never know,” he said. “But we’re here today and we have to build on what we can while we’re here in Kansas City and we’re excited about the opportunity.”So can Texas win four in Kansas City?“I wouldn’t be a competitor if I said no,” Kabongo said. “Of course I believe that.”Interim tag remainsTexas Tech interim coach Chris Walker’s future with the team is still in doubt, but he’s not letting that bother him or his team at the Big 12 tournament.The Red Raiders (10-19) open against West Virginia (13-18) at 6 p.m. Wednesday.“Strange things happen,” Walker said. “I told our guys if you do something great this weekend people will remember you for a very long time.”As for his future at Tech, Walker said he’d love the chance to continue as coach without the interim tag.“I wouldn’t be human,” he said. “I would by lying if I said I wasn’t [interested]. Again, that’s not the central focus. The central focus is on the players and making sure they’re taken care off. I’m pretty confident that the people at Tech are very proud of the way I’ve represented the university.”Walker took over in October after Billy Gillispie resigned, two weeks before the season began.“Every day I wake up and I’m the head coach of Texas Tech basketball,” Walker said. “So until I’m told further that’s what I believe. I tell my players the same thing and that’s where we are.”Stefan Stevenson 817-390-7760 Twitter: @FollowtheFrogs
