BIG 12 – TEXAS TECH LOST AGAINST OSU

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ _i=”0″ _address=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0.0″]Texas Tech fails to give continuity to its results away from home and capitulates on the Oklahoma State field. A very hard-fought race, with the teams facing each other openly for 40 minutes, challenging each other with the sound of baskets and overtaking and counter-overtaking. Decisive in the negative, for Texas Tech, a last minute of bloody game in which there were heavy mistakes, both in terms of free and of lost balls, which did not allow the Red Raiders to recover the disadvantage and obtain the victory.

The start of the match is all OSU license plate which, with 8 consecutive points in the first 4 minutes, immediately puts the head forward. Texas Tech finds the way to the basket only after 5 ‘from the start of the match, trying to shorten with Edwards and Ramsey, but the opponents reply to each basket, 5-11. The hit and answer of baskets continues, with Texas Tech who, after 10 minutes of play, manages to find his first advantage with a jumper from Moretti, 15-14. The distance between the teams is minimal, with OSU that after a few minutes takes over the head of the match and the Red Raiders who respond accordingly, again taking the lead on the end of the first half. After 20 minutes of play, the score is 29-27 in favor of Texas Tech.

In the second period, the Red Raiders start off well and, after gaining the lead in the first half, try to consolidate it in the first minutes of the second, going to +8 after 4 ’of the game, 40-32. OSU tries to respond, but Texas Tech continues to drive back opponents, 48-41 12 ‘from the end. However, OSU does not give up and, with an important partial of 6-0, he returns definitively to the game, reaching -1 to 11 ‘from the end, 48-47. Now the distances between the two teams are again reduced to the minimum terms, with both facing each other openly, fighting the head of the game basket after basket, with the game that 7 ‘from the end is in perfect equality on 58-58. After the draw, however, OSU is back in the lead after so many minutes, with Texas Tech now forced to chase, 65-66 at 2.46 ‘from the end. Holyfield brings the Red Raiders back from the line, OSU does the same with three free throws and McCullar again 20” from the end marks the -1 for Texas Tech, 69-70. The last few seconds of play for the Red Raiders, however, are a succession of errors and confusion with wrong free decisives and bloody lost balls, which do not allow Texas Tech to try to recover the disadvantage and bring home the victory. The game ends with the score 70-73 in favor of OSU.

For Davide Moretti a good test with 15 points, 5 assists, 2 rebounds and 1 ball stolen in 40 minutes.

Click here for the boxscore
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BIG 12 – DAVIDE MORETTI GUIDES TEXAS TECH TO AN EXCELLENT VICTORY AGAINST TCU

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ _i=”0″ _address=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0.0″]The best Texas Tech of the season is the one that imposes itself with authority on TCU, consolidating third place alone in the Big 12. Thanks to a great performance, the Red Raiders dominate the opponents from the beginning to the end of the game, without ever mentioning drop, and they also write a piece of history, winning the game with the largest score of Big 12 points in the history of Texas Tech. In this beautiful choral victory, Davide Moretti on the shields with a great offensive performance that, especially in the first half, allowed Texas Tech to find a consistent advantage. Now the Red Raiders are three in a row with a different head and awareness than at the beginning of the season.

To start the dance in the match against TCU is the triple by Davide Moretti which starts the first break of Texas Tech, 11-2 after 3’ of play. TCU tries to respond after a great start from the Red Raiders, but the boys of coach Beard don’t want to know about stopping and continue to hammer opponents with baskets and, thanks to an unprecedented ballistic performance this season and also to the usual constancy defensive, Texas Tech breaks through the wall of twenty points of advantage already in the first half and touches the +27 at 4’ from the end of the period, 40-13. TCU tries to react timidly by scoring 7 consecutive points and trying to have some continuity, but to close the first half are three Holyfield points that allow the Red Raiders to go to rest on +25. After 20 minutes of play, the score is 40-25, with a great test by Davide Moretti, top scorer of the match halfway through the game with 13 points scored.

Upon returning to the field, TCU tries at least to assert the honor by trying to reduce the disadvantage, but the performance of Texas Tech does not admit drops in tension and the boys of coach Beard continue relentlessly and consistently to find the way to the basket, reaching in the second half the +35 with a jumper by Davide Moretti, 63-28. The game is now without history with the Red Raiders who continue to score in an avalanche from all over the field and with all their protagonists, in a great choral performance and, finally, excellent from the point of view of the offensive percentages. The maximum advantage touched by Texas Tech will be +46 to 1’ from the end on 86-40, an advantage that will remain so for the final siren. The game ends with the score 88-42 in favor of the Red Raiders.

For Davide Moretti a performance as a true offensive leader, an authentic guide in the first half that allowed Texas Tech to dig the decisive groove for the final victory: 17 points (6/9 from the field, 4/6 from three, 1/3 to free), 1 rebound and 1 assist in 24 minutes.

Click here for the boxscore
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BIG 12 – DIFFICULT NIGH FOR TEXAS TECH, BAYLOR WINS

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.22″ _i=”0″ _address=”0″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.25″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0″][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”3.25″ custom_padding=”|||” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0″ custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.27.4″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” _i=”0″ _address=”0.0.0.0″]Difficult evening for Texas Tech who, after a hard fought race, is forced to yield in the final minutes against # 4 Baylor, who conquers the United Supermarkets Arena and puts an end to the long streak of home wins and the Big 12 of the Red Raiders. A race not exciting from the offensive point of view for both teams, with the percentages that clearly improve in the second half. Baylor digs the decisive advantage at the start of the second half, then the final assault fails at Texas Tech.

The match started well for Texas Tech who immediately took the lead, but Baylor equalized the score at 7 after 5 ‘and in the middle of the first period he gained his first advantage, 9-11. In the second half of the time, the opponents try to start immediately with a partial, but the Red Raiders remain solid and after Baylor’s +6, they manage to go to rest at -3. After 20 minutes of play, the score is 18-21 in favor of Baylor.

The # 4 Baylor starts very strongly in the second period and in 4 ‘of play, it goes to +8, 20-28. Texas Tech tries to go back several times, but the opponents manage to maintain the advantage, always breaking the breaks set by coach Beard players and one minute from the end the score is 45-52 in favor of Baylor. The final assault of the Red Raiders begins with a jumper by Davide Moretti, then Clarke shortens to -2 to 29 “from the end, 50-52. Baylor scores from the line and goes back to +5, Ramsey brings his team back to -3, but it’s too late now. The two final points are two free from Baylor that set the score at 52-57 in favor of # 4 which forces Texas Tech to capitulate at home.

For Davide Moretti a complicated offensively evening: he closes with 8 points, 2 stolen balls and 1 assists in 37 minutes.

Click here for the boxscore
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DIARY 2018/19. SOMETIMES YOU WIN, SOMETIMES YOU LEARN!

What if I tell you that you will miss your family, friends and old routine, as never before?

What if I tell you that this ain’t easy, that you will face struggles, that you will face tough times since your first step on campus?

Would you say yes?

And what if I tell you that if you sacrifice your family, friends and identity as a player, you would become a even better person and even a better player?

Would you still say yes?

I know one thing, the moment before tip off, in front of 72.062 people, when you winked to your brother and you almost start cry.. I know you realized that you had a positive answer for all those questions, I know you realized that everything you have done, all the tough times you have been through were worth it, because you were playing in the biggest and most important stage in front of your family, you had your opportunity to show them and all the millions of people watching why you sacrificed everything.

It has been an incredible year, it is hard for me to find the words to describe it. I had the happiest and the most unforgettable moments of my life but I also had tough times and maybe one of the saddest day of my life. I have achieved so many things, individually and collectively that thinking about it makes me very proud and glad of what a special year has been.

We earned every single thing, we won 9 games in a row to clinch the first ever Big12 regular championship title, winning at Iowa State, one of the toughest court in the nation. We won against Northern Kentucky, Buffalo, Michigan, Gonzaga and Michigan State during our NCAA Tournament to reach the first ever National Championship game.
I remember at the beginning of the year when we struggled with some non-Conference teams but at the end we always won by at least 20 points, and we never celebrate afterwards, because we knew that our expectations were to another level, I remember after we gave the game to Duke at the Madison Square Garden and coming back from Christmas we did conditioning for 3 straight days..
I knew we were becoming a great team.
Then you start the new year as you wish, by winning 4 in a row in the Big12, but adversity starts to hit right after, you lose 4 in a row and you get your a*s beat by 20 at Kansas, plus some issues inside the team, that nobody wants to deal with. We thought we wouldn’t go anywhere, we thought we couldn’t be able to bounce back.
We started to get closer and closer, we started to believe in each other, everybody started to understand his role on the team and we won 1, 2, 3.. 9 in a row, we became champions for the first time!
But we still had to face one more tough time, one more, because I think the first game of the Big12 tournament against last placed West Virginia, got us going, it gave us the right amount of anger and disappointment mixed together that raised our expectations even more.
NCAA Tournament.. won the first one, second, third now we have got Gonzaga, big, talented, deep, well coached with a very small amount of weaknesses, that as predicted played a great game, but we played better, we were the better team and we weren’t done yet. I played one of the hardest game ever, and I will put the Iowa State game at Iowa to win the Big12 championship title along with the Gonzaga game to get to the Final Four as the hardest games of my two season at Texas Tech and maybe of my career. They say that the Final Four are a memory that last a lifetime, and they are right. I could write a book with all the memories and feelings that I have experienced. I have seen myself in the streets of Minneapolis and in front of our hotel while I was shooting, yes because we had an entire hotel just for us, with security and a personal barber, meals every 3 hours, massages available every day, we had an open practice in front of 30.000 people, I also had the most surprised face ever when they gave me the Elite 90 award that I wasn’t aware of, at the Final Four banquet.
I am sorry if I took time to write all these things, but I literally start to get emotional every time I think about how everything ended. Some times you can be down 10 the whole game and just say that the other team was better, but not with us, there was no team better than us, none, and that’s what hurt the most, because with 20 seconds left, up by 3 I wasn’t expecting to lose that game, I had the trophy in my hands but then I saw it get far away from me, like somebody stole it from me.. the clock was running down, I couldn’t accept it, I couldn’t believe it but sometimes you win sometimes you run out of time.
I turned off my phone for two days, I only said hi to my family and let them know that I was alive, but other than that I couldn’t talk or see anybody. I started to feel better when I went to talk to my coach, the next day we got back, and I went back to the gym, like I was still playing, like I was getting ready for the next game.

I am one week away from come back home to see all my friends and my family.. since that day, people see me like a celebrity, there has not been a day where I was walking to class and people didn’t ask me for a picture or for my autograph, this makes me really happy because even if the ending wasn’t what everybody was expecting or hoping, the entire community and the red raider nation is tremendously proud and grateful.
If last year they looked at us like heroes, this year we are legends and we will always be.

#NGU

COMEBACK STRONGER!

MORETTI BASKETBALL DREAM CAMP – SUMMER 2018

The second week of the MBDC ended in Ovada, thus closing the first summer of SUMMER 2018 activity linked to the experience of Davide in the magical world of the NCAA.
Rimini and Ovada were the two stages that brought just under one hundred boys and girls to know, play and interact with Davide to know directly and indirectly the experiences of a humble and simple boy who is chasing an American dream.
The sea of ​​the splendid Adriatic coast in Viserba, and the welcoming and multifunctional center of Il Geirino, were the locations that hosted these two fun weeks, where the basketball sessions were held, proposing specific activities and targeted training in the morning. the afternoon individual and team contests.
The finals of the tournaments and the All Stars Game, have represented the closing of the two weeks in the respective Saturday morning, not before rewarding a large number of participants, with gadgets of the last two teams where Davide has played, the Italian national U20 and the Texas Tech Red Raiders.
The alternative activities were the sea and the evening outings in Rimini, the soccer and table tennis tournaments in Ovada; activation of specific outdoor gym, kick boxing session, meeting with the Joy Trainer and a special work in the water, taking advantage of the magnificent swimming pool in the center that was also the most exploited recreational center to fight the heat that accompanied us during the second week in Piemonte.
A big and special thanks to the staff of Red Basket and IBR, for having supported and made possible the two wonderful weeks. To the hotel structure of Viserba and Ovada, hospitable and precise on all occasions. To the invaluable contribution of Alex Giovanni and Marco, Irene for the administrative and connecting part, Twiggy for the support and outfitting, and the president of Sport Services Mirko Bottero.
Finally, we would like to thank all the CAMPERS for their passion, for the availability and for the desire to have fun and improve themselves that they brought from home. We want to say the greatest THANK YOU to parents, without whose sacrifice, economic and practical, no manifestation like this could ever exist. Finally thanks to the coaches, managers of the club who have entrusted their boys giving us the necessary confidence, which I assure you we have repaid with the greatest commitment possible!
Andreas, Max and Paolo are real behind-the-scenes engines and not just the organization that has been lean and efficient!
I can only say hello, hoping you had fun as we had fun and giving you an appointment at SUMMER 2019 with the MORETTI BASKETBALL DREAM CAMP … and as David’s slogan says:
#NGU

ANGER AND DISAPPOINT

It is not exactly as I had imagined and wanted to finish the path that I started more than 5 years ago with the various national youth teams. These were my brothers, those with whom I have lived unforgettable joys and with some of whom I have been training since I was 12 years old. Brothers with whom I shared months and months of retreats, hours and hours of training, sweat and tears, giving everything in the middle of that field to show everyone how strong we were together. We deserved more, we always fought against everything and everyone, sometimes some seemed to hinder us without (maybe) not even want it. A group of brothers who brought home 3 medals (and if you know a youth team that did better, named it I will wait) definitely deserved a better end, but the obstacles have always been part of our path.
It’s a strange day for me today, no longer living certain emotions will be hard, with today closes a path that led me to play 7 European and 1 World. From the first moment I wore the 11th I did not take it off anymore and the writing on my chest motivated me year after year to give more and more. I hope to try that goosebumps again, as I tried for the first time, more than 5 years ago, in playing a game with the national team. We are illegal.

ITALY KO AGAINST SERBIA, MORETTI 29 POINTS.

Serbia won the crucial game for the first place in Group D, after a splendid and thrilling race ended 79-78, after the final siren, a shot out of balance Lever goes out on the iron.

The game is developed for all its forty minutes on the edge of a great balance, 18-19 / 40-37 / 58-59 / 78-79 the partial, with Moretti in the great evening, a real blade on the side of the Serbian defense, which puts 29 personal points, 4 triples out of 6 attempts, and 7 out of 7 from the f.t. line.

Tomorrow closes the group stage, when at 15.45 Italy of Dalmasson will challenge Iceland, still zero wins after two releases.

EUROPEO UNDER 20: ITALY, DEBUT WITH VICTORY.

In Chemnitz, in north-eastern Germany, in the Sassonia region, just a couple of hours drive from Prague, the European Under 20 Championships opened today, and Davide Moretti’s Italian national team inaugurated the event impacting Sweden at the 13.30 local time.

Excellent the first quarter, where the Coach Dalmasson’s boys created the gap then managed without too many worries until the end.

Especially at an offensive level, Italy has appeared very solid, with Lever dominating in to the paint and from the perimeter, putting two triples and 27 personal points on the final call.

Wins the young Italy with the score of 85 – 71, which tomorrow will face Serbia at 20.15 in a match that already appears the decisive battle for the supremacy of group D of these fascinating Championships.

LIVING A DREAM

by Davide Moretti.

Sunday March 11th, on this date everything began. I remember that day like was yesterday, as a team we have been invited to watch the Selection Sunday show at the TopGolf, with all the Tech fans. As soon as we walked in, we saw the place full of red and black shirts screaming and cheering for us.

The show started and they announced our name after a couple of minutes, we were officially part of the 64 teams of the 2018 NCAA Tournament!

After that, everybody was praying and hoping for a good spot where to play the First and Second round. Obviously play in Dallas would have been awesome. They announced the first 4 spots in Dallas, but we weren’t in those 4. The show continued and hopefully they didn’t call our name. Finally time for the last 4 spots in Dallas: Florida and Saint Bonaventure first two, Texas Tech and Stephen F. Austin the other two! They gave us a 3rd seed, the highest ever given to our University.
I remember the fans went crazy and my teammate Andrew immediately grabbed me asking for my tickets. It was clear that Lubbock were heading to Dallas.
It was a special day, that rewarded in the right way our historic season.

We left two days before our first game.
Early flight, but what a flight! Private plane, paid from the NCAA.
An entire Aircraft only for us, I’m sorry, for our University. In fact on the back of our plane there were our cheerleaders, our music band, some fans and our entire staff, from the receptionist to the third training coach. Players and coaches had first class seats. Unfortunately the flight was only 45 minutes. Landed in Dallas, we headed to our personal bus, and our general manager handled us our customized room keys. “Davide Moretti, room 850, March Madness”.
Not bad! Especially because the hotel was a Hilton Honors.
I was used to share hotels with the other teams during this kind of events, such as European Championships, but this time was different, we probably had the biggest hotel in Dallas only for us.
Was time to get some shots up! So after lunch and couple hours of rest we were about to go practice at the American Airlines Arena, NBA arena of the Dallas Mavericks.
Pretty cool, isn’t it?
After 2 hours of open practice in front of 800 people, we went eat in a pretty fancy restaurant in downtown Dallas.

March 15th finally arrived, was a special day, not only because was gameday, but also because was my little brother 14th birthday and I couldn’t be more motivated.
Tip off was at 6.27pm, during gamedays I usually think for the previous 3/4 hours about the gameplan and how to perform the best, but that day, since I woke up, I couldn’t think anything else than our gameplan and how I should have played that game.
I was more nervous than normal, and the 18.703 people inside that huge NBA arena didn’t help me calm down at all, but right before my debut I took a big breathe in and I just ran into the court thinking to play my best.
I made my first field goal, a step back from behind the three point line, and in my mind I said: “Well.. This is not a bad start Davide!”
It probably was our most difficult game, I bet that most of my teammates were as nervous as me, but as they say: “Survive and Advance”, well we survived and we advanced.

March 16th was pretty much a preparation day. With the 12 hours rules that our coach taught us, we forgot pretty quick the game of the day before to focus on the next one.

March 17th gameday against Florida. Tough team, with really good players especially on the front court spots. It was a really good game, balanced till the last 2/3 minutes were we had a 10 points lead, but like I said they were a really tough team and they cut to a 3 points game, with 23 seconds left. They had 3 consecutive chances to tie the game and they missed all of whom.
I played a ordinary game, with no turnovers and an in and out 3 pointer, some good defensive plays, I was basically trying to make no mistakes.

I will remember forever while during a free throw, I was standing in the middle of the court, looking at that huge crowd and feeling those emotions like I have never felt before. I told myself: “Look where are you at now, just give your best”
I was scared, nervous, but I knew that myself would never have left me alone, I knew I was ready for that opportunity, all my sacrifices and practices prepared me to play in the biggest stage of that period: “The NCAA Tournament”

We were one of the SWEET 16 teams in the tournament!
We were heading to Boston in one week and Dallas treated as like superheroes, a full NBA arena with black and red jersey cheering for us, it was just unreal.

March 21st Boston bound!
Huge plane, bigger than the first one of last week. We also had more people traveling with us!!
Amazing hotel, amazing room as usual but I couldn’t think anything else of where I was going to practice and then play during the next days.
Obviously it would have been a NBA arena, but tie up my shoes at the TD Garden, on of the most historical NBA arenas, made it more special. I couldn’t wait to practice and then play there, I was literally freaking out.
We practiced there the 22nd for almost 2 hours, but I could keep practice for 2 more hours, I was way too hype.

March 23rd gameday against Purdue, a 2nd seed versus a 3rd seed, hands down it would have been a great game.
In my opinion, we literally controlled the entire game, we weren’t play our best basketball during the first half, but we ended up by 5 points. We maintained the lead throughout the end of the game, winning by 13. I probably played my best game, 7 points with 2 assists, no turnovers and good defensive plays.
But that night after our victory, it wasn’t my game or my stats made me feel so happy.
We won and that made us part of the Elite 8 teams in the country.
“The best record in the history of Texas Tech University” .. says everything by itself.
I couldn’t go to sleep that night, be part and help this team to reach the best record ever, paid back all the sacrifices and the struggles that I have been through.

March 24th I could only think about the next day and how special that day would have been, play for the Final Four on my birthday, it was just amazing.

March 25th gameday X birthday, I was about to play one of the most important game in my career so far, celebrating my birthday.
I was excited, like never before, but I was way too nervous as well.
All the country (and not only the US) was watching us. Tip off was at 1.20pm and we already knew that it would have been a sold out game. We played in front of almost 20.000 people, but this time the arena wasn’t full of red and black jersey.
We started the game as good as never before in the tournament, but they were a really good team and they ended the first half up by 13 points. They maintained a 10 points gap till the last minutes of the game, where we cut it to a 5 points game with 5 minutes to go. We gave everything we got, but Villanova deserved to win that night.
It wasn’t the best day, I wish I could celebrate my birthday in a better way, with one of the best present ever, but instead of fly to San Antonio, we flew back to Lubbock.
I still haven’t any regrets, I knew that I would have given everything I had that day, for me and for my team.

We came back right after the game, we landed at 1am and our amazing fans were there, thanking us for made them proud, it was unique.
Now everybody see us as legends, and this three weeks experience is something that I will remember for ever.

Moro