Men’s Basketball Player of the Week: Clarence Nadolny

The Red Raiders started conference play under some unfortunate circumstances this week. From Kevin McCullar hurting his ankle in practice to a slew of Covid absences, the team found themselves with only seven players against Iowa State and played just eight men against Kansas. While not the most favorable conditions to face two top-15 teams in the same week, Texas Tech rallied around each other and came out of the week 1-1. After dropping a nail biter to ISU in Ames, they bounced back by defeating Kansas at home for just the second time in the last 13 years. 

Many players stepped up this peculiar week, but Clarence Nadolny affected both games on both sides of the court more than a stat sheet could ever account for. Nadolny is a third-year player that already has more minutes this season than either of his first two in less than half the games. He also has 15 steals this season with seven of them coming in the last two contests. Nadolny amassed an array of career-high numbers this week with the team being short-handed; he posted consecutive career bests in the points category with nine against ISU followed up by 17 Saturday against Kansas. Against the Cyclones, Texas Tech had just three guards available to play. With the team’s two primary ball handlers sidelined, Nadolny played an integral role on the offensive end facilitating while also playing his always aggressive on-ball defense. Garnering praise from Coach Adams after the Kansas game, Adams referred to Nadolny as a “pit bull” who epitomizes the gritty brand of basketball Texas Tech prides itself on. 

Not only did the team escape the week 1-1, but role players that will find themselves coming off the bench when the roster is fully healthy gained tremendous experience playing big minutes in this week’s games. The gauntlet of the Big 12 doesn’t offer any soft spots in the schedule as this week features a pair of road contests against undefeated Baylor and Kansas State, with a home game against Oklahoma State, sandwiched in between.