In just his third year in Lubbock, Texas Tech Head coach Chris Beard leads the Raiders to the Final Four.

The back to back Big 12 coach of the year enjoys being the underdog and reminds his players that they aren't supposed to be one of the hottest teams in college basketball every chance he can.

There's been plenty of fuel to feed that underdog fire. Dating back before the start of the regular season, when Tech didn't receive a single vote in the AP preseason top 25.

Maybe Beard developed that grit at his first head coaching position at Fort Scott Community College, where in his one year he lead the Greyhounds to their first winning season in eight years.

After Fort Scott and one year at Seminole State Junior College, the father of three spent ten years as an assistant coach at Texas Tech under the legendary Bob Knight and son Pat Knight.

Leaving the program for five years and enjoying success at a handful of schools, Beard returned to Lubbock as the head coach in March of 2016. Last year he lead the Raiders to their first elite eight, but with a handful of starters leaving expectations were low.

This Saturday will be the Tech's first final four appearance vs. Michigan State and Vegas has the Spartans as a three point favorite. I think we know Coach Beard wouldn't want it any other way.

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