Texas Tech finished with a flurry last season, winning six of its final eight games to reach the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament and the Final Four of the NIT. But when asked if the strong finish would create momentum going into this season, senior forward Robert Tomaszek seems puzzled.

"I don't know," Tomaszek says. "With all the new guys, I don't think it matters. Unless those [newcomers] were watching us on TV, I don't think they felt the momentum. This will be a totally different team."

Indeed, it is. Leading scorer Andre Emmett returns for his senior season, but for the most part, newcomers will determine whether the Red Raiders are contenders or pretenders in the Big 12 race.

FRONTCOURT

Tomaszek, the Polish-born power forward, struggled last year with his hands. In fact, Tech coach Bob Knight commented that if Tomaszek were an infielder, he would probably make a career's worth of errors in 25 games. Fortunately, Tomaszek is better suited for the low post than the hot corner.

While Tomaszek struggled at times in his first season in Division I, he did have his moments. At 6-foot-9, 250, he is an imposing presence. He rebounded well, averaging 5.2 per game, and displayed the ability to score in bunches, producing 28 points and 16 boards in a win over Minnesota.

"It was a hard step to go from junior college to the Big 12," Tomaszek says. "Up here, everyone is as big as you or bigger. You have to get used to that. I can't shoot that well. I think everybody saw that. I'd have an occasional good game shooting, and I'm trying to develop my skills so it will be harder for people to guard me. I also want to be better on the defensive end."

The Raiders hope sophomore John Ofoegbu will also continue to evolve after playing sparingly last season. But Tech's frontcourt productivity will be determined to a great extent by a trio of junior college transfers -- Devonne Giles, Joseph "Mookie" Works and Curtis Marshall.

This group of newcomers gives the Raiders much more athleticism than Tech has possessed since Knight arrived. While they are not particularly towering, they all run the court well and should enable Knight to extend his defense and push the tempo on offense.

Marshall, known for his shooting touch, could be a nice offensive addition. Giles is a potentially strong back-to-the-basket forward. He earned first-team NJCAA All-America honors after scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds per game at Seward County (Kan.) Community College.

BACKCOURT

Tech fans held their breath during the early part of the summer as Emmett, a first-team All-Big 12 guard, flirted with the NBA. But just before the draft, he withdrew his name from consideration and opted to return to Lubbock. Emmett, who led the league in scoring last season with 21.8 points per game, is the go-to player on the perimeter. He shoots well enough (49.9 percent) to score from the outside, but he is also big enough (6-5) to drive into the lane.

Aside from Emmett, the backcourt is relatively unproven. Junior Ronald Ross, who started 20 games last season, is a potentially solid performer, and Mikey Marshall is a good defender. But Tech will need help here from newcomers as well.

The most likely candidates to provide that boost are redshirt freshmen LucQuente White and Tanner Ogden and true freshman Jay Jackson. White and Ogden earned teammates' praises in practice last season, while Jackson averaged 27.2 points and 5.2 assists as a senior in high school. Jackson may give Tech an instant outside threat at the point.

"You'll be really surprised how [the newcomers] fill the shoes of the people who have left," Ross says. "With those guys coming in and the improvements of our veterans, I think you'll see a much more productive backcourt."

FINAL ANALYSIS

Knight made headlines last season by returning his $250,000 base salary because his team failed to live up to his expectations. That probably won't happen again this year, at least in part because no one really knows what to expect from the Raiders.

With the return of Emmett, Tech has a Big 12 Player of the Year candidate as its go-to option. And there is bulk in the paint in Tomaszek. But for the most part, Tech's success in 2003-04 will rest on the shoulders of newcomers who should make the team more athletic.

Whether they make the Raiders better is still anyone's guess.

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