March 19, 2005 | ESPN.com's NCAA Tournament coverage

First of all, I am resting following my hernia surgery Saturday morning. Thanks to everyone who expressed their concerns about my well-being. I look forward to being back on TV in the near future. My thanks to Dr. Gary Bunch and his team for their help with my surgery.

Now let's talk some roundball, baby!

I was not surprised that Texas Tech beat Gonzaga. In fact, I predicted it on SportsCenter before I went home for the surgery. I felt that guard play was going to be a big positive for the Red Raiders, and Ronald Ross and Jarrius Jackson form an outstanding tandem. Ross has come on after going to Lubbock as a walk-on. He made All-Big 12 this season, showing how perseverance pays off.

Coach Bob Knight is in the Sweet 16 for the first time since 1994, when he led Indiana there, and the Red Raiders are in the Sweet 16 for the first time since '96. It is an incredible accomplishment for Texas Tech to advance through two rounds of the tournament.

Think about Texas Tech back in December. There was a six-point loss to Ohio State, followed by a 30-point blowout against Iowa. After that setback, the Red Raiders were sitting 5-3 and nobody was talking about this club as a Sweet 16 squad.

But Knight's players got better and better, and the improvement has shown. Texas Tech beat Kansas, Oklahoma (twice, including the Big 12 semis), Iowa State in the Big 12 quarters and now Gonzaga.

Defense has been a key, holding UCLA to 66 and Gonzaga to 69. The Red Raiders allowed 70 or more points in all 10 of their losses this season. Knight has led Texas Tech to four straight 20-plus win seasons. What an accomplishment for a legend, the General, Robert Montgomery Knight!

Dick Vitale coached the Pistons and the University of Detroit before broadcasting ESPN's first college basketball game in 1979. Send a question to Vitale for possible use on ESPNEWS.