LUBBOCK, Texas -- Chris Beard doesnt want a grace period for winning at Texas Tech.Theres no two- or three-year plan for the 43-year-old first-year coach to make the Red Raiders more competitive in the Big 12.Hes brought in six new players, including three graduate transfers.We expect to win immediately, Beard said. We do have a lot of pieces. The challenge is to try to put this together quickly. Thats the challenge in trying to be successful year one.Last year, Beard led Arkansas-Little Rock to its best season in school history, guiding the Trojans to an 85-83 double overtime thriller over No. 12-ranked and fifth-seeded Purdue in the NCAA Tournament.In April, he was hired to coach in Lubbock, where hed been an assistant for 10 years under Bob Knight and Pat Knight. He had accepted the job at UNLV in late March and jilted the school after learning that Texas Tech was looking for a replacement for Tubby Smith, who left to coach Memphis.Beard said Smith elevated the program in his three years with the Red Raiders, calling the Hall of Fame coachs time in Lubbock legendary.The Red Raiders havent had a winning Big 12 record since 2006-07, when Beard was an assistant under Bob Knight. Texas Tech finished seventh in the Big 12 last season (19-13, 9-9). They lost in the first round of the NCAA to Butler.Beards aim is to lift the program in the Big 12 standings and beyond.Wed like to join the top half of the league, he said. Then we would like to join the top tier of the league. We want to be in the conversation for championships. To do that is a process, but you have to start by being willing to talk about and I wont shy away from that.Here are some things to know about the Red Raiders, who open their season at home Nov. 11 against Houston Baptist:MESHING PLAYERS AND MATURITYGetting the six new players -- three graduate transfers and three junior college players -- on the same page has gone well, Beard said. Even though were an inexperienced team playing together, were an experienced team with different parts, he said. And so hopefully our identity is going to be our experience, our maturity and these six seniors.TALLER TEAMThe Red Raiders have five players 6-8 and taller. Two of them, 6-9 center Norense Odiase and 6-8 forward Zach Smith, are returning starters. At 6-8, forward Aaron Ross came off the bench, and Matthew Temple, a 6-10 senior forward, didnt play a lot. The newcomer is 6-8 Anthony Livingston, who is graduate student who played last year at Arkansas State.REBOUNDING REBOUNDThe Red Raiders finished ninth in the conference last season at just 34 rebounds per game and hope to improve on that. The taller players will help but there has to be a willingness to get to the boards. I think our rebounds will be better than last year, said Smith who averaged 7.3 rebounds per game last season to finish sixth in the Big 12. It wont be as problematic.MOTION OFFENSEBeard spent almost a decade learning the motion offense from Bob Knight. Hell use that and plenty of pick and roll that he learned coaching in the ABA and the Swiss national team during a summer off while he was coach at Angelo State in 2014. Its just a unique style of play, so we feel like we have the best of both worlds, Beard said.Odiase loves the combo offense: We know that it causes a lot of problems for the defenses. 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Cronulla have advanced to the NRL grand final with a 32-20 demolition of a listless North Queensland at Allianz Stadium.The result sent the 36,717-strong crowd into raptures on Friday night as the Sharks moved a step closer to claiming their first title in their 50-year history and ended the Cowboys hopes of winning back-to-back premierships.They will meet the winner of Saturdays clash between Canberra and Melbourne in Sunday weeks grand final at ANZ Stadium.The Cowboys gave themselves a sniff of hope when fullback Lachlan Coote, who otherwise had a forgettable night and was again troubled under the high ball, crossed for a soft try four minutes after halftime to make it 14-6.However, the Sharks picked themselves up off the canvas to advance to their fourth grand final - following their appearances in 1973, 1978 and the Super League decider in 1997.The Cowboys were blown off the park by a Sharks first-half blitz. Looking fatigued after their 90-minute epic against Brisbane last week, they crumbled under a mountain of unforced errors.When Chad Townsend crossed to make it 14-0 at the break, the Sharks had completed twice as many sets as the Cowboys (16/20 to 8/12), run for twice as many metres (791 to 390), and been tackled in their oppositions red zone 23 times compared to North Queenslands eight.Townsend bounced back from his shocker against Canberra a fortnight ago when he was hooked by coach Shane Flanagan, scoring one try, going close on another occasion and setting up anotheer.ddddddddddddThe Sharks twice managed to get over the line, through Andrew Fifita and Townsend, but were denied by the video referees before they finally converted their weight of possession into points via a James Maloney penalty goal in the 17th minute.And when they found space on the left side, Sosaia Feki crossed in the corner before a botched Kyle Feldt dropout gifted Maloney another two points.Townsends 35th-minute four-pointer had big question marks on it, with the last pass from Maloney appearing to be forward, however referee Gerard Sutton was in line with the play.Cootes try shortly after halftime seemingly sparked the Sharks back to life as they piled on three tries in 14 minutes via Luke Lewis and a Maloney double.The Cowboys scored three tries in the final 10 minutes via a Feldt double and Cohen Hess but it was of little consolation.NRL PRELIMINARY FINAL 1Result: Cronulla 32 defeated North Queensland 20 at Allianz StadiumKey moment: When Chad Townsend put Luke Lewis over in the 52nd minute for a scoreline of 20-6, any thoughts of a Cowboys fightback were dashed.Key quote: It has taken 15 years for me to finally get to a grand final. - Sharks skipper Paul Gallen.Judiciary: NoneInjuries: NoneWhats next: The Sharks move onto their first grand final in a united competition since 1978 and premiers North Queensland bow out of the title race. 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