Texas Tech Red Raiders

NCAAB – BIG 12

Arena: United Supermarkets Arena
Coach: Mark Adams

Texas Tech Red Raiders

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Texas Tech Red Raiders Team Summary

Texas Tech has never been better in men’s basketball than the stretch they’re on right now. They had their first Elite Eight appearances in 2018 and 2019, which included a national runner-up losing 85-77 to Virginia in the 2019 national championship.

Under then-coach Chris Beard, the Red Raiders went to three straight NCAA Tournaments from 2018-21 before he left to coach his alma mater and in-state rival, Texas. He’s one of many successful coaches in program history, with only five finishing with losing records during their Red Raiders’ tenure.

Four program alumni were inducted into the Ring of Honor. Four players were named second or third team All-Americans by the Associated Press. In total, 19 players have gone on from Lubbock to play in the NBA.

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Texas Tech Red Raiders Team History

Competing since the 1925-26 season, Texas Tech had periods of time pre-1950s that they weren’t considered a major program. Not in a sense of play but in that they competed in NAIA tournaments in 1942 and 1949. The Red Raiders have 19 NCAA Tournament appearances in program history, including three straight.

During the 1995-96 season, in which Texas Tech went 30-2 and lost Sweet Sixteen, the Red Raiders vacated three games due to “NCAA rules infractions in the areas of eligibility, extra benefits, recruiting, unethical conduct, failure to monitor and lack of institutional control” according to a 1998 report found on Texas Tech’s website. Their adjusted record was 28-1.

In 2007 the esteemed Bobby Knight became the all-time men’s basketball coaching wins leader, earning his 880th career win on New Year’s Day. One year later, he earned his 900th win upon retiring in the middle of the season.

Key Stats

This year’s squad is led by Terrence Shannon Jr., when he’s in the lineup. He’s played just six of 13 games to start the season but does a little bit of everything when in the lineup with averages of 14.3 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game. He is one of four Red Raiders in double figures scoring, including Kevin McCullar (13.5), Davion Warren (11.3), and Bryson Williams (11.2).

After promoting Mark Adams, one of Beard’s assistants, Texas Tech has continued its tradition of great defense. Through 13 games, they are 11th in the country in points allowed per game (57.6) and ninth in opposing field goal percentage (37.1%).

Texas Tech had an up-and-down non conference slate. As favorites against Providence, they lost by four but then beat Tennessee by five in overtime as underdogs. They lost by 14 to Gonzaga, who looks like a No. 1 seed come March, and opened Big 12 play with a four-point loss to Iowa State, though covering -4.5.

Against the spread, Texas Tech is 7-6-0 and 5-8 against over/unders, including the under-hitting in six straight. However, their national championship odds are decent, likely due to their defensive strength.

Championships Won by the Team

The closest Texas Tech has come to a national championship was an 85-77 loss to Virginia in the 2019 title game. In 2003, the Red Raiders lost in the semifinals of the National Invitation Tournament but did win the third-place game.

The program has 12 regular-season conference championships, with only the 2019 team winning in the Big 12 tournament. The 1995-96 team won the Southwestern Conference regular-season and tournament championships, the last of six SWC titles. 

The other five were bookends to the Red Raiders’ time in the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association, winning the first three (1933-35) and the last one (1956) before leaving to become independent for a year and then joining the SWC.

Important Team Events

Both 30-win teams – excluding the vacating games on the 1995-96 team – were built with similar make-ups. Each featured two sophomores and two seniors and had at least three eventual NBA players. They were also significant for different reasons.

After an Elite Eight appearance the year before, the 2018-19 team reached the program’s first Final Four and championship game. Sophomore Jarrett Culver was the first Big 12 Player of the Year in program history and classmate Davide Moretti took a step forward as the top two scorers. 

Matt Mooney, a sharpshooting transfer from South Dakota, and Tariq Owens, a transfer forward from St. John’s, provided different elements to elevate the program.

The 1995-96 team featured four players who played in the NBA, including Tony Battie, Darvin Ham, Jason Sasser, and Cory Carr. Together they won 30 games, with two wins vacated, and were regarded the best team in program history till Beard’s team. However, it came with a postseason ban for 1997, and with Sasser and Ham graduated, the team went 19-9, followed by four losing seasons.

Top Players

There are four jerseys retired in the Red Raiders Ring of Honor. Most recently is Andre Emmett, one of two second-team All-American picks by the Associated Press. Emmett played from 2000-04, starting his final three seasons and averaging 17.6 points per game for his career. 

The other second-team All-American was Jarrett Culver, the lone Big 12 Player of the Year, though he isn’t yet in the Ring of Honor. The other three inductees all played before 1980. They include Dub Malaise (1963-66), Jim Reed (1952-56), and Rick Bullock (1972-76).

Jason Sasser was an AP third-team All-American in 1995-96, and Keenan Evans was also a third-team AP All-American during the 2017-18 season.

Tony Battie went on to have a 15-year NBA career, by far the longest of any Texas Tech player. Geoff Huston played nine NBA seasons, and Darvin Ham, who now enjoys a pro coaching career, played eight.

Culver was the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. Zhaire Smith was selected 16th overall in 2018 but only played 13 games due to injuries.

Top Coaches

Chris Beard is the winningest coach in Texas Tech history by percentage. His teams were 75-30 (71.4%) from 2016-21, including the national runner-up and Elite Eight appearances. By wins, it is Gerald Myers, whose teams were 336-261 from 1970-1991.

Hall of Fame coach Bobby Knight was 138-82 from 2001-08 before riding off into retirement. He has the second-highest winning percentage in program history.

James Dickey had a great run early in his Texas Tech tenure, which began in 1991 and ended in 2001, before giving way to Knight.

The Red Raiders have only had five coaches who had a losing record at the end of their tenure, including Tubby Smith, who became the second coach (now three) to take five programs to the NCAA Tournament.

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Texas Tech Red Raiders FAQs

When did Texas Tech play for the national championship?

The Red Raiders made their first Final Four and national championship in 2019, losing 85-77 to Virginia.

Who is the winningest coach in Texas Tech history?

By percentage, it is Chris Beard (71.4%), and by wins, it’s Gerald Myers (336).

Did Tubby Smith coach at Texas Tech?

Yes, with an NCAA Tournament appearance, he became – at the time – the second coach to take five programs to March Madness.

What year did Bobby Knight retire?

The Hall of Fame coach retired in February 2008. One year prior, he became the all-time leader in coaching wins and crossed 900 before his retirement in 2008.

Who was the first Big 12 Player of the Year for Texas Tech?

Jarrett Culver was named 2019 Big 12 Player of the Year after a sophomore season in which he averaged 17.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 1.4 steals per game in 18 conference games. It was the first time Texas Tech won at least a share of the Big 12 regular-season title.