Texas Tech Climbs to No. 12 in AP, Coaches Polls

LUBBOCK, TX — Despite the loss to Arizona on Saturday, Texas Tech moved up to No. 12 in both the Associated Press Top 25 and Coaches Polls released Monday. The Red Raiders also climbed to No. 9 in both the NCAA NET and KenPom rankings after winning eight of their last 10 games.

Texas Tech (18-5, 9-3 Big 12) improved one spot in this week’s AP poll and currently sits third in the Big 12 standings, trailing only Houston and Arizona, both of whom are 11-1 in conference play. The Red Raiders return home Wednesday to face Arizona State at 8 p.m. at United Supermarkets Arena before traveling to Oklahoma State on Saturday.

Auburn (21-2) remains the nation’s top-ranked team, followed by Alabama (20-3), Florida (20-3), Duke (20-3), and Tennessee (20-4) in the top five. No. 6 Houston (19-4) is the highest-ranked Big 12 team, with Texas Tech, No. 10 Iowa State, No. 13 Arizona, and No. 17 Kansas giving the conference five teams in the rankings.

Tech is coming off a week in which it improved to 12-2 at home with a win over Baylor before falling on the road to Arizona, snapping a seven-game winning streak. The Red Raiders are 1-3 against ranked opponents this season.

Texas Tech ranks second in the Big 12 in three-point shooting at 38.0% and averages 9.6 made threes per game. The team hit 12 three-pointers against Arizona, marking the 14th time this season it has made at least 10 in a game. Tech also ranks second in the conference in effective field goal percentage (55.7%), third in scoring (80.7 points per game), and third in free-throw shooting (76.5%).

Defensively, the Red Raiders are fourth in the Big 12 in field goal defense, holding opponents to 47.7% shooting and limiting teams to 65.9 points per game. Tech has held seven opponents under 60 points this season, including five in conference play.

Chance McMillian and JT Toppin lead the Red Raiders with 15.2 points per game, while Darrion Williams is averaging 14.8. Guard Elijah Hawkins, who leads the Big 12 in assists (6.3 per game), recorded a season-high 12 assists at Arizona and has reached double figures in scoring in four consecutive games, raising his season average to 9.6 points. Hawkins has 133 assists to just 42 turnovers this season and recorded his fourth double-double of the year against Arizona with 10 points, 12 assists, and one turnover.

Toppin, who leads Tech with eight double-doubles, had 21 points and 13 rebounds against Arizona. He ranks third in the conference in rebounding and is tied with McMillian for seventh in scoring.

• Texas Tech has been ranked in the AP Top 25 for a program-record eight consecutive seasons.
• The No. 12 ranking in the Coaches Poll is the highest under head coach Grant McCasland.
• Tech entered the AP poll at No. 22 two weeks ago and has since climbed 10 spots.
• The Red Raiders began the season unranked but have steadily risen after strong performances in Big 12 play.
• The team’s highest AP ranking in program history came at No. 6 in February 2018.

Texas Tech was picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 preseason poll and did not have a player selected for the preseason awards. The Red Raiders will look to continue their strong season as they enter a key stretch of conference play.