No. 9 Texas Tech Lands Baylor in the Big 12 Quarterfinals

Tech, which earned a double-bye as a top-four seed in the 16-team conference, will open tournament play against No. 7 seed Baylor (19-13, 10-10 Big 12), which defeated Kansas State 70-56 on Wednesday night to advance. The Red Raiders are seeking their first Big 12 tournament title after reaching the semifinals last season in head coach Grant McCasland’s first year at the helm.

"It's a great opportunity for our team," Head Coach Grant McCasland said. "We're excited. Waiting to find out who you are going to play is unique with a couple games before you see who you'll play against. We put ourselves in this position by the way we've competed so far this year."

Texas Tech was picked seventh in the Big 12 preseason poll but exceeded expectations to secure the No. 2 seed. The Red Raiders were also the second seed in the 2018 and 2019 tournaments and previously reached the Big 12 Championship finals in 2005 and 2022. The 2025 title game is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday.

Texas Tech defeated Baylor 73-59 in their only regular-season matchup on Feb. 4 in Lubbock. In that game, McMillian led with 19 points and five 3-pointers, while Williams contributed 17 points and eight rebounds. The Red Raiders limited Baylor to 33.9% shooting from the field and 5-of-18 from beyond the arc.

Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe, the Big 12 Freshman of the Year, did not play in the previous meeting but led the Bears with 19 points and 10 rebounds in their second-round win over Kansas State. Jayden Nunn added 18 points and four 3-pointers, while Norchad Omier posted a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.

Texas Tech leads the all-time series against Baylor 84-65, including a 68-65 win in their only previous Big 12 tournament meeting on March 13, 2003. Andre Emmett led the Red Raiders with 23 points and eight rebounds in that first-round matchup.

"A lot of people want to talk about what these guys do on the court, but one of the most underrated parts of college basketball right now is that these guys really enjoy being around each other every day," McCasland said. "It's real. There's a lot of pressure on them for different reasons, whether it's living up to potential or creating more opportunities for themselves, there's a lot of strain. There's a bond to this that makes college basketball great. I think this team embraces that."

Texas Tech is currently ranked No. 9 in the Associated Press Top 25 and USA TODAY Coaches Poll, while sitting at No. 7 in the NCAA NET and KenPom rankings. The Red Raiders have been in the AP Top 10 for four consecutive weeks, tying the program’s longest streak (2017-18).

Tech is competing in its 28th Big 12 Championship, holding a 17-27 all-time record in the tournament. Last year, the fourth-seeded Red Raiders defeated BYU 81-67 in the quarterfinals before falling to Houston in the semifinals. In 2022, Tech advanced to the championship game before falling to Kansas.

The Red Raiders are poised for their 21st NCAA Tournament appearance, having previously reached the 2018 Elite Eight, 2019 national championship game, and 2022 Sweet 16.