LUBBOCK, TX – Texas Tech men's basketball has climbed into the national spotlight, securing the No. 22 spot in the Coaches Poll. While just outside the AP Top 25, the Red Raiders received the most votes of any unranked team with 109, trailing only No. 25 Illinois (116 votes). This marks the first time this season the team has been ranked, following a strong 3-0 start.
Texas Tech has dominated its early opponents, including Bethune-Cookman, Northwestern State, and Wyoming, earning the No. 9 position in KenPom rankings. The Red Raiders currently lead the nation in effective field goal percentage (66.3%) and rank third in field goal shooting (57.5%) and fifth in 3-point shooting (47.8%, 32-for-67).
Standout Performers
- JT Toppin: Leads the team with averages of 22.7 points, 9.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game. He notched his 13th career double-double with 24 points and 12 rebounds against Wyoming.
- Chance McMillian: A perfect 4-for-4 on 3-pointers against Wyoming boosted his season average to 15.3 points per game.
- Darrion Williams: Second in the Big 12 with 7.3 assists per game, also contributing 13.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game.
- Kerwin Walton (11.7 ppg) and Kevin Overton (11.3 ppg) round out five players averaging double figures.
- Elijah Hawkins: The NCAA's active leader in career assists per game (6.39) made his debut last week with five assists in the win over Wyoming.
Texas Tech Men's Basketball
(Credit: texastech.com)
The Red Raiders face Arkansas-Pine Bluff tonight before heading to Brooklyn for the Legends Classic. Their first matchup is against Saint Joseph’s on Thursday at 8 p.m. CST. Depending on results, Texas Tech will play either Texas or Syracuse on Friday at the Barclays Center.
- AP Top 25: Kansas remains at No. 1, followed by UConn, Gonzaga, Auburn, and Iowa State. Texas Tech, with 109 votes, narrowly missed the cut.
- Coaches Poll: The Red Raiders debuted at No. 22, marking their first ranking since finishing at No. 25 last season.
- Texas Tech was unranked in the preseason polls after finishing last season at No. 22 in both the AP and Coaches polls.
- The program's highest AP ranking was No. 6 in February 2018. The 2018-19 team finished No. 7 nationally, capping the season with a run to the National Championship Final.
Despite their strong start, Texas Tech was picked to finish seventh in the Big 12 preseason poll, with no players selected for preseason awards. However, their performance so far suggests they could far exceed expectations.
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