Preview: Texas Tech vs. TCU

LUBBOCK, Texas – No. 22 Texas Tech will host TCU on Wednesday for the first of two regular-season meetings, with tipoff set for 6 p.m. at United Supermarkets Arena. The game marks the 144th all-time matchup between the two programs and will be broadcast on ESPN2. The Texas Tech Sports Network radio call will be available locally on Double T 97.3 and via the Varsity app.

Game Information
Matchup: TCU (10-9, 3-5) at No. 22 Texas Tech (15-4, 6-2)
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Venue: United Supermarkets Arena
Tipoff: 6 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 29, 2025
TV: ESPN2
TV Broadcast: Lowell Galindo (play-by-play), Jess Settles (analyst)
Radio: Texas Tech Sports Network – Geoff Haxton (play-by-play), Chris Level (analyst)

Texas Tech (15-4, 6-2 Big 12) enters the matchup on a four-game winning streak and is off to its best eight-game start in Big 12 play since 2005. The Red Raiders are coming off a 64-54 win over Oklahoma State on Sunday and have a 10-2 record at home this season. TCU (10-9, 3-5 Big 12) has dropped two straight, falling to Kansas and UCF after earning a 74-71 victory at Baylor. The teams will meet again on Feb. 18 at Schollmaier Arena in Fort Worth.

Texas Tech holds an 87-56 advantage in the all-time series, including a 50-16 record in Lubbock. Last season, the teams split their two-game series, with each winning at home.

Along with its success on the court, Texas Tech has drawn an average of 12,299 fans per home game, the highest in Texas and 26th nationally.

The Red Raiders entered the AP Top 25 for the first time this season on Monday after previously receiving votes. They are also ranked No. 19 in the USA TODAY Coaches Poll, No. 11 in KenPom, and No. 12 in the NCAA NET rankings. Texas Tech is 6-1 in January and will face No. 6 Houston on the road this Saturday.

Texas Tech ranks second in the Big 12 in field-goal percentage (49.1%), three-point shooting (38.4%), free-throw percentage (76.9%), effective field-goal percentage (56.8%), assist-to-turnover ratio (1.59), and three-pointers made per game (9.3). The team averages 81.9 points per game, ranking third in the conference, and is fourth in assists per game (17.1). The Red Raiders have beaten 11 opponents by double-digit margins, with an average margin of victory of 16.9 points per game.

Three Texas Tech players are averaging double figures: JT Toppin (16.3 points per game), Chance McMillian (14.9), and Darrion Williams (14.7). Toppin ranks third in the Big 12 in rebounding (8.5 per game) and fourth in scoring. McMillian leads the conference in three-point shooting at 47.4% (45-for-95) and ranks ninth with 2.37 threes per game. Elijah Hawkins tops the Big 12 in assists per game (6.1) and is third in assist-to-turnover ratio (3.15).

TCU is led by Noah Reynolds, who averages 12.3 points and 3.3 assists per game. Vasean Allette adds 11.8 points per game, while Trazarien White contributes 9.4 points. Ernest Udeh leads the Horned Frogs in rebounding (8.1 per game) and blocks (1.5 per game) while scoring 7.8 points per contest. TCU is coming off an 85-58 loss to UCF, where Allette led the team with 15 points and five rebounds. The Horned Frogs shot just 1-for-20 from three-point range in the loss. They enter Wednesday’s game, shooting 42.5% from the field, 31.4% from beyond the arc, and 63.5% from the free-throw line.

Brandan Wenzel, who played for Texas Tech assistant coach Jeff Linder at Wyoming, is scoring 8.7 points per game. He led TCU with 17 points in the win over Baylor, hitting 4-of-8 from three-point range, including the game-winning shot with six seconds remaining.