Tag: Texas Tech Red Raiders

Texas Tech, Kansas State lead Big 12 basketball standings

An updated look at the Big 12 standings as of Monday morning.

Week 11 is in the books for the 2023-24 college basketball season, and as expected the Big 12 is chockfull of talented teams.

The ranked teams in the USA TODAY Sports Coaches Poll include the Kansas Jayhawks, Houston Cougars, Baylor Bears, Oklahoma Sooners, Iowa State Cyclones, BYU Cougars, and Texas Tech Red Raiders. The Texas Longhorns are making a case for the top 25 after knocking off then-ranked No. 9 Baylor thanks to Tyrese Hunter’s buzz-beater heroics.

The surprise might be Texas Tech and Kansas State who sit atop the conference standings with identical 4-1 records. Tech’s lone loss came against Houston, while KSU fell to the Red Raiders in Lubbock recently. What isn’t a shock is seeing two teams led by former Scott Drew assistants achieving early success. Grant McCasland is in his first season with Texas Tech, while Jerome Tang is in Year 2. He led Kansas State to the Elite 8 last season.

Here are the full standings as of Monday morning:

Team Conf Rec Overall Rec
Texas Tech 4-1 15-3
Kansas State 4-1 14-4
Houston 3-2 16-2
Kansas 3-2 15-3
Oklahoma 3-2 15-3
Baylor 3-2 14-4
Iowa State 3-2 14-4
BYU 2-3 14-4
TCU 2-3 14-4
Texas 2-3 13-5
Cincinnati 2-3 13-5
UCF 2-3 11-6
West Virginia 2-3 7-11
Oklahoma State 0-5 8-11

West Virginia picked up their second win in Big 12 play of the season when they upset the Kansas Jayhawks. The Mountaineers’ other win came against Texas, both games were played in Morgantown.

Here is a look at the scheduled games on Jan. 22 through Jan. 24:

Date Away Home
Jan. 22 Cincinnati Kansas
Jan. 23 West Virginia Central Florida
Jan. 23 Texas Oklahoma
Jan. 23 TCU Oklahoma State
Jan. 23 Houston BYU
Jan. 24 Kansas State Iowa State

Texas Tech won’t play again until Saturday, Jan. 27 against Oklahoma in Norman. Baylor’s next game will also be on Saturday when they host TCU in Waco.

Oregon played in three of ESPN’s Top 100 games for 2023

Oregon appears three times in ESPN’s Top 100 games of the 2023 season and go 1-2 in those games, losing twice by a combined six points.

In 2023, we were all treated to a classic college football game nearly every single week and the Oregon Ducks had their fair share of classics this season.

Unfortunately, they didn’t come out on top in some of those.

ESPN put together its Top 100 games of the 2023 season and as expected, Oregon showed itself a few times. But so did the Huskies. It’s difficult to relive both losses to the heated rival to the North. However, Duck fans can take solace they won’t have to hear about Washington’s national title run thanks to Michigan.

Oregon shows up at No. 48 for its Sept. 9 game at Texas Tech where the Ducks get out of Lubbock with a 38-30 road victory.

Somehow, Texas Tech nearly overcame a minus-4 turnover differential to end Oregon’s CFP hopes in early September. Nearly. A 20-3 run gave Tech a nine-point lead heading into the fourth quarter, and after three lead changes and a go-ahead Camden Lewis field goal with 1:10 left, Jeffrey Bassa’s 45-yard pick-six finally sealed a wild Ducks win in West Texas. — Bill Connelly

As expected, the two and only losses of the 2023 campaign show up at Nos. 9 and 8 with the true loss in Seattle coming ahead of the Pac-12 title game in Las Vegas. Oregon lost both games by a field goal, which shows how close it was to being in the playoff itself. If the ball bounces a different way a couple of times or if the Ducks kick a field goal here or there instead of being ultra-aggressive, this season might look vastly different. Unfortunately, we’ll never know.

Here’s in part what ESPN had to say about those two games that added even more lore to a rivalry that will now go into the Big Ten Conference.

Dan Lanning fielded a brilliant Oregon team in 2023, one that went 12-0, with wins by an average score of 46-13, against teams not named Washington. But the Ducks played two tossups against the playoff-bound Huskies and came up with tails both times. — Connelly

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Pair of Big 12 clashes are must-see TV on Saturday

These are the best games to check out in the Big 12 on Saturday.

The Big 12 is one of the deepest basketball conferences in the country with five teams ranked in the top 25 of the USA TODAY Sports coaches poll.

It certainly makes for some interesting basketball in conference play. You can add that Texas, Cincinnati, Iowa State, TCU, and Texas Tech are all worthy of being ranked as well. Welcome to the murderer’s row of basketball.

With the college football season finished, eyes are coming back to the hardwood just in time for the run to March. On Saturday, there are plenty of games in the Big 12 to keep an eye on but here are the best ones.

No. 9 Oklahoma Sooners at No. 3 Kansas Jayhawks

NATHAN J. FISH/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK

The Oklahoma Sooners and Kansas Jayhawks are both coming off disappointing losses for different reasons. The TCU Horned Frogs were able to take down OU thanks to the Sooners’ inability to score consistently in an 80-71 loss. Oklahoma trailed 78-61 with under two minutes to go but only managed a 10-2 run to cut the lead to nine before the final buzzer. On the other hand, Kansas built a nice first half lead at 35-19 with under four minutes to go. The Knights outscored the Jayhawks 46-25 over the next 24 minutes of basketball.

Who will get off the snide and avoid back-to-back losses just three games into Big 12 play? Tune in for the game at 1 p.m. CT on ESPN+.

No. 2 Houston Cougars at TCU Horned Frogs

Chris Jones-USA TODAY Sports

The aforementioned TCU Horned Frogs will host the No. 2 team in the country in the early evening hours. The Houston Cougars are coming off their first loss of the season to a stingy Iowa State squad. The Cougars have averaged 75.3 points per game but were held to 22 points under that number by the Cyclones’ defense. They forced Houston to turn the ball over 16 times in that game. On the other side, you have a TCU squad that is coming off the upset victory of No. 3 Kansas, can they keep it going against No. 2 Houston? The plan should be the same as the Oklahoma matchup, keep your turnovers to a minimum while forcing the Cougs into making mistakes.

Does TCU get another huge win or does Houston rebound? Tune into that game at 5 p.m. CT on ESPN.

Bonus Game: Kansas State Wildcats at Texas Tech Red Raiders

Olivia Raymond/For the Avalanche-Journal / USA TODAY NETWORK

Jerome Tang (Kansas State) and Grant McCasland (Texas Tech) were longtime assistants for Scott Drew at Baylor, now they are adversaries. On Saturday, Texas Tech looks to extend their longest winning streak in the conference to 9 games. They are 2-0 in conference play after knocking off Texas and Oklahoma State. Kansas State is also 2-0 after wins over UCF and West Virginia.

Which team stays unbeaten in Big 12 play? Tune in at 3 p.m. CT on ESPN2

Sooners top 10 in latest editon of College Wire’s Power Rankings

Oklahoma is ranked 9th in College Wire’s latest power rankings.

Oklahoma is in deep preparation for another war of a basketball game as they ready themselves for their first actual road game. They’ll take on a tough TCU Horned Frogs team coached by Jamie Dixon.

Over the weekend, Porter Moser’s squad opened up Big 12 play with a gritty win against an experienced and talented Iowa State team. The Sooners led the way thru the first 35 minutes of game time. After Iowa State took a late lead, a 7-0 run late pushed Oklahoma over the hump.

As the Sooners prepare for two Big 12 games this week, they’ll be ranked as one of the best teams in the country. Our colleagues at College Wire agree and has the Sooners at No. 9 in their most recent power rankings.

Ahead of Oklahoma at number one sits the Purdue Boilermakers, led by Zach Edey. New Big 12 member Houston is the number two team, but dropped their first game of the season Tuesday night. Behind them are the Kansas Jayhawks, long-time standard bearers of Big 12 hoops. The Sooners travel to Allen Fieldhouse for a Saturday afternoon tilt.

UConn and Arizona slot in at four and five. The only two SEC teams in the top 10 of these power rankings are Tennessee and Kentucky, who come in at six and seven, while the lone ACC representative, UNC, comes in at eight. Behind Oklahoma sits Scott Drew and his Baylor Bears tenth.

In the rest of the power rankings, BYU (18), Texas Tech (23), and Cincinnati (24) round out the rest of the Big 12 representation in the rankings.

Oklahoma faces three of the five Big 12 teams in this week’s power rankings in their next six games. The Sooners have some significant opportunities to add even more impressive wins to an already appealing tournament resume. It starts on Tuesday with a win in Fort Worth.

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Previewing the Big 12 Opener: No. 20 Texas hosts Texas Tech

The final Big 12 opener for Texas will have Texas Tech traveling to the Moody Center.

The Big 12 opener for No. 20 Texas will tip-off on Saturday as the Longhorns host the Texas Tech Red Raiders at the Moody Center. Continue reading “Previewing the Big 12 Opener: No. 20 Texas hosts Texas Tech”

Texas A&M, Texas Tech announce home-and-home series

An old conference rivalry renewed.

Former Southwest Conference, Big 12 rivals Texas A&M and Texas Tech announced a home-and-home series starting in 2024. The two teams will meet at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas, for the 2024 season. In 2025 the two will tip off from Reed Arena in College Station.

The Red Raiders announced the series in a press release on Tuesday.

“I think this is a big part of what makes college basketball so great,” TTU men’s basketball head coach Grant McCasland said in the release. “To have a series between historic rivals is important to continue. We are thrilled about the opportunity to compete against the Aggies and know that this will benefit our team and schedule. I know the environment at United Supermarkets Arena will be elite. Our fans will love to be a part of this game next year.”

Overall, Texas Tech is 64-61 against Texas A&M dating back to 1953. They last faced off in the 2011-12 season where the Aggies swept the Red Raiders in the regular season.

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Texas Tech among the big winners of early signing day

Not a bad way to finish out the 2023 season.

It was quite a day for Texas Tech Red Raiders head coach Joey McGuire and his staff after they signed a top-25 class. The only class among the best teams in the country for the Big 12.

Paul Myerberg pointed out Texas Tech among the winners which includes Alabama, Nebraska, and Ohio State.

The Red Raiders inked a pretty eye-opening group thanks in large part to five-star wide receiver Micah Hudson, the highest-rated signee in program history. Hudson will be expected to immediately impact a passing game that ranked last in the Big 12 in yards per attempt and interceptions during the regular season. Beyond Hudson, the class is defined by geography: All but one of Texas Tech’s 21 signees as of Wednesday afternoon came from inside the state, with other standouts including offensive lineman Ellis Davis and four-star quarterback Will Hammond.

Hudson was the first-ever five-star player to sign with Texas Tech since ranking prospects started in 2000. He is a dynamic weapon and he will be among the early enrollees along with quarterback Will Hammond.

When discussing the losers of early signing day, Myerberg pointed to the rest of the Big 12.

Texas Tech’s signing class hovered around the top 25 nationally but ranks as the best group in the Big 12, according to 247 with TCU, Central Florida and Kansas coming next. In comparison, the ACC had four, the Big Ten had six and the SEC had a whopping 13 classes ranked in the top 25. The already measurable talent gap between the league and the rest of the Power Four will only grow after signing day.

The Red Raiders capped off the 2023 season with a win over California in the Independence Bowl to finish with a winning record for the second straight season. Something that hasn’t happened since Mike Leach roamed the sidelines in Lubbock, Texas.

After finishing 15-11 in his first two seasons with the Red Raiders, the real test will come in year 3 as Tech looks to take control of the new look Big 12. They will have plenty of competition with Arizona and Utah coming in along with Arizona State and Colorado.

Former Texas Tech WRs Jerand Bradley, Myles Price announce transfer destinations

The Texas Tech duo announced their new destinations on Monday.

On Monday former Red Raider wide receivers Jerand Bradley and Myles Price both announced where they would play next. The duo will be heading in different directions as Bradley heads to the ACC and Price is Big Ten bound.

Price has spent the last four seasons with Texas Tech, this past year was his most productive from a touchdown standpoint. He hauled in 161 receptions for 1,751 yards and 10 touchdowns. In his first two seasons, he was also used as a runner with 26 attempts for 207 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Price will now join an Indiana Hoosiers squad that recently hired former James Madison head coach Curt Cignetti to run the program. Price should have ample opportunity to show what he can bring to an offense that is in desperate need of playmakers. Indiana finished 3-9 this past year which caused them to move in a new direction with the firing of Tom Allen following the season.

Bradley announced that he would be on his way to join the Boston College Eagles in 2024. Bradley joined the Red Raiders as part of the 2021 recruiting class. He showed flashes as a freshman in 2021 and was a bigger part of the offense in his redshirt freshman season of 2022. That role seemed to lessen this past season.

Bradley hauled in 92 passes for 1,274 yards, and 10 touchdowns during his three-year stint with Texas Tech. Most of his production came in 2022, the first year under head coach Joey McGuire. Bradley will give BC a legitimate threat on the perimeter. The Eagles finished the regular season with a 6-6 record under head coach Jeff Hafley.

The Red Raiders did add some talent of their own this transfer portal cycle with former Florida Gators wide receiver Caleb Douglas and former Washington State Cougars wide receiver Josh Kelly. Not to mention they will add five-star signee Micah Hudson, who is ranked as the No. 1 player in the state of Texas according to 247Sports composite rankings.

Texas Tech cruises to Independence Bowl victory in commanding offensive display

The Red Raiders held California scoreless for the final three quarters and scored 27 unanswered points to cruise to a 34-14 victory.

Texas Tech cruised to a 34-14 victory over California in the Radiance Technologies Independence Bowl behind an empowered offense and an opportunistic defense.

The Golden Bears offense was powered by running back Jaydn Ott this season, a First Team All-Pac-12 nominee. He finished the regular season averaging 114.6 yards per game, the seventh-best mark in the nation, but despite an early touchdown, the Red Raiders defense stifled him to just 45 yards on 16 carries.

On the offensive side of the ball, sophomore quarterback Behren Morton threw for 256 yards with three touchdowns and one interception. All three of his touchdown passes came in the first 21 minutes of the game, including a go-tying 15-yard score to Mason Tharp and a go-ahead touchdown pass to Loic Fouonji in the early second quarter. Texas Tech never surrendered the lead again.

Despite a touchdown pass in the opening minute of the game, California quarterback Fernando Mendoza made too many costly mistakes in the second half. With Texas Tech leading and Ott unable to get going downhill, the Golden Bears quarterback threw an interception on the first drive of the third quarter. He threw two more before the game was over and even coughed up a fumble, turning the ball over four times in seven second-half drives.

With the California offense unable to get off the ground, the Red Raiders cruised to an easy victory. Running back Tahj Brooks punched his way into the end zone in the third quarter, the highlight of a 98-yard performance. Texas Tech scored the game’s final 27 points, and the California offense didn’t score after the first quarter ended.

Here are the best photos from the Texas Tech victory.

Former Florida WR announces transfer to Big 12 program

After two years with Billy Napier’s Florida Gators, wide receiver Caleb Douglas is headed to join Texas Tech in the Big 12.

Former Florida wide receiver [autotag]Caleb Douglas[/autotag] will play for the Texas Tech Red Raiders in 2024, according to an announcement he posted on social media Wednesday afternoon.

Douglas hinted at his departure from Gainesville on Nov. 28, three days after the regular season finale against Florida State. A day later, reports of impending transfer surfaced, and Douglas made things official when he was allowed to enter the portal on Dec. 4.

A member of Billy Napier’s transition (and first) recruiting class at Florida, Douglas became a regular contributor for the Gators as a true freshman in 2022. He started two of the eight games he appeared in, reeling in 10 catches for 175 yards and two touchdowns.

Through five games as a sophomore, Douglas added 11 more catches for 133 yards and a touchdown as Florida’s No. 2 receiver. A season-ending injury, suffered during the Kentucky game, put him one game past the threshold for redshirting. He’ll leave Gainesville with two years of eligibility remaining.

Florida still has Marcus Burke, Kahleil Jackson, Andy Jean, Aidan Mizell and Eugene Wilson III remaining in the position room and expects to add three players during the early signing period, which starts in one week.

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