Texas Tech Red Raiders Men’s Basketball: Strengths, Weaknesses, and Potential Challenges

Estimated read time 10 min read

The Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team represents Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. The team competes in NCAA Division I and is a member of the Big 12 Conference. The Red Raiders have won 13 regular season conference championships and 2 conference tournament championships. They have also made 17 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight in 2018 and the National Championship Game in 2022.

  • Team Name: Texas Tech Red Raiders
  • Short Name: Red Raiders
  • Team Owner(s): Texas Tech University
  • Prominent Players: Kevin Obanor, Davion Warren, Adonis Arms, Kevin McCullar, Terrence Shannon Jr., Bryson Williams, Timmy Allen

Some of the most prominent players in Texas Tech men’s basketball history include:

  • Kevin Obanor: A 6’10” forward who was a consensus All-American in 2022.
  • Davion Warren: A 6’5″ guard who was named the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2022.
  • Adonis Arms: A 6’7″ forward who was a key contributor to the Red Raiders’ 2022 National Championship run.
  • Kevin McCullar: A 6’6″ guard who was a two-time All-Big 12 selection.
  • Terrence Shannon Jr.: A 6’6″ guard who was a key contributor to the Red Raiders’ 2018 Elite Eight run.
  • Bryson Williams: A 6’8″ forward who was a two-time All-Big 12 selection.
  • Timmy Allen: A 6’6″ forward who was a two-time All-Big 12 selection.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team is a storied program with a rich history. They have had a number of successful seasons in recent years, and they are a team to watch in the future.

History about Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball Team

The Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team was founded in 1925. The team was originally called the Matadors, but they changed their name to the Red Raiders in 1936. The Red Raiders have competed in NCAA Division I since the 1956-57 season. They have won 13 regular season conference championships and 2 conference tournament championships. They have also made 17 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight in 2018 and the National Championship Game in 2022.

  • Founding: The Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team was founded in 1925. The team was originally called the Matadors. The Matadors played their home games at Tech Fieldhouse, which was located on the campus of Texas Technological College (now Texas Tech University).
  • Early years: The Matadors were a successful team in the early years, winning the Border Conference championship in 1928 and 1930. The team also made appearances in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) in 1938 and 1940.
  • Name change: In 1936, the Matadors changed their name to the Red Raiders. The name change was inspired by the longhorn cattle that are native to the state of Texas.
  • Move to NCAA Division I: In 1956, the Red Raiders moved to NCAA Division I. The team joined the Border Conference, which was later renamed the Southwest Conference.
  • Conference championships: The Red Raiders won their first regular season conference championship in 1964. They won their first conference tournament championship in 1974.
  • NCAA Tournament appearances: The Red Raiders have made 17 appearances in the NCAA Tournament. Their best finish was reaching the Elite Eight in 1996 and 2018.
  • National Championship: The Red Raiders won the National Championship in 2022, defeating Virginia in the final. This was the first National Championship in program history.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team is a storied program with a rich history. They have had a number of successful seasons in recent years, and they are a team to watch in the future.

Here are some of the team’s most notable moments in history, year-wise:

  • 1936: The team changes its name from the Matadors to the Red Raiders.
  • 1956: The Red Raiders join the Border Conference.
  • 1964: The Red Raiders win their first regular season conference championship.
  • 1974: The Red Raiders win their first conference tournament championship.
  • 1996: The Red Raiders are forced to vacate their 1996 regular season conference championship due to NCAA violations.
  • 2006: Bob Knight is hired as the Red Raiders’ head coach.
  • 2008: The Red Raiders reach the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996.
  • 2018: The Red Raiders reach the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996.
  • 2022: The Red Raiders win the National Championship, defeating Virginia in the final.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team is a storied program with a rich history. They have had a number of successful seasons in recent years, and they are a team to watch in the future.

Coaching Staff Information about Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball Team

Head Coach: Grant McCasland

  • McCasland was hired as the Red Raiders’ head coach in April 2022. He came to Texas Tech after spending five seasons as the head coach at North Texas.
  • McCasland is a native of Oklahoma and played college basketball at Oral Roberts University. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Oral Roberts in 2001.
  • McCasland’s coaching philosophy is based on defense and rebounding. He also emphasizes playing fast and in transition.

Assistant Coach: Matt Braeuer

  • Braeuer was hired as an assistant coach at Texas Tech in April 2022. He came to Texas Tech after spending five seasons as an assistant coach at North Texas.
  • Braeuer is a native of Minnesota and played college basketball at North Dakota State University. He began his coaching career as an assistant at North Dakota State in 2006.
  • Braeuer’s coaching philosophy is based on player development and helping players reach their full potential. He also emphasizes playing hard and with a lot of energy.

Assistant Coach: Achoki Moikobu

  • Moikobu was hired as an assistant coach at Texas Tech in April 2022. He came to Texas Tech after spending four seasons as an assistant coach at North Texas.
  • Moikobu is a native of Kenya and played college basketball at the University of Nebraska-Omaha. He began his coaching career as an assistant at Nebraska-Omaha in 2013.
  • Moikobu’s coaching philosophy is based on playing with a lot of energy and enthusiasm. He also emphasizes helping players develop their skills and become better basketball players.

The Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team is under the leadership of a talented and experienced coaching staff. The team is looking to build on its success from last season and make another run at the NCAA Tournament.

Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball Team information about players

NameJerseyPositionHeightWeightYear in High SchoolRating
Kevin Obanor23Forward6’10”240 lbs20174-star
Davion Warren2Guard6’5″185 lbs20195-star
Adonis Arms12Forward6’7″215 lbs20194-star
Kevin McCullar10Guard6’6″190 lbs20184-star
Terrence Shannon Jr.3Guard6’6″210 lbs20185-star
Bryson Williams15Forward6’8″225 lbs20184-star
Timmy Allen4Forward6’6″200 lbs20174-star

These players are all talented and experienced, and they are expected to be key contributors for the Red Raiders this season. They are all capable of scoring points, rebounding, and defending, and they will be a major part of the team’s success.

The table also includes the players’ jersey numbers, positions, heights, weights, years in high school, and recruiting ratings. The recruiting ratings are based on a scale of 1 to 5 stars, with 5 being the highest rating.

Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball Team’s last 10 years of records

YearWinsLossesOverall RecordConference Record
2022-2023271239-1210-6
2021-202232638-614-4
2020-2021181331-137-11
2019-2020221234-128-10
2018-2019271037-1013-5
2017-201827936-912-6
2016-2017201333-136-12
2015-2016191231-125-13
2014-2015191433-147-11

As you can see, the Red Raiders have had a lot of success in recent years. They have made the NCAA Tournament in 8 of the last 10 seasons, and they have reached the Elite Eight twice. The team is looking to continue its success in the years to come.

Season Preview: Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball Team

Here is a discussion of the upcoming season for the Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team:

Major changes to the roster:

The Red Raiders are coming off a successful season, in which they reached the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. They lost to eventual national champion Kansas, but they showed that they are a team to be reckoned with.

The team has undergone some changes since last season. Kevin Obanor and Davion Warren have both moved on to the NBA, but the Red Raiders have brought in some talented recruits to replace them.

Team’s strengths:

One of the team’s strengths is its depth. The Red Raiders have a lot of players who can contribute, and they will be able to go 10 deep on most nights. This will be important in the Big 12 Conference, which is one of the toughest conferences in college basketball.

Another strength of the team is its defense. The Red Raiders are known for their tough defense, and they will be looking to keep teams in check this season.

Team’s weaknesses:

One of the team’s weaknesses is its lack of experience. The Red Raiders have a lot of new players, and they will need to learn how to play together. This could be a challenge early in the season, but the team should be able to gel as the season progresses.

Potential challenges they may face:

Another challenge the team could face is its schedule. The Red Raiders have a tough schedule, and they will need to be prepared for every game. They will face some of the best teams in the country, and they will need to be at their best to win.

Overall, the Red Raiders are a team with a lot of potential. They have a talented roster, and they have a good coach in Grant McCasland. The team could be a contender for the Big 12 title this season, and they could make another deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

2023-2024 Schedule:

Texas Tech Red Raiders Schedule

DateOpponentTimeTV
November 7vs. UT Arlington8:00 PM CTESPN+
November 10at Oral Roberts7:00 PM CTESPN+
November 14at Maui Jim Maui Invitational9:30 PM CTESPN
November 16at Maui Jim Maui Invitational12:30 PM CTESPN
November 19vs. Southern7:00 PM CTESPN+
November 22vs. Stephen F. Austin7:00 PM CTESPN+
November 25vs. Houston Baptist7:00 PM CTESPN+
November 29vs. TCU12:00 PM CTESPN+
December 2vs. Texas7:00 PM CTESPN
December 5vs. New Mexico State7:00 PM CTESPN+
December 9vs. TCU7:00 PM CTESPN+
December 12vs. Oral Roberts7:00 PM CTESPN+
December 17vs. Oklahoma7:00 PM CTESPN
December 21vs. Baylor7:00 PM CTESPN
December 29at Kansas State12:00 PM CTESPN
January 2at Oklahoma State7:00 PM CTESPN
January 5vs. Kansas7:00 PM CTESPN
January 8at TCU3:00 PM CTESPN
January 12vs. Iowa State7:00 PM CTESPN
January 15at Texas7:00 PM CTESPN
January 19vs. Oklahoma7:00 PM CTESPN
January 22at Baylor7:00 PM CTESPN
January 26vs. Kansas State7:00 PM CTESPN
January 29at West Virginia7:00 PM CTESPN
February 2vs. TCU7:00 PM CTESPN
February 5at Iowa State7:00 PM CTESPN
February 9vs. Texas Tech7:00 PM CTESPN

FAQs about the Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team

1. What is the team’s nickname?

The Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team is nicknamed the Red Raiders. The nickname was inspired by the longhorn cattle that are native to the state of Texas.

2. Who is the team’s head coach?

The Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team’s head coach is Grant McCasland. McCasland was hired as the Red Raiders’ head coach in April 2022. He came to Texas Tech after spending five seasons as the head coach at North Texas.

3. What are the team’s colors?

The Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team’s colors are scarlet and black. The team’s home court is the United Supermarkets Arena, which is located on the campus of Texas Tech University.

4. What are the team’s biggest rivals?

The Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team’s biggest rivals are the Texas Longhorns, the TCU Horned Frogs, and the Baylor Bears. These teams are all members of the Big 12 Conference, and they have played each other for many years.

5. What are the team’s most notable accomplishments?

The Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team has won 13 regular season conference championships and 2 conference tournament championships. The team has also made 17 appearances in the NCAA Tournament, reaching the Elite Eight in 1996 and 2022.

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