Ayrton Oneill
The Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team has never won an NCAA Basketball National Championship, despite qualifying for the NCAA Tournament 18 times in their history. The team was founded in 1925 and has won 13 regular-season conference championships and made 21 appearances in the NCAA Tournament as of the 2024-2025 season. The Raiders' best finish in the NCAA Tournament was in 2019 when they were the runner-up team, marking their only Final Four appearance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of NCAA Tournament Appearances | 18 or 19 |
| First Appearance | 1954 |
| Best Finish | Runner-up (2019) |
| Number of Final Four Appearances | 1 |
| Number of Elite Eight Appearances | 2 (2018, 2019) |
| Number of Conference Championships | 13 (Regular Season), 5 (Tournament) |
| Number of Southwest Conference Championships | 2 |
| Number of SWC Tournament Titles | 3 |
| Number of NCAA Tournament Appearances (as of 2024-2025 season) | 21 |
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What You'll Learn
Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball history
The Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team has a long history, dating back to the founding of the basketball program in 1925, the same year Texas Tech University opened its doors. The team has had its fair share of successes and setbacks over the years, with numerous appearances in the NCAA Tournament and several notable coaching tenures.
In their early years, the Red Raiders struggled, losing their first three games before clinching their first victory against Sul Ross University. The team has come a long way since then, making 21 appearances in the NCAA Tournament as of the 2024-2025 season, with their first appearance coming in 1954. They have also won 13 regular-season conference championships.
One of the most successful eras for the Red Raiders came under the leadership of coach Gerald Myers, who served from 1970 to 1991. During his tenure, the team achieved several milestones, including wins #600, #700, #800, and #900. Myers led the Red Raiders to 16 winning seasons, two Southwest Conference championships, three SWC tournament titles, and four NCAA tournament berths.
Another notable coach, Bob Knight, served as the Texas Tech men's basketball head coach from 2001 to 2008. During his tenure, the Red Raiders added to their success, winning 126 games in his first six years, averaging 21 wins per season. Knight became the highest-winning coach in men's college basketball history in 2007 when he recorded his 880th career victory.
More recently, in the 2018-2019 season, the Red Raiders reached the NCAA men's tournament national championship game for the first time in their history but ultimately fell short, losing to Virginia. Despite not having won a national championship, the Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team has had numerous achievements and continues to strive for success in the highly competitive world of college basketball.
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NCAA Tournament appearances
The Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team has made 21 appearances in the NCAA Tournament as of the 2024-2025 season, with 1954 marking their first appearance. They have made it to the tournament every year since 2016.
The team has had a number of notable NCAA Tournament appearances. In 1995, the Raiders finished the season with a 20-10 record, sharing the SWC regular-season championship with Texas. The following year, they had one of their most successful seasons, finishing 30-2 overall and undefeated in conference play, winning both the SWC regular-season championship and the conference tournament title. They advanced to the Sweet Sixteen in the NCAA Tournament and finished #8 in the AP poll and #10 in the Coaches' Poll.
In 2018, the Texas Tech Red Raiders made it to the Elite Eight, losing to the eventual national champion, Villanova. The following year, they had their best finish in the NCAA Tournament, becoming the runner-up team and making their only Final Four appearance. They also made it to the Sweet Sixteen that year.
In 2019, the Raiders defeated Michigan State in the Final Four to reach the championship game, where they faced Virginia. This was the first time the men's basketball program had reached the national championship game. However, they ultimately lost to Virginia, ending the most successful season in school history.
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Texas Tech's best NCAA Tournament finish
The Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team has never won the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament, despite qualifying 21 times as of the 2024-2025 season. The team first qualified for the tournament in 1954 and has since made it to the Sweet Sixteen three times, the Elite Eight twice, and the Final Four once.
Texas Tech's basketball program began in 1925, the same year the school opened its doors. The team has won 13 regular-season conference championships and has competed in the Border Conference, the Southwest Conference, and the Big 12 Conference, which it joined in 1996.
The Red Raiders have had several notable coaches throughout their history, including Bob Bass, Gerald Myers, Bob Knight, and Chris Beard. Under their leadership, the team has achieved numerous milestones and enjoyed many successful seasons.
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Texas Tech's basketball program founding
The Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball program began in 1925, just two years after the school was founded. The team was initially called the Matadors, reflecting the influence of the Spanish Renaissance architecture on campus. Grady Higginbotham was the first head coach, leading the team for two seasons and earning a record of 14-18. He was followed by Victor Payne, who coached the Matadors from 1927 to 1930 and tallied 32 wins and 20 losses.
In 1932, Texas Tech was admitted to the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association, also known as the Border Conference. In their first season, Texas Tech's fourth head coach, Dell Morgan, led the team to an undefeated season and their first-ever conference championship. The Matadors moniker was short-lived, however, and in 1937 it was officially replaced with the "Red Raiders", which remains the team's nickname today.
Berl Huffman served as head coach twice, from 1935 to 1942 and then from 1946 to 1947, with an overall record of 121-67. Huffman was followed by Polk Robison, who led the Red Raiders to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1956 and a three-year conference championship winning streak. Robison's 18 seasons as head coach included 254 wins and 195 losses, as well as the first two NCAA tournament appearances in school history.
The Red Raiders have since had several notable coaches, including Gene Gibson, Bob Bass, Bob Knight, and Chris Beard, who led the team to their first Elite Eight in 2018 and Final Four in 2019. The program has won a total of 18 conference titles, with the most recent one being in 2019.
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Texas Tech's head basketball coaches
The Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team has had several notable head coaches throughout its history, representing Texas Tech University in the NCAA Division I. Here is an overview of some of the prominent head coaches:
Grady Higginbotham
Grady Higginbotham was the first head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders, then known as the Matadors, from 1925 to 1927. He led the program for its first two seasons.
Dell Morgan
Dell Morgan took over as the fourth head coach of the team in 1932, the same year Texas Tech joined the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association. In his first season, Morgan led the team to an undefeated season, winning the first of three consecutive Border Conference championships.
Polk Robison
Polk Robison succeeded Berl Huffman and led the Texas Tech Red Raiders to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1956. Robison oversaw a successful era, winning three consecutive conference championships from 1956 to 1958.
Bob Bass
Bob Bass had a brief stint with the Red Raiders, leading the program for a season and a half. During his tenure, he achieved a 22-15 record before returning to professional basketball coaching.
Gerald Myers
Gerald Myers served as the head coach of the Red Raiders for two decades, from 1970 to 1991. His tenure was the longest of any head coach in the program's history. Myers led the team to numerous milestones, including 16 winning seasons, two Southwest Conference championships, three SWC tournament titles, and four NCAA tournament appearances. He holds the record for the most wins in Texas Tech history with a career record of 326-261.
Bob Knight
Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight was hired in 2001, and his tenure marked a successful period for the Red Raiders. During his six years with the program, Knight led the team to five postseason bids, including four NCAA tournaments and one National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Red Raiders' best finish in the NIT was in 2003, where they placed third.
Chris Beard
Chris Beard, along with Bob Knight, was responsible for seven of the team's eight NCAA tournament appearances since 2000. Beard's tenure culminated in a historic 2020-21 season, where the Red Raiders reached their first-ever national title game, ultimately losing to the Virginia Cavaliers in overtime. Beard then departed for the University of Texas, leaving a lasting impact on the program.
Mark Adams
Mark Adams, a Texas Tech alumnus and longtime coach in West Texas, was promoted to head coach in 2021 after serving as Beard's assistant for six seasons.
Billy Clyde Gillispie
Billy Clyde Gillispie was hired as the 14th head coach of the Texas Tech men's basketball program in 2011. He previously had head coaching stints at notable programs such as Kentucky, Texas A&M, and UTEP.
Grant McCasland
Grant McCasland is the current head coach of the Texas Tech Red Raiders as of 2023. He previously coached at North Texas, guiding them to two postseason tournament championships. McCasland also has coaching experience at various colleges, including his alma mater, Baylor.
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Frequently asked questions
No, the Texas Tech Red Raiders have never won an NCAA Basketball National Championship.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders have reached the NCAA Tournament 18 times, with 21 appearances as of the 2024-2025 season.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders' best finish was in 2019 when they were the runner-up team.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders have won 13 regular-season conference championships and have made one Final Four appearance. They have also reached the Elite Eight twice, in 2018 and 2019.
