Ayrton Oneill
The Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team has a rich history, with the 2024-25 season marking their 20th appearance in the NCAA tournament. The team has had several notable coaches, including Berl Huffman, Polk Robison, and Bob Knight, who led the team to many victories and a successful record. In the 2005-06 season, the ESPN reality TV show Knight School followed Knight and the Red Raiders. In recent years, under coaches like Grant McCasland and Chris Beard, the team has continued to perform well, reaching the Elite Eight and the NCAA tournament championship game for the first time in 2019. With a new practice facility and a strong record, the Texas Tech Red Raiders are a force to be reckoned with in college basketball.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Basketball Team Name | Texas Tech Red Raiders |
| 2024-25 Season Ranking | Top-10 AP ranking |
| 2024-25 NCAA Tournament Seed | No. 3 seed |
| Number of Appearances in the NCAA Tournament | 20 times |
| Combined Record (including vacated games) | 22-21 |
| Combined Record (excluding vacated games) | 20-20 |
| 2005-06 Season Record | 15-17 |
| 2006-07 Season Record | 21-13 |
| Number of Wins in Knight's First Six Years | 126 |
| Knight's Average Number of Wins Per Season | 21 |
| Number of Wins for Polk Robison | 254 |
| Number of Losses for Polk Robison | 195 |
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What You'll Learn
Texas Tech Red Raiders' historical performance
The Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team has had a long and varied history, with many notable achievements and milestones. The team first began competing in 1932 and has since amassed a winning record, with 574 wins, 460 losses, and 24 ties.
During the 1930s and 1940s, the team was led by head coach Berl Huffman, who had two stints at the helm, coaching from 1935 to 1942 and then again from 1946 to 1947. Huffman's overall record during his eight seasons was an impressive 121-67. He was followed by Polk Robison, who also served twice as the head coach, with a total of 18 seasons, the second-longest tenure for a Red Raiders basketball coach. Robison led the team to 254 wins and 195 losses and guided them to their first two NCAA tournament appearances.
The Red Raiders then had a very successful period during the 1990s under coach James Dickey. In the 1994/95 season, the team finished with a 20-10 record, sharing the SWC regular-season championship and earning a place in the 1995 National Invitation Tournament. The following season, Dickey's team produced one of the most memorable campaigns in the team's history, finishing 30-2 overall and undefeated in conference play. They won the SWC regular-season championship and the conference tournament title, advancing to the "Sweet Sixteen" of the NCAA Tournament and finishing highly in both the AP and Coaches' Polls.
The 2005/06 season marked a rare losing season for the Red Raiders, as they finished with a 15-17 record under coach Bob Knight. However, they bounced back the following season, going 21-13 and returning to the NCAA Tournament. Knight's teams continued to improve, and during his first six years, the Red Raiders won 126 games, an average of 21 wins per season. On New Year's Day 2007, Knight earned his 880th career victory, making him the winningest coach in men's college basketball history at the time.
More recently, in the 2015/16 season, the Red Raiders, coached by Chris Beard, returned to the NCAA Tournament after a nine-year drought. They earned an 8-seed in the East Regional but were defeated in the Round of 64 by Butler. In his second season, Beard led the team to the Elite Eight for the first time in school history, with a memorable win over the Purdue Boilermakers. The Red Raiders have continued to be a competitive force in college basketball and are regularly ranked in the AP Poll.
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Texas Tech's head coaches
The Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball program has had 17 head coaches since its first season in 1925–26. The team was known as the "Matadors" from 1925 to 1936, reflecting the influence of the Spanish Renaissance architecture on campus. Grady Higginbotham was the first head coach of the Matadors, leading the program for two seasons before being replaced by Victor Payne. In 1932, Texas Tech joined the Border Intercollegiate Athletic Association (also known as the Border Conference), and in their first season, the team's fourth head coach, Dell Morgan, went undefeated, winning the first of three consecutive Border Conference championships.
Berl Huffman was head coach during the team's first postseason bid in 1942 to the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) tournament. Huffman's successor, Polk Robison, led Texas Tech to their first NCAA tournament appearance in 1956, also beginning a three-year conference championship winning streak. Texas Tech accumulated five conference championships and one co-championship before withdrawing from the Border Conference in 1956.
In 1957, Texas Tech joined the Southwest Conference (SWC), where they continued their success, winning four conference championships and three conference co-championships. The university remained in the SWC until the conference ceased operations in 1996. Texas Tech then became a charter member of the South Division of the Big 12 Conference. After joining the Big 12 Conference, the Red Raiders did not receive a bid to the postseason until 2002, when Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight was hired. During Knight's six-year tenure, Texas Tech received five postseason bids and participated in four NCAA tournaments and one National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Bob Knight resigned during the 2007-08 season, and his son, Pat Knight, became the 13th head coach. Pat Knight led the Red Raiders to the NIT quarterfinals in the 2009-10 season but was terminated after failing to make the NCAA tournament and compiling a 16-42 Big 12 Conference record over three and a half seasons. Billy Clyde Gillispie, a former head coach of the Kentucky Wildcats, Texas A&M Aggies, and UTEP Miners, was hired as the 14th head coach in 2011. As of 2025, Grant McCasland is the current head coach of the Texas Tech men's basketball program.
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Texas Tech's performance in the NCAA tournament
One of the most successful seasons in Texas Tech's history came in 1995-96 under coach James Dickey. The team finished 30-2 overall, undefeated in conference play, and advanced to the "Sweet Sixteen" in the NCAA Tournament. However, this success was short-lived due to eligibility issues, and Dickey's tenure ended abruptly. The team suffered four consecutive losing seasons, and he was eventually fired after the 2000-01 season.
Bob Knight took over as head coach from 2001 to 2008 and quickly turned the program around. In his first four years, Knight led the team to three NCAA Tournament appearances, showcasing their improved performance. Mark Adams, who served as head coach in 2021-22, also had a notable run, leading the team to the Sweet 16 by beating Montana State and Notre Dame.
In recent years, Texas Tech has continued to perform well, with Grant McCasland as the current head coach. In 2024, the team entered the NCAA Tournament seeking a return to the Final Four. Their performance has been impressive, with six consecutive wins, including an overtime victory against Houston. Texas Tech's resilience and ability to overcome challenges, such as the ejection of star forward JT Toppin, has put their skills and determination on full display.
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Texas Tech's performance in the 2024-25 season
The 2024–25 Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team represented Texas Tech University during the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The team was led by second-year coach Grant McCasland and played their home games at the United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas.
The Red Raiders finished the 2023–24 season with a record of 23–11, performing well in Big 12 play to finish in a tie for third place. As the No. 4 seed in the Big 12 tournament, they defeated BYU in the quarterfinals but lost to Houston in the semifinals. The team then received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament as a No. 6 seed in the South Region, where they were unfortunately defeated by NC State in the first round.
The team's record of 28-8 (15-5 in Big 12) placed them 9th in the March 17th AP Poll. Their offensive and defensive ratings were impressive, with an ORtg of 119.8 and a DRtg of 100.7. The Red Raiders' scoring average was also notable, with a PS/G of 80.9, while they managed to hold their opponents to a lower scoring average, conceding only 68.0 points per game (PA/G).
The Texas Tech Red Raiders' performance in the 2024–25 NCAA Tournament further highlighted their success. As the #3 seed in the West, they won three consecutive games to advance through the first three rounds: an opening-round victory over #14 UNC Wilmington, a second-round win against #11 Drake, and a thrilling one-point victory over #10 Arkansas in the regional semifinal.
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Texas Tech's performance against Arkansas
Texas Tech's basketball team, the Red Raiders, faced off against Arkansas in the Sweet 16 round of the 2025 NCAA Tournament. The Red Raiders mounted a 16-point comeback in the second half to force overtime, ultimately winning the game 85-83. This marked the second-largest comeback win in Sweet 16 history.
Darrion Williams was the catalyst for Texas Tech, making key shots when needed. With seven seconds left, Williams made a game-tying 3-pointer to send the game into overtime, before scoring a game-winning layup in the extra period. Williams finished the game with 20 points. Arkansas's Johnell Davis also put on an impressive performance, scoring a game-high 30 points.
Prior to the game, Texas Tech had some concerns about their guard, Chance McMillian, who had not yet played in the tournament and had a questionable status. McMillian's absence would put more of a scoring load on key players JT Toppin and Darrion Williams. Additionally, Arkansas had an excellent defensive frontcourt with Jonas Aidoo and Zvonimir Ivisic, which could potentially frustrate the Texas Tech offense. However, Texas Tech had the advantage in various efficiency metrics.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Arkansas's Brazile making a 3-pointer to tie the game at 81. Arkansas's Knox then drove the baseline for a tough layup but couldn't convert the free throw. With seven seconds left, Williams made the game-winning layup, securing the victory for Texas Tech.
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Frequently asked questions
In the 2024-25 season, Texas Tech was ranked within the top 10 in the AP rankings and earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament.
Texas Tech has appeared in the NCAA tournament 20 times. Their combined record is 22-21 (20-20 without vacated games).
Mark Adams is the head coach for Texas Tech. He was promoted to the position on April 5, 2021, after serving as an assistant coach for six seasons.
