
The Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team has a long history, dating back to the school's founding in 1925. With 13 regular-season conference championships and 18 NCAA tournament appearances, the team has had its fair share of successes. However, the team has never won an NCAA Basketball National Championship in March Madness, despite coming close on several occasions. In 2019, they made it to the Final Four and finished as the runner-up team, losing to Virginia in the championship game. The Raiders also won the Southwest Conference tournament championship in 1994/95 and the Southwest Conference Championship in 1962.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Texas Tech's first trip to the NCAA tournament championship game | 2019 |
| Result of the 2019 NCAA tournament championship game | Texas Tech lost to Virginia in overtime |
| Number of times Texas Tech has appeared in the National Invitation Tournament | 4 |
| Number of regular-season conference championships won | 13 |
| Number of appearances in the NCAA tournament | 21 |
| Year Texas Tech's basketball program was founded | 1925 |
| Year Texas Tech won the Southwest Conference tournament championship | 1994/95 |
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What You'll Learn

Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball history
The Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team has represented Texas Tech University in basketball since 1925. The team's first game was a 37–25 loss to Daniel Baker College. They would lose two more games before winning their first game 35–21 against Sul Ross University. The Red Raiders have won 13 regular-season conference championships and made 21 appearances in the NCAA tournament as of the 2024–2025 season. They have also appeared in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) four times.
The Red Raiders have had several notable coaches throughout their history. Berl Huffman was head coach twice, first from 1935 to 1942 and then from 1946 to 1947. During his total of eight seasons, he achieved a record of 121–67. Polk Robison served as head coach twice, from 1942 to 1946 and again from 1947 to 1961. He led the team for a total of 18 seasons, making him the second-longest-serving coach in the team's history. Gerald Myers was head coach from 1970 to 1991, the longest tenure of any Red Raiders coach. During his time, the team achieved several milestones, including wins #600, #700, #800, and #900. Myers also led the team to 16 winning seasons, two Southwest Conference championships, three SWC tournament titles, and four NCAA tournament appearances.
The Red Raiders have had some notable seasons throughout their history. In the 1994/95 season, they finished with a 20–10 record, sharing the SWC regular-season championship with Texas and earning a berth in the 1995 National Invitation Tournament. In the 1995/96 season, the team produced one of the most successful seasons in school 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" in the NCAA Tournament. In the 2005/06 season, the team finished with a 15–17 record, marking the only time that coach Bob Knight completed a season at Tech with a losing record. However, they recovered in the 2006/07 season, finishing 21–13 and earning a bid to the NCAA Tournament. On March 1, 2008, the Red Raiders defeated the top-ranked Texas team 83–80, ending the Longhorns' eight-game winning streak.
In 2019, the Texas Tech Red Raiders earned their first trip to the NCAA tournament championship game, defeating Michigan State in the Final Four. However, they lost the championship game in overtime to Virginia, 85–77. While the Red Raiders have qualified for the NCAA Tournament every year since 2016 and made it to the Sweet Sixteen three times since 2018, they have never won an NCAA Basketball National Championship in March Madness.
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Texas Tech's NCAA tournament appearances
Texas Tech's basketball team, the Red Raiders, has a long history of NCAA tournament appearances. The team was founded in 1925 and has since won 13 regular-season conference championships and made 21 appearances in the NCAA tournament as of the 2024-2025 season. The Red Raiders compete in NCAA Division I and have been a member of the Big 12 Conference since its first season in 1996.
The Red Raiders have appeared in the NCAA tournament 20 times, including an appearance in the Sweet Sixteen in 2005. The team has never won an NCAA Basketball National Championship in March Madness, but their best finish was in 2019 when they became the runner-up team and made their only Final Four appearance. Texas Tech earned their first trip to the NCAA tournament championship game with a Final Four win over Michigan State that year.
Before the 2019 season, the Red Raiders had not received a bid to the NCAA tournament since 1996, when they appeared in the Sweet Sixteen. This appearance was later vacated due to ineligible players. During Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight's tenure from 2001 to 2008, the team received five postseason bids, participating in four NCAA tournaments and one National Invitation Tournament (NIT). Knight's leadership helped improve the program, and he led the Red Raiders to three NCAA Tournament appearances in his first four years.
The Red Raiders have had several notable seasons throughout their history. In the 1937-38 season, the team's moniker was officially changed to the "Red Raiders," which remains their nickname today. In 1942, Texas Tech received its first postseason bid to the National Association of Intercollegiate Basketball (NAIB) tournament. The Raiders won the Southwest Conference tournament championship in 1962, securing their league's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. They finished the 1994/95 season with a 20-10 record, sharing the SWC regular-season championship with Texas and earning a berth in the 1995 NIT. More recently, the Red Raiders have qualified for the NCAA Tournament every year since 2016.
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Texas Tech's 2018-2019 season
The Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team has never won an NCAA Basketball National Championship, despite qualifying for the NCAA Tournament every year since 2016. 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.
In the 2018-2019 season, the Red Raiders had a strong start to their campaign, winning their first ten games. They defeated Incarnate Word, Mississippi Valley State, Southeastern Louisiana, Southern California, Nebraska, Northern Colorado, Memphis, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Northwestern State, and Abilene Christian. However, their winning streak came to an end on December 20, 2018, when they suffered their first loss of the season against Duke, with a final score of 58-69.
The Red Raiders quickly bounced back from their loss and went on to win their next two games against Texas-Rio Grande Valley and West Virginia. On January 26, 2019, they secured another victory, this time against Arkansas, with a final score of 67-64. The team continued their winning ways and, on March 1, 2019, they earned their first trip to the NCAA tournament championship game with a Final Four win over Michigan State.
Unfortunately, their dream season fell just short as, on April 6, 2019, the Red Raiders lost the NCAA tournament championship game in a close contest against Virginia, with the game going into overtime and ending with a score of 85-77 in Virginia's favor. Despite the loss, the 2018-2019 season marked a historic milestone for the Texas Tech Red Raiders, as it was the first time they had advanced so deep into the NCAA Tournament.
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Texas Tech's 1994/95 season
The Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team has a long and storied history, with the team being founded in 1925, the same year Texas Tech University opened its doors. While the team has never won an NCAA Basketball National Championship, they have enjoyed numerous successes over the years, including their 1994/95 season.
The 1994–95 season was a memorable one for the Texas Tech Red Raiders men's basketball team. The team was coached by James Dickey, who was in his fourth year at the helm. The Raiders represented Texas Tech University in the Southwest Conference during the 1994–95 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. They played their home games in the Lubbock Municipal Coliseum in Lubbock, Texas.
This season, the Raiders shared the SWC regular-season championship with Texas, finishing with an impressive 20–10 record. This success earned them a berth in the 1995 National Invitation Tournament, showcasing their talent on a national stage. The 1994/95 season marked the second time in the program's history that the Raiders won the Southwest Conference tournament championship, securing their place in the NCAA tournament.
The Raiders' performance in the 1994/95 season was a testament to their hard work and dedication. It also highlighted the impact of Coach Dickey, who had been with the team since 1991. This season's accomplishments added to the team's rich history, which includes 13 regular-season conference championships and numerous appearances in the NCAA tournament, solidifying their reputation as one of the oldest and most respected college basketball programs in the United States.
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Texas Tech's 2008 season
The 2007-2008 Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team finished 16-15 overall and 7-9 in Big 12 Conference play. This season marked the final year that Hall of Fame coach Bob Knight led a team; he resigned with 11 games remaining, passing the torch to his son and assistant coach, Pat Knight, who took over head coaching responsibilities full-time in 2008-2009.
On March 1, 2008, the Red Raiders defeated #5 Texas 83-80, ending a month-long, eight-game winning streak for the Longhorns. However, the Raiders finished the regular season with back-to-back losses to Kansas and Baylor, and then another loss to Oklahoma State in the first round of the Big 12 men's basketball tournament. The team did not receive an invitation to the NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship or the National Invitation Tournament.
The 2008-2009 Texas Tech Red Raiders basketball team had an upset win over #9 Kansas, 84-65, on senior night. Senior Alan Voskuil had a career-high 35 points, going 9-14 from 3-point range. However, the team's only chance at making the postseason was to win the Big 12 tournament, which they did not.
Texas Tech's football team also opened its 2008 season amid unprecedented hype. The team returned star quarterback Graham Harrell, record-setting wide receiver Michael Crabtree, and all five offensive linemen. The promotion of Ruffin McNeil to defensive coordinator was expected to boost the defense. The team's No.14 preseason ranking in the USA Today Coaches' Poll and No.12 ranking in the Associated Press Poll reflected the high expectations for head coach Mike Leach's ninth season in Lubbock.
The season started with an easy win against Eastern Washington, but it was not the blowout victory that fans had hoped for, leading to some claims that the team was overrated.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Texas Tech has never won the NCAA basketball national championship.
The Texas Tech Red Raiders have been to the NCAA tournament 18 times as of the 2024-2025 season. They have qualified every year since 2016.
Texas Tech's best finish in the NCAA tournament was in 2019 when they were the runner-up team. This was also the year of their only Final Four appearance.
The Texas Tech basketball team is called the Red Raiders.











































