Five reasons the Texas Tech basketball team is back in the NCAA Tournament

Feb 23, 2016; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Toddrick Gotcher (20) leads the Red Raiders out of the locker room before the game with the TCU Horned Frogs at United Supermarkets Arena. Texas Tech defeated TCU 83-79. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 23, 2013; Lubbock, TX, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders cheerleaders on the sidelines in the game with the South Florida Bulls during the first round of the 2013 NCAA women /

Reason No. 4: Texas Tech’s fantastic non-conference schedule

This season, Texas Tech went 10-1 in non-conference play. While that stat may not seem impressive, a closer look at the teams Texas Tech beat reveals that the Red Raiders non-conference scheduling was a key to the team’s success.

Texas Tech played four NCAA Tournament teams in non-conference play going 3-1. Furthermore, Texas Tech’s non-Big 12 opponents had a combined record of 228-160 for a 67.9 winning percentage.

Only two of the 12 non-conference teams on the Texas Tech schedule had losing records this season and all but four finished above .500. Until Texas Tech played 12-20 TCU in the first round of the Big 12 Tournament, the Red Raiders had the top strength of schedule in the nation according to the RPI rankings.

Of course, the fantastic Big 12 conference helped boost Texas Tech’s strength of schedule but so did the non-conference slate put together by Athletics’ Director Kirby Hocutt and head coach Tubby Smith.

Next: Reason No. 3: Juniors that stepped up

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