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Texas Tech basketball: Opponents we would like to see in Big 12/SEC Challenge

By Matthew Conner

DES MOINES, IA - MARCH 17: The mascot for the Kentucky Wildcats is seen in the second half as they take on the Stony Brook Seawolves during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 17, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
DES MOINES, IA - MARCH 17: The mascot for the Kentucky Wildcats is seen in the second half as they take on the Stony Brook Seawolves during the first round of the 2016 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Wells Fargo Arena on March 17, 2016 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
(Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Kentucky

How fascinating would it be to see one of the most successful program’s in the nation come to the U.S.A., which has come to be one of the toughest road environments in the country?  Unfortunately, Tech has not been able to bring a marquee non-conference team to Lubbock in the Beard era but coming off of the season Tech just completed, this seems like the perfect time for the Red Raiders and Kentucky Wildcats to make acquaintances.

We know the benefits for the Red Raiders.  Playing Kentucky would be a huge platform for Tech to showcase its program’s continued rise in a game that would certainly be broadcast on ESPN and likely in primetime.  In fact, this matchup would be a great opportunity for College Game Day to return to Lubbock after being in town for the 2018 Kansas game.

A game against the Wildcats would feel similar to the game with Duke back in December.  It was the biggest measuring stick of the non-conference slate for Beard’s team and drew tremendous interest among the fan base while generating considerable buzz nationally.

But that game took place in New York City, not Lubbock.  Bringing Kentucky to the South Plains would cause a stir in the community that would rival that of any game in Texas Tech history, regardless of sport and it is the type of game Red Raider fans deserve to have on campus.

For Kentucky, this would be a great opportunity to play a key resume-boosting game against what most expect to be a top-15 caliber team.  No longer would the Wildcats look down on the prospects of playing the Red Raiders because Tech basketball carries the type of weight that is needed to bring the Cats to town.

What’s more, Kentucky might be looking for a new opponent in this event.  Kansas is the only true blue-blood in the Big 12 making it tough to find another opponent worthy of taking on Kentucky.

So far, the Wildcats have taken on Kansas three times in the Challenge.  They have also faced Texas, Baylor and West Virginia.  Now it is time for a new Big 12 team to get its shot at the SEC’s top program.

Tech has faced Kentucky only four times in basketball and not since 1994, which is not surprising given the disparity between the prestige of the two programs.  But if there was ever a time for these two teams to meet once again, it would be now as the Red Raiders have joined the Wildcats as one of the most intriguing programs in the sport as both are projected to begin next season as top 15 programs.

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