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Texas Tech basketball: Red Raiders to host Miss State in Big 12/SEC Challenge

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 07: Associate Head Coach Mark Adams of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks on during the second half of the college basketball game against the Baylor Bears on January 07, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - JANUARY 07: Associate Head Coach Mark Adams of the Texas Tech Red Raiders looks on during the second half of the college basketball game against the Baylor Bears on January 07, 2020 at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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The Texas Tech basketball program’s 2021-22 nonconference schedule continues to come together.  On Wednesday, it was announced that the Red Raiders would host Mississippi State in the next installment of the Big 12/SEC Challenge on January 29th.

Held annually on the weekend before the Super Bowl when there are no football games to televise, this trumped-up showdown between the Big 12 and the SEC is intended to get the minds of sports fans back on college hoops as the NFL season draws to a close.  And so far, it’s been the Big 12 that has put its best foot forward most often.

In the eight years of the event, the Big 12 has come out on top four times with the SEC winning only twice and the two conferences settling for a tie on two other occasions.  But last season, it was the SEC that took home the glory by winning five of the nine games that were played.

Tech has faced seven different opponents in this event if you include the Bulldogs.  In all, the Red Raiders are 5-3 in this annual showdown with the SEC including last season’s dramatic 76-71 win at LSU.

This will mark just the fourth time that Mississippi State has participated in this challenge.  They are 1-2 overall thus far including a blowout of Iowa State last season.

Last season, the Bulldogs managed to go 18-15 overall but just 8-10 in SEC play.  They did not earn a bid to the NCAA Tournament making it the tenth time in the last 11 playings of the Big Dance in which the Bulldogs missed out.

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However, the Bulldogs did pick up some nice momentum to end their 2020-21 season by performing well in the NIT.  In fact, they made it all the way to the title game where they lost to Memphis.

But, according to this power ranking from FanSided’s Busting Brackets, the Bulldogs are not expected to be all that much better in 2021-22.  In fact, contributor Matt Melton has Miss State ranked just 10th in the 14-team SEC.

Melton points out that the top three scorers from last year’s Bulldog squad will return this season and that each averaged at least 12 points per game.  The Dogs will also bring back most of their depth in the frontcourt.

Of course, trying to predict what the Red Raiders will be this upcoming season is anyone’s guess.  That’s because this program has brought in six transfers and seven newcomers thus far with more new faces almost certain to join the roster before the season begins.

All-time, the Red Raiders are 2-0 against the Bulldogs and this will be the first time that Miss State has traveled to Lubbock.  Here’s hoping they leave with their tail between their legs.

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