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Texas Tech basketball: Why 2021-22 season was a rousing success

By Matthew Conner

LUBBOCK, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 01: Guard Kevin McCullar #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after a made shot during the first half of the college basketball game against the Texas Longhorns at United Supermarkets Arena on February 01, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)
LUBBOCK, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 01: Guard Kevin McCullar #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after a made shot during the first half of the college basketball game against the Texas Longhorns at United Supermarkets Arena on February 01, 2022 in Lubbock, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 20: (L-R) Terrence Shannon Jr. #1, Marcus Santos-Silva #14 and Kevin McCullar #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrate during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – MARCH 20: (L-R) Terrence Shannon Jr. #1, Marcus Santos-Silva #14 and Kevin McCullar #15 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrate during the second half against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) /

Tech reached the Sweet 16

Though I did earlier admit that a run to the Sweet 16 is nowhere near as satisfying as it used to be for Texas Tech basketball fans, there is no denying that getting to the NCAA Tournament’s second weekend is still a major accomplishment.  And by doing that in 2022, Adams’ team had one of the best seasons in program history.

It’s been rare for Texas Tech to get to the Sweet 16.  In fact, in only five seasons has that happened.  So don’t take for granted what is required just to get to where the Red Raiders got to this March.

Remember, plenty of very good teams failed to get out of the second round.  Teams such as the defending National Champion Baylor Bears, everyone’s pre-tournament darlings Kentucky, Big East power UCONN, SEC champion Tennessee, and of course, preseason No. 5 Texas all failed to win two games in this year’s tournament.

But Texas Tech did and that’s worth celebrating.

The significance of reaching the second weekend should never be lost on a program that has only won 19 tournament games all time (if you don’t count the vacated 1996 run to the third round).  That’s because it is hard for any team to get to the Sweet 16.

Just look at how tough it was for No. 1 seed Arizona to get there this year.  The Wildcats had to go to overtime in round two to survive a feisty TCU team.

Then there was Final Four team Duke which trailed No. 7 seed Michigan State by five points in the back half of the second 20 minutes before pulling away late.  No. 1 seed Gonzaga had to trade blows with No. 8 seed Memphis in order to overcome a 10-point halftime deficit and win by four points.

Of course, Tech had their own test in the round of 32 beating Notre Dame 59-53 thanks to some late defensive heroics.  It was a reminder that no matter how good of a regular season a team has, life in the tournament is rarely easy.

So we should still celebrate this year’s run to the Sweet 16 in year one of the Adams era.  It was a great capper on what was a fantastic season of Red Raider basketball.

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