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Texas Tech basketball: Analyzing the Red Raiders 2023-24 non-conference schedule

By Matthew Conner

Feb 25, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; A general view of the Texas Tech Double T on the court before the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2023; Lubbock, Texas, USA; A general view of the Texas Tech Double T on the court before the game between the TCU Horned Frogs and the Texas Tech Red Raiders at United Supermarkets Arena. Mandatory Credit: Michael C. Johnson-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 4, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Jerry Stackhouse before the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Memorial Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 4, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Vanderbilt Commodores head coach Jerry Stackhouse before the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Memorial Gymnasium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Playing Vanderbilt in Fort Worth will be a sneaky-tough test for Texas Tech

Though the Big 12/SEC Challenge is no more, Tech will still have some SEC flavor on the schedule this season.  On December 16, the Red Raiders will face Vanderbilt in a neutral-site game in Fort Worth.  This is a game that Tech fans should not take for granted.

Now, the Commodores are no powerhouse but they did manage to go 22-15 overall and 11-7 in conference play last season as it appears that head coach Jerry Stackhouse has his program trending upward after four seasons on the job.

Reaching the third round of the N.I.T., Vandy played in the postseason for the second consecutive year.  However, the program has not reached the Big Dance since 2017.

What will be interesting when it comes to Stackhouse’s program is whether that momentum can be sustained.  The program saw seven players transfer out this offseason and brought in only four players from the portal.

Tops among that group is former Texas A&M Aggie, Jordan Williams.  The 6-foot-3 sophomore redshirted last season but was the No. 39 point guard in the nation coming out of high school in 2022.

One Commodore that Tech fans may remember is Tyrin Lawrence.  This offseason, the guard who averaged 13.1 points per game in 2022-23 entered the transfer portal and even took a visit to Lubbock before deciding to return to Nashville.

Vandy likely will be picked to finish near the middle to bottom of the tough SEC this year.  Of course, that still makes them a formidable opponent.  Also, the Red Raiders likely will be picked in roughly the same spot in the Big 12 preseason poll.

Tech will need to secure this win over the Commodores to boost its tournament resume in case Vandy surprises and makes a run at the postseason again.  What’s more, it may be just as important to make sure that this game doesn’t wind up being a bad loss in the event that Stackhouse’s program doesn’t continue to improve and instead takes a step backward.

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