Tonight, Texas Tech basketball fans can have their thirst for hoops quenched when the Red Raiders take on No. 23 Kentucky in a preseason scrimmage. What's more, fans can catch all the action live on SEC Network+, a streaming service.
For years, college basketball teams have partaken in preseason scrimmages against other schools. However, for some reason, those contests were kept secret. In fact, most were played in empty arenas or practice gyms, with no stats being released to fans.
That was the case earlier this month when Texas Tech took on Iowa in a closed scrimmage. However, the tide has begun to shift toward making these scrimmages events to publicize the start of the college basketball season, something that often gets overlooked given that the season tips off in the middle of football season.
Now, more and more teams across the nation are finding ways to televise their preseason scrimmages. They are also welcoming fans to the games, which gives both teams an early taste of what a real game atmosphere might be like.
Tonight in Lexington, Kentucky, Texas Tech will play in one of the most storied arenas in the sport, Rupp Arena, and it will be surprising if Big Blue Nation doesn't show up in full force. That will make this game feel much more like a regular-season test.
Kentucky is coming off of a 22-14 season in 2025-26 that saw the Wildcats fall to Iowa State in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. This will be year three for head coach Mark Pope (who was previously the head coach at BYU), and the pressure is on for him to find a way to get past the first weekend of the Big Dance.
While Texas Tech will be without star forward JT Toppin, Kentucky will not be at full strength either. Junior guard Kam Williams, senior guard Jerone Morton, and junior forward Trent Noah are all dealing with injuries that will likely sideline them this evening.
How to watch Texas Tech vs. Kentucky
To find this game, Texas Tech fans are going to have to turn to streaming. Even if the SEC Network is part of your television package, you will have to stream SEC Network+.
The easiest way to do this is to sign into the ESPN app using the credentials for your television provider or streaming service. On the ESPN app, you will be able to find tonight's exhibition by searching for "Texas Tech". The contest is slated to begin at 6 p.m. Central.
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