Well, Grant McCasland and the No. 11 Texas Tech Red Raiders men’s basketball team probably didn’t enjoy their trip to Orlando all that much! As the Red Raiders went to Florida to face off against the UCF Knights, Texas Tech is returning to Lubbock after suffering an eight point loss on the road against a team that they probably should have beaten.
And now Texas Tech has found a way to lose its last three games against the UCF Knights men’s basketball team. Somehow, some way, the Knights have continued to be a problem for the Red Raiders in recent matchups.
Big 12 standings update - Texas Tech Red Raiders now tied for 3rd in Big 12 after losing to UCF in Orlando
Here’s what the Big 12 standings look like with the Red Raiders falling short on the road against the UCF Knights in Orlando.
- Arizona Wildcats (22-0 overall, 9-0 Big 12)
- Houston Cougars (19-2 overall, 7-1 Big 12)
- Iowa State Cyclones (19-2 overall, 6-2 Big 12)
- Kansas Jayhawks (16-5 overall, 6-2 Big 12)
- Texas Tech Red Raiders (16-5 overall, 6-2 Big 12)
- UCF Knights (17-4 overall, 6-3 Big 12)
- BYU Cougars (17-4 overall, 5-3 Big 12)
- West Virginia Mountaineers (14-8 overall, 5-4 Big 12)
- Oklahoma State Cowboys (15-6 overall, 3-5 Big 12)
- TCU Horned Frogs (13-8 overall, 3-5 Big 12)
- Cincinnati Bearcats (11-11 overall, 3-6 Big 12)
- Colorado Buffaloes (12-9 overall, 2-6 Big 12)
- Baylor Bears (12-9 overall, 2-7 Big 12)
- Arizona State Wildcats (11-11 overall, 2-7 Big 12)
- Kansas State Wildcats (10-11 overall, 1-7 Big 12)
- Utah Utes (9-12 overall, 1-7 Big 12)
Losing to the Knights is a huge problem for a Texas Tech team that is aiming to prove it can compete for and win championships this season. A huge problem. Texas Tech isn’t out of the Big 12 regular season title race just yet, but it’s going to be so much more difficult for the Red Raiders to find a way to win the conference down the stretch.
And also, this loss is showing that Texas Tech is vulnerable. And the Red Raiders are about to welcome a team with an identical record to town in the No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks.
While KU hasn’t appeared to be considerably better than everyone else in the Big 12 this season, they’re still the Jayhawks and they’re still really dang good. Texas Tech can’t even remotely afford to somewhat overlook them.