Texas Tech Red Raiders news: Baseball home opener arrives, Lady Raiders battle tough, basketball prepares for UCF

Here's all the news from around Raiderland and the NCAA to get you prepared for a big weekend of Texas Tech sports.

Texas Tech baseball hosts Texas Southern

Friday, the No. 19 Texas Tech baseball team will finally host its home opener after a week's worth of games in Arlington, Texas. The Red Raiders are set to take on Texas Southern for a three-game set beginning Friday at 2 p.m. at Dan Law Field.

Tech currently sits at 3-2 on the year following Wednesday's 10-4 loss to No. 7 Oregon State. Friday's game is the start of a six-game home stand that also includes a three-game set against Gardner Webb next weekend.

Lady Raiders fight but come up short

Give the depleted Lady Raiders credit for putting up a fight at No. 5 Texas on Wednesday night. Jasmine Shavers scored 27 points and Bailey Maupin added 22 in a 77-72 defeat.

The Lady Raiders return to the floor Saturday at 2 p.m. in Lubbock against Cincinnatti. Cincy is currently just 12-14 overall and 4-11 in Big 12 play so this could be where the Lady Raiders finally end their current six-game losing streak.

Texas Tech basketball heads to UCF

The men's basketball team will be in Orlando on Saturday afternoon to face the UCF Knights. Coming off of an emotional 82-81 win over TCU, the Red Raiders will look to continue their climb up the Big 12 standings and their pursuit of an NCAA Tournament birth.

Since falling 66-59 to the Red Raiders in Lubbock on February 10, the Knights have been in a bad way. Including that game, they have dropped four games in a row so it will be interesting to see if the Knights see Saturday's game as a last stand to save their season or if they have already thrown in the towel given that they are just 13-12 overall and 4-9 in Big 12 play.

Texas Tech men's golf wins The Prestige

The Texas Tech men's golf team had a strong week. Ranked No. 21 in the nation, the Red Raiders won The Prestige this week in La Quinta, California.

In the three-round event, Tech shot an 819 to beat Kansas by 12 strokes. Red Raider golfer Tyran Snyders was the team's top individual finisher placing sixth at -9 overall.

NCAA exploring punishing athletic directors and school presidents

According to a report from Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports, the NCAA committee on infractions is exploring the idea of leveling penalties against NCAA athletics directors and school presidents.

"In a meeting Thursday," Dellenger writes, "the committee discussed the scope of penalties that could be levied on several school athletic and academic officials in infractions cases, including compliance officers, athletic directors, presidents and chancellors. They agreed to examine the matter on a “case by case” basis, said Matt Mikrut, the NCAA managing director for the Office of the Committees on Infractions. They will determine penalties based on the person’s activity and involvement in violations and their role within the university."

Of course, one issue with this proposal is how to actually punish people who are not athletes or coaches. After all, would the NCAA be able to suspend an administrator or school official? Would a financial penalty be legal and effective? Those are some of the issues the committee is sorting through.

College football early signing period likely to move

The NCAA is also exploring the idea of moving the college football early signing period. It is being proposed that high school and JUCO prospects be allowed to sign their national letters of intent before the conference title games take place and before the NCAA transfer portal window opens.

Currently, the early signing period arrives in late December but the proposed changes would move it up to late November or early December. According to Nicole Auerbach of The Athletic, there could also be a summer signing period implemented, a move that would drastically change the recruiting calendar.

Herbstreit and Fowler to be featured in EA Sports College Football video game

Earlier this week, it was announced that every FBS team will participate in the upcoming EA Sports College Football video game reboot. Now, we know that ESPN personalities Kirk Herbstreit and Chris Fowler will be featured in the game as well. Several other ESPN college football personalities including Reece Davis, David Pollack, and Jesse Palmer have also announced they will be part of the EA Sports game, which is set to be released this summer.