America loves a Cinderella story, especially during March Madness. However, this year, Texas Tech basketball fans will be hoping that the slipper doesn't fit, at least in the West Region.
Being a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, the Red Raiders in a position to make a deep run this year. However, that also means they could potentially fall victim to the type of upset that casual fans across the country love to see.
Fortunately, Tech hasn't really suffered a stunning NCAA Tournament upset in its history. The closest the program has come to falling victim to a Cinderella was actually last season.
With Tech seeded No. 6 in the South Region, head coach Grant McCasland and his squad were favored by the odds makers to beat No. 11 seed N.C. State in the first round. That was especially true given that the Wolfpack only got into the tournament by making an improbable run to the ACC Tournament crown.
Unfortunately, N.C. State stayed red-hot in the NCAA Tournament, eventually getting all the way to the Final Four. And they began their Cinderella run by topping Tech 80-67.
It has become common for lower-seeded teams to make plenty of noise in the NCAA Tournament as of late. In fact, in 2024, 2021, 2018, and 2016, a double-digit seeded team has advanced all the way to the Final Four.
The Red Raiders hope that won't be the case in 2025. If Cinderella is going to show up in the West Region, though, here are three teams that could put on the glass slipper and have a memorable dance.
No. 11 seed Drake could be a tough second-round opponent for Texas Tech
Hardcore Texas Tech basketball fans may remember the name of Ben McCollum. A rising star in the college basketball ranks, he won four Division II national championships in 15 years at Northwest Missouri State and Grant McCasland tried hard to bring him onto his first coaching staff at Texas Tech. However, McCollum decided to stay in the head coaching game and now he's got Drake into the NCAA Tournament.
The Bulldogs are the No. 11 seed and will face Missouri in Wichita, Kansas on Thursday. They will be a trendy pick to pull the mild upset and face the winner of Texas Tech and UNC Wilmington in the second round.
Drake is a fascinating team. Four of the team's starters played for McCollum last year at the Divison-II level yet this season, the Bulldogs went 30-3 and won the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and postseason tournament.
Using a grind-it-out pace, the slowest pace of play in the country, they emphasize defense and rebounding, two factors that play well in March. What's more, this season, they have wins over power-conference teams such as Miami, Kansas State, and Vanderbilt, the last of which is an NCAA Tournament team this year.
Don't overlook the Bulldogs as a potential Cinderella. They are capable of reaching the second weekend of the tournament but hopefully, that won't happen because if it does, it will mean Texas Tech had a rather short stay in this year's tournament.
Texas Tech could see old SWC rival Arkansas in the Sweet 16
The No. 10 seed in the West Region, Arkansas, is certainly capable of making a run in this portion of the bracket. That would make for a potential matchup of former SWC rivals in the Sweet 16.
Arkansas opens the tournament with a game against No. 7 seed Kansas. Then, the Hogs would likely play No. 2 St. John's in the second round.
Those are two games that the Razorbacks can certainly win. After all, neither of those teams are as good as many of the teams the Razorbacks faced in SEC play this year.
Arkansas has five Quad-1 wins this year. Those came against Michigan, Kentucky (on the road), Texas (on the road), Missouri, and Vanderbilt.
What's more, Arkansas is expected to get dynamic freshman guard Boogie Fland back for the NCAA Tournament. Averaging 15.2 points and 5.4 assists per game, he has been cleared to resume basketball activities after being out since January with a hand injury.
If he comes back, he could be an X factor capable of taking over games by himself. So don't count out the Razorbacks in the West Region. They've been battle-tested in the best conference in the country this season and that will make them a tough out in this tournament.
Colorado State is on a heater, could make noise in the other half of Texas Tech's region
The best mid-major conference in America is the Mountain West Conference. So don't be shocked if the conference tournament champions from that league, Colorado State, win a game or two in the West Region.
Since the calendar flipped to 2025, the Rams have gone 17-3. What's more, they enter the tournament on a 10-game winning streak.
This season, CSU has tested itself by playing Ole Miss, Washington, TCU (who the Rams beat), and Colorado. Therefore, they won't be overwhelmed by playing power-conference teams in March.
As a No. 12 seed in the West, they could be a trendy pick to knock off No. 5 pick Memphis. Then, they would likely face No. 4 seed Maryland in the second round. Should CSU survive the first weekend of the tournament, they will most likely run into No. 1 seed Florida in the Sweet 16 meaning they would have to pull off a historic upset to get to the Elite Eight where they might face Texas Tech.
Still, the Rams won't be an easy stepping stone for any team in the West. 6-foot-6 senior guard Nique Clifford is dynamic averaging 19 points per game this season and in his past four games, he's scored no less than 24 points in any contest. He's the type of mid-major guard that few people know about prior to the tournament but who could become a star if he leads his team on an improbable run. So keep an eye on Colorado State on the other side of the West Region because the Rams are a dangerous mid-major.