Red-Hot Red Raiders Head to Orlando After Well-Timed Bye Week
After a much-needed week off, No. 11 Texas Tech is back in action-and back on the hunt to extend their five-game winning streak. Sitting at 16-4 overall and 6-1 in Big 12 play, the Red Raiders are headed to Orlando for a Saturday showdown with UCF, and if there’s one thing clear heading into this matchup, it’s that the rest came at the perfect time.
“It’s been a good week of rest for our team. It couldn’t have come at a better time,” head coach Grant McCasland said earlier this week.
And he’s right. With several Red Raiders logging heavy minutes in recent games, the pause gave the team a chance to reset, recover, and refocus-especially important as the grind of conference play intensifies.
But this wasn’t just about rest. It was also about reps.
McCasland and his staff used the downtime to get valuable practice time for players who haven’t seen as much action. Monday and Wednesday were focused on individual work, while Tuesday gave the lesser-used players a chance to run through full practices.
By Thursday, the team was back in full swing, sharpening chemistry and preparing for the physical challenge ahead.
And make no mistake-UCF is no pushover.
The Knights come in with the same 16-4 overall record and a solid 5-3 mark in Big 12 play. They’re riding high after back-to-back wins, including a 95-86 road victory at Colorado and a tight 79-76 win over Arizona State at home. This is a team that knows how to battle, and they’ve shown they can win in different ways.
“They’re physical,” McCasland said. “If there’s one thing that jumps out on the page to me, it’s just how physical they are. They’re the number one defensive rebounding team in our league.”
That’s saying something, considering Texas Tech held that top spot until a recent matchup with Houston. UCF’s ability to crash the glass and limit second-chance opportunities will be a key factor in Saturday’s game.
As for the Red Raiders, they’re being led by a pair of standout performers who have been nothing short of dominant. Forward JT Toppin is in the middle of a breakout stretch, earning Big 12 Player of the Week honors two weeks running. He’s averaging 22.1 points and 10.9 boards per game-a double-double machine who’s been the heartbeat of this Tech squad.
Then there’s Christian Anderson. The sharpshooting point guard is putting up 19.8 points per game and already has 69 made threes on the season. His ability to stretch the floor and create off the dribble has given opposing defenses fits, and his chemistry with Toppin has been a major reason for Tech’s recent surge.
Saturday’s tip-off is set for 11 a.m. CT at Addition Financial Arena in Orlando. After that, the Red Raiders return to Lubbock for a high-stakes “Big Monday” matchup against the Kansas Jayhawks on ESPN.
For now, though, all eyes are on UCF. With two teams boasting identical records and plenty of momentum, this one has all the makings of a classic Big 12 battle. And if Texas Tech can keep riding the wave they’ve built-bolstered by rest, reps, and a rising star in Toppin-they might just keep that win streak alive a little longer.