The Texas Tech Red Raiders are heating up at just the right time. Riding a five-game win streak, including a statement 90-86 victory over Houston this past Saturday, Tech has climbed to No. 11 in the latest AP rankings - their highest position this season and a one-spot bump from last week.
This run has been about more than just wins. It’s been about resilience, chemistry, and a team starting to find its identity under head coach Grant McCasland. The Red Raiders are now 16-4 overall and 6-1 in Big 12 play, firmly planting themselves in the thick of the conference race.
That win over Houston wasn’t just another tally in the W column - it was a gutsy, high-octane battle against a team that came in ranked No. 10 nationally and had been one of the most consistent forces in the Big 12. Texas Tech didn’t just survive; they executed in crunch time, showing poise and playmaking when it mattered most.
Now, McCasland’s squad gets a full week to rest and recalibrate before heading on the road for a Saturday morning clash with UCF. The Knights, 15-4 overall and 4-3 in conference play, are no pushover - and there's a bit of unfinished business between these two programs.
Last season, UCF edged out Tech in an 87-83 shootout on New Year’s Eve. That loss still lingers, and you can bet the Red Raiders haven’t forgotten.
The matchup tips off at 11 a.m. Central from Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, and it's the kind of early-day showdown that can sneak up on a team if they're not locked in from the jump. Expect McCasland and his staff to have the Red Raiders ready - especially with a chance to keep their momentum rolling and push deeper into the national conversation.
Around the Big 12, the competition remains fierce. Arizona is still the class of the field, sitting undefeated at 20-0 and ranked No.
- Iowa State checks in at No. 8 with an 18-2 record, while Houston, despite the loss to Tech, holds steady at No.
- BYU and Kansas round out the conference’s top-15 representatives, ranked 13th and 14th respectively.
As for the national picture, the top five is stacked with powerhouses: UConn at No. 2, followed by Michigan, Duke, and Nebraska - all with just a single blemish or none on their records. But with the way Texas Tech has been playing, they’re inching closer to that elite tier, and the rest of the country is starting to take notice.
This Red Raiders team is building something - not just wins, but belief. And if they keep this up, they won’t be flying under the radar much longer.