Texas Tech Riding High After Arizona Upset, Looks to Keep Momentum Rolling vs. Arizona State
Coming off one of the biggest wins of their season - and arguably one of the most eye-opening upsets in college basketball this year - No. 13 Texas Tech heads to Tempe on Tuesday night with confidence, cohesion, and a red-hot frontcourt centerpiece leading the charge.
The Red Raiders (19-6, 9-3 Big 12) stunned then-No. 1 Arizona in Tucson on Saturday, 78-75, a win that not only shook up the rankings but also showed just how dangerous this team can be when everything clicks.
It was their third straight win, a bounce-back stretch after consecutive losses to UCF and Kansas had raised some questions. Those questions are being answered - emphatically.
“I don't know if anyone is ever prepared for Big 12 play, but you'd better be prepared for a grind,” head coach Grant McCasland said. “It's going to be a fight. Our intent was how well can we fight every day, and our team is believing in that aspect.”
That fight was on full display in Tucson, and no one embodied it more than JT Toppin.
The reigning Big 12 Player of the Year looked every bit the part, putting up a monster 31-point, 13-rebound performance that powered Texas Tech to the finish line. He’s averaging 21.9 points and 11 boards per game, and right now, he’s not just in the conversation for another conference Player of the Year nod - he might be running away with it.
Toppin’s dominance inside was matched by Christian Anderson’s poise on the perimeter. The point guard poured in 19 points, dished out eight assists, grabbed six rebounds, and knocked down six triples on 15 attempts. When the Wildcats made their push late, it was Anderson’s control and Toppin’s tenacity that kept the Red Raiders in front.
“JT and Christian weren’t going to let us lose,” McCasland said. “You don’t come into [Arizona’s] building and win unless you’re fighting and competitive. I love being part of this team.”
Now, the Red Raiders turn their attention to Arizona State (13-12, 4-8), a team that’s had its share of ups and downs this season but is coming off a solid home win over Oklahoma State. The Sun Devils haven’t played since that Feb. 10 victory, and they’ll be looking to string together back-to-back wins for the first time since early December.
The matchup in the paint promises to be a compelling one. Arizona State will counter Toppin’s power and polish with the length and upside of 7-foot-2 freshman Massamba Diop.
Diop has shown flashes of brilliance this season, averaging 13.9 points, 5.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game. He’ll need to be at his best to contain Toppin, who’s playing with the confidence of a man who knows he’s the best player on the floor - and is proving it nightly.
In the backcourt, Maurice Odum - a veteran presence who’s made stops at both Pacific and Pepperdine - will try to match wits with Anderson. Odum is averaging 17 points and six assists per game and brings a steady hand to a Sun Devils team that’s still searching for consistency.
One area where Arizona State has struggled all season is on the glass. They rank last in the Big 12 in rebounding margin, sitting at minus-2.7 per game.
But against Oklahoma State, they flipped the script with a 45-34 rebounding edge, including a 19-10 advantage on the offensive boards. That effort led to a 38-26 edge in points in the paint - a stat line that gives head coach Bobby Hurley some hope heading into this matchup.
“It looks like we figured out how to rebound,” Hurley said. “We missed some shots, but were able to get second-chance opportunities. It's probably the biggest differential we've had in second-chance points all season.”
They’ll need that kind of effort - and then some - to hang with a Texas Tech squad that’s surging at just the right time. The Red Raiders currently sit at No. 16 in the NET rankings, while Arizona State comes in at No.
- A win over Texas Tech would be a major résumé boost for the Sun Devils, who are 2-9 in Quad 1 games this season, with wins over Texas and Santa Clara.
But make no mistake - this is Texas Tech’s game to lose. With Toppin playing at an elite level and Anderson orchestrating the offense with confidence and control, the Red Raiders are starting to look like a team no one wants to face in March.
They’re not just scratching the surface anymore. They’re starting to dig in.