Texas Tech Falters Late Against Arkansas, Revealing a Depth Concern Ahead of Big 12 Play
Texas Tech’s matchup with Arkansas on Saturday had all the makings of a signature non-conference win-until it didn’t. After a strong first half that saw the Red Raiders take a 49-43 lead into the locker room, the second half told a different story. Arkansas turned up the pressure, outscoring Texas Tech 50-37 over the final 20 minutes and handing the Red Raiders their third loss of the season, all of which have come against ranked opponents.
Let’s be clear: this wasn’t a case of Texas Tech getting run off the floor from the opening tip. The Red Raiders looked sharp early, moving the ball well and hitting shots.
JT Toppin and Christian Anderson were electric, combining for 56 points and keeping Tech in the game even as the Razorbacks surged late. But that’s where the problem lies-outside of those two, the Red Raiders couldn’t find a third scoring option to step up when it mattered most.
In high-level college basketball, especially against ranked opponents like Arkansas, two-man offenses rarely hold up for 40 minutes. The Razorbacks adjusted defensively in the second half, and Texas Tech didn’t have enough answers behind Toppin and Anderson. That lack of balanced scoring is something that could haunt this team if it isn’t addressed before the grind of Big 12 play begins.
Now, let’s put this game in context. Arkansas is the No. 17 team in the country for a reason.
Losing to a ranked team on a neutral floor isn’t necessarily a red flag-but it does shine a light on some areas that need tightening. Texas Tech is now 7-3 on the season, and while all three losses have come against quality opponents, the margin for error in a loaded Big 12 is razor-thin.
Here’s how the Big 12 landscape looks as of now:
- Iowa State: 10-0
- Arizona: 9-0
- Houston: 10-1
- BYU: 9-1
- Colorado: 9-1
- Oklahoma State: 9-1
- UCF: 8-1
- Arizona State: 9-2
- Baylor: 7-2
- Kansas: 8-3
- Texas Tech: 7-3
- West Virginia: 8-4
- TCU: 6-3
- Kansas State: 7-4
- Utah: 7-4
- Cincinnati: 6-4
It’s a deep and competitive conference from top to bottom, and Texas Tech’s current standing puts them right in the middle of that pack. The good news?
Big 12 play hasn’t started yet. There’s still time to recalibrate and build out a more reliable rotation that can shoulder the scoring load when opponents key in on the stars.
Make no mistake-Toppin and Anderson are playing like guys who can lead a tournament team. But for the Red Raiders to make real noise in March, they’ll need more than just two scorers. They’ll need role players who can step into bigger moments, especially when the defense tightens and possessions start to matter more.
So while Saturday’s loss stings, it also offers a valuable blueprint. Texas Tech has the top-end talent to compete with ranked teams.
Now it’s about finding the depth and consistency to finish those games the right way. The Big 12 gauntlet is coming, and the margin for error will only get smaller from here.