Texas Tech's recent dip in form has seen them slide to 16th in the latest AP poll, a result of back-to-back losses in the Big 12. With an overall record of 22-9 and a 12-6 mark in conference play, the Red Raiders stumbled with a 73-65 defeat to TCU and an 82-76 loss on the road against BYU.
Coach Grant McCasland didn't mince words after the BYU game. "We haven't been at our best lately, but I saw some flashes in the second half," McCasland noted.
The challenge of BYU's environment was clear. "When you surrender 20 offensive boards and struggle in the paint, winning becomes an uphill battle.
BYU found their rhythm, especially on the glass, and that was the difference."
The absence of All-American forward JT Toppin, out with a torn ACL, loomed large in these losses. TCU capitalized with a plus-14 advantage on the boards, dominating second-chance opportunities and outscoring Texas Tech in the paint 38-22. BYU followed suit, outrebounding the Red Raiders 41-34 and overwhelming them in paint scoring by a 48-14 margin.
Reflecting on the TCU loss, McCasland acknowledged the learning curve. "We've seen improvement over the last four games, but TCU's rebounding and ability to get to the line exposed us.
It's a chance to learn. When we hustle for rebounds and win those 50-50 balls, we're tough to beat.
But when we don't, we face nights like these. We'll keep pushing our guys to embrace the grind, even when it's tough."
Looking ahead, Texas Tech is set for the Big 12 tournament as the four-seed, enjoying the advantage of a double-bye. They'll face either Baylor, Iowa State, or Arizona State in the quarterfinals at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City, Missouri, with tip-off at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday. The Red Raiders will be keen to regroup and make a statement in the postseason.