Welcome back to Texas Tech basketball, soon! Starting in just a couple short weeks we will get the refreshing splash of hope and excitement in watching our Red Raiders take charge in going out to compete for the top spot in college basketball. Like many of you, I can’t freaking wait to see this young team grow in front of our eyes as the season progresses. The exhibition loss at UTEP might have put a damper on the season outlook to some of you, but do not let it ruin what is going to be another fun season for our Red Raiders. With Chris Beard and staff at the helm, the development will be just as special as the last couple of squads we have watched wear the scarlet and black.
There is no doubt in my mind that we will have another top-tier group of basketball players that will lead us into March Madness. We made it to the Elite Eight in 2018; then onto the NCAA Championship game in 2019… there are some lofty expectations for this young roster to keep the momentum pumping throughout the Texas Tech basketball program.
We are all currently flying sky high with anticipation for this upcoming season. Which by all accounts is completely reasonable for us fans. We are winning and are getting use to how good it feels. Coach Beard was given a huge contract extension and Mark Adams was made the second highest paid men’s college basketball coach to reflect how proud we are all are as Red Raider fans for the accomplishments made by our basketball team. The entire coaching staff also had significant pay bumps to their salaries. It shows how serious the University is in backing a successful athletics program. The recruiting is trending way up and we are landing quality talent. Whomever said that you cannot recruit high-level talent to Lubbock can retake a look at what Texas Tech basketball is doing and rethink their opinion. We’re on top and not going away anytime soon.
With all our recent achievements as a basketball squad, I have to stop and ponder just how high my expectations are for the upcoming season. Looking at it; I believe we have got a chance for another strong run into the NCAA tourney and all the tools to take another shot at the Big 12 title. Coming out of my off-season college basketball slumber, I was trying to gauge where us as Tech fans thought (and predict) our basketball performance this upcoming season.
We should come into the year with a top 15 national ranking from the media and in the coaches poll. Nobody is sleeping on Texas Tech basketball anymore, and we are garnering the attention that has lacked in the past. No “one hit wonder” babble nowadays, we are receiving the respect we deserve from the college basketball world. Along with that newfound fame as a basketball powerhouse, we will have a target on our back. It’s no longer such an extreme uphill battle to get noticed when we win, yet there will be a huge emphasis on us not losing. Just look at the reaction from the UTEP exhibition game. We will be in the spotlight right as the season begins. I love it, and I assume the whole team and coaches like the recognition they have earned.
Still with that added pressure, with new faces on the roster that will need the chemistry built together, and everything else that will go into having another outstanding season. I know we will be impressive and again do great things. Let’s get ready to party!
Below is a poll I am running on twitter to count your vote, but more importantly feed me your opinions on how the season will go in the comments section. We can revisit this midway through the season and track how accurate we all were on these predictions…
What is your prediction for the amount of regular season wins in this upcoming #TexasTech men's basketball season?#WreckEm #GunsUp #4to1
— Staking The Plains (@stakingtheplain) October 14, 2019
Can’t wait for the season to tip-off… WRECK ‘EM TECH!!!