Texas Tech Basketball: 3 reasons why the Red Raiders will be better than Texas in 2018-19

Texas Tech Basketball has been looking to get the best of rival Texas in the Big 12. After finishing ahead of them in last season’s standings, can the Red Raiders do it again in 2018-19?

For the last couple of decades, Big 12 Basketball has been divided into three tiers – Kansas, the top half and the bottom half concerning the other nine teams. For the most part, it’s been Texas that has contended for the conference title and made many NCAA Tournament runs, while Texas Tech has struggled to consistently be a viable postseason team.

Between the two programs, the Longhorns have traditionally had the upper hand, in both the standings and head-to-head battles. But the tide may have turned last season. The Red Raiders finished tied in the Big 12 in the standings and went to the program’s first-ever Elite Eight appearance. Texas did go to the Big Dance as well but was a 10-seed. The two teams split with the games against each other.

Although the rivalry between the programs is more famous on the football field, the emergence of Texas Tech on the basketball court has only increased tensions. Another prominent program in the state of Texas makes recruiting all the more difficult for the others, as well as the Big 12 having another contender for a tournament bid, which almost cost the Longhorns last season.

While Kansas is once again considered the preseason Big 12 favorite, both Texas and Texas Tech aren’t too far behind. But which one of the Lonestar state programs will have the upper hand for the 2018-19 season.